Used 2000 Mazda Protege Consumer Reviews
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Precious Few Complaints
Bob Ahnmeischaft, 12/24/2002
2000 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We purchased our Protege ES in July 2000 and have since put 37K on it. It is solid and well-built, quick, and a good looking car. It also has the advantage of not being quite as common as, say, a Honda Civic. This is in fact the second Protege we've owned, our first being a 1991 LX model. If you're looking for a great small- medium sedan and don't want to pay that Civic or Corolla premium, but still want the upsides of those makes, go see your local Mazda dealer.
2000 mazda
Mike, 02/20/2008
2000 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought the car in 4/2002. Replaced battery and brakes only (besides normal maint. items). At around 185000 I need to replace the fuel filter. Mazda builds great cars.
car review
Alfredo148, 02/03/2003
2000 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
excellent small car for the value offered.
One not so good one
bubba gump, 02/12/2003
2000 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This was my 5th Mazda. First four I really loved. Though fun to drive, was in the shop alot. Over a little less than three years had to replace:Battery, coil and igniter, two sets of plugs and wires, a catalitic converter, gas tank fuel filter and sock. Also had to replace tires at 18,000 mi. Phew. However, based on past experience and "0" financing, I'll be picking up a brand new LX Pro. in three days. Guess that might be loyalty and trust, hope it's well placed.
Fun and cheap economy car
Jim Bob Henry Bob, 02/13/2003
2000 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I've had this car for a while now and have come to love it. I test drove several similar cars at the time such as the civic, neon, sentra and corolla, but the protege was superior in almost every way. Interior looks upscale, the handling is awesome and the motor is pretty peppy. It still could use another 20 horsepower and some squeeks have worked in over time, but not many. Excellent car with no problems.
This isn't your typical Ford-based Mazda
moichman, 08/15/2003
2000 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Ford controls Mazda as you know, and a lot of previous Mazda's were Fords in disguise. And Ford had a BAD mid-90's run in quality, making Mazda just as bad. The Protege is made in Japan by Mazda, and it shows. Not one day of problems. Easy to work on myself, brakes made it 40k before changing, styling is good. Interior rattles are annoying, but it was a new body style this year. Starts every day, cold or hot. Original tires were dreadful, but upgrades have solved poor-weather handling dramatically.
best car I've owned
natem, 07/23/2003
2000 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This has been by far the best car I've owned. In 3 years I've put nearly 90,000 miles on it and it has never given me any trouble. The only time it has been in the shop is for oil changes, brake pads and new tires. It handles great and sticks to the road even in wet conditions. I get 38 mpg on the highway and about 32 in town with the 5 speed. The best small car out there. I hope to get another 90K out of it. Then I might consider the new Mazda 6.
Japanese Beemer
Robert Moore, 08/09/2003
2000 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is a reliable small car. Gas mileage is 30-33 mpg. No repairs to date. Oil and filter change every 3000 miles. The ride is a little like a BMW sticks to the road well.For me the only thing it lacks is more horses, but I like em' fast.Previous car was mazda 323, ran over 210,000 without major repairs. Timing belt replaced @ 130.000. Definetly great little cars.
Mazda All the Way
DA2799, 02/02/2005
2000 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Purchased my Protege and have had 50k trouble free miles to date. What this little rocket lacks in power it makes up for in handling and sheer driving pleasure. I've replaced the original tires with Pirelli PZero Nero's and they are a blast on this car. Other than the lack of sheer power I love this car. Other than normal maintenance this is the most trouble free car I've owned; starts always not a worry to report.
perfect reliability
mark, 02/01/2005
2000 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought car new. Have never had any problem in 5 years. Everything has always worked perfectly. Has excellent steering feel and corners well. I like the stiff springs. It can carry 4 people without noticing the extra weight. Gas mileage with stick shift is about 30 for the worst city conditions and 40 for the best highway conditions with very careful driving using 5th gear often. I use 92 octane gas, because 87 octane will knock slightly when accelerating up hill. Engine will last longer with 92 octane. Road noise is high on coarse surfaces.
Miracle Car
mazda rocks!, 09/09/2005
2000 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This amazing car has survived a major ($7k) deer attack when it (my Protege) was just a few months old, a crappy dealer that forgot to replace the oil cap so had 100 miles of driving with no oil, and still -- at 80k I have only replaced tires and brakes. The car handles like a true sports car. I still surprise other drivers, and is comfortable and just unbelievably reliable.
Fun to Drive for so little
ozman406, 12/23/2005
2000 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I got a great deal on this car at end of year. I wanted every option available. I log lots of highway miles due to commute. This car is a hoot to drive. I put better tires on it and it handles beautifully. I perform all scheduled maintenance on time and have had no issue except for the ABS brakes. The last time I had them replaced about 10k miles ago, the dealer didn't even do a test drive. I started to drive off the lot and the noise and grabbing was unbearable. Lost another day without it until they fixed the issue.
