Used 1992 Mazda Protege Sedan Consumer Reviews
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1992 protege great little car
gerouch, 07/05/2008
1992 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bought this car 5 months ago for $800.00 and that was the best money ever spent. Car had 163,000 miles on it and I have put 10,000 more miles on it since then and probably saved over $1,000 in gas money so far, if not more. Had a gas guzzling Dodge Ram that got 14 mpg and this Protege gets 37 mpg. With gas price the way they are, this car will be around for ever if I can help it. Don't like auto seat belt but will cope with that.
Great peppy car
sac17, 05/02/2002
1992 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought the car 2.5 yrs ago when it had 80K miles on it...since then I've put 40,000 miles on it and has not given me much problems...I've changed the fuel tank,front pipe,center pipe,rear muffler, radiator,wiring,belts, new tires, and some small maintenance. With regular oil changes it runs great & has never broken down on me like some american cars do.
Most Satisfying Purchase of My Life
Dean914, 05/17/2002
1992 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car is the single most satisfying purchase I ever made. It has been exceptionally reliable, livable and fun to drive. After 10 years, it still looks good, resembling last generation Audi 90 and Audi A4, with the optional 7-spoke alloy wheels. Plenty of room in the trunk and rear seats, flexible and secure fold down rear seats. The dual cam engine is a honey and very smooth. When I consider how reasonably priced this car was when new, I don't think even today's Koreans can touch it for value. My LX 5- Speed with the alloys is truly a cut rate BMW. I may have to keep it forever.
almost at 350k and kickin'
Robert, 03/06/2009
1992 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car two years ago at 196k miles. I've driven it like mad and have realized this car to be phenomenal. It's been through nearly everything you could think of, yet it hasn't given a hint of exhaustion. I recommend this Mazda to buy- but I'd hang on to it!
'92 Mazda Protege
Mazda4ever, 01/15/2010
1992 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Gotta Love Mazda. Had 2 proteges one a 93 and a 92. Both were great and very sporty manuals. Fun to drive. The 93 was a LX with sunroof which i loved to death. Power everything. The 92 model is a DX. I wrecked it in November 09 but i'm working on getting that fixed VERY soon cuz its my baby. It did have a minor oil leak which i assumed was from old age and almost 300000 miles mostly interstate since i travel back and forth from college. The man my mom bought it from said he had a lot of motor/engine work done to it so its really not that many miles on it. Very good buy for a small car and first time driver. No major problems that couldn't be fixed in less than an hr.
great economic little car
taznik, 08/23/2002
1992 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Drives great, good pick up and reliable.
My Mazda
Boogie, 09/12/2002
1992 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
When I purchased this car it was my "caddy" of cars. I loved it so much and haven't had ANY major problems with her. She has been very reliable and I would recommend the Mazda to anyone who is interested in purchasing a car.
A good little Mazda
Minder, 12/10/2002
1992 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car for my wife after our marriage 2 yrs ago. It had 75K on it, I just had to change 4 tires. Now it has about 83K and it hasn't given us much problems like my old Ford has. It still have great gas milage :) We are planning to keep it for other couples of yrs.
Still fun to drive
Mr Nebulous, 02/24/2003
1992 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I've put over 165K miles on my Protege and I'm still getting 32 mpg on highway trips. Very reliable all these years with only a few repairs required over the last 9 years of ownership. Still fun to drive.
Very Basic Reliable transpotation
rlin78, 06/12/2003
1992 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Gets you from point A to Point B. I have had to replace the clutch, the whole exhaust, CV joints, radiator. So the whole cost of ownership is not too low either. But it has never let me down, starts in 30 below weather without being driven for over 30 days at a time. the automatic seatbelt starts to beep on mine as well, and the paint in the trunk peeled as well, seems like a very common thing for this car over 11 years. Things seems to start to break apart, and the handling starts to worry me, so I am selling the car. Decent resale values too. the car also has a leaky gasket, so a little oil leak on the engine
great car!
Mazdaman, 02/27/2003
1992 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This was my first new car, with a $2500 rebate, it only cost me $9200. I drove it like mad for 7 years and 135k. It never used a drop of oil (synthetic from 30k on) and all I changed were spark plugs, tires and fluids. I got 38mpg on the highway. Fold-down rear seat fit all my snowbard gear. The problems were minor: Paint (Tropical Green) that chipped far too easily (dealer said it was stone chips...On the trunk!?). Those damned automatic belts! The seatbelt warning started going off at random times- I am always belted. Someone got a gem when I traded for a Dodge Ram 4x4.
I really love this little car.
SWMBO, 08/22/2003
1992 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I beat this car mercilessly with a daily commute to work of over 100 miles and frequent travel across the mid- Atlantic region. Other than normal wear and tear repairs (windshields, tires, struts, an axle) to be expected from traveling at high speeds on less- than-ideal roads, the only thing I had to replace was exhaust components. My mechanic says this is the one design flaw in this vehicle.
Flawless
MetallicAzN, 03/03/2003
1992 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Definitely one of the best cars ever made. I have 436,000 kms on it, and it still hasn't given me problems!
