I typically avoid these cars that have been modified..Often the mods have been done incorrect and/or the car has been abused.Then when it gets to be a headache ( ie its shot) for them they try and pawn it off on someone else.
I find the Mazda Protege5 very attractive. Would love to buy one but are difficult to find one that hasn't been molested by some street thug wannabe ricer, or one that hasn't been overly driven and abused. Have seen a few of these listed for sale but they either had some areas of body damage, a modified exhaust system, excessive clutch wear (last one I test drove the clutch pedal sank to the floorboard with little to no resistance at all), oil leak, or clocked in excess of 200k miles (for a vehicle that is 15 years old to have that much mileage on the odometer falls in the gray area for me). Needless to say I walked away from each one. Hard to find one in fair condition these days.
I think i own this car lmao, when i bought my protoge5 it had that same exact scrunchie in it and the same decal and has those gauges, and it also had that one missing peice by the fog lights.. and the same exhaust with the same mileage too o.O but mine hasnt shut down and isnt leaking anything or smokes from the exhaust.
I feel that most cars should be left stock. Most aftermarket accessories seem to take away from the overall appearance of the car. This what happens when your car is treated like shit.
the 1998-2003, 2003-present in, Taiwan, Philippines, China, and Colombia Mazda Protege/ Mazda Famillia/ Mazda 323/ MazdaSpeed Protegé/ Mazda Isamu Genki (Taiwan)/ Mazda Allegro/ Ford Activa/ Ford Lynx/ Ford Laser/ Ford Tierra was/is assembled in Hiroshima, Japan Hofu, Japan Pretoria, South Africa Bogotá, Colombia Tehran, Iran Rayong, Thailand
I have a Protege5 and the one thing I can say about that car is, why the hell did I get rid of my Buick? These cars are garbage. I have a random, intermittent misfire that I've been chasing for months and can't get rid of, the idle is rough as hell and barely goes over 500rpm, the power steering sounds like an old man groaning, it unexplainably loses brake fluid constantly even though there's no leaks, it rides rough as hell and the suspension is clunky and the gas mileage sucks
have a '03 protege 4door 2.0L, it's crap, while a non-interference motor the crankshaft/timing connection sheared off and seized up the engine. Go honda or Acura for about the same price people....
Hi...I have '03 Protege LX...I had to put some parts, that other cars would have lasted longer...Stabilizer Links, for one...Although, I replaced the Struts, and tires... They Did NOT necessarily need it...Eventually, they would...So, a few things that will last for A LONG Time...I did a lot of Preventive Maintenance, like Trans axle fluid flush and fill...The coolant also...The power steering Fluid Too...These Fluids, will last for a LONG time...The Mazda dealer, I bought it from, replaced ONE wheel Bearing and Both Drive Belts...It had the CLASSIC, rust issues, that I ended up replacing both Fenders...The Wheels stopped holding GOOD air, so I replaced them...Of course, the battery and brakes I had replaced, ARE things that go Bad, w/ ALL CARS...But Ya Know....Other than this, the Alternator, is probably the Only thing that's gonna die next...The rest, could EASILY go tens, of Thousands of miles before more work is Needed :):):) So, it will most likely, prove to be yet another Well Built Japanese vehicle, ACTUALLY Built in Japan...My brothers friend, has 170,xxx miles, on a 2nd generation protege that she CLAIMS ?? had NOTHING replaced, other than brakes, tires and a battery and Fluid changes...But, even if there was more that needed work...I'm SURE, it was VERY Little...In other Words, I'm sorry, you've had a Lemon of a Protege :(:( But, it's like German cars.. Generally, they're UNRELIABLE, but a Few Are Golden..In your case...Mazda/Japanese cars are Golden and Yours, is UNFORTUNATELY a Lemon...I'm Just sharing Info. w/ You...I am Not Mocking you, or your Car...Take it E-Z :):):)
your engine isn't stock from the year that the mazda protege5 came out, your 2L turbo mazdaspeed engine comes from a 2003.5 mazdaspeed protege. your car sucks and the engine belongs in the real car that it came out with