Great little Sedan
TylerA, 02/02/2004
2000 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this for my wife and the newborn. It has been trouble free for almost four years. One problem with a power window was fixed under warranty and took about 45 minutes at the dealership. A recall on the ignition coils was just as timely to get replaced. Car always starts and handles very well. Get 30 MPG with a 5 spd averaging 70 on the highway.
This car needs a soul
icantdrive55, 02/09/2004
2000 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is a good car for everyday driving, however it wont do much more than that. Whenever you need that extra oomph there is nothing there, and downshifting hardly does anything but make more noise. Overall it is a good car but it just seems to be lacking, maybe that ES would be better or even the new MazdaSpeed. I just wish it had some character to stand out from the rest of the everyday commuters.
Thank God for extended warrenties!
fallen_angel, 03/02/2004
2000 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought my Mazda brand new and I loved all the extras my Mazda had..it was fully loaded.I am in sales and am in my car for hours a day. The seats get uncomfortable after a while. Thank god for the extended warrenty because as soon as the factory warrenty expired I started having problems.Every time I took it to the dealer to be fixed they said it was fine, or they fixed it...but they didn't. Also,it was the worst car I have ever driven in the snow. It would slide all over the place and do 360's into snow banks when it wasn't even bad out.
Very Dependable Field Car
wolfbear9, 04/07/2004
2000 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have had this car for over 3years now and have 72000 miles on it. I drive 100 miles + per day for work and have only had this car in the shop for front brakes and oil changes.Wipers and rear brake lamps are the only maintenance I have had to perform on this car.I did purchase an extended warranty 7 years or 100k miles but have never had to use it. 35mpg with a/c & automatic trans. Trunk space is good and stereo sounds good. Very low cost of operation vehicle.
Hard to part with, unbeatable car
Miatajeff, 11/01/2004
2000 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My Seventh Mazda, this little ES is a wolf in sheeps clothing. I love the conservative styling, the comfortable interior, the unbeatable handling, the perfect reliability! This car has been outstanding, with nary a problem since new. Cheap to own and to maintain, a joy to drive, I am having a hard time parting with it. I have been looking at new cars and am going to take a step up to a Volvo, but I can't bear to part with my Protege! Suggestions: put Nokian tires on all fours and the car's foul-weather handling improves. The only complaint I can muster is that it is a loud car- lots of raod noise, but that is minor compared to its graces.
This one is a lemon
Miyah, 11/27/2004
2000 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My wife bought this car because it was rated a consumer best buy. I think we want our money back on that one. This car has had the radiator replaced at 2 years the power locks at 2 and half years something dealing with the steering replaced at 4 years and numerous issues with the links on the overside of the car rusting out and breaking. It would be easy to blame the driver but she actually has taken very good care of this car; it is just a lemon. I don't think I would pay a Mazda price to get Ford quality. Also, why would Mazda put racing tires that cost $140 each on a 125hp small seda. Makes no sense and I never thought about the tires until going to get new ones.
Great for a young new driver or.......
Rachel, 02/21/2005
2000 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car is great for a new young driver or a senior citizen. It is not fast, it's great on gas, and it has a great look. I've had this car for over a year now. Its an "ok" car. My dad bought it for me cause my other car broke down. I never really fell in love with it, but it got me where I wanted/needed to go. If you want speed, dont get this car. If you want luxury, this Is not your car. If you want a comfortable ride, this isn't your ride. But if you want a economy car this is your car! I recommend it for teens and senior citizens.
Nice Ride
Dude, 03/03/2005
2000 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have had this car for 5 years and put on 98,000 miles. Over all it has been a nice little car; it is fun to drive and has been fairly reliable. There have been some problems with it - the starter coil has burned out twice and the catalytic converter went on me. All of these problems were covered by the original warranty. Additionally, two of the automatic door locks have broken which is a real pain. I have had 3 or 4 sets of tires and the poor weather handling has always been a problem. If I didn't have a 5-speed to slow the car on snow, I don't think it would ever stop sliding.
Excellent Car
silentguilt, 03/05/2002
2000 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is a quality small car that is easy and cheap to maintain. I have had no major problems with 28k on the odometer. The one problem I had was a airbag sensor, and a quick fix under warranty. The 1.6L has only 105hp, but makes use of all that is there with a slick shifting auto tranny. Complaints: The car has one small rattle, and is a bit rough and loud on the highway. If you have a chance to pick one of these up used, do not hesitate!
Ok
Vince, 12/13/2006
2000 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Just bought this used to act as commuter car. Styling is more boring than white paper. Engine is very loud at highway speeds. For a small car, gas mileage isn't too impressive. Probably due to the fact that engine is around 3500 RPM's when cruising @ 70 MPH. Fairly agile and nimble. Fun to drive backroads, unless you have a lot of hills, then expect a struggle. Not too shabby as a commuting car, but I'm glad this isn't my pride and joy.
