YACT: which would you rather have? 2004 corolla or 2003 protege?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
M

MeanMeosh

Diamond Member
Apr 18, 2001
3,805
1
0
parents are getting me a new car (the transmission going out on the old one seemed to be the last straw - $2500 lowest estimate for all that ails it). after me (when i get out of college and get a job), it will go to my younger brother who's gonna be getting out of high school...

choices:

a. 2004 toyota corolla - 4-cylinder, auto, base edition (no cruise, manual windows / seats / locks, nothing fancy, comes with alarm system)
b. 2003 mazda protege - 4-cylinder, auto, one above base (yes cruise, yes power windows / locks, no alarm system (i don't think so, anyway))

both come with cd / am/fm / ac, etc...

what would you rather have??

edit: already tried bribing my parents to get me the RX-8, no go :( oh well... first car after job! :D)

edit again: the mazdaspeed protege you guys keep mentioning IS the same as the normal mazda protege, right?

triple edit: i test drove both cars: protege - fun ride, nice handling, zipped right along; corolla - pretty good and smooth ride, kinda stiff handling, perception of slowness (even when i was going same speed as protege)
 
S

SuperTool

Lifer
Jan 25, 2000
14,000
2
0
Originally posted by: MeanMeosh
parents are getting me a new car (the transmission going out on the old one seemed to be the last straw - $2500 lowest estimate for all that ails it). after me (when i get out of college and get a job), it will go to my younger brother who's gonna be getting out of high school...

choices:

a. 2004 toyota corolla - 4-cylinder, auto, base edition (no cruise, manual windows / seats / locks, nothing fancy, comes with alarm system)
b. 2003 mazda protege - 4-cylinder, auto, one above base (yes cruise, yes power windows / locks, no alarm system (i don't think so, anyway))

both come with cd / am/fm / ac, etc...

what would you rather have??
Click to expand...

All right, since you are getting auto, assuming same feature level, I would pick corolla.
But manual windows suck, so i would go with protege. I don't care about cruise, but power windows are a must.
 
M

mAdD INDIAN

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
7,804
1
0
Originally posted by: MeanMeosh
parents are getting me a new car (the transmission going out on the old one seemed to be the last straw - $2500 lowest estimate for all that ails it). after me (when i get out of college and get a job), it will go to my younger brother who's gonna be getting out of high school...

choices:

a. 2004 toyota corolla - 4-cylinder, auto, base edition (no cruise, manual windows / seats / locks, nothing fancy, comes with alarm system)
b. 2003 mazda protege - 4-cylinder, auto, one above base (yes cruise, yes power windows / locks, no alarm system (i don't think so, anyway))

both come with cd / am/fm / ac, etc...

what would you rather have??
Click to expand...

Do you mind wind noise on the highway? Do you mind a slightly stiffer suspension? Do you mind a floaty suspension? Would you like to have some fun when driving?

Pros for Protege:
-ridiculousy good handling for a car in its segment
-nice interior and ergonomics
-good price/value ( i heard they are giving rebates to Proteges in the Sttates, since the new Mazda3 replacement is coming out soon)
-awesome reliability and build quality (no sqeauks or rattles)


Cons for Protege:
- windnoise on the highway (alteast in the ES 2.0)
- stiff suspension may bug you (again in the ES 2.0..dunno about the base model)


Pros for Corolla:
- nice interior
- soft/comfrotable ride
- awesome reliablity/build quality
- low windnoise on the highway

Cons for Corolla:
- Floaty supension
- looks ugly (to me)
- expensive for what you get (atleast over here)

It all depends on what you want in car. Either way you can't go wrong. And a Civic is just between those two cars in terms of ride/handling. Here's a tip tho, the Corolla is a car you want to drive when you don't feel like driving.
 
M

MeanMeosh

Diamond Member
Apr 18, 2001
3,805
1
0
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Do you know which trim levels the Corolla and Protege are?
Click to expand...

corolla: its a CE level trim, but with auto transmission
protege: LX edition, one above base.
 
RossMAN

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,092
459
136
I would be willing to live without automatic windows to get the Corolla because:

1) I'm a Toyota fanboy, there I said it!
2) It's a newer model than the Mazda Protege.
3) Probably better resale value.
4) Legendary Toyota reliability.

Although the Mazda will probably be more FUN to drive.
 
B

BCYL

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2000
7,803
0
71
Corolla....

