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I own a 2000 ES. Nice car even if the previous owner ate the remote and won't own up to it!
Meade
And I must say it's been a very reliable car. No rattles, no problems, nothing to complain about. It gets better the more you drive it. It could use new tires, the stock Poortenzas are getting thin, but they make less noise as they wear out.
Compared to other small cars it wins handsdown. Plenty of room, comfortable seats, peppy engine, and handling that gets you out of tight driving situations and small parking spaces when SUV drivers park too close. It's the handling that spoils you. Any car with a larger turning circle is out of the question.
Like Bluem6i said, they are more like a little sports car than an econobox, a sports car with four doors. Not many mid-size cars have a 13-cubic foot trunk. The BMW 3 series has only 10cf.
Fuel economy has been good. Best trip mileage 36mpg.
fowler3
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--Dale
fowler3
fowler3
The important bits have been very reliable (engine, transmission, brakes), but my car has been plagued with annoying noises. Since day 1 there has been a rattle in the dash coming from the passenger-side vent area. The vent and most surrounding pieces have been replaced, but the rattle persists.
Another annoying rattle in the right rear passenger door has finally been tracked down by my daughter to the window crank, though I've yet to have it fixed. The right front window had an air leak when fully closed, fixed by the dealer with new rubber bits.
Most annoying however has been the squeeky drivers seat. I've had the track replaced, then the entire seat, but after five trips to the dealer and just as many attempted fixes (the new seat was the most recent) the damned thing still sounds like a cheap motel bed on prom-night. Supposedly the Mazda factory rep will take a look at it, but it drives me nuts.
Despite the annoyances, I still love the car. It is fast, handles like crazy and while a bit noisy at speed, is actually a decent cruiser. I'd buy another one, but only after making sure it wasn't built on a Friday.
Andrew
Then tried the 01 ES at a Mazda dealer. Again I immediately noticed the noise level was high. At freeway speeds in the rain, it was intolerable. Unfortunately these cars were marked off my list for this reason only. Too bad because the 01 ES was a heck of a buy at $7995, 34K, certified used. I got a 97 Camry for the same amount and it is way more quiet on the highway. While it certainly won't be as entertaining to drive it suits my needs better.
Why the kids are all driving and modding Honda Civics, I dont understand, the ES Protege blows a a Civic away, it is exactly the car Id want if I was 15 years younger....
Oh well. Now you are one of the nameless masses.
Meade
If you like the car thats great for you, but to me it seems like they left out some vital insulation. I hope that the new 3 shows improvement in this area.
Then again, it ain't a Buick either. But I knew that when I bought it.
Maybe a longer test drive, with a little highway exposure, will help you buy the appropriate car for yourself next time.
Meade
I'm happy with the car. It ain't no Buick, and I knew it when I bought it.
High RPM's and road noise are inherent to the Protege, and denying it ain't gonna change it.
note: Zero problems (defects) with my Protege from new. Nada, zilch, zip!
Meade
-old head
Where ya been?!
Meade
Does Trudy know about this?
And btw, your quality of life is better? You had not one, but TWO 2000 Protege ES's, both of which gave you four and a half years of trouble-free service, and life is better? I wanna hear that again after four and a half years with the Vibes in the driveway.
Meade
How come (Vocus) Paul King never posts here anymore? He always was willing to share his vast knowledge of automotive experience with the many newbies at Edmunds.com?
How is the weather in Richmond?
-lovetrain
Tonight's supposed to be even colder than last night. It's a balmy 27 right now, which is the high for today so far. I just wish the winds would die down -- we've been having gusts up to 30 today, which have been making for some killer wind chills -- this morning they were negative.
Brrrr. Good thing Zoomster heats up quick!
Meade
-old head
The BFG's I put on in December have been doing pretty well in the snow thus far. Not as good as snow tires, but certainly good enough to get me around the back roads and hills where I live.
Things good here. Cold, snowy, but good. Cars coming up on 60k (mine) or past the 30k service interval (hers). Both doing fine.
And yes, they are noisy (mine more so than hers), but we both wanted them that way (the noises are mostly good, except for all the undissolved road salt hitting the insides of my car's wheel wells), so we can tell what's going on outside the cars. I can't stand over-insulated cars, might as well have someone else drive.
Respectfully,
Larry Kline
Heh, not sure if I'm helping or not. But it's good to see that not many problems crop up. Of course, it's partly due to more happening on the Mazda3 boards since the Protege got discontinued. I'm still pretty happy with mine, and I don't see anything out there I would rather have, so I'm sticking with her.
