Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests Opinions on Mazda Protege' ES?

My best friend just bought an SER spec-V for his wife, but i haven't driven it yet (waiting for him to get past the break in miles ). But, just over 1 year ago, i bought a Protege5 for the family, and i think it is great. Sure, it could use power, but it was for my wife, so i wasn't worried about it. But we use it wherever we go and we love it.

By the way, we bought our Protege5 when it first hit the lots for just over 18K, with moonroof, ABS, side airbags, etc. Unless you don't care for the wagon, i don't see why you can't also look for a P5 for around the same price. They're exactly the same, only i have a little bit more room, and the cool body kit.

I love the Protege5, she HATES the wagon aspect of it....*sigh*

Rachel, I am guessing you have a 5-speed? Michelle needs an Auto

or you could also pick up one of those REALLY cool MP3's lol

yea mine is a 5 speed.. but in stop and go traffic an automatic transmission would be sooooo helpful!!

btw did I mention I love the cruise control on it lol

Check this site.... Mazda forums

My girlfriend has a P5 and I love it.

I vist protegeclub.com quite frequently try to learn new stuff about my car from time to time...

I sold my 99 protege lx to buy my SVT. I liked it, it was loaded with a MTX. It was peppy but not fast, it handles OK. I paid 17.5 for my SVT when I got it (2000 with 16K miles) from a dealer.

There is no comparison in luxury, comfort, performance, looks between my SVT and my Protege, the SVT wins in all categories by a longshot. Just my .02.

Wait till fall and you can have a Madza Speed Protege. Its superchrged or turboed. I forget. Bet find the wait list and get on it.

Get the Protege... bar none the best small car. True, you're a tad short in the pony department, but driving it, it feels like more on the butt dyno...

mamisano, take the roof rack off, and it loses a lot of wagonness (I personally wish it had been an option, but it is completely removable, even with fillers for the roof).

My wife and I got an '02 LX last fall. Great little car. Handles like a dream. I kinda wish we got the ES because of the 4 wheel discs and bigger wheels, but the LX was a better deal for us at the time (14k fully loaded MTX and Dplan) Anyway I would highly recomend the Mazda, I haven't driven the Sentra but according to the articles I've read it's much more refined then the Sentra or Focus. Now it is lacking in the horsepower dept, but the thing handles like it's on rails, (much better then my tour anyway)

Get the Protege. I have a 1990 Protege LX and if I were to be buying a new car now, it would be a Protege. It has been a great auto-x car and a blast to shame higher hp cars on entrance ramps. Since I now have a Miata to compare it with, I can say it is very much a FWD Miata in its handling capabilities. It still keeps all the oil on the inside of the motor and runs to fuel cutoff everyday.

Respectfully,
Andy Hohl