1991 Mazda Protege DX 1.6 SOHC

Summary:

High endurance, despite its age

Faults:

Replaced passenger-side front axle after joint-ticking noise.

Replaced all brake shoes (and front, driver-side control arm & ball joint bent in an accident).

Performed at least two tune-ups.

Temperature gauge moves past the midpoint, and sometimes into hot zone, after several miles.

Driver's seat belt warning beep is overly sensitive.

Flunked Maryland emissions last year, but got it fixed.

Prior to an alignment fix, the car would shake precisely at 80 mph, but now it's smooth up to 101 mph.

General Comments:

Excellent reliability and mileage, barring routine maintenance. I can still get 350+ miles on a full tank with my lead foot driving style.

One patch of mild body rust, otherwise all is well.

Acceleration is decent for a 4-cylinder. Peel-outs no problem, but traction and braking require a little advance preparation.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th February, 2010

1991 Mazda Protege 323 GT DOHC

Summary:

A fun and sporty little car

Faults:

When I recently got it Air Cared, I realized that the pipe connecting to the exhaust pipe had broken off.

When I first bought the car off my dad's work buddy, the paint needed to be rebuffed.

Besides those two things, I don't think anything else was wrong.

General Comments:

Even though this is my first car, and I'm just learning to drive, this is one of the best handling and most fun to drive cars.

It's a standard, and even though I was reluctant to learn standard, I did it and kind of like it.

The gas mileage is great, and it's a very peppy and sporty looking car.

Some cons to it would be that it's older and did need some TLC when I first bought it.

Other than that, I think it's a great first car for anyone.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 21st June, 2009

1991 Mazda Protege LX DOHC

Summary:

Better than any truck

Faults:

This car has a long history of bad luck. It was my cousins first car and she had got it t-boned, so the back drivers door is smashed and the front end tore off.

Since I have had it, the cat converter was bad, and the muffler and the distributer went bad, the seats are majorly worn, the sun roof is rusted closed, I had to change the rear struts, uhhhhhhh the sun roof leaks, the list goes on and on, and oh yes, the clutch went out.

General Comments:

This has been the coolest car I have ever owned. I would not trade it for the world (not that I could).

It was originally a tan car, now it has two black doors and a green front bumper.

The clutch went out at 240000. I just put in a new one and it runs great.

This car is a beast. It has great pick up and everyone hates to get passed by my beater.

I am 17 and so proud of this car. I drive it on my farm through creeks and mud, it will not die. I bought a black one just like it for parts for 50 bucks (that's why I have the doors). I have done some crazy crap with this car, and I am still not afraid to drive it 300 miles down the interstate. IT IS SO MANLY.

It is normal to have all these problems with the way it is treated. GREAT gas mileage also.

I will probably end up passing it down to my kids some day. I even haul wood in this beast

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th April, 2009

1991 Mazda Protege DX 1.8 liter

Summary:

The car has been a reliable, efficient, and economical means of transportation since I've owned it

Faults:

This was the first car that I bought when I graduated from college in 1991. It currently has over 200 thousand miles on it, and with gas prices going to 4 dollars a gallon, it's not going anywhere any time soon.

Problems to date:

1. The coils were replaced at 110,000 miles.

2. Automatic seat belt warning light comes on and won't come off. It has been disconnected.

3. The paint on the front bumper pealed off after 50,000 miles.

General Comments:

Everything else has been good. It's seen what I call "normal" maintenance since I've owned it.

The clutch is the original clutch.

The head gasket seal has been replaced twice.

The major belts have been replaced numerous times, and I've only had to put one muffler on it.

I just noticed my first signs of rust, and for living in northern Minnesota and all the salt we see on the roads in the winter, that's not too bad.

The car handles well and still has lots of "giddyup" to it, considering that it's 17 years old. My kids loving driving in it because they know that I'll go around corners quicker. My wife can't drive it because of the manual transmission, so I'm hoping that it's still around for my daughter to learn on.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th May, 2008