"TotallyThatStupid" (jbbush)
05/07/2014 at 17:57 • Filed to: Rental Car Review
3
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"TotallyThatStupid" (jbbush)
05/07/2014 at 17:57 • Filed to: Rental Car Review | 3
| 7 |
"What's the fastest car in the world? A rental car, of course!"
That old chestnut, the object example of truth lovingly wrapped in a cliché. We all know people who have purchased cars previously the property of a rental or loaner fleets. And not ironically, either; this wasn't some vane nod toward empathy – like adopting an abused baby harp seal because you feel bad – or merely thumbing their nose at the Goddess of Nice Used Cars. They saw no problem in purchasing an automobile that had likely never known an easy day in its life.
It doesn't matter if it's a Camaro SS or a Dodge Avenger, an Audi A6 or a Kia Rio, a Nissan Quest or a Lincoln MK-whatever. Nobody has ever been nice to a rental car.
Unless said rental car isn't really a rental. If you have friends who are drunkenly foolish kind and generous enough to loan you a car for your week-long California vacation, you're much less likely to beat on it. Further, if the car is a cute little blue station wagon with a proper three-pedal manual transmission… well, we here at TTS really like harp seals.
That's not to say our little Mazda Protege5 – dead-stock and with six-figure miles – didn't see some exercise. We put around 1,000 miles on the digital clock running all over the Bay Area. We slogged through East Shore Freeway and San Francisco rush hour traffic. We cruised a lot around iconic Alameda island. Best of all by far, we got to play in my old stomping grounds of Marin county and the Marin Headlands, Mt. Tamalpais, and Route 1.
Now, not only is the Bay Area some of the most beautiful country in the country, but these are some of the best driving roads period. You've seen these ribbons cut into the hills in any and every magazine from Bimmer to Sports Car International to some of the European rags, and in numerous car ads from Acura, Mercedes-Benz and even Dodge ("Hi!"). In fact, when I lived there I used to run into the film and photo crews – literally and figuratively – from time to time.
Yes, there are more bicyclists than there used to be, but that's mostly on the weekends. Yes, these are what I like to call "one chance roads" in that, if you leave the road, well… that was your one chance! Sorry about the lack of guardrails, but the locals know better.
The speed limit on much of Mt. Tam is 35 mph, and you would have to work like hell to consistently maintain that speed. Honestly. You really don't have to be running at hypersonic speeds to get your jollies. Besides, a light, modestly-powered car may be all the fun your heart can handle.
The best way to sum up the Mazda's gestalt is it combined the handling dynamics of my 1985 Honda Prelude with the engine feel, steering, and ergonomics of my 1993 Miata LE. The 2.0-liter, 130 horsepower engine was willing but a little rough at higher RPMS, at least by today's standards. The shifter was smooth with medium throws, more akin to the Honda. On the backroads and up in the hills, it was light on its feet, but when really pushed the front end would wash out through the hairpins. Ratchet down to six- or even seven-tenths and find your rhythm, and the little Mazda positively danced.
It was an absolute sweetheart of a partner.
As a regular car, the Protege5 also did well. It behaved sitting in the aforementioned traffic, it's clutch pedal never becoming a burden and its seats remaining quite comfortable. It handled the kiddo's car seat and other accoutrements just fine. It took our Target purchases – because it doesn't matter where we are in the United States, we'll end up at a Target store – with ease. Overall, it returned mileage somewhere in the mid-20s. Actually, I didn't really keep track of it, but based on fill-up frequency and miles per tank, that seems about right.
So, is it the best "rental" car on my personal list? Maybe. It's certainly in my top 10, and maybe even top 5. The company the Mazda keeps on that list includes a Dodge Charger R/T, a Jaguar S-Type and a slightly rusty Mercedes ML320.
Make of that what you will.
Epilogue: Somewhere during the week I noticed a sweet smell from outside the car at stoplights. Turns out, the original radiator was weeping from the breather hose nipple, just under the cap. I wound up borrowing a lift and some tools from my old friend !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . I'm happy to report, in addition to everything else I really liked about the Mazda, it's dead simple to wrench on, too.
Totally That Stupid is a blog run by two lifelong car geeks. More at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . You can also !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .
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jkm7680
> TotallyThatStupid
05/07/2014 at 18:00 |
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I was going to say what kind of rental car company has manual 11 year old Mazda Protoges, Haha.
Saracen
> TotallyThatStupid
05/07/2014 at 18:05 |
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My brother used to have a black Protege5. Got it for $12500, brand spankin new, and something like $5k under sticker. One of the best deals ever to be had. It was a blast to drive.
P5guy now GTIguy
> TotallyThatStupid
05/07/2014 at 19:18 |
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As a Protege 5 owner I agree with everything you said, it really is a fun little car.
The Compromiser
> TotallyThatStupid
05/07/2014 at 21:42 |
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I haz sad. :( I miss mine. Bought new in 01. Died almost 3 years ago. Drove like it was on rails. Burned through a lot of tires. Engine still lives on but the rest was falling apart. I had alot of fun in that car. Started my family with that car (which was a big surprise let me tell you). It actually died in the hospital parking lot for the last time, the same day my mom died.
That car was the catalyst, cause and effect, the alfa and the omega of my life for nearly 11 years all in. I will always have 2 soft spots. One in my head, and the other for that car.
Tripper
> TotallyThatStupid
05/13/2014 at 08:45 |
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Had a red one in high school. My first "car" and my first manual trans! Ended in a head on with a speeding Ford Explorer (everyone was ok). Great car though.
VoltRon
> TotallyThatStupid
05/13/2014 at 09:53 |
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I was the 2nd owner of a 2002 model, in Silver, from 2005-2013. I loved everything about that car EXCEPT for the penchant for rusting. I probably would have kept it forever if the cancer hadn't started. I still miss it. Thing ran like a top and drove like a peach. I drive new Zipcars these days, and they don't feel honest, pure, like that Mazda.
Fenderaddict2
> TotallyThatStupid
05/13/2014 at 11:13 |
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Miss ours. Traded for a Minivan when the second kid arrived. Personally I always thought that little blue Mazda wagon was the perfect family/commuter car. Wife, oddly, was never that keen on it.