Overview & Reviews

User Reviews:

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  I love my Protege - 2001 Mazda Protege
  By Fatima Oliveira - May 21 - 10:00 am

  For the price of the car, you are getting a great car compared to the sentra and the civic. It handles great. Great design on interior and exterior with lots of room.

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  My Protege - 2001 Mazda Protege
  By MedinaC29 - May 9 - 8:23 am

  I love this car. I bought it used with 48,000 mi. Now it has 115,100 mi. It is so great on gas and now with gas prices being almost $4.00 I am not feeling as much pain as others. Ive had minor problems, unexpected issues but other than that I am satisfied with it. Ive added a couple of different things to it like, a spoiler, euro carbon fiber tail lights, wind visors, tinted windows etc. I also replaced the radio because the factory radio was messing up on me big time. You would press clock and it would show the CD track # and vice versa. So I replaced it. Just recently got a new paint job and it looks even better!

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  Amazing Reliability, Poor Tire Selectio - 2001 Mazda Protege
  By Brobas - April 3 - 2:00 am

  I have had my 2 vehicles prior to the purchase of my Mazda bought back on the NY State Lemon Law. Needless to say, I am a fanatic about quality with my vehicle experience. This Protege has NEVER had a problem. EVER. Period. We have had it for 3 years now and it has been outstanding.

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  "Cheapest Super Car" - 2001 Mazda Protege
  By PY - January 12 - 10:00 am

  Trying to push this car to its limit but seem like this car have no limit. The MP3 body is good enough to handle a 300 hp or up engine.

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  Great car for the most part - 2001 Mazda Protege
  By bond_fanatic18 - December 9 - 7:31 am

  My dad bought a gold 01 Protege brand new when I was a kid. It was never driven much, mainly used as a backup car. When I got my licence it was my ride to high school and in general as I hated driving my mothers van. I drove it for a year before my dad traded it for a 2012 Honda CR-V. It did its job fine, got me to school and back without fuss, was fun to drive with the 5-speed and great on gas. The only problem I had was the alternator crapping out in the middle of the freeway and I had to have it towed. Apart from that it was pretty reliable. Id recommend it, just watch out for rust problems and keep it to a meticulous maintenance schedule. Also not the best car to learn stick on.

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  Great car - 2001 Mazda Protege
  By jonrpatrick - November 12 - 2:00 am

  After 15 years of pontificating the vices of japanese cars, I finally gave up on my slow, unrefined, unreliable american cars and bought this Mazda. Ill never look back. This car is rock-solid and after my first year, I still look forward to driving it (unlike my american cars of yore!) The Protege is a blast to drive (lots of zoom-zoom), handles great, and is pretty peppy when you dig into the gas. Its also roomy, with a fantastic interior (Mazda is making the best interiors in the business right now!!) and refinement, refinement, refinement.

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  Unbelievable car for the money - 2001 Mazda Protege
  By nyminute - September 30 - 3:50 pm

  I have a 2001 Protege LX 2.0 with a 5 speed, bought it Sept. 01. It has over 150,000 miles and still runs great. But whats really incredible about this car is it still gets 30 MPG on the highway and other than brakes, tires, timing belt (which you should do before 120K) and an oil change every 8-10K miles, it has not been one single problem! Never in the shop, never on the side of the road, starts right up every day for almost 6 years and still runs like a champ! Same battery even!. Great car, if you can get one with the optional 2.0, buy it!

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  fun car takes a licking, keeps ticking - 2001 Mazda Protege
  By jsmsp - June 20 - 10:00 am

  Nearing 2 yr mark, 42k mi, just repl. plugs and air fltr for first time. Not one defect or problem other than usual wear. AC could be better (I often drive in wool suit). Aftermarket window tint has helped dramatically. BMW 3-series-like handling. 2.0 Engine not in BMW class, but low-rpm torque is very good. MPG would be much better with 6th gear for highways (only 5sp man). Trans works well if not too short- geared and long-thrown. Overall, a fun to drive, practical, sexy small sedan thats also a good value.

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  A car for an average driver to have fun! - 2001 Mazda Protege
  By Still Mazda fan... - June 5 - 3:56 am

  This car works marvelously. Steering and Breaks!!! are unseen in this class and up Altima/Solara level. As the car feels powerless, the above features are enhanced. However, the little things that makes a car luxurious lacks (3 speed wiper, no vanity lights, no arm rest etc.) If youre considering this car, you have to understand that youre paying the same or more than Carola/Sentra just for the steering and breaks. If you can live without power and the little things, you will love ES!!!

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  Review - 2001 Mazda Protege
  By kurtb34 - May 14 - 10:00 am

  I love it, its fun to drive and dependable (so far). Only one minor problem. Great online support community, too.