YACT: Thoughts on the 2003 Mazdaspeed Protege?

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Scouzer

Scouzer

Lifer
Jun 3, 2001
10,358
5
0
Preface: Sporty, fairly fast, semi reasonable car for $15k Canadian. Two door is preferable but 4 door is fine.

I've vaguely settled on a Mazdaspeed Protege. Nice. Still have to test drive one, though. Thoughts?

I've basically looked at everything under the sun...so please bring reasons why with your suggestions :)
 
vi edit

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,345
126
Neat little cars. Not really all that quick even with the turbo, but they are fun to drive. Biggest concern is that you'll be hard up finding one that hasn't been modded and/or driven into oblivion.
 
E

evilsaint

Golden Member
Feb 7, 2006
1,364
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For that much cash, you could easily pick up a 2K3 WRX. Not as nice inside, but a good deal faster...
 
vi edit

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,345
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Originally posted by: Scouzer
WRX starts at about $24,000 used.
Click to expand...

I've seen quite a few 2002'ish WRX's going for 13k-15k USD.
 
Scouzer

Scouzer

Lifer
Jun 3, 2001
10,358
5
0
Originally posted by: vi_edit
Originally posted by: Scouzer
WRX starts at about $24,000 used.
Click to expand...

I've seen quite a few 2002'ish WRX's going for 13k-15k USD.
Click to expand...

Where do I live?

Cheapest one on the market is: $24,900.00

Oh, don't get me wrong BTW; I love WRX's but they are insane on the market here
 
Scouzer

Scouzer

Lifer
Jun 3, 2001
10,358
5
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Why are you arguing with me? I DO NOT LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES. I CANNOT GET A WRX FOR A PRICE BELOW $24,900 CDN!
 
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Cattlegod

Diamond Member
May 22, 2001
8,687
1
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Originally posted by: Scouzer
Why are you arguing with me? I DO NOT LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES. I CANNOT GET A WRX FOR A PRICE BELOW $24,900 CDN!
Click to expand...

lmao no kidding.

anyway, i have an unmodded 2003.5 mzspeed protege. i got it when it was new and have put 30k miles on it. very fun car, runs excellent. one thing you should be sure to be aware of is the audio system tends to fail.

I've had my sub blow and my stereo head unit stop working (i guess these go bad all the time) I have replaced my sub with a new (much better) one so i won't even bother with the old one anymore. They replaced my radio because it was still under warranty, so that isn't an issue.

Also there is reports of bushing failure for front and rear bushings. I've had mine replaced under warranty.

Oh, and if you plan on driving in the snow, you MUST invest in either A - all season tires, or B- winter tires. DO NOT drive in the snow/ice with the stock tires, you will go no where and not be able to stop at all.

edit: andy i get 29-30mpg with it.
 
Scouzer

Scouzer

Lifer
Jun 3, 2001
10,358
5
0
Good advice on the tires. I will get snow tires or Nokian all seasons.

I don't like the sounds of the bushing failures. Due to the low numbers of Mazdaspeed Protege's, are repairs very expensive? Parts hard to get? Are those bushings expensive?

Excellent mpg. I will likely have a lot of highway miles so good mileage is a very big plus!
 
vi edit

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,345
126
Originally posted by: Scouzer
Good advice on the tires. I will get snow tires or Nokian all seasons.

I don't like the sounds of the bushing failures. Due to the low numbers of Mazdaspeed Protege's, are repairs very expensive? Parts hard to get? Are those bushings expensive?

Excellent mpg. I will likely have a lot of highway miles so good mileage is a very big plus!
Click to expand...

For most intents and purposes, it's a fairly typical Protege of that year, it just happens to have a low pressure turbo tacked onto it. Inherently, turbo's are added complexity and an additional (and expensive) wear & tear maintenance item.

Just keep that in mind and budget your repair bills appropriately.
 
C

CTrain

Diamond Member
Sep 26, 2001
4,940
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0
Pretty nice car.
You should go to the Mazdaspeed forum instead of here.
Most people are not familiar with the car.

Its alot quicker than than people think.
The thing is the factory boost setting is very low(like 6.5) and you ca easily boost it up to about 9.5. At that level, its about as fast as a RSX-Type S.

My only concern is with the turbo.
Buying it brand new is no problem.
I don't like buying used car that are turbo...just more chances of problems.
 
Scouzer

Scouzer

Lifer
Jun 3, 2001
10,358
5
0
Yeah I'm concerned about the fact its a turbo as well.

However, I think its a tradeoff worth considering due to its very good looks and the other options have bigger flaws.
 
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Horus

Platinum Member
Dec 27, 2003
2,838
1
0
I have a '99 Protege, the one with the 1.6L DOHC. It's a very, very zippy car. Good looks, engine is absolutely BULLETPROOF. Suspension can go after long, hard use, and watch the clutch.

Other than that, easy to maintain, cheap to maintain, and a serious BLAST to drive

But get winter tires.
 
Scouzer

Scouzer

Lifer
Jun 3, 2001
10,358
5
0
I'm reading Protege and MSP boards. It seems whistling from the windshield, clunking from the bushings, and the LSD failing are all massive problems. They have 55 (!) people from the board who have had the LSD fail. Every single member, bar none, has heard the bushings clunk and squeak, especially bad in cold weather....

Not good
 
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evilsaint

Golden Member
Feb 7, 2006
1,364
1
91
Originally posted by: Scouzer
Yeah I'm concerned about the fact its a turbo as well.

However, I think its a tradeoff worth considering due to its very good looks and the other options have bigger flaws.
Click to expand...

You won't be concerned about the turbo once you hear the whine and get kicked back into your seat >:)

BTW, turbo's don't generally have that many issues, especially stock ones, let alone smaller low PSI ones. If you knocked up the boost a 4-5PSI with no supporting mods... yeah, then you could have some problems mighty quick, but other than that, you shouldn't have to worry about the turbo at all, aside from it possibly sucking up a bit of your oil.
 
batmang

batmang

Diamond Member
Jul 16, 2003
3,020
1
81
http://www.msprotege.com/forum

as a previous mazda protege5 owner and a mazda club member, i can vouche for mazdaspeeds being very very VERY fun cars to drive.
they wont destroy wrx's or other turbo cars in a straight line in stock form... but go to some twisties and its game over.
the mazdaspeed in stock form is one of the best handling cars you can buy. it was compared to many cars and destroyed all cars in
its class when it came to the handling department. i need to find the link to the results.

but imo.. mazdaspeed proteges are awesome cars.
 
Scouzer

Scouzer

Lifer
Jun 3, 2001
10,358
5
0
yeah i will not be modding

needs to be fun stock :)

mazdaspeed protege seems to be winning here hands down!
 
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