Super Reliable
Super reliable, 07/09/2005
1992 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This was my starter car--my first big purchase--but has been so ultra- reliable, fun to drive and easy to park in the city that I've never sold it. I put gas in it, change the oil and that's about it--very low maintenance car. In 13 years I have replaced the muffler, radiator and brakes, but am still on the first clutch. It is the most amazing little car and I will hate to have to say goodbye when the time comes. Though my mechanic says it looks good for at least another 60K.
Original Owner of 92 LX
New92, 07/10/2005
1992 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This was my 1st new car and 13 years later I am still happy with my choice. There is a lack of torque below 3500rpm but above that the engine really comes alive. The gearing is bit low so running 70mph in 5th is above 3K rpm. Good for passing acceleration at hwy speeds. Gas mileage is about 33mpg on the hwy. I have not done much preventive maintenance other than oil changes. The car handles pretty well for a front drive. The 4 wheel disk brakes do a good job. The body style still looks good. I have replaced most of the common parts such as CV joints, water pump, exhaust parts and it eats plug wires - I think I'm on my 4th set. The AC still blows ice cold without ever being recharged.
Quality Car
dsdickinson, 10/28/2005
1992 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have had this car nearly 14 years and it has been flawless even with 281,000 miles. I still have the original clutch and the engine has never been worked on except for timing belts, tune ups and a new radiator. The car gets 32 mpg, the AC still works with never a recharge and there are no rust problems. I plan to buy a new Mazda 3 and will keep this one for winter driving, I want to get 300,000 out of it!
Great Car
Craig, 01/25/2006
1992 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Great car 158,000 miles with original clutch. I have had to change both axles, rotors, and the car has a bad valve seal guide ... common for the year, so it tends to smoke on a cold start. It takes a beating and keeps coming back for more.
Great for starters, not for mothers...
lucky_me, 03/22/2004
1992 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car has been a great one for the 5 years I owned it. It is a great car for small comutes and it will make a fun to drive car for high school students. This car had never let me down.
Mom's Car
tjmcmurray, 08/09/2004
1992 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
For a 12 year old car we can't complain. We've had some problems with the front axel and the normal exhuast replacement. We recently had to replace the fuel pump but it stemmed fro bad gas.
Still going strong
JGB, 05/01/2007
1992 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
One of the best buys I've ever made! Perfect car for my then young family starting out and we've had to get a bigger vehicle (3 kids) but she's still my daily car at 140k miles. No major issues but have replaced the cat, timing chain, and windshield. Modifications added are a CD player, 15 inch rims, Magna Flow muffler, and converted the A/C to R-134A. My soon to be teens keep asking when I'm going to get myself a new car so they can have the Mazda! LOL They'll be waiting a few years longer...
a-1 value
whalebone, 05/26/2003
1992 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
best car i've owned in terms of reliability/value. haven't put a dime into it outside of a catalytic converter and your run of the mill maintenance (battery and brakes). 12 years and still going... a/c is getting a little weak---needs recharging. but heck, this is like an old friend, who is getting old. driven hard and starting to get the old creaks and rattles.
Toyota reliability for half price!
Gimli, 03/11/2002
1992 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought my Protege DX over 2 years ago and have put nearly 40,000 miles on it. During that time the car has been extremely reliable. It has never failed to start and I've averaged between 31 and 36 mpg, to boot. Its has 148000 miles on it now and shows no signs of nearing the end of it's useful life.I'm very satisfied with it.
Mazda Protege 1992 - Excellent Quality
Iceman92673, 03/29/2002
1992 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I got it at 82000 miles and I frove it for another 60000. All this time it was a reliable car. Repairs done do far : change the brake rotors, change the radiator.
Great First Car
Julian , 02/04/2003
1992 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
I drive my protege real hard, keeping those RPM's up all the time and the thing just handles great. I bag on the car all the time and it doesn't get problems. Its a very reliable car, even more so if you don't beat it to hell like i do. This is a very good car for just getting around in or ur teenagers first car. I would recommend it to anyone. It could do with a lil more pwoer though, but its not hard to add a few mods like a custom intake and a turbocharger and my lil protege has bout 175 hp. Thats a terrific gain from the stock 105hp, with still great fuel mileage. i estimate my car to at least get 36 mpg.
Still going
mp_nj, 04/29/2004
1992 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
As the original owner, this car has been very reliable for the past 12+ years. It stalled once around 60k miles, and ended up replacing the tie rods. Besides that, there hasnt been any other major problem. Earlier this year the car passed 170k miles, and I see no reason to replace it.
Nickle-and-Diming Me to Death
ldpitman, 07/13/2004
1992 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
The PLASTIC radiator blew up three summers ago (2001); I have had nothing but problems since then--I've since replaced the radiator, head gasket (twice, I think) timing belt (expected...once... I've had to replace it twice in less than two years. No one can figure out why it keeps shredding/coming off.), water pump, thermostat, A/C switch and housing, compressor, etc. I CAN'T WAIT 'til I can afford to get another NEW car. I plan to never buy Mazda again, nor an older used car, even though this one was only 6.5 years old when I bought it, with 57K miles. It's now at only 107K miles.