Overview & Reviews

User Reviews:

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  Dont buy one of these! - 2003 Mazda Protege5
  By Scott - December 7 - 5:23 pm

  I had issues with this car from the moment I purchased it. My wife and I downgraded to save money given the economic environment. We bought it in late 2008 with about 68000 miles on it, figuring it shouldnt give us any trouble for a few years. Well, I had put about $500 into it up until August of 2009 which I wasnt happy about. Then in August, the engine went out costing me $3500 for a used motor. Needless to say, I am less than satisfied and will never buy a Mazda again. The Mazda I owned before this one needed a new transmission at 30000 miles. Ridiculous.

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  Loving it! - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By TheHonza - November 30 - 10:00 am

  The car is a thrill to drive. Sharp handling and sits very well on the road. The exterior looks aggressive and is a handy little hauler!

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  Exceptionally fun and reliable to drive - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By nichols2 - November 27 - 2:00 am

  The Protege 5 is fun and reliable with lots of "get up and go." I bought mine with the roof racks which I use to cart around two 16-ft Kayaks. Even with the Kayaks on top (which act like two huge sails), the gas mileage is great. The fold-down seats provide extra cargo space when camping or hauling materials for my many home remodeling projects. Additionally the Protege 5 comes equipped with a great sound system.

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  Zoom-Zoom!! - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By Zoom!!! - November 26 - 12:00 am

  This is a great car! I drove about 200 miles to get mine due to the options I wanted and it drove absolutely great on the way back. I think everything on the vehicle is well put together for 18K, it is a lot nicer in my option than the Lexus. Sure the Lexus has more power, but overall in my mind it wasnt work the extra 14K. Some of the pros are the 5sp, the suspension and handling, and the overall look of the vehicle. I also read the reviews talking about lack of power; well mine gets up and goes without a problem, and for the people who complain about the power, PUSH THE GAS PEDAL! :)

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  my P5 - 2003 Mazda Protege5
  By Branic77 - November 4 - 2:00 am

  I love this car!! I couldnt be happier with my choice. I was able to get every extra (moon roof, leather seats, all the perks!) and still stay in my price range. It handles like a sports car, and has a lot more zip than I would have expected. I look good in this car!

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  Fun to drive - 2003 Mazda Protege5
  By rmcgoun - November 4 - 2:00 am

  I really enjoy driving my protege5.I opted for the standard trans. and the acceleration seems adequate. The car seems to really hug the road in turns. I looked at a lot of cars and this one has the best visbility especially when backing up. When comparing the toyota matrix and the ford focus wagon the protege wins hands down. You get 17in mag. wheels with 4 wheel disc brakes standard on the mazda, costs extra on the toy and ford. The price was much better on the Mazda. If you are looking for a stylish car at a reasonable price check out the protege5

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  Fun to drive - 2003 Mazda Protege5
  By boyzmom67 - November 4 - 2:00 am

  We have had no problems with our Protege 5 since purchasing it new for our 17 year old last year.It is a well made car that is fun to drive.

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  little car can go - 2003 Mazda Protege5
  By mojoant - November 4 - 2:00 am

  fun fun fun not just for looks but could use a v-6 other than that its a great ride .....

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  A Nice Car At An Economical Price - 2003 Mazda Protege5
  By Coke - November 4 - 2:00 am

  I compared two cars during my look for a new car: the Mazda Protege 5 and a Volvo 40. One test drive in each car enabled me to reach one conclusion, that there was no comparison between the two. The Volvos turbo whined consistently and its wheels were unbalanced, whereas, the P5 had far better visibility in any direction and was more design appealing inside and out and more user-friendly in all aspects. One look was all it took, and judging from over two years of driving with few complaints, I believe I made the right decision.

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  Excellent car - 2003 Mazda Protege5
  By Rob - October 23 - 2:56 am

  I have 110K on my car, bought it new and do the req. maint. on time. Only ever had two complaints about this car. The first was the original tires that came with it... TERRIBLE. They were Dunlop tires and 2 of the tires developed bulges in the side walls. They also had terrible traction, especially in the rain. The other is gas mileage. For a small car, with a 2.0L engine (5 speed manual trans.) the best it can do on the highway is 32-35. I had a Honda Civic (5 spd.) that routinely got 40-45 and a Dodge Stratus (5 spd too) that got between 35-40 hwy. Otherwise, I LOVE this car. I drive it everyday. Its reliable, comfortable and fun to drive; handles great with the new Kumho tires