Used 2003 Mazda Protege Sedan Consumer Reviews
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Wow, this car is fun to drive!
delrey, 11/15/2012
2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
24 of 25 people found this review helpful
This car is a lot of fun to drive. The handling, steering, and road feel are top notch for this car, especially for this class. It puts some newer and more expensive cars to shame. With that said, the car wasn't perfect. The best gas mileage I could get was 28MPG. Despite regular detailing, the car had a decent amount of rust. I went through front wheel bearings like crazy and I had to replace my front struts twice within the 130,000 miles of ownership. Interior is rather nice for the year but the radio is quite weak. A fun car to drive with minor flaws.
One-owner Review
randallwhitted, 04/23/2015
updated 10/31/2019
2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
16 of 17 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2003 Protege ES new based on handling and ride - and looks. It's been a great car, extremely reliable and is still fun to drive. The sway bar bushings wore out at 85,000 miles and the tubing to the mass air flow sensor cracked, but a redneck duct tape fix still works. The passenger side electric door lock stopped working at about 50,000 miles. The worst thing on it by far is the rust in the rear fender wells. After 105,000 miles, everything else still works great. At 150,000, I've replaced the right rear strut because it rusted apart. The timing belt et al has been changed and the car continues to run great. Rust wreaks havoc on these cars, though not as bad as some other cars. Still no mechanical problems or break-downs. Both passenger side electric locks no longer work. The main frustration is the rust. It runs perfectly - if it wasn't for rust, it would look and work very much like new. Shortly after 150,000, my son rear-ended another car. I have not had an estimate for repairs yet, but the hood is crumpled, the grille is gone and headlights smashed, but the fenders seem OK. Hopefully it doesn't cost too much because this car still has LOTS of useful life in it. The engine still runs like new. Really a great car. Repaired the hood and front-end plastics myself summer 2019. 16 years later, it's now the teenager's car. Still runs great, which means in over 155k miles it has never had a mechanical problem. There is now a hole in the back seat floorboard from rust and the seat belt mechanism broke - replaced with junk yard piece. The exhaust rusted apart just after the downpipe so it's a little loud but fixing that means a full exhaust replacement. Car is now in Nevada away from salt. Should last forever at this point!
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
Best Car I have owned
mazdafan8, 05/27/2011
2003 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
12 of 13 people found this review helpful
I love my Mazda. I bought it used in 2004 with 25,000 miles on it. It now has 88,000 miles. I have only replaced brake pads, tires and one hose in addition to oil changes. My engine runs flawlessly. I get better than rated mileage. She handles great for a sub-compact. Has road feel instead of the numb feedback of a Toyota. The stick is smooth with shifts. Seats are comfortable. I will keep it until it dies since it has no resell value. I hope to get at least another two years.
gas tank leaking & rust
fuel tamk leaking, 08/24/2009
2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
This car Just over 5 years old, the gas tank was leaking, cost me $1400 to replace the pump, gas tank and etc. Complained to Mazda company, but they did not care. I will not buy any Mazda again. The Mazda company cut too much cost to build this Protege, not only the rust on the gas tank, but also other areas. I make a big mistake to buy this mazda protege. Gas tank leaking is a safety issue!! I can accept other problems, but not gas tank.
I wish I could buy this car again new.
Bornaleo819, 03/21/2010
2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
My brother passed this car on to me in 2005 after my car was totaled in an accident & he wanted to get a new BMW. He has regretted that decision ever since. I still have it today in 2010 & he has gone through about 3-4 cars still trying to find the right one. This car is reliable, does really well with gas, has good power acceleration to it, is comfortable and besides normal wear & tear with tires, the only thing that happened was a leak with the radiator & in the air intake hose there was a hole. I replaced both parts & runs like brand freaking new. Unfortunately, I have a small daughter so this car can feel tight sometimes but this is a car you will not regret getting. She's a beaut.
What a car!
SOB, 08/26/2006
2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
I have to say that I really enjoy owning and driving this vehicle. Mind you most of my driving miles are roughly 60-70% highway miles and I have experienced excellent mpg. I have to add that my maintenance costs have been relatively low as well, the only major repair was scheduled maintenance for the timing belt interval, two brake jobs and 2 sets of tires. I do talk highly about this car and would recommend it to someone looking for a similar type vehicle. Other notable points that maybe trivial but are annoying is the "hey your seatbelt is not buckled" alarm when you are in an idle state. It does have a stiff ride and have noticed that road noise creeps in louder as the rubber gets thinner.
