I purchased off lease, which was my first mistake. There was a crack in the windshield which was replaced for me.
First month: Passenger door lock jammed, washer jet malfunctioning (Drivers side), replace spark plug and wipers, replace two tires (punctured) and a hubcap (missing). Got new everything since the car obviously wasn't maintained.
Third month: engine light comes on, after three trips to the dealership there is something wrong with the oxygen sensor. (warranty)
After driving a while, I had noticed the car shifted hard between 1st and 2nd and jerked the car, so I replaced the transmission (under warranty).
Month 8: Front brakes already gone? decide to flush fluids, since the car runs funny, shaking and rattling noises.
15 Months: Engine light comes on intermittently. Takes a few trips and a few more dollars to find out the air compressor should be replaced. $100
Car runs fine for almost a year until recently. After a 'required' tune up, $900, includes a new timing belt and rear brakes at 93,000km. The water pump starts leaking, had to replace. $350.
Month 26: Car feels like it is warped when braking, while replacing rear breaks, find out that front discs are warped. Replace rotors and drum. $1200.
96,000kms (32 months): Car makes funny grinding noises (from passenger side) when braking, have to replace rear-wheel bearing and boot kit. $250, next day its still making the noise. Had to replace driver-side rear wheel bearing. Another $250. (Dealership quotes $350 so always shop around for parts!).
One day later, passenger door lock mysteriously jamming. Didn't I already fix this? Replaced for $4/part $40/labor.
This is all I can remember over the past 3 years of ownership. Including all the regular maintenance on the car, winter tires, winter wipers, oil changes, etc. I've spent too much on it!
Car was rear-ended, got whole new back end, bumper, rear windshield and gas tank. Cost to insurance company was $6800. Still amazed why they didn't write it off. (Accident was at 18 months)
This car is not worth what I am paying for insurance.
Car has no power anything, no cruise, no tilt, no air bags, no Air Conditioning, and the Cassette Player chews the tapes.
The car fogs up when it rains.
It seems I am replacing either front or rear brakes too often.
Rattling noises constantly when driving.
Wipers don't work properly, need constant tightening.
Not enough horsepower.
Extremely uncomfortable on long trips.
Car already rusting despite detailing and buffing.
The only TWO positives:
great gas mileage, good sharp handling.
Nice comparison in the title :)
It seems that you bought one of the badly crafted Proteges, I heard that from dealer and I waited three months for the next shipment... then I bought a new one, I've had it for 8 years and I can say that it is a very well made car... only things replaced were the timing belt, spark plugs, tune up, and oil change... Mazda rules and I continue that with my brand new Mazda3 2.3.
Yea I agree you got one bad apple out of the bunch. you should deffinitly get rid of the car.
I had the LX model that I got back in 2000. The original poster is correct. This car was like a money pit. It was my 1st car that was originally a rental before having 1 owner prior to myself. I did my darnedest to maintain it, from being picky about the grade of gas, to getting tune ups & oil changes slightly ahead of schedule. However the engine light came on, and stayed on for almost the length that I had the car (which was up until a few months ago). Despite taking it to the mechanics numerous times for diagnostics. I gave up because the codes it sent to the computer were so vague (15-20 codes that could've been darn near ANYTHING wrong with the car).
The car was paid off, the insurance wasn't too bad & the gas mileage was excellent (only had to refuel ONCE going one way from Twin Cites to Chicago), but the cost for repairs was not worth it.
Among the many wallet sucking highlights: I had to replace 2 fuel injectors & oxygen sensors around 83,000 miles, the rotors for the brakes replaced several times, the battery needed to be replaced several times, the motor for the passenger side window needed to be replaced, the gas pedal sticking (!) the exhaust pipe fell off.
The last straw was the catalytic converter & 2 oxygen sensors need to be replaced at a cost of $1100. I wouldn't have been able to get a trade in for even 1/2 that amount.
My car was D.O.A. at 123,000 miles.
At this point I'm looking for a used domestic car (but not a Ford). I'd rather pay a bit more for a reliable gas guzzler than nickel & dime my way paying the jacked up prices for parts to fix a foreign car. Sure foreign cars get better gas mileage, & in some cases are cheaper than domestics, however the savings goes out the window the minute you need anything on them repaired.
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