2000 Mazda Protege SE review from North America
"This is a great little car for the money that hasn't cost me anything in repairs"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
After 5 years of ownership I have had very few problems with my vehicle.
I recently replaced the tires which I consider to be normal wear and tear for a car with 100000+ km.
The muffler is starting to rattle a little bit while the car is warming up, I think it is a loose internal exhaust baffle.
I have noticed a rattle sound coming from the front suspension.
General comments?
This has been an excellent vehicle. Originally purchased for a second family car it quickly became the vehicle of choice for both my wife and I.
It's handling around town and in city traffic is nimble and it has reasonably good acceleration for a compact car.
After 5 years of driving (and teaching a teenage son and my wife how to drive standard) the clutch and 5 speed manual transmission still shift perfectly.
The upholstery and carpet have been very durable and the interior fit and finish are certainly on par with anything from Honda and Toyota.
The CD player, AC and power options continue to work faultlessly.
I would highly recommend this awesome little car to anyone looking for a reliable daily commuter.
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| A Good Entry-Level Car |
|
| A definite keeper |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 2000 |
| Year of manufacture | 2000 |
| First year of ownership | 2001 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.6 Manual |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 9 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 50 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 112000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Mazda 626 |
| Date of Entry | 14th February, 2006 |