Still reliable after all these years
caneshooter, 12/17/2009
2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
My fourth consecutive Mazda. Still very reliable at 112k miles, only routine maintenance performed thus far. ES model's 2.0 motor is peppy even with the 4-speed automatic. A major negative is road noise. DX & LX Proteges were already noisy and the ES model's low profile tires take it up a notch. That's why I only rated the car a "5" for comfort.
very happy owner
wtkidd1972, 08/04/2009
2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I bought this car without truly being interested in a Mazda Protégé, just interested in a small, inexpensive, economical way to get to work. I had never owned a Mazda before, but the Protégé seemed like exactly what I was looking for. Six years and 95,000 miles later my Protégé runs just as well as the day I brought it home, and is still just as fun to drive. All I do is keep up with oil changes, and keep putting new tires on it. Ive replaced the brakes once. This car has been amazing. Would love get a the new Mazda 6, but find it hard to get rid of the Protege when it still feels like a new car.
Maybe the perfect "cheap" car
FenderCalderon, 11/16/2009
2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
A picture of this car should be alongside the dictionary entry for reliable. In 5 yrs the only unexpected repair was the main engine belt -and it was probably my fault. After owning a lemon it feels great knowing you can rely on this car. As far as routine maintenance goes you can DIY and save even more money. The interior materials won't be winning any prestigious awards but regardless for a car in this price range the interior is more than ok. I like to have fun when I drive and this is a good car for that; just don't expect to have great gas mileage this way. Sometimes I think the car may be boring but when I find an open stretch of road to let 'er rip I always end up smiling.
Awesome Little Car
Flaming Moe, 09/12/2002
2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This is a great little Car. I tried all of the other cars in it's class, and I found this in a league of it's own. I can't believe that some people buy a Cavalier over this little gem. You are getting half the car!!!
I Love My "New" Mazda
alooknac, 06/07/2010
2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I have owned a 1989 Mazda 323 hatchback and a 1994 Protege sedan. Most recently I was driving a 2006 Subaru Forester. I sold it and bought this Mazda Protege ES sedan with only 64,000 miles on it, same as my Subaru. I missed having a 5 speed and I did not like antilock brakes when they were put to the test on ice. I love my "new" car. It is fun to drive and it is very nimble compared to the Forester. Of course I gave up some cargo space but not much else. I get better gas mileage. I am averaging 29+ mpg with mixed driving. I am curious to see what I will get n pure highway driving when I go on a road trip.
Best car I have owned, hate to see it go
Peter, 04/04/2010
2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I have owned the Mazda Protege LX for seven years now, I purchased the vehicle in 2004 with only 20k for the mileage and I currently have over 195K on the vehicle now. Besides normal wear and tear parts that you expect to wear out, I haven't put more than like $100.00 into this vehicle. I always changed my oil regularly and did other minimal scheduled maintenance like filters, plugs, trans fluid, etc....and this vehicle owes me nothing. The gas mileage was good, I was getting about 28mpg on the highway and about 22 to 24mpg city depending on how fast I was driving. I also put sporty aggressive tires on it and it greatly improved the driveablitity, I put the Yokahoma "S" Drive tire on
03 Mazda Protege ES - 5 speed
03 Mazda Protege ES, 08/09/2008
2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This really is a great solid little car. Fun to drive! Very reliable, always starts, never needs repairs. The ES has several added features, alloy wheels, power sun roof, spoiler, 4 wheel disc brakes. NICE! I have the five speed and it helps the gas mileage about 5 mpg over the automatic. Get about 27 in town if I drive it right! Car is tight, and everything always works. If your looking for a (not too) small, and dependable car that gets good mileage, this is it. I've had Hondas and the Mazda is very comparable. I can't say there's much I would change on the car, except the 5th speed overdrive design. (not enough difference between 4th and 5th speed). Brakes are excellent.
Simply the best compact car ever!
