1992 Mazda Protege DX review from North America
"Wonderfully reliable car"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
I needed two new CV joints at approximately 95,000 miles.
I got a new radiator at 170,000 miles.
I changed the timing belt at 65,000 miles and 130,000 miles.
I have had intermittent trouble with the blinker for the last 50,000 miles or so. (Never with a mechanic present!)
The driver seat-belt guide/track broke at around 60,000 miles.
My horn connections melted while it parked in 120 degree F heat!
The paint job is terribly faded and the bumper paint peels and chips. This is the most annoying thing about my car.
Other than the above, I have only gone through lots of tires and brakes (I lived in the country,) 2 batteries and lots of oil changes.
General comments?
Despite all the negative comments above, I love this car. In respect for her age, I call her grandma.
She has never let me down, nor abandoned me on the side of the road.
She handles well, has tight steering, and is very comfortable to drive.
The interior looks great for her age, but the exterior has been terrible since year 2. The bumper paint started chipping, even before the rest of the paint started fading.
This is a great car for the price. I hope to keep her for another 171,000 miles.
Recommended reviews
| Easy, fun, great on gas. Excellent! |
|
| 1991 - Protege DX 1.8L I4 DOHC Surprising performance... treat her well and she'll give you joy |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1992 |
| First year of ownership | 1993 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2002 |
| Engine and transmission | Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 13000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 171400 miles |
| Previous car | Plymouth Horizon |
| Date of Entry | 13th November, 2002 |