1999 Mazda Protege DX review from North America
"One of the best choices for a working man"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Both taillights dimmed, one at 18000 km., second at 28000. It was not expensive and easy to fix for me. However, I see Proteges with the same problem all the time.
One clamp one the exhaust system rusted through, I replaced it myself. I could still run the car with old clamp, but it was making metallic noise.
This is all in five years, not counting small things caused by my and other people negligence.
General comments?
I like my car very much, this reliability is hard to find. It just runs, that's it. All repairs in five years cost me $18 Canadian, except of maintenance.
Below are the things "beyond average". I do not count smooth transmission, it should be. Here are all extras:
Very sensitive brakes.
Possibly the best fuel economy.
Solid suspension, and overall too.
Roomy interior.
Comfortable door handles. Yes, they can be.
Quiet engine, at high speeds, 100...140 km/hour.
Downsides:
Loud engine on acceleration.
Not the best resale value.
Recommended reviews
| A good responsive car overall. |
|
| Lovely little runner! |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1999 |
| First year of ownership | 1999 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.6 Manual |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 1 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 0 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 76000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Lada 2105 |
| Date of Entry | 14th August, 2004 |