Brett Hall, 08/12/2005
2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
The 2003 Mazda Protege ES has been one of the very best cars I've ever driven or owned. It is rock solid, fun to drive, sporty (power and looks), and gets great gas mileage. I've heard that the Mazda 3 is even better, and without a doubt that will be the next car I purchase. I've driven the 2003 Honda Civic, 2003 Toyota Corolla, 2003 Hyundai Elantra, and a couple of domestics. I'd rank them as follows: 1. Mazda Protege 2. Toyota Corolla 3. Honda Civic 4. any domestic compact 5. Hyundai Elantra If there is a weakness of the sporty Protege ES, it would be that the Honda and Toyota are more comfortable to drive on long trips. We prefer to take our mivivan on such trips.
Mazdas worst car.
thejackal86, 09/08/2012
2003 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
6 of 10 people found this review helpful
The transmission went out early on, which started a chain reaction of other problems months to follow. This car was nothing more than a money pit and certainly not one worth investing in. I've replaced just about everything in the car besides the engine, which I hear is something Mazda actually does fairly well. I ended up finally trading the car in at around 153k miles. It seems like a lot, but not considering maintenance costs. In addition to the reliability issues, the interior was cheap and started to literally fall apart. Poor mpg as well. The only positive thing I can say about the car is that it was kind of fun to drive and had nice acceleration. It felt like a go-kart.
2003 protege nightmare
scott, 06/24/2010
2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
7 of 12 people found this review helpful
I bought this car with 15 miles on it. I've put alot of miles on it. currently i have just under 141, 000. I've had to have the front bearing replaced 4 times! on each side. i've had the alternator replaced twice. i've changes the oil tank because it actually rusted through, as well as the front exhaust at the intake manifold. i've changed both the oxygen sensor and the speed sensor. I've also changed the radiator twice. this is a car i've changed the oil and other scheduled maintained every 3-4k miles on it! I can;t believe it got this good of a reliability rating on Edmunds because mine has been a nightmare. plus mine is currently rusting to crap.....what happened?
Surprisingly sporty
Dan, 05/21/2017
2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
The car is a quick nice handling stylish and fast mid range sedan. The reliability is great and at 86,000 miles the timing belt was changed. It has a great interior and a sunroof with a sport mode. One of the best first cars to buy
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Very Satisfied
Nik, 04/06/2020
2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I had a few minor things that needed to be fixed in the last 13 years but overall everything is more than good.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Poor MPG
John, 06/21/2010
2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 12 people found this review helpful
I bought this car with 53000Miles on this car in 2008 and ever since it's had all four brakes(Everything) replaced,4 stabilizer bars,5 struts,belts twice,timing belt,Sparkplugs and wires,4 tires at $280 each and I rust proof and do oil changes with synthetic every 3000 Miles and am getting 14MPG and the A/C barely works and the fan makes loud noises and have gone way over what I thought was a reliable car that should at least get 20 MPG. I forgot the car is bad too because if you drive alot you will be very tired od hitting potholes and trying to merge onto highways with the automatic.
Perfect first car!
Ethan stine, 01/03/2021
updated 01/18/2022
2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
I turned 16 and my stepmom owned a beautiful blue protégé es. It was everything a 16-year-old boy with a pretty low budget would want. Quick reliable and it’s manual. Never had any issues. Few sensors went over the years but that’s just old cars. I absolutely loved the car until I unfortunately totaled it because yet again I was young and dumb. But overall loved the car. I would highly recommend for a cheap reliable car or a perfect first car for a teen. ❤️
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
The best 1st car to have! 30 years of service!