Caution Purchasing this vehicle
Paul , 01/05/2007
2000 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Exercise caution buying this car model. It ran fine until it hit the 7 year mark. In the past year I have had to replace all four suspension links, gears 1-2-3 and bearings in the transmission, front exhaust pipe, rear right suspension, an oxygen sensor, and now the brakes are going bad. Also, Protege's are not built for salty winter road conditions! It appears as though the lemon age for these cars to go sour is around 6 years. Inquire about prior repairs before buying. Not recommended - it reminds me of my first car, a 1994 Ford Taurus. I will not be buying a Ford or Mazda again in my lifetime.
I got a pair of 2000 Mazda Protege ES's
Protegextwo, 04/12/2003
2000 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I purchased two PRO-ES in March of 2000. Both cars have 53,750+ miles and I have to say they are excellent cars. Very good in the snow and rain. The point and shoot handling is top box for a small sedan. A hoot to drive on the twistys. The Mazda Protege is truly a larger 4-door Miata! Corolla and Civic are for the masses, however the Protege is for those in the know. God Bless Mazda, Zoom Zoom.....
Good used car
dvx, 06/07/2007
2000 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Had this for a year, bought used with 60k miles on it. Only had to get recall work done (mass air sensor replacement), replace brakes, and oil changes. Very reliable, built-in-Japan commuting car.
Amazing little car!
sexylondonboi, 10/15/2007
2000 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We bought our Mazda brand new off the lot. Our commute to work and back is nearly an hour each way and 9 mths out of the year is during the harsh canadian winter so we needed something that could stand up and be reliable. Our Mazda was nothing less then that. Being young drivers with our first car we weren't quite aware of "regular scheduled maintance" - we just drove. Our car currently has 256,000 kms on it and the only thing we have replaced was the alternator last year. This car is amazing, it's been in the ditch twice, hit a deer and yet the darn thing keeps on going. It is going in for its second tuneup of its lifetime this Thursday so we can get another 256000 from her
I must have got a lemon
Snoop, 03/08/2002
2000 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This vehicle has been in and out of the shop though they don't want to fix it when it gets there. Finally found a factory defect after 4 attempts. Still having the same problem. Dealerships don't want to fix the car unless it's dead on the water.
great car
JENJEN, 01/18/2003
2000 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
i bought a late model 2000 in early 2001 and got a great deal on it w/ upgrades included. it has a roomy interior, great handling, good highway gas mileage, a nice redesign (looks classier), large trunk space, good layout of controls and they are easy to use. hp has improved from previous years. overall, it's an excellent low- cost, reliable and fun car compared to other small sedans!
A great car
Steve Potter, 01/18/2003
2000 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Fun to drive, great looks. excellent on gas and this is a very reliable car with a solid track record as being named best in class several years in a row
Great Car!!!
Bill Nye, 03/11/2002
2000 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I commute several hundred miles a Week for work (800+ mi.). This car just runs and runs, no problems, just change the oil and it goes. Has almost 30K miles and takes a beating.
Nice compact
sprig, 06/01/2003
2000 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
A compact that's fun to drive. Very snappy, comfortable seats with plenty of room even for tall people. Nice and roomy back with the rear seats down. If this car stands up as well as Civics, it's a great deal
great car
jenjen, 01/18/2003
2000 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
i bought a late model 2000 in early 2001 and got a great deal on it w/ upgrades included. it has a roomy interior, great handling, good highway gas mileage, a nice redesign (looks classier), large trunk space, good layout of controls and they are easy to use. hp has improved from previous years. overall, it's an excellent low- cost, reliable and fun car compared to other small sedans!
Great Car
JF from NJ, 06/13/2003
2000 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I just passed 50,000 miles and three years. I haven't had to do any work to the car aside form oil changes and new tires and brakes. It has been absolutely solid and is a blast to drive. For $15,000 you can't beat it. I wish I went for the sunroof though. My only real gripe is the mileage. I do a lot of highway driving in my daily commute and usually get 26 though somestimes as low as 23 mpg.
Best in class
wanorris, 03/14/2002
2000 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
All cars in this class involve tradeoffs, but if you want an affordable, reliable driver's car, the Protege ES is unbeatable. It's got the best handling in the class, it's the roomiest in it's class, it's as reliable as a Corolla, and it's peppier than the Corolla or Civic. The Sentra SE has more under the hood, but it won't handle as well, and it will likely be in the shop some. I've had this car for 2 years now, and I still absolutely love to drive it. Bottom line, this is an extremely practical car that's a lot of fun to drive. One final note: compared with the ES, the 2000 DX and LX have a smaller, underpowered engine. The ES is the one to own.
Great but expensive to upkeep!
RetroDude, 04/28/2008
2000 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I love and hate this car. I like the fact that it gives pretty good gas mileage for being a 3-speed auto trans. I also like the design of the car, it's got lines and not too "rounded off" which made it unique in its class. What I hate about this car: noise level. You can practically hear almost anything even with the windows shut. The engine noise is almost unbearable especially when driving on the fwy, it tends to rev at an average of around 3,500 RPM/65MPH. Also, maintenance on the car isn't cheap. Parts for Mazdas are the highest compared others. To date, I've spent more than $3,700 just on routine maintenance - but with 125,000 miles, it still runs like brand new.
The best car we've ever owned!
mazdabois4life, 04/29/2008
2000 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We bought our Protege brand spankin' new - she only had 7 kms on her. Today she has 278,000 kms. We have only replaced the alternator and the thermostat - that's it! This car is by far the best car we have ever owned. It took out a deer at 60km/h with a minor ripple in the hood and broken headlight. The gas mileage is incredible, we can easily go 700 kms on a tank of gas. The only recurring issue is something with the electrical. Last year we began blowing headlights every other day - the backyard mechanic we took it to rigged it so we only have headlights now, no highbeams - no biggie. When and if this one ever dies we will definitely be buying a Mazda again - more then likely a Mazda3.
I loved my Mazda
Aubrie, 06/20/2019
2000 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This was my very first car.”my beater” I would only call it that because my brother the previous owner didn’t take very good care of it. He replaced some parts but the interior was gross and dirty. And most parts he left go. The car was in my family for over 10 years. My mom owned it then my brother then me. It didn’t start having anything wrong with it until I owned it lol. I bought it at 126,000 miles. The day I got it inspected the serpentine belt ripped off into the abyss never to be found. I replaced that and the battery. I drove a few thousand then had to replace both back struts and sway arm links. Check engine light has been on since my mom bought it from blue knob over a decade ago. I think it has something to do with wiring. The ac broke years ago. The radio died again because of wiring i think my brother isn’t very bright hahah. The map sensor was replaced 4 times. I bought a brand new one and it did help with my car stalling when I hit the break too hard but code still came up for a new map sensor even though I replaced it. I replaced the valve cover gasket and it helped the leak I had. I also had motor oil and transmission fluid slowing leaking underneath just had to make sure I kept up on checking my fluids. Some wiring in that cars system was messed up. I live in a place with a lot of snow and salt so I had to fix about 5 rust holes and it passed inspection when I finally traded it in was because my mechanic said the water pump and timing belt were going. I didn’t want to put anymore money into it so I traded it in. This car had a few things go wrong but I have to say that engine was beautiful and probably would’ve lasted for several years and I could’ve replaced the timing belt and water pump and fixed my rocker panels and I could’ve driven it for another 100,000 miles I’m sure of it. It was at 172,000 when I traded her in. Even with the things it needed fixed she never let me down. I got an oil change every 5k but my brother already let her down and I strongly believe if this car is actually given love and taken care of it could last you until 300,000 miles. Even after getting a beautiful used 2015 I still missed my Mazda after I traded her in. And I’m now in love with Mazda’s because of it. And hope to one day own a brand new mazda
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Greatest Mazda
Rodrigo Amaral , 08/11/2022
2000 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Best little car You can buy this days cheep and strong
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Protege'
taconyboy, 02/09/2003
2000 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan
0 of 3 people found this review helpful
This car had a list price of $18,500. It is NOT worth the money. It actually has drum brakes on the rear-at the ES trim level, for 18 grand! I had to get the ES to get the 1.8L engine,it is the only reason I bought the ES.
My most dependable car ever
Brian, 06/17/2008
2000 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
A great little dependable commuter. I've nothing but good things to say about the Protege. Mine has gone for 8 years and 220,000 miles. The only issues aside from routine maintenance were motor mounts, front wheel cv boots, and a front wheel bearing at approx. 150,000 miles. Considering my purchase price of 11k in 2000 new from the dealer this car cost me just $0.05 per mile. Looking forward to my next Mazda commuter.
Poor Gas Mileage
t, 04/05/2009
2000 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Reliable transportation, like others noticed that volume went down when trying to go up. Then one day the cd player just quit. Not really happy with gas mileage - noticed that right away after buying it - not at all like my Civic. I had to fill up every third day with the Mazda - every fourth with a Civic. I get about 26 mpg.
Nothing but problems
Kassie, 10/15/2005
2000 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is my third and final Mazda that I will ever own. I have had nothing but problems with it in one way or another since I drove it off the lot.
Green Machine
Scott Green, 05/13/2003
2000 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
29 MPG city! Rides nice and feels solid. You don't feel like your driving a small car.