Feels like the struts may need to be replaced.
Transmission is beginning to slip slightly.
Other than normal routine, we have had no major problems.
Things are just starting to happen, but with over 135k miles it is expected.
It starts up everyday and has great pick-up. The seat belts are uncomfortable in their positioning.
This car is one thing my 1996 Kia Sephia (review posted) wasn't, "RELIABLE".
You *do* realize that the Kia Sephia and the Mazda Protege are almost exactly the same cars, right? Exact same engines and transmissions, to start... Although interior may differ slightly (much like how other "twin" cars differ). So it's strange that one is unreliable while the other is... I have a Kia Sephia 1.8L and it's been reliable and dependable. Only had to change brake pads once, and tires once, and regular oil changes: nothing else, but that! It's about 6 years old and still going strong... It's cheaper than a Mazda Protege b/c you pay for the "Mazda" name, although it's basically the same car...
He is correct the Sephia model was and still continues to be (even with the rename to "Spectra") based on the '90-'94 Protege. However, there are a few importaint differences:
1. Mazda Proteges (I own a '93 @ 155k) were built in Hiroshima, Japan (no joke! and NO it doesn't glow or any of that *grins*) and the Kia Sephia was built by Kia at its Asan Bay plant in South Korea! Reliability is often closely correlated with build quality and as such I would assume that the Japanese have had histroically better build quality (viz Fit-and-Finish) than their Korean neighbors. This was particularily true during the '90s, and in recent years consolidation of Kia/Hyundai by Hyundai has produced newer, and very competitive models with near-Japanese/American reliability.
2. The Protege and the Sephia/Spectra differed in interior material quality, suspension quality, shipping tire quality, and overall the Proteges bits and pieces were more carefully chosen (ie. Choosing some Bridgestones over the "bargain" crappy BrandX ones... basically any often replaced component like say the struts/shocks, brake rotors etc may differ between the two), reviews of the Sephia were often critical of lackluster fit-and-finish and "cheap" feeling interior appointments, however these comments are not in reviews of the say 1990-1994 Proteges (yes I've investigated this)
3. The proof is in the owners: Consumer Reports Surveys its subscribers yearly on their cars and the maintenenace or problems that have occured, results produce a cumulative average for various "parts" of the car such as transmission, HVAC, Body... etc. The surveys consistently indicate that the Sephias were much less reliable than the Proteges they were based on...
So what can we infer from this? Well for one, a metaphorical generic is not nesseceraly as-good as the real thing. And as for my Proto... LOVE it LOVE it LOVE it... I trat it like a baby (Mobil 1, Bosch 4tip plugs, premium filters and other stuff...) and it has been totally reliable and easy to maintain for me... I'm sad to see Mazda finally doing away with an excellent and refined platform and chassis that dates back to 1990... I like the Protege, but I don't like the idea of its replacement being a rebadged Focus... NOT the same. Anyways, thanks for reading.
- Richard.
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