Mazdarican, 07/13/2020
2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 3 people found this review helpful
This was my 1st car ever to own, needless to say I took great care of it. Just like any other car you need to mind the maintenance and never miss a single service. This car needs to be checked constantly because of the many components it has; Power-Steering Fluid, Brake fluid, brake pads, engine oil, transmission oil. I recommend that if you just bought it check all those, maybe replace them all at once. CHECK THOSE LEVELS!!! Add stop-leak fluid/oil everywhere you can, as a preventive measure, it won't do much once you actually see a leak. If it has a leak, take it to a profesional and make sure you use original seals, it loves original seals. Keep the original rims/wheels or get lighter ones. On that note: It likes wider tires (205. Never tried any wider because 205 felt pretty nice, it stuck to the road dry and wet). After 180k miles the transmission starts to act up, but who wouldn't, right? NEVER carry more weight than it can handle, it's a sedan made for light travel / daily driver, it's not a tool-box nor a pick-up truck. It tends to run hotter than most cars for some reason, remember to flush your radiator and check all hoses for blockages and cracks, it's better to keep it as cool as possible. Speaking of cool air, keep a sharp eye on you HVAC system. It tends to act up every now and then. Fun Fact: It doesn't use an A/C Cabin Filter. Try and get LED headlights retrofitted, it can help a lot for night time driving and it's still legal. Other than that, it's very fun to drive, it handles beautifully for a car that old (1991). We kept it from release in 1991 up to 2020. I think it proved itself to be a sharp, comfortable, exciting, durable car (WHEN CARED FOR). PS. You can actually have a good night's sleep if you ever need to take one in it.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Never Again!
elyarne7, 03/09/2011
2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 10 people found this review helpful
I bought this car with 29,000 miles on it. That was 3 years ago. It now has 90,000 miles on it. It has only had problem after problem - battery, multiple wheel bearings, tire links, brakes, alternator. The alignment is easily messed up. The car is not well made - it's cheap, lightweight and already starting to rust. It's a money pit. Do not buy it! Oh, and my Mazda is the automatic, not 5-speed standard.
Don't Get One
historiker33, 09/16/2012
2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 21 people found this review helpful
In 2 years, Ive gone through: 2 wheel bearings Front axle alternator Seat belt $900 valve job Heres the bad thing, and BE ADVISED: A valve job on these cars will often result in the piston rings going bad; this happened to me. There is no easy fix for this - the car needs a new engine and smokes like crazy. The newest versions of these cars are now 13 years old. Do not buy one
Sheet Metal Sport Jacket!
dynamho, 11/06/2002
2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The sport jacket: 1. Casual but appropriate 2. Dapper but not stuffy 3. Athletic but intelligent 4. Spontaneous but dependable 5. Flirty but mannerly The Protege is my sheet metal sport jacket.
Happy to zoom
English Guy, 11/12/2002
2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I drove the spec v, the corolla s, the matrix, the vibe gt, the mini, the wrx, and many other cars. Why didn't someone just tell me about the Protege and save me the trouble? Yeah, the WRX is awesome, but it's about six grand more. The MINI is fun, but who can you share the fun with? Your smallest friends? Great car!
A 4-door Miata with Mercedes Quality
Creek Car Guy, 11/26/2002
2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is my fifth Protege (counting my 323GT). I wish I still owned ALL of my Proteges. This car has the fit and finish equal to the new Mercedes I have also owned. I use this car as a "sports car" for kayaking and camping trips, so it is my "escape" vehicle. I have used some of my previoius ones as my main commuter car with excellent results as well.
Best in class small Sedan
m1zd1, 11/06/2002
2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Great car so far, engine is responsive, manual shift is smooth, seats are comfortable, stearing is precise, suspension and tires give good handling, braking is good. Vehicle is roomy and comes with many options Standard. Price is lower than competition and 97% of Vehicle is made in Japan!
low end version of a german car
MaZda@NY, 12/23/2002
2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have had this car for about a year now and i havent had any problems with it. It definitely requires more power, can't do much with a flashy spoiler if it has 130hp!! Overall looks good. Should definitely have cup holders at the back.. it sucks to have nowhere to put the cups! Nice interiors.
ZOOM ZOOM ZOOOM
ROCHELLE, 12/26/2002
2003 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I HAVE ONE THAT I WILL NEVER PART FROM!
A Little disappointmenting
sunrup, 12/27/2002
2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I like the drive the Protege offers, have a milion complaints about the gas mileage. The car has 12000 miles on it and still does not give me good mileage in the city. It does not go beyond 23 miles to a gallon. The overall build is pretty ok, it is definitely fun to drive. A few creaks have developed on the front doors, but the dealer said that was how these cars were built. The Accords give better mileage and I feel a little short changed on that front, may be I should have got a bigger car. The engine is now far more noisier, for 12000 miles I am a little disappointed at that.
