Used 1997 Mazda Protege Consumer Reviews
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Still Going After 15 Years
cjh1948, 07/10/2011
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
OK, so this is not a sexy looking car with super electronics. But, it is still going strong after 15 years, gets good mpg, and does not cost a lot to own/maintain. It's not comfortable enough for long hauls, but I only use it for short, around town trips, so it meets my needs. Paint is still holding up, as is the upholstry. Water pump replacement is about the most major repair the car has had.
Just won't die
mochica, 04/19/2014
updated 11/04/2016
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
Best reliable car I 've ever bought. After 17 years, car runs strong. I drive 120 miles daily average. Everything works. Mpg @33mpg. Mayor repairs: timing belt/ radiator change / front axles. Minor: Upstream O2 sensor / EGR valve clean up. Car is easy to repair. Done it myself except timing belt. Total $ amount of repairs + tires= $4,300. Walmart brand synthetic oil keeps this car well lubed all these years.
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See all 0 listingsGREAT LITTLE CAR
HAPPY WITH THE ES MO, 06/12/2004
1997 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
IF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT BOUGHT LX MODELS AND SAID THEY WERE "UNDERPOWERED" , WHY DIDN'T THEY BUY THE ES MODEL WITH THE BIGGER MOTOR ?? I BOUGHT AN ES MODEL WHICH NOW HAS 210,000 MILES ON IT AS OF JUNE OF 2004, AND IT STILL GETS UP AND GOES JUST LIKE IT DID WHEN IT WAS NEW. I WOULD DEFINITELY BUY ANOTHER ONE. MAYBE MAZDA HEARD THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT POWER, I BELIEVE THE 2004 MODELS HAVE A 2.2 LITER MOTOR IN THEM ....
Still going as new
jim, 06/09/2008
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bought it with 28,000 miles in Jan 98. Replaced battery and brakes. NO problem at all. It has automatic but never fail. I'll buy another when it quits some year.
'97 Mazda Protege LX
DJ Wheel, 08/21/2009
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
One owner, regular maintenance,timing chain replaced at 85,000, new tires, 90,000+ miles, exterior white paint flaws.
Great fuel economy and reliable too.
jbaggins, 07/22/2012
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Simply the best little car you could ask for. 5 speed shifts great, has sporty handling, has been super reliable (only a water pump in 5 years). Best gas mileage of any small car of its vintage with the 1.5L engine. Great for short trips but seating is not comfortable for me or the kids. Good layout of controls (It's a Mazda). No A/C and the car is super hot in summer due to non-tinted glass. Ours has manual windows but no problems with interior hardware to date. Everything still works. Engine was been great, passes emission test every 2 years. Not good in snow due to low sports-car like ground clearance.
Great Car!
Beckie01, 04/29/2002
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
It is a small version of a luxury car.
Excellent subcompact car
TJN, 06/07/2002
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car has performed well---good balance between cost,style, economy,and comfort. Good AC-needed here in South Texas all year. Good value. Some irritating problems after 100000 miles, nothing major. Will buy a Mazda again.
indestructible
pony_rider, 09/10/2013
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Just bought this 97 Mazda protege today from a friends dad for 700 bucks it runs good has a lot of pep to it has 309K on it but it feels like it has twice that still left in it compared to my dads Geo Prizm the previous owner didnt baby this car but didnt take it easy either the car has a few minor issues but I would trust it to go any where it is an LX with the sunroof and cd player/cassette power windows I really like it I bought it to save on gas and it does that well plan on having it for as long as it holds together
Bamaleo Mazda
Bamaleo, 07/31/2002
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Do not expect great performance. Slow to speed. Best design of its category. Reliable
The 1.5 liter, what a mistake!
Spazzo, 08/08/2002
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Its a good all around car, but its not an enthuesiasts car, at least with 1.5 liter it isnt. It has the most body roll for a car its size, I know of SUVs with less lean. But its very reliable and well appointed. If you get this car, a 2nd generation Protege with very slow 92 horspower engine, at least get a 5 speed to entertain your self.
fun car!
DreDre, 09/15/2002
1997 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I love driving this car! I have a 1.5 liter engine, and with a standard it has plenty of pick-up. It shifts like a dream, one of the easiest I've encountered. I'm over 100,000 miles and have never had any major problems with my car. I'll definitely but Mazda again!
Mazada protoge
Burt, 09/27/2002
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The vehicle starts every time I have started since I purchased. Never had to take to garage for any repairs. I regulaly changed oil around 3000 miles.
