1991 Mazda Protege GT review from North America
"A great sporty first car with great gas mileage"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Timing Chain went at approximately 125,000 KM. I have had to replace the CV joints in the front (left and right) a few times now. The exhaust assembly has been replaced once and now the down pipe and middle pipe need replacing. I replaced the Clutch at 175,000 KM. The power windows roll-up very slowly. The radiator needs to be replaced, it has a hairline crack. The air intake hose has cracked and was fixed by duct tape (the same duct tape has held for almost two years now).
General comments?
The car handles well, it has a great turning radius and hugs the road nicely. Being a lightweight 4-banger this car can really pick-up some speed. The stiff suspension can compromises comfort for handling, but the trade-off is good. I've had this car for about 8 years and every year I need to pour ~$750 (Canadian currency) for repairs, not bad, but not great either.
Recommended reviews
| The car has been a reliable, efficient, and economical means of transportation since I've owned it |
|
| Smart buy, great value, quality car for economy price |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1991 |
| Year of manufacture | 1990 |
| First year of ownership | 1997 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2005 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8L DOHC Manual |
| Performance marks | 10 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 10 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 77000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 189000 kilometres |
| Date of Entry | 17th April, 2005 |