1989 Mazda Protege SE review from North America

Water pump failed at 137,000 miles.

A/C began leaking a little in 2001, switched to R-134a in 2002, finally had to replace the compressor, evaporator core and dryer in 2003.

Seat-belts were fixed in 2002 as part of a recall.

Alternator was replace at 178000 miles in 2002.

Added a cruise control for highway driving in 2001.

The manual shift linkage is getting very loose at 196000 miles.

Replaced disc pads at 90,000 and 170000 miles.

Radiator replace in January 1996, 2001 and again in 2002...plastic cracks and leaks.

This car has been put through the wringer and refuses to do. I've spun it out on dry pavement (no impacts)...my wife has spun it in the rain and fetched it up against the guard rails... at it keeps running.

This is the original clutch and transmission and no slippage.

The motor uses about 1qt of oil/3000 miles. 20w/50 Mobil 1 w/Mobil 1 filters every 6-7K miles.

I'm going to drive this car until the wheels fall off- at 36mpg highway and 30mpg in town I'd be an idiot to trade it in on a $20K car that gets 20mpg and have that fat payment every month.