2003 Mazda Protege
Buzz Wichmann, 03/01/2009
2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is a fun car to drive .. not as fuel efficient as my 96 Protege was but the better looks on the 2003 model negates the lower mpg rating for me. Still 34 highway/24 city not bad .. roomy comfortable car despite being so small with good sound system - highly manuverable as well with tight steering
My experience
vhdlwhiz, 12/31/2007
2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car because of my previous experience with the protege. I owned one 1997 DX model from 1997. It proved to be a very reliable car and fun to drive. It lacked a bit of power but the mileage was about 36 miles to the gallon on average, not just highway. The 2003 was loaded compared to the stripped 2007 model. The larger more powerfull engine would make the car even better. Turns out that going to the automatic transmission cost me some of that power. The driving on the new model was better because of the cornering. The larger low profile wheels made the drive much better. The mileage stunk. It dropped to 27 miles to the gallon. I have liked the vehicle.
Great Value
COOLIGOTANEWCAR!, 12/30/2002
2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I am very happy with my new Protege. What a great car for 15 grand! Good looks, great 5 speed, and it really does have a nice quick engine. Looked at the Sentra, Ion, Corolla, and the "Out of my price range" Galant. Sentra was nice, def my second choice, although the GXE doesn't have alloys standard and I don't think it felt as quick or handled as well as the Protege...if you are shopping for a small car, don't go to the Mazda dealer last like I did...go there first!
Still happy after 4 years!
J-man, 12/19/2007
2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought this loaded out ES model new in 2003 w/ nearly 4K off sticker. My wife drove the car daily but now after 4 yrs it's my car. Very fun daily driver. Always liked the sporty firm suspension. Very nice road/steering feed back. Like a 4 dr miata! :o) We took a 12 hr trip and I'm a 6 footer so it was a bit too cramped after a few hours (lots of breaks). Ideal small car for most uses. Car still looks sharp after 4 years, and still happy! Gas mileage is near the sticker claim of 30-32 hwy. The small tank means affordable $35 fill-ups @$3/gal. Great Mazda reliabilty and no maintenance issues so far. Still have orig. brake pads after 49k miles. Highly recommend this car for anyone!!
THE budget sedan for sports car lovers
Mike in St Louis, 01/04/2003
2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My wife wanted a "small" car to replace her 97 Civic EX. With that in mind, we found this to be the best car available. I love the way the Protege handles. It's not as fun as my Miata, but much more fun than any of the above mentioned cars. More power would be welcome, but I'm willing to trade off some power for the excellent handling. While I would prefer to have the 170HP Mazdaspeed model, it was going to cost close to $6000 more (dealer markups) & we couldn't have got the 0% interest loan. Bottom line....if you prefer sports cars but need a sedan, and if your budget is under $20,000, get this car. You won't regret it.
fun and functional
alan4491, 12/27/2002
2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
looked at other cars in its class (civic, corolla, lancer), but this was the best value w/ options i got (auto, abs w/ side airbags) . . . cool alloys and dual front airbags are std. on LX. great for commuting to work and large enough for my growing family (4 so far).
One of the Best Balanced Sedans
SouthlandHB, 01/26/2003
2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I had a 1999 Corolla. It was a great car, but it was more vanilla than The Breyer's Ice Cream Factory. No excitement, no fun! If your looking for all the pluses of the Toyota Corolla's build quality & reliability, but want something MUCH more fun to drive. MUCH more stylish, the Protege is IT. I put every single option on this car, from the Auto-dimming Rear View mirror to the cargo net in the trunk. If it was an option, I put it on this car. Friends with MUCH more expensive cars, actually like driving my car and draw comparisons to their much more expensive the Audi A4 and the like. What's that tell ya?
A true sleeper
Dnasty, 07/04/2008
2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Protege is one the best handling front wheel drive cars in its class still to date. The car moves any where you want it move without much effort. The interior is pretty good better then average. Gas mileage is great on the car. I've had my protege for about 3 years and it's on 93,000 and never gave me any problems as long you take care of the car. I suggest buying some performance parts for the car, cold air intake, and exhaust system. For ride comfort suggest getting 17 inch rims no bigger with sporty tires. Will make a world difference.