Since you are expecting this car to last a while, reliability is key! And the corolla will last you a long time without any major problems...

The Mazda Protege is built on a platform that's already 10 yrs old.... and the new model is coming out very soon... so no point getting a new Protege now...
 
OS

OS

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
15,581
1
76
I drive a 2000 corolla, I'm pretty happy with it. The engine is very similar between mine and the new models. My car doesn't have power windows either, but it doesn't really bother me, AC is standard. My last car had power windows and I don't think it's really that big a deal.

I'm tempted to say just get a corolla, but I hate the seating position in the new ones. Every time that issue slips my mind, I go to the dealership to look for a stick corolla S only to be reminded that I hate sitting in it. Obviously this is a really personal complaint so you have to see for yourself if this matters to you.

I've driven a late model protege before and I wouldn't give up my car for one. The protege I drove for whatever reason felt anemic. Edmunds lists the protege as having noticeably worse acceleration than the corolla. link IMO cars in this class need every drop of power you can get.

If you want something sportier, consider a sentra SE-R/SE-R Spec V. They're pretty inexpensive and quick.



 
OS

OS

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
15,581
1
76
huh, I just noticed in that edmunds like that the corolla actually posts higher slalom numbers than the protege. So much for the protege being a good handler.
 
C

CraigRT

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
31,440
5
0
tough decision... the toyota is ugly, and the mazda looks better
but the corolla will likely owe you NOTHING even after many years of owernship.. i'd probably lean towards the mazda myself.
 
C

chin311

Diamond Member
Feb 27, 2003
4,306
3
81
protege i say...

i like the styling better, and im sure it drives better than a corolla...
 
N

Nyical

Golden Member
Feb 7, 2003
1,157
0
0
Wife has a 02 ES Protege and it is a fun car to drive with the 5 speed manual, road noise isnt to bad ,very comfy on long trips only paid 19K
with a 0% and 0 down and the only problem with it was the stearing was not aligned when we got it.
 
Rallispec

Rallispec

Lifer
Jul 26, 2001
12,375
10
81
the mazdaspeed protege is a more expensive, souped up version of the protege.. larger wheels, sportier look, and a turbocharger making 170 hp. (about 40 more than a standard protege)

if your parents will get that for you, awesome.. i doubt they will though.

In that case-- i'd probably go with a corolla over a regular protege-- just becuase the quality of the corolla will be better.
 
J

jsbush

Diamond Member
Nov 13, 2000
3,871
0
76
Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
Originally posted by: MeanMeosh
parents are getting me a new car (the transmission going out on the old one seemed to be the last straw - $2500 lowest estimate for all that ails it). after me (when i get out of college and get a job), it will go to my younger brother who's gonna be getting out of high school...

choices:

a. 2004 toyota corolla - 4-cylinder, auto, base edition (no cruise, manual windows / seats / locks, nothing fancy, comes with alarm system)
b. 2003 mazda protege - 4-cylinder, auto, one above base (yes cruise, yes power windows / locks, no alarm system (i don't think so, anyway))

both come with cd / am/fm / ac, etc...

what would you rather have??
Click to expand...

Do you mind wind noise on the highway? Do you mind a slightly stiffer suspension? Do you mind a floaty suspension? Would you like to have some fun when driving?

Pros for Protege:
-ridiculousy good handling for a car in its segment
-nice interior and ergonomics
-good price/value ( i heard they are giving rebates to Proteges in the Sttates, since the new Mazda3 replacement is coming out soon)
-awesome reliability and build quality (no sqeauks or rattles)


Cons for Protege:
- windnoise on the highway (alteast in the ES 2.0)
- stiff suspension may bug you (again in the ES 2.0..dunno about the base model)


Pros for Corolla:
- nice interior
- soft/comfrotable ride
- awesome reliablity/build quality
- low windnoise on the highway

Cons for Corolla:
- Floaty supension
- looks ugly (to me)
- expensive for what you get (atleast over here)

It all depends on what you want in car. Either way you can't go wrong. And a Civic is just between those two cars in terms of ride/handling. Here's a tip tho, the Corolla is a car you want to drive when you don't feel like driving.
Click to expand...

More cons for the corolla,
Loud engine,
Pedals are closer to the seat then most cars (might be annoying for tall people)
Radio is hard to access when driving,

More cons for Protege
If bass model, underpowered engine,
If not bass model, higher price for same options/engine performence as corolla.
Older model design (lower resell value down the road)



 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom