Well, my advice to all prospective protege owners is this: Make sure you get it in silver. I'll get to that in a minute.
When I went to out to get a car 2 years ago I had one thing in mind: Jetta. I've owned them before and they're excellent vehicles, but the price, even used, was hard to swallow. I wanted a NEW car- not another used. So I began to look at economy cars after reading numerous reviews of how well they stacked up these days. After being turned off by the focus, civic and sentra- I grudgingly went to test drive the protege, expecting nothing. To my great surprise I loved this car. Sure it was slow but it was ambitious, all the controls: transmission, brakes, steering- first rate. And for the price (mines an ES) I got all the amenities I'd ever want: sunroof, keyless entry, factory installed fog lamps and alloy wheels. I bought the car and have been happy ever since... until now.

Over the last couple of months the noises inside the cabin have gotten much worse. Between the drone of the engine on the highway, the sqeaking in the doors, the rattle of the windows, the tapping in the dash, the constant shifting of my once replaced seat- It's enough to give me a headache. And then there's the appearance. I have often scoufed at the members of this site crying cheap paint- they just weren't taking care of their cars that's all, right. Well I've taken better care of this cars paint than any other car I've ever owned and after 2 years it looks far worse than cars I've owned that were in the double digits. I'm NOT joking. I wash my car myself, detail and wax it myself. I'm careful of who I follow on the highway (no trucks). And yet my car has so many paint chips on the front bumper and hood it looks speckled. I thought someone had keyed my car but after a tossed rock on the highway produced an identical 2 inch gash I began to wonder.

Listen I'm not trying to put this car down. In its class it IS the best. You all know this. But I've discovered I need more. It is after all an economy car (read: compromise). I don't come to a buying decision easily and when I buy something I take alot of pride in it. I couldn't have done better than this car. But unfortunately I can't seem to take pride in it anymore. When money permits I will trade up for somethin better- new or used. Maybe I'll go back to looking for a low miles used acura.

In the mean time can anyone recomend something to take the scratches out. I need something stronger than Mequirs 3-step. I can see white! I'm going to keep this car in the best shape I can. I'm even thinking about ground effects to boost its appearance. If someone would post with some advice I would appreciate it.

 

what do you expect for $15k. Sure acuras are gonna be better, but you'll pay a hella lot more, if paint is the major problem why don't you just pocket out 1 grand and get a good paint job for the mazda?

-Peace
Shyutan

 

HEHEHEHE
I purchased my Protege p5 in April and my friend bought a Acura rsx type s in May. He has much more paint chips then mine. I race mine on the track and in the scca parking lot meets. He does not. Also his engine sounds like crap. Vtec sounds like the hamsters are dying.

I think the quality of japenese autos are doing the same as american cars did in the late 70's and early 80's.

I have no engine noise. When I first got it it did. I replaced the oil with 5w 30 synthetic and use 89 instead of 87. Every once in awhile I put in Sunoco 94 oct.

Sorry about your luck with the protege.

Chris

 

Sage, when I was looking at cars.. I was in the market for a Jetta too, and the only reason I didn't get one, was because the dealers around here wanted GLX prices for the 4 bangers. Then, my dealer mentioned that I might like getting into a Pro... so I test drove one. The 1.6l in the Pro felt a lot more peppy than the 2.0l 4cyl Jetta (i've raced two people who have the 2.0 Jet's and they just can't hang ;D) As for boosting appearance to keep resale price up or whatever... impossible. Sadly, these cars have absolutely no resale from what I've seen.

 

You're right on regarding noise/integrity issues with the Protege. I too have an ES, and I've found it to be the worst rattle trap I've ever experienced. It took my old '91 Nissan Sentra 7 years to develop the rattles that my Protege developed in 5 months. I've been scathingly angry at Mazda for that, and find their lack of attention to total detail most patronizing indeed.

The Protege is a good value car, and, aside from rattles, paint issues, etc., overall this car is destined to hold up well in terms of reliability-- Equally so as any Honda or Toyota. We can rely on this car for that, at least, which is excellent.

That said, I'm selling my Protege as soon as I can practically afford something else. I flat out will not tolerate rattles in ANY car, God dammit, and it has pissed me off to no end, the rattles that my ES rings throughout the interior each and every day. And the bone stiff ride doesn't help the rattle situation, either-- It shakes things loose in a hurry, to be sure.

