2001 Mazda Protege LX 2.0 from North America
Summary:
Exceptionally frustrated and disappointed in this product
Faults:
Repair items, all within a 13 month period:
02/27/06 - 103,382km - Front exhaust pipe
05/26/06 - 110,000km - Ignition Coil
07/07/06 - 114,298km - A/C Pressure Switch/repair
03/16/07 - 134,454km - EGR Valve
03/23/07 - 136,017km - Transmission and clutch.
Total cost - $2283.82.
In addition to the above, I also have an unidentifiable noise in the front end when accelerating in a turning position from standstill.
Plastic on this car is frail - plastic at base of windshield and windows chips very easily if scraping ice (I'm very careful to avoid any contact), hubcaps are cracked/chipped and one is missing.
Shifting still feels stiff to me, especially 2nd gear (I've driven four other older vehicles with standard transmissions that all shifted much easier)
General Comments:
Car is fun to drive, when it runs properly, but I can't believe the repair costs lately. I'm almost afraid to continue driving it at this point as it has emptied my bank account.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 4th April, 2007
12th Apr 2007, 17:20
Wow. That's a lot of money to shell out. In a way I can feel your pain. I have a 2001 LX 2.0, auto trans. Mazda had to replace my transmission before I had 1,000 miles on the car, it had a torque converter shaft seal leak the dealer just couldn't fix--and it was a minor leak--maybe a quarter size puddle in a 7 day period--which is no big deal if the car was used, but it was brand new so they replaced the whole tranny. My main gripe is there is no Chilton or Haynes manual available for this car--the only one available is one from Mazda and it costs 145.00 USD. The car has 101,000 miles on it now and it is going to need a timing belt and oxygen sensors, and a hand full of other parts which will add up to about 500 bucks. The car has performed flawlessly otherwise--paint and plastic on this car are frail. Does not take much to chip paint, but I find this is the case with any manufacturer these days. This is my second Mazda--I had the Protege's predecessor, the 323, and I drove the wheels off of that car--over 350,000 miles on the first engine, 100,000 on the second before I got rid of it. I plan on keeping my Protege for at least 3 more years because it is cheaper to maintain it compared to having a 350.00 car payment which I just cannot swallow financially right now.
5th Apr 2007, 11:24
Wow, I have to say I am quite surprised that all of these things happened on a Mazda. I assume that you did all of the required maintenance on it. Goes to show that no car maker is perfect.