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Sam
Factory, dealer, and me. The tab was to be $ 1000.
When it came time to close the deal the dealer said Mazda factory rep had backed out of his commitment. So it was $ 1000 two way split. Another shop with high quality credentials did the job for $ 400. Which means the dealer only pretended to pay a portion of the bill and I really was going to foot the entire bill. This is fraud. My mileage was a few miles over 36,000 miles.
I'm still living with the fix and come back rust for a car I love to drive but am ashamed to let my car buff buddies see. I help run a car show for 8,000 spectators and 500 cars, and a scholarship of $ 11,000 for the local Auto Tech College.
This really has eaten at me. I love the Mazda drive. Zoom is a very real thing.
Is there any evidence they have addressed the rust issue?
Malibu lately just doesn't rust. An amazing achievement, but they are using technology any mfr can use.
Toyota and Honda have always seemed to have the rust problem over the rear wheel wells.
So Mazda is not alone.
My P5 had rust near the license plate the day I picked it up, which indicates to me that the boat ride was uncovered vehicles on the ocean.
Spread the word. Mazda needs to hurt badly on this issue, as does Honda and Toyota. That they will not deal with this is absurd.
I agree rust was a real problem in Mazda vehicles like my 2002 Protege5.
However, when it came to buy a new vehicle, I reviewed the field and decided that Mazda still offered the best deal and so I bought another Mazda (with some hesitation).
My reasoning was three fold:
1. my 10 year old Protege5 was in good condition in spite of the rust (note: the rusting had been corrected partially by actions by Mazda Canada and the dealership) ;
2. other vehicles of that vintage also had some rust (e.g. Toyota Corrollas, Honda Civics) although I must admit I tended to notice the problem in Mazdas most;
3. rust is inevitable when salt/brine is applied to road surfaces; the only recourse is to apply rustproofing as early as possible. Lesson learned: Rustproof your car right after purchase to protect it as soon as possible.
p.s. Mazda3 rear wheel wells have been redesigned and some rubber added to exposed portions; these seem to be in response to the Protege rust history.
Is there any way to fix the rust without taking it to a body shop? There is one major spot of rust above the wheel well (seems like the same spot for everyone) right where a new body panel starts. This panel continues around the windows to the side mirrors. Is it possible to just replace that panel myself? I tried to look online for a replacement panel with no luck. Anyone have any options? Also what kind of cost are we looking at for fixing rust at a body shop?
I have normally seen the rust on the rear wheel wells; it sounds like you are describing the rust next to the front quarter panels.
I tried to look online for a replacement panel with no luck. Anyone have any options?
Have you tried checking salvage yards?
what kind of cost are we looking at for fixing rust at a body shop?
Starting price could be $200 to $300 but could easily double or triple. I'd tell the shop that the car need not be restored to new just good enough to sell.
Personally, I'd figure out how much the car is worth as is (check cars in the classifieds for your area) and approximately how much the cost for the repair would be and then negotiate with a buyer.
How old was the truck when this happened? Was the truck still under warranty? Were there special circustances with this case? This seems very unusual to me.
Auto manufacturers need to take responsibility for their products through warranties that are fairly administered.
So don't kill your consideration of a Mazda3 or CX-5 (2013).
Other models of Mazda do not rust (Miata we have had three).
But check if 2010 and up are rusting.
Good luck.
My vanity plate reads "Zoom OH)
Canton Ohio
Your car does not sound too bad. How much did your mechanic quote to replace the sway bar bracket? Considering the winters in MI, did you get your car rust proofed?
My 2002 Protege5 had 81K miles (or 132K km as we say in Canada) when I passed it on to my nephew last year. He is enjoying it and plans to drive it for several more years. Although there are rust issues, I would have to say they are fundamentally cosmetic (that is, they do not affect the vehicle's performance or safety) because the car was rust proofed from the start.
My rust was limited to the rear wheel body panels.
It was pretty bad, and reached the point that one of the panels was barely hanging.
I put $ 2200 into replacing the inside and outside panels on both sides.
this 10 year old vehicle with 86k miles now looks as good as new.
Consider the cost to replace, the monthly payments, when you can keep a car,
dump a couple of grand into it every couple of years (major parts or maintenance, or body work) and have a car that is an absolute joy to drive. Nothing can beat it, for me. The design profile is a wonder to behold. The Lexus IS of the same year was so close in design that in photo you could not tell which was which.
