2003 Mazda Protege Reviews - Page 14 of 17

Absolutely nothing!

Like all first time car buyers, I was very picky about what kind of car I bought. However, my 2003 Mazda Protege5 has proved its worth.

I do a lot of driving on a daily basis, and this car has gone along flawlessly.

It currently gets 28.6 miles per gallon, has excellent pick up (especially going uphill at low rpm), and has a stylish and sporty look.

Also, it has excellent cargo space, and for the low price I paid, it came with some awesome standard features.

There have been no problems after six months.

Great for weekend rides, running errands in the city, and daily commute.

The clutch is smooth and effortless to use, and the 2.0L engine is very responsive.

This car performs well in all weather including snow and icy conditions.

The power sunroof, 6 CD changer, leather seats, and fog lights are a great bonus.

Nothing.

The thing that sticks out most is the handling. For a "cheap" little import, it handles very well. I was extremely surprised by the braking.

It is very roomy inside, comfortable, but a little stiff. The instrumentation is a little difficult to read at certain times of the day, due to the color scheme they chose.

My biggest complaint is the gas mileage. I was expecting a little more. My 15 mile per day, one way, commute is mostly highway. I have been getting 25-26 MPG. My wifes '97 Grand Am GT gets better than that, with a 2.4l, and 150hp.

The engine could use some more torque, especially at the low end. There is almost no power below 3,000 RPMs. It also seems to hesitate and surge a little if lugged. Above 3k, it runs smoothly, even up to the Red Line. Keep it wound up!

This car came with a great options package including 6-CD changer - the only thing I can complain about is the stock speakers, it sounds like they are made from paper cups.

I have owned two Honda's and two VW's before this Mazda, this car really reminds me how reliable and inexpensive Japanese cars are to own.

My wife and I traded our 99 Jetta in because the parts are just too expensive - $380 for a mass flow air sensor? And at 110K that was just the beginning...

It seems like VW spent 100% of their engineering resources on driving performance, not long term reliability... fun to drive though (if you can afford it).

On to the Protege ES...

Great handling.

Well over 30 MPG.

The 4 wheel disk brakes feel great.

The power (and there is plenty as light as this car is) is at higher RPM, but normal for Japanese builds.

Well, all I need to do now is find some aftermarket speakers!