A Car That Makes Sense
Jeremy P., 11/04/2002
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Not only does the car have highly functional dash, it also is visually pleasing... The Protege doesn't seem like your regular cookie-cutter small car... The tiny 1.5L engine is capable, and sometimes suprising with the 5- speed manual... The back seat has good leg room and the trunk is rather large. I have owned this car for a year, put 20,000 miles on it, and have had no major repairs... any repairs needed were easily done within 5 to 10 minutes... Consider the LX or the slightly more expensive ES over the DX model...
WOULD BUY IT AGAIN!
wakaleh, 11/07/2002
1997 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
VERY RELAIBALE CAR, SPAECIOUS, ACCOMODATE FAMILY OF 4-5 EASILY, HUGE TRUNK FOR ITS SIZE, NICE LOOKS, VERY COMFORTABLE RIDE.
Reliable and Good Gas Mileage
Brad Levsen, 02/28/2002
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I own both a 97 and 98 Protégé. Both have been very dependable. I would recommend this car if you are looking for something that is inexpensive, reliable and provides good gas mileage. Both of my cars are LXs, which are somewhat sporty looking, but this is definitely not the car to buy if you are looking for performance.
From test drive to the garage...
PDXOracle, 08/02/2003
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Anyone who complains about the power of the Protege needs to slow down, they must be about 50 miles an hour over the limit. It's not a cheetah, but it had power enough to do what a compact does: transport you and your friends downtown for dancing and drinks in a sleek, stylish way.
Excellent reliability
Vandersteven, 08/30/2003
1997 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought the car used in 2001 @ 30,000kms. replaced the exhaust @150k kms, windshield wiper connecting rod needed to be replaced after using wipers in heavy rain (cheap plastic; the bill was almost $300!!!!!). Besides that, never any major problems. Excellent mileage
Great Experience
mazdalover, 09/01/2003
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car with 45,000 miles on it a liitle over 3 years ago. Other than a cracked header it has been a great car. It has been faily easy to maintain and repair when problems did crop up (very minor ones). It also does very well on the highway for road trips. I highly recommend this car for anyone looking for an effecient peoplemover. As a matter of fact my wife converted from Toyota to Mazda when she bought her P5.
Not bad but ...
ricko, 07/18/2003
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Actually, there are a ton of performance parts for the 1.5l LX which bring up the stock HP of 92 to closer to 150 or so, which is a huge improvement in such a small car. These upgrades can be done for less than a grand and drastidcally improve this car's performance without sacrificing the fuel economy too much (i have done said upgrades, and I get about 28 mpg overall, with a majority of highway driving)
Perfect little car
darsek, 02/02/2004
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I love my Mazda! When I'm ready to change cars again I will look for another one! You pay less than for a Honda or Toyota and it's just as, if not more, reliable. It's very cute and fun to drive (I have a manual transmission, they are way more fun than an auto)and has gone up and down my awful dirt road for 2 years with no problem. Highly recommended!
One tough little car
HeatherRD, 02/26/2004
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have been driving my Mazda for nearly 7 years, and it's seen me through many a trip and long commutes as well. The interior is extremely roomy and comfortable for a compact car, and you can't beat the gas millage (40 mpg highway). I was about 15,000 miles late getting its 100,000 mile tune-up, and still had no major problems. One word of advise: tighten belts EXTRA tight or you'll be squealing all over. In all, this has been a terrific little car.
Great Car
Ilovethiscar, 03/09/2004
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought it a little bit more than 2 years ago with 60K miles. So far, it has been running great. Not a single problem. Great price, great reliability.
Not worth the repeated problems
Sick of my Mazda, 03/11/2004
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have only had this car 9 months. In the 9 months I have had to replace the oxygen sensors, the exhaust manafold, the catalytic converter. (All over $600 each) Plus we've had a problem when accelerating the accelerator pulling from my foot and sucking down to the floor twice, which they suspect is tied to the cruise control, but their not sure. (trust me, on the freeway, not a fun experience) Also have had a squeaking sound from the front right that no one can identify or fix. It has been more trouble then it's worth.
Mazda Protege
ANiftyGuy, 06/29/2006
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought the car to get me to work and back. Commuting put a lot of miles on it. It drove well on freeway and around town and got great gas mileage. It is not the most comfortable, but I would (by far) consider it the best buy for its cost.
