I had more thorough rust repair performed once, a couple years ago. Each fall I remove what rust I can from the rear wheel openings and shock towers, slap on some rust converter, then paint. Where the roads are salted, small Mazdas predictably start to meld with atmosphere about six months after the five-year rust perforation warranty ends. Consider the Mazda Exhibit A in the case that it’s more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow. In subjective terms, the P5 feels so alive and is so much fun, even in daily driving, that it has made nearly every car I’ve reviewed over the past decade seem dull, even boring in comparison. Even without stability control (which was never offered), every ounce of potential can be extracted from this car safely and easily. Testing out the car’s handling early on in a snow-covered parking lot, I had to resort to pulling the hand brake to get it to spin. (The thick, heavily padded steering wheels favored by many people and consequently common on performance-oriented cars block feedback.) A MINI or a 500 should feel as agile and provide communication as plentiful and nuanced, but doesn’t.īy lifting off the Protege5’s throttle as you enter a turn you can coax the rear end out a bit, but in general the car’s chassis is extremely stable. Though the low-effort steering can have an over-assisted, rubber-band feel at modest lock under light loads (a trait shared by the current Civic Si), both on-center and when you’re tossing the car precisely through a curve the rack and column seem to transmit EVERTYTHING through a relatively thin, minimally padded rim to your fingertips. First of all, despite a 2,800-pound curb weight, the car’s reactions to steering inputs are quicker than in any compact hatch I’ve driven since buying it. The Protege5 remains relevant for the same reasons I still own it. How does it possibly remain relevant today? So the P5 was designed and engineered back in the mid-nineties. I got a great deal ($18,900 MSRP, paid $13,400) because the new Mazda3 was in transit. See a car that should have been offered from the factory? email is waiting on the Dent Eraser to work his magic on his 1995 Mercedes C36 AMG.When I bought my Protege5 back in November 2003, it was already at the end of its run. In a nutshell, the car has a worked over suspension, big sound system, a lot more gauges, two sets of wheels, and HID lighting.
#Mazda protege 5 2003 mods
The mods to the car other than the engine are almost too numerous to list. The issues that need attention are an oil leak from the pan, boost leak from the blow off valve, and the clutch is on its last legs (new one included in sale). Recent service in the last six months included: slave cylinder, throw out bearing, wheel bearings, and oil change. The stock MS Protege ECU tune left a lot to be desired so it is good that a new SSAFC V2 air fuel controller is included in the sale. The seller links a build thread on a Mazda specific forum on the build that was started in 2012. The 2.0 turbo engine is a ticking time bomb if you run over 10 psi without changing out to forged internals. The Mazdaspeed engine is largely stock with the exception of a front mount intercooler versus OEM side mount and T28 turbo versus the OEM T25.
The car has a few issues that are claimed to be simple and easy fixes ( which begs the question as to why someone capable of swapping an engine would not take care of them). The car is described as being tastefully modified and an excellent driver.
#Mazda protege 5 2003 driver
This swap is the sellers daily driver and has 140,000 miles on the chassis. Find this 2003 Mazda Protege 5 for sale in Manchester, CT for $4,200 via craigslist. The seller is active on a Mazda forum and lists more information about the car than most any normal person will care to read about. An enthusiastic Protege fan took it upon himself to create a more practical alternative to the MS Protege sedan. Nearly all car enthusiasts ( DT readers included) share a common love of the station wagon. In the comments, it was bemoaned that Mazda never saw fit to give the Mazdaspeed treatment to the Protege 5 wagon. Last week’s Sunday piece featured a unusually clean Mazdaspeed Protege.