Reliable as the Sun
trogglbey, 06/01/2009
2003 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have a paper route; that is 60 miles a night of continuous stop and go with a heavy load of newspapers. This car never complains. Still has excellent get up and go with almost 150000 miles of hard driving. Never been in the shop for anything aside from a belt replacement and an AC recharge. Most reliable and solid little car I've ever owned. No rattles, clunks, or squeaks to drive one crazy. I love this car.
great car
jeff h., 01/28/2003
2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
very nice car would recommend to anyone
Buy a 5!
maz, 01/29/2003
2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I own the Protege 5 and love it. There are faster sport wagons, but the Mercedes styling and crisp handeling make the Protege a blast to drive. I feel it is the best bargin on the market. Get the 5 speed! If you don't drive a clutch, learn!
Just Luv it
rpbrick, 01/20/2003
2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Had the car for about 3-wks now and already have 1300 miles on it. Build quality is top notch w/no rattles or loose things to complain about. Engine is quit willing and quiet also. I got this car w/6-cd package and moonroof and just love the sound & sky. Trans is nice and smooth (5-spd) and ride is also great (firm, yet well controlled). Many compliments from my carpool buddies. Would highly recommend!
Best car out there
Andy B, 02/02/2003
2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
After looking at and test driving Hondas, Toyotas, and Saturns, I would have been stupid not to get my Protege. Not only does it handle very well, it's comfortable, can move like any 6 cylinder in its class (mine is only 4), and has a great factory installed audio system. Its design is sleek both inside and out. I average 35-40 miles to the gallon.
So Far - Luvin It
DWolfe, 02/04/2003
2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
So far, have had the car less than a week. I admit - I love it. while it could use more HP (I think every one is in agreement on that) - it is a blast to drive. Handles fantastic. Right now I look for excuses to drive it around - normally it would just be for the commute.
Good Car
Kurt, 07/15/2009
2003 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have had my 5 speed for 5 years and absolutely love it. Pros: Decent gas mileage, (not as good as a Corola, but more fun to drive) Fun to drive, responsive handling, good road feel comfortable seat. Good shifter. Very reliable, (just brakes and tires are the only parts replaced. Con. Noisy to ride in.
It really is the fun to drive car....
ZoomZoom02072, 02/04/2003
2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This Car is really the fun to drive car. This is the first car that I bought, I had been driving a 1991 Ford with 136,000 miles. I bought a pre- owned Mazda Protege that had 8601 miles on it. Its a 2000. It really Zoom like the Mazda ads say.... I know have a 2000 ES with all the features I wanted. When first looking for cars, I want a Civic badly! I couldn't afford a Civic with a Moonroof, CD player and keyless entry wiht low milage. I came across this WONDERFUL car in my range and I LOVE IT!
Some flaws after a few miles
Cheaprick29, 08/11/2008
2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car about a year & 1/2 ago. Paid $8k w 55k and now has 82k. The A/C doesn't work on 2 or 3 setting. The transmission makes a 'growling' or humming noise and continues to get worse the more I drive it. The trunk leaks due to a faulty trunk seal; My car smells like mildew all the time because water gets under the carpets. Had to replace the drive belts around 60k due to squeaking. Hit curb and cost $3800 to fix; not the best car to get into an accident in due to thin sheet metal. Other than that, the car is a great car. I switched out the stock head unit for a Pioneer; the CD player didn't work properly. I like the aux connection on my new head unit.
Will not be shopping for another Protege
jenna, 10/12/2008
2003 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
A few days ago, my Protege was completely totaled by another driver in a very minor accident. So, its durability is questionable. Within the first year of owning it, I had a reoccurring problem with moisture on the inside of the car. Whenever it would rain, wells in the trunk would fill with water with no drainage route. Windshield took forever to defrost/fog. In the winter ice would form on the inside of the windshield -not a fabulous prerequisite to my morning commute. The weather stripping began to peel from the passenger door, and the door handle became loose one winter. Also, the car would rattle whenever stopped in traffic.
Zoom-Zoom Protege
Cars4me89, 09/13/2002
2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is a great value, except it needs a bigger engine and it really need a leather seating option(or vinyl).
Love it!!!
Carin, 09/30/2002
2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I absolutely love this car. You definitely get more bang for your buck. The stereo rocks, the moon roof is romantic and the sport package with the rear spoiler and a sporty clutchless stick puts any girl in a class with the boys.