A car that falters and bucks, sometimes doesn't start, has tires that won't deliver traction, can make life a bit of misery all day long. Fear you won't be able to start when you are a good distance from home, etc.
Keeping a car "whole" can be a boost to every minute of the day. The 2002 and 2003 Mazda Protege5 are "special". There are many makes in this car class in today's car market. Current years. But there isn't the same design edge. For example the Subaru has bling rear lights that just look tacky. Otherwise, the same basic design.
If you have a wind tunnel and a good design staff, you have to come to this body design.
We are the lucky ones that can own one without car payments and have the true ZOOM ZOOM experience. My vanity plate reads "ZOOM OH". My wife's vanity plate reads "ZZMIATA".
We have had three Miatas. Our current one is a 1999 and it runs like a top. 13 years old and looks showroom clean. My vanity plate showed up in the Canton Repository, the local paper in "Seen around town" which shows neat vanity plates each day.
Stick with your Protege5. It is a special car, and you won't find one to match it unless you are very, very lucky.
Speaking of "edge", I imagine most Subaru drivers not caring too much for those comments!
Mazda has a black mark on its record for this gaffe but overall the brand is a quality offering and with Skyactive high mpg vehicles in the future this car brand has a lot to look forward to.
Don't give up. Consider an expensive body job to keep the car you love to drive. I invested $ 75 for a plate that said "ZOOM OH". My wife's Miata says "ZZ MIATA".
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Share your vehicle reviews
I'd love to hear your ongoing comments on the new electric, but i know that this site does not allow any conversation outside of the model/issue of the thread first chatted about.
As a boycotter myself when wronged on a serious enough level, one thing I am increasingly encouraged about though when reading this thread, and it is the conviction with which rusty Mazda owners have about not owning another. The comments seem pretty universal in that they all loved their cars, but will not be a patsy for the brand any more since Mazda has failed to own this problem and treat past loyal customers decently and fair.
I'm not very familiar with the electrics..I find it odd you did not mention the Leaf. But seems to me I recall something about the Mitsu...maybe size? It might be a micro and a totally dif class from the Leaf?
Are you an ex-Mazda Protege owner?
Likewise, good luck with your VW.
I had a 2003 Mazda Protege' and loved the click-click of all the controls and it was very nicely done inside and out. I had no complaints that summer.
However, I drove with a lead foot and wore out my tires by fall. I ended up hydroplaning and slammed into a jersey wall full speed.
I thought it had all season radials. WRONG!
I thought it had all season radials too. WRONG!
I really thought that all cars had both of the aforementioned "features" and was sure at least that it had all season radial tires. So, my mistake, my insurance claim.
I am running a summer set that is forgiving in the wet, and a winter set on separate wheels.
I put the car with original tires in a snowdrift up to my windows on all sides,
after spinning out on a curbless street and coming to rest by the side of the road, perpendicular to the road. I had serious snow tires mounted with a couple of weeks.
Well, at this point, Mazda should pay me to keep my Protege5 rust bucket off the road. This car has less than 100K miles, and is a junker due to rust problems. It's white, and the seal coat completely failed within 5 years. Rust began around both rear wheel wells at year 6. You don't see ANY P5 around here without rust in the same area. You see lots of other older cars without rust. I will buy those brands from now on.
I love everything about this car, except the rust. And yes, it lived in the garage, was washed/waxed regularly, never been in an accident (or even dinged), and I'm the original owner - bought from dealer. The year after we bought the P5, we bought a Pontiac Vibe (for the wife). Now, 11 years later, put those two cars side by side - one looks almost as good as a new car, the other looks like a junker. One car you can work on, the other - every time you try to turn a bolt it snaps off due to rust.
At another site, in a article titled TOP 10 BEST & WORST RUST-RESISTANT CARS, Mazda 3/5 took the top worst position, with the only 'very weak rust resistance' rating given. The ratings were based on data 'collected over 15 years by the APA (Automobile Protection Association)'
This point cannot be stressed enough. Mazda has the worst rusting cars of ANY car manufactured.
I will NEVER ever buy another Mazda. I will tell all of my friends and acquaintances to stay away from Mazda. If I ever hear of anyone considering buying a Mazda, I will ask them to google 'Mazda rust'. There is no excuse. Modern cars should last at least 200k miles, with 300k being easily achievable with care.
On my past 40 years of US Car experiences I have decided not to buy GM or FORD. Now I have added Mazda on my "Do Not Buy" list. According to my experience with GM and FORD cars and service/support are poor.