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Meade
Are you still leaning towards a 3 for your next car?
I have become very interested in the Mazda5, which is due out over here in late spring or early summer, or so they say. So I've put my purchase on hold until I can get a good look at the 5 (plus pay down some other debts some more). No sense hurrying to replace a 100% reliable car; heck, its value won't change much now at its age and mileage. If the 5 doesn't turn out to be all I hope, then the 3 wagon will probably be the way I go.
How you doin'?
Meade
P.S. Everybody who owns a Protege, be proud! The AP story about Mazda's U.S. sales slipping a small percentage in January attributed the decline, in part, to "its discontinued Protege line." They were popular cars. Looks like the 3's going to take a while to gain the acceptance and popularity the Protege enjoyed.
Meade
My question is this: At this late date should I get the valve adjustment (car is running fine) or just forget it. I plan to keep the car for another 50K miles.
Tim
I don't understand people complaining about noise in the Protegés. They must drive on rough-paved roads. Poortenzas would be noisy on those. My '01 LX is still doing fine: no rattles, no squeeks, nothing to complain about -- darn it. I feel left out. Well, one thing, I noticed a tiny bit of paint missing on the driver's side door. Shesh, I haven't had that happen in over 12 years.
The seats are still comfortable, the inside trim clean as new, no passengers. And still low mileage at 21,340. Wonder what it's worth?
I was thinkiing about the MZ3 the other day, what if I had to carry two 100lb bags of soil for the garden, the 3's tiny trunk opening, I'll bet you have to get down on your knees to get cargo out. Not so in the Pro.
fowler3
We've been looking for a used car and have used Edmunds to evaluate the pricing on two. One being an average 1999 Protege LX. I have to say I am a little confused on this one.
Edmunds has this 1999, average condition, 108, vehicle with a private party price of like $2200. Kelly lists it only "Fair" around $3995 private party! I know there is going to be an amount of difference in these prices due to the source. But, these prices aren't even close.
I made a first offer of $2600 which they rejected.
I like doing research on Edmunds, apparently I just can't buy any cars with these prices as a reference.
The sad part is that I really love driving the car, it is fast, handles well and is just plain fun, but the noises drive me absolutely nuts. The seat particularly, which sounds the bedframe in a downtown motel renting rooms by the hour. It is loud enough to hear over loud music (at its worst), and always attracts the attention of anyone who rides in the car.
I finally sent Mazda a letter, along with a copy of the California lemon law, which only requires four attempts and up to 30 days downtime before the manufacturer should replace the vehicle or buy it back.
I'm really saddened that it came to this, as I had such high hopes for the car.
Anyway, I got a can of WD-40 and got underneath and sprayed anywhere I saw metal/metal contact. Took me three tries but I got rid of the squeak.
Car smelled pretty bad for a week or so but it was worth it !
Usually, when tracked down it's something you would never have thought of. It could be where the seatback joins the seat frame, plastic parts rubbing together or the seat springs. Even a screw that rubs. had that problem on an American car.
A screw holding the center console on the drive shaft tunnel was too long. Driving over rough roads there was a hammering noise as the end of the screw was hit by the drive shaft. Switching the screw with a shorter one solved it.
lawman1967, on that window crank problem, exchange them between doors and see if that corrects it.
Another suggestion, stay with the car and ask if you can use the stethascope mechanics use to listen to engines as the mechanic drives the car -- maybe you can poin-point the sounds location.
fowler3
I doubt it is the seatback as they have already replaced EVERYTHING. New tracks, entire new seat, EVERYTHING!
That only leaves whatever mounts the tracks to the floor of the car, or the floor to the actual frame.
It took a lot less than 3 years for it to bother me, especially as it did it since new. My car only has 22K miles and is a rattletrap, I want them to replace it and will fight them for that result.
Have them swop the front seats, they are the same except for the seat controls. See what happens, is the squeak on the right side?
I doubt Mazda will replace a whole car for a squeak. If it was an engine problem you would have a better chance.
fowler3
I would agree with that. Try an independent shop. Ask around any other Mazda owners you know to see if they can recommend one.
My power antenna (hate those things) broke on my 88 626. The dealer wanted three hours labour to put a new one in.
A car radio repair shop did it in under one hour. The dealer does not always know best.
Failing that, when you get the car back try the WD-40 yourself. What have you got to lose ?
Its not replacing a car for a squeak, its replacing a car because its been out of service for 40 days now, when the law only gives them 30.
Anyway I will take them either to arbitration or court, after 6 attempts and 40 days (and counting), I will not just let them off the hook.