Overview & Reviews

User Reviews:

• 

  DSAP Dead Solid (Almost Perfect) - 2003 Mazda Protege5
  By Slamminator - November 12 - 2:00 am

  Only lacking in power off the line (Auto Trans.). Sounds and drives like a little race car in all other respects. I bought the automatic as the better half doesnt use the stick. The manual shift option adds another dimension to it! My 17 Y/O said its like they slapped a hatch on the back of a sports car. Exceeded almost all of my expectations Met ALL of them

• 

  GREAT CAR - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By Bruce - November 2 - 12:46 am

  I wrote a review at 165,000 miles. Drives like a go kart due to tight suspension. Doesnt like rough roads but smooth twisties, its a dream. Normal main. only except for H2O pump at 80,000 miles. Original clutch. People complain about lack of power but overall comfort, fun to drive and cargo space outweighed the hp. I added turbo exhaust, K&N filter and had the computer reprogrammed. Sporty sound now. May have added 10-15 hp and car is fast as I want to maintain 31 mpg/hwy. Better daily driver than my 2007 Speed 3. 5 speed is much smoother than the 6 speed of the Speed3. Rough ride on harsh roads due to sport suspension, still better than Speed 3. The car is a keeper if you take it.

• 

  Can it be any better? - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By cycling40 - October 12 - 11:30 pm

  Picked up the car on Presidents Day. Put on a hundred miles on it. Best car Ive ever owned if you compare to the cars Ive driven and owned (Trans Am, Camaros, Datsun 280ZX, Toyota Corolla/Camry, Honda Civic/Accord). As others have said, could use a little more power but quite adequate as is. Bought the car based on reviews, no test drive. The five-speed manual is a honey. If the Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe can improve on this, Id truly be disappointed. Just a gem of a pocket rocket.

• 

  Great Bang for the Buck - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By ProtoJoe - October 7 - 10:00 am

  This car currently has less than 1000 miles, but I am pleased thus far. I dont think you can find another car of this variety that offers the features and style given for the price. My car was one of the first built, so were a couple of minor problems that were probably corrected in later builds. This car loaded came in about 4000 less than a WRX. Granted it lacks the HP and AWD, but if you are going to be carrying a child, it causes you to drive a little more sensibly. ;-)

• 

  For the money - cant be beat! - 2003 Mazda Protege5
  By Joe - September 30 - 1:13 am

  This is truly a SPORT wagon - handling is truly out of its league and inspires confidence in any driving condition. Throwing it around turns and on-ramps brings a smile to my face every time. Exterior design is fantastic. The fit and finish feels more European with tightly sealing doors, good interior plastics and only 1 rattle - license plate holder (thick insulation tape fixed that). Stereo is more than adequate for a stock system. The fan selector switch malfunctioned but was replaced promptly under warranty. Front fog lights do an excellent job of lighting your way and give the car a rally-like appearance. For the money, the P5 is unrivaled in every way!

• 

  Love it! - 2003 Mazda Protege5
  By rgattic - September 20 - 10:00 am

  The P5 has met or exceeded all of my expectations. It has plenty of room for our family is still has the fun and feel of a sports car. It makes me look forward to driving.

• 

  Not so quiet zoom zoom - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By FS_DE - September 13 - 5:30 pm

  Bought this car used with 17k miles. From day one it has been a truly awesome car to drive. The quality of craftsman ship and design, with all the stock options that come with makes it superb. Items to note: The lack of power (as many complain) is easily overcome by a cold air intake, ever since install its been getting better midrange power and noticeably more torque when you need it. The cold gear grind in the manual transmission has completely gone away after i replaced the gear oil with synthetic oil. I did 70,000 miles in two years and its still a fun to drive car, no known problems what so ever. Maintain this car and you can easily reach 200k without a single problem.

• 

  definitely a fun car to drive - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By av - September 5 - 4:53 pm

  Almost bought one in 2002. It was a toss up between a loaded Civic VS Protege5. Ended up with the Civic simply because I was able to get a better deal. I finally bought one recently because I found a good deal. Pros: Fun car - excellent handling and braking Reliable Looks great Cons: Overall quality isnt great *Interior feels cheap (its a regular protege underneath the shiny stuff) *Interior ergonomics is almost non- existent *Motor mounts are poor quality *Poor rust protection *Horrible paint quality (some colors were single stage paint) *Whiny motor

• 

  Zoom Zoom Zoom = Fun Fun Fun - 2003 Mazda Protege5
  By Joy joy - August 13 - 2:00 am

  Purchased my Protege5 six days ago, so I cant say much on reliability and build quality quite yet, but it is fun to drive. Very peppy and stiff handling. The options dont cost an arm and a leg either. Good wind noise protection, but bad road noise at 60 plus mph.

• 

  Great Little Car - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By Jack - August 12 - 2:26 pm

  Brought Mazda new and have never regretted it. Fun to drive and a sporty look even after 7 years - I think Mazda made a mistake with the new Proteges - my Progete5 looks better then the new updated versions. Price and reliability are first rate, with good gas mileage and great interior room. Only thing Ive replaced are the low profile tires - went up to 205 from 195 - does not change look and tires dont wear out - 195 are expensive to replace and dont wear well and are hard to find.