So i'm thinking of picking up a cheap daily driver because currently my 8 is the DD and i'm not liking putting all the miles on it. Considering a 2003 mazdaspeed protege because i can get one in good clean shape for less then 5k.

My question is does anyone have experience with these cars? are they reliable? common problems with them? anything i should consider when looking to buy?

 

They're fun cars, I never owned one but have taken many track rides on a couple. Would compare it to a Mini Cooper S. Was considering buying one before I commited to RWD.

Main problem is rust, hard to find ones in good shape in my climate. I don't remember specifics, but you want a 2003.5 over a 2003 if possible.

 

I owned a 2003, I traded it in on my RX-8 many moons ago. It was reliable car and a great daily. At the time I commuted 80 miles a day in it, and I never had one single problem with it.

 

Thanks for the input! Yeah I've heard that as long as you don't start to modify them they are very reliable. Supposedly once you start modifying things go down hill fast as far as reliability.

 

Yeah the rods in that engine are like glass.

 

So would you say that if one of them has been tuned for higher boost that I probably shouldn't think about purchasing it?

 

Well what is higher boost? I generally stay away from modified cars.