Serious Sports Sedan, Serious Bargain!

I was planning on updating my review of the 2003 Mazda Protege, but based on this amount of new information after a full year of ownership, I decided that a full rewrite was more in order. Before I get into the Mazda Protege itself, I’d like to emphasize that I bought this car following a very trouble-prone relationship with a 2002 Mitsubishi Galant (the only car I’ve kept less than 3 years) and since I was so upside-down on the Mitsu, the Mazda represented the cheapest new car that I could actually tolerate owning.

So the Protege came into my life under less than austere circumstances. I was clearly on the rebound from a (new, warranted) car that had left me stranded more times that I can count on both my fingers and toes, and which despite repeated claims, lost in a lemon law suit. That car was also one of the worst models of 2002 for resale value, so when I sold it in November 2003, I still owed $8,000 more than it was worth.

Needless to say, the object here was cheap transportation. What kept me out of the even smaller cars like the Toyota Echo and Hyundai Accent was the fact that every month I take a 900 mile round trip from Los Angeles to San Jose for my Army Reserve duty, and the speeds I travel on flat, boring Interstate 5 (80-90 MPH) I wanted a more substantial car. So with price as a priority, and forced into an automatic because of the tandem parking spot where I lived, a wife who refuses to learn manual and finally a total lack of base model 5-speeds on what was already a discontinued model (the new Mazda3 as just hitting showrooms), I bought THE LAST 2003 DX available within 50 miles of Los Angeles.

As I bought the only remaining DX, I had no choice in color or options, and wound up paying not only for the automatic that I would have preferred not to get, but also for a 6 disc in-dash CD changer and a cargo net in the trunk. Fortunately, there were no other options on my car (a rear spoiler would have spoiled the deal for me and moved me up to an LX). The car had a sticker price of $16,100, but came into my possession for $11,200 plus tax and license. This was the cheapest new car I had purchased since 1990, and adjusted for inflation, is actually cheaper than ANY new car I’ve ever had, and all but one used car. For a little more than eleven large, I got a brand-new car with a 4 year, 50,000 mile warranty, 4 speed electronically controlled automatic transmission, air conditioning, the above-mentioned 6-disc CD (which I’ve really come to love) and a very well kept secret.

Well-kept-secret? Yes. The Mazda Protege, specifically the 2001-2003 models, are bargain-basement sports sedans. One clue is the tires. Look at any car in its class and you will see 14 and 15 wheels, but you will also see 80, 70 or at most 65 series tires. Basically, the series, or aspect ratio, represents how tall the sidewall is compared to how wide the tread is. On a 70 series tire, the sidewall height (top + bottom) is 70% of the tire’s width. On a 60 series, it is 60%. The lower the aspect ratio, the lower the “profile” of the tire, and usually the better the handling, though at the expense of ride comfort. Those 70 and 65 series tires on the competition give them softer, smoother ride, but also make them wallow in fast corners. The Protege, even the el-cheapo DX model with its crank windows and manual locks comes with 55 series, VR (130+ MPH) rated tires. Combine the serious sporting rubber with a seriously stiff suspension and the result is a car that goes around corners better than anything twice the price, at the cost of a rough, sports car ride.

There is other evidence that real car-nuts designed the Mazda Protege. The seat cushions are firm and well-bolstered, to hold the driver in place during spirited cornering. The three-spoke Nardi-knockoff steering wheel has a thick rim and a small diameter, perfect for fast driving. Even the center console on the right and dead pedal and door trim on the left were clearly positioned, angled and textured to facilitate a driver bracing him or herself with the legs in high-speed turns. To that, add a perfect driving position, which on the DX lacks an adjustable seat though doesn’t need one, and instrumentation that is plain, simple, and legible at a very short glance.

Other aspects of the car back-up the stealth sports car hidden agenda of the Protege's designers. The engine, a large 2.0 liter makes a decent 130 horsepower. Sure, Honda and Toyota get about the same power from smaller, more fuel-efficient engines, but the Protege makes its power lower in the rev range, with terrific torque from idle on up. In addition, the Protege engine is very under stressed and relaxed. This means that there is a lot of potential to unleash additional power, or that left stock, it will last forever. Unlike Honda and Toyota, the Protege's engine is a “non-interference” engine, meaning that if the timing belt breaks (something that happens to lazy or miserly owners who skimp on their maintenance), the rods and valves will not disintegrate as they try to be in the same place at the same time. In a Honda, if the belt breaks, its usually an extremely expensive proposition often requiring a whole new engine, or at least new valves and heads. In a Protege, a broken timing belt results in the engine cutting out and the car coasting to a stop. Install the new belt and you are back on your way.

In short, the 2003 Protege looks like an economy car, but it handles and feels like a sports car. I’ve even taken mine racing. Two-weeks-ago a group of friends and I rented the “Streets” course at Willow Springs International Raceway, in Lancaster, CA. The “Streets” course is much tighter than the oval, with a few short straightaways and a whole lot of tight turns. I drove my Protege completely stock save for improved tires (205/50/15 Falken Ziex 512 on the stock 15” steel wheels), and embarrassed a lot of people with far more expensive iron while planting the largest grin that has ever adorned my face.

