![]() Under the hood, which sounds very solid when dropped, the 2.0-liter four is mounted neatly in the transverse position. Mazda claims its “Triple-H” frame structure forms a rigid barrier to injury from side impact. Integrated within the chassis, which was redesigned in ’99, are front and rear crush zones. More black mesh in the mouthy airdam below the bumper, with a foglight on each side. Sleek headlights (straight off the “prosaic” Protege), a moonroof, black diamond mesh grille that hints at a smile. The center brake light (CHMSL) has 24 small bulbs that definitely catch your attention. There’s a standard black roofrack, and the black radio antenna is raked back from the rear center of the car. The spoiler fits like an eyelid over the slanted rear hatch. In profile it looks like a short Subaru Legacy GT wagon, but it’s prettier at each end. Great-looking 5-spoke, 16-inch alloy wheels, either brushed or polished like chrome. Trim cladding, just side sills and air dams. Separate options are: moonroof ($700) ABS and side airbags ($800) four-speed automatic transmission ($800) polished alloy (chrome-look) wheels ($500) security alarm ($220) cassette player ($150) in-dash six-disc CD changer ($500) floormats ($80) cargo net ($35) wheel locks ($30) and moonroof deflector ($40). The Vivid Yellow in the commercial is the call.īase price is $16,335 plus $480 freight. ![]() The main thing is, it comes in five colors. So sometimes this exciting car finds itself being called a “five-door vehicle” by its maker. Mazda is trying to not call the Protege5 a wagon without defying reality, which takes a bit of marketing and semantic tightrope-walking. With a little literary license (or a lot), the Protege5 might be described as a cross between the Miata and the Tribute mini-SUV. Protege5 uses the same 130-horsepower, 2.0-liter, dohc inline four-cylinder engine as the Protege sedan. Protege5 is a sport wagon built on the solid platform of the tight, handsome, arguably prosaic, arguably under-appreciated Protege compact sedan (see separate Protege review). But Mazda has been building fetching cars for some time now-RX-7, Millenia and Miata to name three-but can’t seem to get recognized for it. ![]() Mazda is trying to create a fetching new feeling, by building more cars like this and letting people know it. We have dumped $2000 in to repairs in 2 years + replacing tires every few months.In the latest of the popular zoom-zoom commercials, the Protege5 is the fetching yellow car dazzling the fetching little boy. I wish it wasn't such a bugger mechanically, otherwise I think it's a nice little car. It handles well at high speed, and gets consistent gas mileage in the high twenties low thirties range. I really like to drive it around town because it is agile, small (but still enough room in the back for strollers etc.), and quick enough to get moving. Were it not for all the mechanic troubles, it's a fun car to drive that handles really well. We got this car based on reviews and I had previously owned a Mazda MX6 that was a great car, but this Protege5 has been a lemon. Tires wear out fast, and are expensive to replace because of their unusual size. Get flat tires about once every two months. To repair those two things is going to be another $1000 at least. Those three things cost well over $1000 to repair, and the radiator/cooling system still is not 100%Įngine mounts completely rotted out at 120k miles, and there is now a grinding noise in the front end drive train. Head gasket required replacement at 103k miles, timing belts changed at same time, then had radiator problems.
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