It can still haul more stuff (the real point) than the sedan. Where the 2002 Protege5 is a great idea on paper, the wagon on the street is a great deal less powerful than we would have liked. That’s Protege5, as in the sporty little two-box version of the popular Protege sedan with more room yet still some zoom. And the company did it with a simple formula: Take a sedan that already works (the Protege), throw a “backpack” on the back end (rear hatch), and name it something familiar, with a numeric twist (the Protege5). As hard as it may be, Mazda has jumped in where few car companies have dared to go. What’s more, it’s the first in a long line of what’s to come: Mom-mobiles gone groovy that are meant to appeal to young drivers who want to haul things. No need to be embarrassed when you pull up to a light next to a Ferrari. Is it so? We will say it’s a lot closer than the wagons we remember. The automaker, which spent most of 2001 telling the world you could “zoom” your way to a better time, has created the better wagon. Zoom, zoom … huh? The last time we saw something called a “sport” wagon, Clark Griswold was trucking his way to Wally World in the family truckster, Carol Brady was speeding through syndication and, in the real world, wagons weren’t all that cool. I use this car for everything, driving 30-40,000 miles/year.Hold on to your wood paneling, your car seat and your kids eating ice cream in the back seat, with special thanks to our friends at Mazda, “wagonizing” has become a sport. The end result is a great improvement?just be prepared for a tighter, bumpier ride and a little more ?out of pocket? upkeep expense. The Protege5 is what would happen if you took a Ford Escort Wagon and ditched all the ?blah? and replaced it with Zoom-Zoom. Finally, Mazda made Ford Escorts for years and if you?ve ever owned one, especially an Escort wagon, you?ll notice similar parts. Also, this car has two (2) catalytic converters, a very expensive one to replace that comes right off the engine and a less expensive one which follows a couple of feet later. Highway driving alone will get better numbers. Gas mileage varies between 24 and 28 mpg per tank. My neighborhood tire shops only have one option (each) available for this vehicle and they?re twice the cost of the ?regular? tires I?ve purchased previously. ![]() It also has low profile 16? tires that are more expensive and rare than I?m used to. On the upside, the car corners fantastically. If you?re not used to feeling every bump in the road, you will now! I?ve never had a ?sport? suspension before, so it?s taken me a little getting used to. However: This is a Sport-Wagon-the suspension has been lowered and stiffened. I?m over six foot tall and have plenty of room everywhere. ![]() There?s plenty of leg and head-room for passengers. The front driver?s seat adjusts three ways. Replacing the CD player isn't hard but does require Ford/Mazda removal tools (4 because it's a double-din). The radio reception is less than you might expect. There's a little ?carbon fiber? trim around the center stack. The steering wheel and some of the trim are either real leather or a good imitation. Interior materials, including the very comfortable seats, are plush and of high quality. There?s a good amount of power, though it?s no dragster. ![]() The engine is a 2.0, four cylinder, the largest of 3 available in the Protege (1.6, 1.8 or 2.0 in the sedan). When the seats are down there?s a LOT of hauling room. Rear seat bottoms fold up and upper seats fold down to create a flat bed. I bought mine at 129,000 miles-a 5 Speed manual that?s stiff and a bit finicky. The precursor to the Mazda3 five door hatch and made for two years, `02-`03.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |