![]() The glass seals on the dash board windows have weak seals and I do not know if that is inherent or a defect but I have had to have them resealed. The low profile tires are more expensive and harder to find than regular tires. The car itself is very low to the ground and can be difficult to get in and out of. I can have full view of the sky, no view, open air or partial. I like the sunroof versatility of closed, vented, moonroof, or open. It appears solid to those looking into the hatchback but is actually light weight and easy to remove. The hatchback storage space has a excellent cover to conceal items. There is enough storage space for my needs. I'm hoping I can get another few years out of it (and tens of thousands of miles more) before I have to get it replaced. I would definitely recommend this vehicle to someone who doesn't want to spend too much money on a used car but needs a comfortable vehicle that won't spend too much time in the shop. Steering is smooth and efficient as well, and the spare tire that the trunk is equipped with has been a lifesaver as well. I've only had to replace the windshield once since I've had it, and it can easily go thousands of miles without requiring an oil change. I got it when it had about 40,000 miles on it, and it's been a great investment. The seats are comfortable, which is perfect for the long drives I frequently have to make for my job. The engine runs smoothly, and I haven't had to make any major repairs to it. I had this vehicle since I was a college student and even now, with more than 110,000 miles on its odometer, I feel safe driving it all over the country. I've found the Mazda Protege5 to be a reliable vehicle without too many issues. Just keep the oil changed, tires rotated, and air filter clean and it was unstoppable. That last bit shook the daylights out of it twice a day for 6 months, never had a problem. I can't say enough about how much this little car handled everything I threw at it, from heavy downpours in the South (I mean, it was in Louisiana for Hurricane Katrina, not in New Orleans, but still), to ice and snow in the New Mexico high desert, to a 2 mile long corrugated dirt/mud rode that was daily driven for 6 months. You can put a 50 inch TV in there, no problem. And I say little, but really, inside this thing can fit almost anything you need to carry short of construction supplies. High speed switchbacks and tight turns are where this little car shines. It gripped tenaciously, like it was a slot car. car will suffer that, and somehow the Protege5 almost didn't have it. Extreme limits bring understeer, but any fwd. The steering feels perfect, and at the limit you can feel it gradually start to break away. There's nothing that isn't perfectly placed for the driver, the gear shift and pedals are naturally positioned, the seats were comfortable for my rather large frame. Car is now in Nevada away from salt.This thing is just driver-centric. The exhaust rusted apart just after the downpipe so it's a little loud but fixing that means a full exhaust replacement. There is now a hole in the back seat floorboard from rust and the seat belt mechanism broke - replaced with junk yard piece. Still runs great, which means in over 155k miles it has never had a mechanical problem. 16 years later, it's now the teenager's car. Repaired the hood and front-end plastics myself summer 2019. ![]() Hopefully it doesn't cost too much because this car still has LOTS of useful life in it. I have not had an estimate for repairs yet, but the hood is crumpled, the grille is gone and headlights smashed, but the fenders seem OK. Shortly after 150,000, my son rear-ended another car. It runs perfectly - if it wasn't for rust, it would look and work very much like new. Both passenger side electric locks no longer work. Still no mechanical problems or break-downs. Rust wreaks havoc on these cars, though not as bad as some other cars. The timing belt et al has been changed and the car continues to run great. The worst thing on it by far … is the rust in the rear fender wells.Īfter 105,000 miles, everything else still works great.Īt 150,000, I've replaced the right rear strut because it rusted apart. The passenger side electric door lock stopped working at about 50,000 miles. The sway bar bushings wore out at 85,000 miles and the tubing to the mass air flow sensor cracked, but a redneck duct tape fix still works. It's been a great car, extremely reliable and is still fun to drive. I bought my 2003 Protege ES new based on handling and ride - and looks.
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