Engine and road noise are also a constant companion in this car. I too hate that, and am offended that even Hyundai can build a better car than Mazda can in that regard. What’s especially shocking about that is Mazda allegedly put in “a lot” of extra sound dampening material into the ‘01+ Proteges. I can’t imagine what it must have been like before they did that. What a wretched experience that must be.

On the other hand, many people don’t care about noise in their cars-- Some like it. I however, hate it with fiery scorn and am contemptuous toward Mazda for screwing up what could otherwise be a great, great car; a vehicle that’s now been left behind by better competing, more refined, quieter, more comfortable small cars.

What a pisser. Why can't Honda or Toyota build a car with their current small car characteristics (as in they're comfortable, zippy, efficient, quiet, and reliable), yet be reasonably cool looking!? Bastards. As it is there's no way to win in the small car market. Get a Honda, Toyota, or Nissan, and you either get a flat out ugly car, or one that's boring as an insurance seminar. Get a Mazda and you get the worst ride in nearly any small car, and noise enough to drive you totally insane. They all suck in their own respective ways, it seems. Confound them all!!

 

Hmmm.... sorry you feel that way. I like my P5.

 

lower NVH or noise vibration and harshness usually comes hand in hand with luxury.

 

I have mixed opinions on my 02' Protege ES so far. I love it for the most part. It handles great, is reasonably peppy and the interior is very nice. I had a few paint chips show up awful early, but luckily I have not noticed hardly any new ones in the past 6 months. There are some annoying rattles and buzzing, but for the most part it is not to bad. I have found that the good has far outweighed the bad and I am very happy with my $14500 investment. Of course I'd rather be rolling in a Infinity G35 coupe, but what can ya do.

 

i've got the midnight blue (?) colour and some scratches down to the white. i use the coloured wax sticks and coloured soft wax to fill in the scratch. it's not perfect, but it's better than before.

 

I know how you feel about the protege! It had scuked more money out of my pocket trying different things like meguiars and Scratch out and GS-27 on my front bumper and hood that i went silly! I went so silly I bought a 2002 SVT Focus from my friend! Lemme tell you.. i don't regret selling my mom my protege one bit! I hated my protege when I had it because the pinstripes and stuff down the side stated peeling, paint began to some how become missing off my hood and roof (2 inch scratches that i don't even know where they came from.) I know its not because it didn't get attention because it did.. I washed it every week waxed it every month and every 3 included a clay block. Oh well... I'm glad the experience with the Protege is over and that I was able to move on to better things (speed AND handling!). I may not have much style, but at least i'm not hearing weird engine noises or any rattles or anything. And that reliability with the SVT vs. my old protege.. hahahaha... my protege spent more time in the shop than it did with me driving it. As soon as it hit 30 grand on the odo it was to hell. Oh well.. me and my pro went through so much together but it was one HUGE headache!

 

I would have to agree with him on this post. The car does have **** paint and lots of rattles. But when you think about it that is the ONLY problems with the car. So we are lucky.

 

You get what you pay for. And I don't know about any of you guys, but I sure as hell didn't pay a whole lot for my Protege. Stop beating this dead horse, please.

I like my Protege and I take pride in it. If any of you don't then you should have thought about it BEFORE buying the car. It's not like the Protege's Pros and Cons are a closely kept trade secret ya know.

I knew about the cold engine rattle, poor paint quality, harsh and noisy ride, and jizzworthy handling before I bought my Pro. It's called research and is something people need to learn to do before making a purchasing decission.

</ownage>

 

um

 

i dont find the car any louder than the 99 c230 benz i used to drive

 

Like come on guys, what were you expecting?? A 5 series for $19000??

Let's be realistic here. A Protege gives you handling, braking, styling and the experience of much more expensive cars with sportier pretenses.

I think most of us that often this board are car enthusists, having a genuine concern for the performance and the enjoyment their cars provide, not just your everyday person who just bought the car for their daily commute. When that's considered most people look past the minor flaws the Protege has.

Being a relatively income constrained car enthuisist that I am, I tried to find another car in this price range that suited my needs, none existed.

Sure there are trade offs, but I consider them minor compared to the benefits.

About the rattling problem, I notice it but it's not as severe as some of you have described. Anyone sit in a Cavalier before? Or do people appreciate the sqweaking suspension of a pre 02 Corolla?

The bottom line, when it comes to value, the Protege has lots of it .