Okay, so the 2003 Protege is fun to drive and handles like a sports car. How is it in the daily grind of commuting and on my long monthly trip to San Jose? Well, it handles like a sports car, which means that you feel the potholes and pavement imperfections far more than you would in a Civic or Corolla, though it also means that little things like freeway onramps become amusement park rides instead of routine boredom. In all, the ride is not uncomfortable, though it is at about the maximum firmness before it would be. If you’ve driven a BMW with the sport package, you know what to expect in ride quality, stiff, but tolerable.

The same goes for noise. The exhaust has a nice snarly rasp to it, obviously there because the engineers like the sound of well-tuned engines and think that people buying sporty cars will like it too. I don’t find it in any way intrusive and actually enjoy it so much that I often turn off the excellent-sounding stereo just to enjoy the musical exhaust note. Keep in mind, while you can hear it, it isn’t loud or distracting. The wind and tire noise are louder, and above 80 MPH make for a less comfortable ride based solely on your ears. Under 75 MPH and the cabin is quiet and hushed, except for the pleasant exhaust sound. It is quieter than a customized car and even quieter than a stock V8 Mustang, but it is louder (and nicer) than any Civic or Corolla exhaust, and totally in keeping with the car’s personality.

Actually the only performance disappointment is fuel economy, though I’ll admit that I drive rather fast. In city driving with the AC on and a heavy right foot I average about 22 miles per gallon, 3 short of the EPA estimate. On the highway, at 80 MPH with the AC on I get about 25 MPG, 5 lower than the EPA estimate. If driven as an economy car instead of a sports car, however, fuel mileage improves dramatically. On one trip to San Jose I turned off the AC and kept my speed at a steady 70 MPH, and the Protege responded with 32 miles per gallon, 2 better than the EPA estimate. If I had the patience to drive at 60 or 65, I’m sure 35 MPG would be within reach. My best mixed city and freeway tank was 27MPG, also 2 better than the EPA estimate, achieved during a cold week (no AC) and very gentle acceleration and braking (tough to do in such a fun-to-drive car).

So you know how it drives and rides, how is the quality? Here the Protege is a mixed bag. The primary controls are of excellent quality. Steering and braking feel terrific and the ergonomics (relationship between the driver and all controls) is as good as the very best in the business. Where the Protege suffers is in the build-quality of the minor controls and trim. My car, at one year and 21,000 (admittedly hard) miles I have rattles in both front and one rear door, a squeaky driver’s seat and a rattle in the dash somewhere near the glove box. The rattle in the dash was there since the day I bought the car, and numerous attempts to silence it have totally failed to do so. The door rattles are common in this model, and there is probably nothing that can be done about them. The driver’s seat will get another visit to the dealer. Another recent problem is that the passenger front window admits wind noise when cranked all the way shut, though seals perfectly if I back the crank a touch. My suspicion is that the seals on the window sill are going, and I’ll have them replaced under warranty.

The problems are all of the minor niggling annoyance variety, rather than the serious mechanical failure variety (my Galant’s troubles all concerned brakes), so all-in-all I consider the 2003 Mazda Protege to be a very well-made car, with obvious cost cutting in the minor areas while the real money went to the important stuff. Considering the price I paid, it is a raging bargain. For the sticker price, one could do better, but not if the goal is speed and driving fun. In all honestly, you would have to spend at least the price of a Mini Cooper S or BMW 325i if you wanted to have more fun behind the wheel (or better lap times on the Streets of Willow).

Now I’d like to talk a bit about the appearance of the car. The Protege is a rather plain-looking sedan, though there are plenty of small touches that really give the car an upscale look, much like a small Audi or BMW, though not to the same extent. First, those large, low-profile tires give the car an aggressive stance that is far more Audi than Toyota like. Simple, understated styling and perfect proportions give the car a muscular appearance that subtly hints at the performance that lies within. This is a very handsome car, that I am actually still proud to own now that I could afford something more expensive. Even a year later, I catch myself lingering in the garage to just look at my car from time to time, something I’ve never done with any of my cars before this one. The good looks continue inside, and despite the spartan trim level, everything just looks right. The analog gauges have neat plastic rings surrounding them while the dash and door trim provide a feeling of coziness and intimacy like the best sports car interiors, without feeling in any way claustrophobic.

Very much related to, and in contrast of the appearance, is the roominess of the car, which is very deceptive. The Mazda Protege is a compact, and as such it is a breeze to park in compact spaces even when some moron in a Chevrolet Suburban hogs the compact spot next to you. Despite the trim exterior proportions, there is plenty of room for four adults, five in a pinch. Like almost every modern car, the front seat occupants have plenty of room in every direction, but the rear seat is truly surprising. I am 5'9", and with the drivers seat set where I like it, I can sit “behind myself” in total comfort and with plenty of room. The front seats are high, giving rear seat passengers plenty of room to put their feet under the fronts, while heater ducts under the front seats keep rear passengers warm; something lacking on many more expensive cars. Finally, the seats are firm and supportive, even the often overlooked back seats. Actually the only complaint about the interior that I have is that there are no storage pockets or cup holders for the rear seat passengers, other than that, there isn’t a bad seat in the house.

In the end, if you are looking for a terrific used car value (or can find a leftover on the new car lot), the 2003 Mazda Protege is about the sportiest, most fun-to-drive compact sedan money can buy. It isn’t the most fuel efficient car on the road, but it more than makes up for it with driving fun, good looks and one of the best reliability records in the car business. Despite a much better financial situation this year, I have no intention of parting with my Protege, except perhaps to give to my wife and buy another 03 for myself, this time with a manual transmission for my next track day.