Skip to main content

Used 2003 Mazda Mazdaspeed Protege Sedan Consumer Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
113 reviews
1...

See Edmunds pricing data

Has Your Car's Value Changed?

Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.

Price history graph example

Trending topics in reviews

Pros
Cons
4.25 out of 5 stars

Too bad I love to drive it...

CD, 05/25/2006
2003 Mazda Mazdaspeed Protege 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful

This is the most fun to drive car I have ever had, and that's the only reason it is still in my driveway. It has its own bay at the service department. I'm there for the same things over and over. I've had a new turbo, a new transmission, sway bar links at least 5 times, a rear subframe, two new alarms, new a/c compressor, multiple coolant leaks, multiple exhaust leaks, new exhaust manifold, the list goes on and on. I'm going to sell it when the warranty runs out, I just hope I can find something as fun to drive as this is when it's not in the shop. (Reviewed by a 32 year old female driving it to work, not a teenager abusing it) .

Report Abuse

5 out of 5 stars

'03.5 Mazdaspeed Protege

Richard Manship, 08/02/2005
2003 Mazda Mazdaspeed Protege 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful

I really dig this car. I had a Protege5 before it, and this was just the jump I was looking for. And the prices I paid was unbeatable at the time ($13.5k). There are know problems with this car, but if you do your research, they're easily fixed under warranty.

Report Abuse
4.75 out of 5 stars

'03.5 msp

Denis, 12/18/2008
2003 Mazda Mazdaspeed Protege 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 02/02 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful

I bought this car to out-manuever drivers on cell phones! Handling is fabulous. Get dedicated winter wheels and you're good to go. Radio is painful to adjust; display way too bright at night. Other than that, just a wonderful car. Add a K&N air filter and noise-proof the trunk space.

Report Abuse

4 out of 5 stars

Great car, Dont push it though or the Zoom Zoom will go BOOM!

chad92, 02/07/2013
2003 Mazda Mazdaspeed Protege 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 02/02 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
4 of 6 people found this review helpful

I bought the car with high mileage, around 114,XXX. I bought the car with some bushing issues and some tuning issues. I fixed the bushing issues, but let the tuning wait for a bit. If you dont know, these cars have problems with their bushings as they will go bad every 5-10k miles, the stock tune on these cars is rubbish, and the turbo system they put on the car is excellent, unfortunately they just stuck the system on a stock protege engine, I found this out after I put ~500 miles on it. I was driving in third gear around 3500 rpms, and the engine let go. No warning, no temp spikes, just exploded. Fortunately, I liked the rest of the car enough to spend some elbow grease/$ on a new one!

Report Abuse

5 out of 5 stars

BUY THIS CAR IF YOU GET A CHANCE

johnny123456777, 06/14/2004
2003 Mazda Mazdaspeed Protege 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 02/02 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Extremely fun to drive. Everyone loves orange cars. Scare people with the blow off valve. THIS CAR IS A MUST HAVE.

Report Abuse
1...
Items per page:
5