Poor, Putzy, Protege
sidewallsteve, 07/24/2004
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I've owned this car for over 5 years and had only 1 small issue before 80,000. In the last 8 months, over $2K in repairs. O2 sensor, cat. converter, distributor, 2 exhaust manifolds, and the list goes on. Very underpowered. Decent fuel economy with auto, 30-34. Seat makes my back ache. Some rusting at the seams. Bland exterior styling. Inside is nice. Good car overall, until the repairs started. Hope it can hold out for another 1-2 years. Would buy a new one but sell it by 80,000. My next mazda will be a gsl-se.
Love this car!
nailgirl, 08/17/2004
1997 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is the very first car I have ever bought and paid for myself - and it is worth every penny. Of course I make sure I keep up with all of my scheduled maintenance - this car will be with me for a long time!
Been A Pleasure To Own
Porkadiah, 09/13/2004
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I've had this car for almost four years, and I haven't had a single problem with it the entire time. Utterly dependable and surprisingly good gas mileage (I have a manual, but on Insterstate driving 70 mph with AC going I STILL get 37 mpg).
Reliable, sensible car
MD driver, 09/27/2004
1997 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I've driven this car all over the country, literally. Performs adequately, not powerful at all but extrememly reliable. The gas mileage is great (39ish on the highways). Overall, nothing special, but a good car to own.
cheap but reliable
Mrasol1, 06/02/2005
1997 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We bought this car to "drive the wheels off". We have put few dollars into the car(brakes, emission system) and it still runs great and gets 31 MPG around town. This isn't a car for long trips with the family, but it does what we want it to a low cost.
Great little (big) car
David M., 03/02/2006
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought this car brand new 9 years ago, and have not had a single regret. This car has been as flawless as any vehicle could possibly be for this long. Can't say enough about how great it's been, and says a lot for how underrated Mazda is as a company, in general. This car is also deceptively roomy-- total interior volume tops an Infiniti Q45 of the same year (their flagship luxury car)! I would recommend the addition of a K&N air filter for those looking for a little more power/fuel economy.
no problems at all
margie, 05/11/2006
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car with 1200 miles on it and have never had a problem with it. I drive long miles and have felt very safe in this car. This car is used like a truck and is very large inside.
Awesome car - I wanna be burried in it
cundo, 04/24/2003
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I love this car and would never think of leaving it ever in my life!
Good "old" car
Patrick, 07/13/2007
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My Mazda Protege is now 10 yrs old and I'd buy one again in a minute. No mechanical problems to speak of. CD tape deck broke but it had a lot of use. Tires held up well until chosen replacement. Exterior dark blue paint in good condition; scratches, however, show up on dark colors. All in all, this is a job to drive. Try it and you'll see.
Sucks swamp water
JustMe, 03/06/2003
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Interior dome light has never worked (Dealer couldn't fix) Power windows track broken at 70K, but I only open the window once a month. Power window switch broken at 70K. No one every uses it. How could it wear out? Internal Engine noise when cold at 90K, charged $1,300 for repair. Problem returned in a week later. Now dealer reports to me that it isn't worth fixing. If I fail to use high test gas, valves ping. Tech's recommendation - "Use the good stuff". So, I used the good stuff and then this reportedly destroyed the catalytic converter (Another $800.00) 6 model years old and the blower motor going bad. One thing after another..
Disappointed
No more Mazdas, 01/23/2003
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have poured so much money into this car that I'm ready to get rid of it at 90,000 miles. The 97 models had a problemn with faulty master cylinders-- very expensive to fix--and I've had endless little things go wrong. It has no pickup and drives sluggishly. I do not recommend the 97 Proteges, and would nt buy another Mazda based on my experience with this one.
11 Years Later
Richard, 04/25/2008
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My wife and I bought our 1997 Mazda LX Protege 5 speed manual back in 1997 brand new and still own it today. Other than small maintenence issues such as replacing batteries and giving it a tune up every couple of years, we have not had one single problem with it. The car still drives smooth (it is slow with the 1.5) but it's roomy and somewhat comfortable, just don't try to pass quickly on a freeway, or climb steep inclines, because you will creep up the mountain etc. The vehicle doesn't burn or drip oil and the paint job still looks very sharp for such an old car, and the interior (cloth) still looks nice and tight. We really love this car!
Very Bumpy Ride
Lori, 04/22/2002
1997 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 3 people found this review helpful
I was very dissapointed with this car. Pick up is horrendus. Sometimes I am afraid to make a left hand turn into a busy intersection, for fear the car won't make it. I am looking forward to getting rid of this vehichle.