• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

1995-1997 Mazda Protege's. What do you think about them?

I

imported_BeeVo

Member
Recently I have been looking for a used car in the $5000 range. Knowing all the car experts on Anandtech😉, I decided to ask for some help here. The Mazda Protege seems to fit my budget and wanted to get some first hand accounts and opinions. I can get a 1995-1997 Protege within my budget with around 50,000 to 75,000 miles depending on year and model. Are they good cars? The reviews seem favorable. Are there better cars in that range? What I am looking for is (in this order)
1. Reliability- Needs to last me a for a couple years with no major problems.
2. Gas Milage- My current car gets 9mpg and I am looking for something that gets above 30mpg.

That is about it. If there is a better car in my price range? LMK. Thanks.
 
I dont think much goes over 30 MPG exxept maybe honda insight and civic. I dont think any other kind of decent car can get that kind of awesome mileage.
 
The Protege is rated at 31 city/ 39 highway. I am not too strict on the above 30mpg if I would be getting a better car. I just want something that gets good mileage.
 
take a look at the honda civic and accords as well. the new protege's are great cars, i dont know too much about the older ones. should be fine reliability wise, we had 2 old mazda 626's, one had 180k, and the other has 130k. put the 5,000 down as a down payment on a new one?
 


<< The Protege is rated at 31 city/ 39 highway. I am not too strict on the above 30mpg if I would be getting a better car. I just want something that gets good mileage. >>

I thought the turbodiesel golf was 64mpg highway...
 
The Honda Accords and Civics in my price range have higher milage. Around 100k and more. Should I worry about that or are the Honda's going to last a long time?

toph99
Right now I drive a 1978 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royal Coupe. It is huge and has a 350 in it. Trips to the gas station are killing me.
 
I like them. Make sure that they run nicely though. I've only seen one to fail, and it was in the first 50 miles. Needed a new engine!!
 
I have a 96 Protege, good car (I have owned it since new). It's been very reliable and maintenance free, but it's still only 6 years old. The car is completely underpowered in the auto version (93horses), if you buy one get the stick otherwise it will be real spongy. I average 35 in the city and 39/40 on the freeway in a manual transmission. I commute about 15 miles and I fill up about every week and a half with $12 in gas.
 
I have a 95 Protege DX. I got it used in 97. It worked fine until about a year ago...since then, I've spent about 3 grand fixing various things on it. I had to get a new transmission, and when I was at the auto shop, there were 2 other proteges there. The mechanic said that mazdas from that time frame have lots of transmission problems. Just my opinion, but stay away from them.
 


<< I have a 95 Protege DX. I got it used in 97. It worked fine until about a year ago...since then, I've spent about 3 grand fixing various things on it. I had to get a new transmission, and when I was at the auto shop, there were 2 other proteges there. The mechanic said that mazdas from that time frame have lots of transmission problems. Just my opinion, but stay away from them. >>



Was yours an automatic trans or manual?
 
I have a 2000 Pro and my friend has a 97, neither of us has had any problems. I really have found Mazdas to be great deals on the used market. Because of their lower resale (when compared to the ridiculously overpriced used hondas- who would pay 13k for a two year old used civic?) they can be had a very good deals. I got my 2000 for only $8k w/ 25k miles on it. They are a little slow, but they handle very good better than the civic IMO. Their relablity is also high, check cons.Reports. If your can, get your hands on an ES - they faster, I wish I had gotten an ES instead of an LX, but for the price I can't complain. I get about 30MPG, but that is with a slightly more powerful engine w/ an auto tranny.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top