So I went and saw a Protege5 with my friend today

"Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur" (velocity860)
10/15/2013 at 20:07 • Filed to: Cars

He's in the market for his first car, and he needs something practical. He wants it to be a manual and be fun to drive. So, the Protege5 fits the bill. The one we saw had nothing wrong with it mechanically, but some cosmetic things were odd/broken (dumb wheels, werid LEDs in the windshield wiper fluid sprayers, and a foglight was cracked). It was a solid car, had no rust (a problem with Protege5s), looked straight, and had a clean carfax. The only other problem with it is that someone clearly smoked in it, but my friend didn't seem to care too much. Overall it was a good car, although a tiny bit overpriced for its mileage ($4,995 for 149k miles). Tomorrow he might test drive it with his dad, and I really think he should get it, its a cool little car. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

DISCUSSION (40)

phenotyp > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
10/15/2013 at 20:09

They are great cars.

dieselwagon > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
10/15/2013 at 20:11

I hope he gets it too. Nice first car, practical, manual, wagon, Mazda. Not sold on the colour, but otherwise awesome.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > dieselwagon
10/15/2013 at 20:13

For some reason this car looks really good in yellow. Not sure why, either.

POD > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
10/15/2013 at 20:13

He may not care about the smoke now, but I'd worry he's just excited about getting his first car and letting that blind him to any flaws. Other than the smoke it looks nice.

Here is the big thing, will potential dates not care about the smoke?

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > POD
10/15/2013 at 20:16

Well its not really that bad, and he is excited, but not too excited because he's too chill of a guy to make a freak decision like that. Its the first car that he's really seemed completely into though. I've showed him some Subies and he wasn't as into them as this one.

POD > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
10/15/2013 at 20:18

I do love Mazda's. If he gets it I'm sure he'll like it.

Slave2anMG > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
10/15/2013 at 20:31

The combination of the smoke and the whoopee windshield washer nozzles make me strongly question how well the car was maintained. I'd give this one a wide berth...very wide.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Slave2anMG
10/15/2013 at 20:35

Truthfully, it looks good for its age.

Tom McParland > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
10/15/2013 at 20:37

Could be a good buy for about 1500 less. Make sure he gets an independent mechanic to check it out. If the dealer has a problem, big red flag.

lonestranger > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
10/15/2013 at 20:48

First car

PM yellow

I see speeding tickets in your bud's future.

Takuro Spirit > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
10/15/2013 at 20:58

Those wheels? Yeah, it was a factory option. Like every Protege wheel of that era they're known to corrode and whatnot. But since the quarters are not rusted, I assume the car's been garaged or washed regularly or kept in a dry environment, so the wheels should be okay too.

Looks like a nice car at a nice price.

p.s. I work at a Mazda dealer and ran the VIN. Nothing to write home about, no open recalls (none applied anyway), but hasn't had any work done at a dealer since 24k when it had a airbag module replaced under warranty.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Takuro Spirit
10/15/2013 at 21:00

Thanks man! Yeah the wheels need to go

Takuro Spirit > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
10/15/2013 at 21:01

Is there any record of the timing belt being done?

Slave2anMG > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
10/15/2013 at 21:02

That's all well and good and a good detailer can make a turd of a car look nice....but even at a 149K miles it shouldn't be smoking. At all. I question the previous owner's priorities in that somebody spending money on LED squirters and cheeseball wheels yet lets the engine continue to smoke? What else has been neglected? Or the better question - what else expensive has been neglected? Just sayin'...

A good mechanical inspection is in order here, it really is...

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Slave2anMG
10/15/2013 at 21:05

Oh you misread, the car doesn't smoke at all! The car has been smoked in by someone

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
10/15/2013 at 21:08

I'd be careful. It is a Carfax 3 owner car, and the last owner only owned it for 8 months.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
10/15/2013 at 21:09

Yeah I noticed

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
10/15/2013 at 21:14

What about this one owner Scion XB

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/…

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
10/15/2013 at 21:15

Dude, Doug Justus. He lives in my neighborhood, and XBs are a no

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
10/15/2013 at 21:18

I'd try to look for something with a less sketchy history. I totally understand your situation, leading a friend towards their first car, In fact I just finished a 6 month long car search for my friend, and finally found a car that she liked, and that her mom was willing to pay for.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
10/15/2013 at 21:20

Well its really not all that sketchy, compared to my car

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
10/15/2013 at 21:21

Whats with your car?

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
10/15/2013 at 21:23

Well, the second owner had the car for a long time, but literally never took it to a dealer or reported anything. The windshield is replaced, and its been repainted, and the second owner probably did all of that.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Takuro Spirit
10/15/2013 at 21:27

No idea.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
10/15/2013 at 21:30

That does sound pretty sketchy.

Takuro Spirit > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
10/15/2013 at 21:30

Something to think about. Other than that and other basic maintenance these things are pretty bulletproof.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Takuro Spirit
10/15/2013 at 21:31

It sounded pretty good when it ran. I'll make sure to check the timing belt

Slave2anMG > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
10/15/2013 at 21:40

Oh. That is quite different. My apologies.

And Ewww.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Slave2anMG
10/15/2013 at 21:42

muthafuggin febreze will help yo

Dunnik > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
10/15/2013 at 21:43

You found a Protege without rust?

Pics or it didn't....oh wait. You do have pics. Nevermind then.

sloPro > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
10/15/2013 at 21:43

definitely overpriced!!!!! i got my mazdaspeed protege with 100K miles on it for 6500.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > sloPro
10/15/2013 at 21:44

P5s have always held their value better, but it is a little overpriced

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
10/15/2013 at 21:52

What about this. http://knoxville.craigslist.org/cto/4121246511…

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
10/15/2013 at 21:54

That's awesome, but the seats are really nasty, and he probably wants something a little safer. Trust me, this Mazda is just about perfect

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
10/15/2013 at 21:56

http://knoxville.craigslist.org/ctd/4108032185…

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
10/15/2013 at 21:56

http://knoxville.craigslist.org/ctd/4055255475…

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
10/15/2013 at 22:00

http://knoxville.craigslist.org/ctd/4105667764…

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
10/15/2013 at 22:03

Not practical enough, plus, the convertibles aren't as good as the sedans. Props for being a Saab though

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
10/15/2013 at 22:05

I think the Mazda sounds like a good fit. I Don't rush into anything. Also I would recommend taking this car to a Mazda dealership for a pre purchase inspection to ensure that nothing is wrong with it.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
10/15/2013 at 22:10

Yeah I'll definitely tell my friend to do that