1998 Mazda Protege SE review from North America
"Plain, yet as reliable as I could ever want"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
I have had to replace the timing belt twice. Lucky for me the dealership did it free of charge.
The car still whistles whenever I start it (if the car isn't previously warmed up)
My check engine light is always on. Who knows why. There doesn't seem to be a problem under hood (well except for the whistle)
General comments?
Other than the problems listed above, this car is awesome!It is by far the most reliable.I've trusted this on many long trips!The handling was a very nice surprise. The pick up and go is nothing to write about, but acceptable. My air conditioning is still ice cold. I have no power options yet I have a CD/cassette player, which I thought was good yet odd. I have yet to spend one penny on this car other than gas and oil changes.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Year of manufacture | 1998 |
| First year of ownership | 2004 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.5 4 cylinder Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 10 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 9 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 260788 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 289956 kilometres |
| Previous car | Buick Park Avenue |
| Date of Entry | 30th August, 2004 |