Looking to buy a Protege!

protezhay · December 4th, 2010, 10:59 AM

Hello TOprotege, I've got my heart set on buying a BJ-chassis Protege. I've done tons of research (lots on these forums!) and I think I have my heart set on a 99 or 2000 1.8 LX Protege with a 5 speed

I understand the pre-facelift BJ's are lighter and that the FP-DE is more fun (free-revving) than the FS-DE in the 01+ cars.

I could be wrong but I see major rust on the facelifted BJ's and not so much on the 99-00's.

Is there anything specific to look for other than rust? I notice alot of these cars on autotrader need brake and gas line work, is this a common issue?

Thanks guys!

protezhay · December 4th, 2010, 12:53 PM

Is this in the right section? Sorry!

voy89 · December 4th, 2010, 04:07 PM

I don't know what is your budget or what are you planning to do with the car,(are you gonna be modding the car?), but for the prices now I'd go straight for msp. you can certainly find a protege with little to no body rust.
I don't think brakes and gas lines are common issues in proteges, if the car is properly/regularly maintained then it will last long time , brakes are gonna wear out on all cars no matter what.

mmorriso · December 4th, 2010, 04:08 PM

try the buy/sell/trade section and post a WTB (want to buy) thread.

is it for the street or track or daily driver?

personally i would look for a protege in the best condition you can find for your budget and not limit the search to 2 model years.

happy shopping!

protezhay · December 4th, 2010, 04:41 PM

Hey guys, thanks for the responses! I'm planning to use it as a fun-to-drive beater commuter to be honest

Good gas mileage and still fun to throw around the occasional corner without too many mods. The most I would do is an intake and maybe a short throw shifter, so I'm not worried about the weak transmissions on the 1.8 Proteges

Maybe $1500 - $2000 or so for the car and $500 to do some of the minor maintenence (fluids, maybe a timing belt)

I could go the Civic route but everyone knows the Protege is the better car stock

Mike_Moss · December 5th, 2010, 12:29 AM

I'd go with a 2.0L FS in a BJ w/5-bolt wheels.

protezhay · December 5th, 2010, 08:48 AM

Hey Mike, I know the FS is bolted to a stronger tranny but I hear the FP is more rev happy which I like

Maybe I should just go for the FS anyways, '01 ES Protege's get discs in the back too

Mazda really should have put the BP in these cars, what an engine

(and a BP-T swap would be easy!)

Oh and are the 4-bolt hubs known to have problems? Why is 5-bolt a good idea?

Thanks again guys, I think its great that theres a Protege club especially for this area, I see more Protege's than Civics around here

Hacker · December 5th, 2010, 01:41 PM

The other negative about the FS engine is that it likes to consume oil. In my case, it consumed up to 1 L oil per 200 km before I had it rebuilt.

J.

protezhay · December 5th, 2010, 02:18 PM

Hacker: I haven't heard anything good about the FS engines so I am trying to avoid them

I wonder if the FP is any better reliability wise. I hear the transmissions are bad

Mike_Moss · December 6th, 2010, 09:03 AM

I'd still buy an FS-powered BJ. They are most common and have the most swappable parts available.

December 4th, 2010, 10:59 AM	#1
protezhay Members Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 10	Looking to buy a Protege! Hello TOprotege, I've got my heart set on buying a BJ-chassis Protege. I've done tons of research (lots on these forums!) and I think I have my heart set on a 99 or 2000 1.8 LX Protege with a 5 speed I understand the pre-facelift BJ's are lighter and that the FP-DE is more fun (free-revving) than the FS-DE in the 01+ cars. I could be wrong but I see major rust on the facelifted BJ's and not so much on the 99-00's. Is there anything specific to look for other than rust? I notice alot of these cars on autotrader need brake and gas line work, is this a common issue? Thanks guys!

December 4th, 2010, 04:07 PM	#3
voy89 2010 Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Windsor Posts: 2,344	I don't know what is your budget or what are you planning to do with the car,(are you gonna be modding the car?), but for the prices now I'd go straight for msp. you can certainly find a protege with little to no body rust. I don't think brakes and gas lines are common issues in proteges, if the car is properly/regularly maintained then it will last long time , brakes are gonna wear out on all cars no matter what. __________________ PARTOUT!!!!!! returning car to stock. BYE BYE zoom-zoom, Hello boosssst

December 5th, 2010, 12:29 AM	#6
Mike_Moss Officer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Westside Posts: 10,927	I'd go with a 2.0L FS in a BJ w/5-bolt wheels. __________________ 2001 Mazda MP3 1st HiBoost kit in the club! 1993 Mazda Protegé GT 1st V6 Protegé in the club! 1995 Mazda Miata M-Edition 1st Miata M-Edition in the club! My TOprotege.com Feedback \| My CarDomain Sites \| WESTSIDE

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December 4th, 2010, 12:53 PM	#2
protezhay Members Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 10	Is this in the right section? Sorry!

December 4th, 2010, 04:08 PM	#4
mmorriso 2010 Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Parts Unknown Posts: 458	try the buy/sell/trade section and post a WTB (want to buy) thread. is it for the street or track or daily driver? personally i would look for a protege in the best condition you can find for your budget and not limit the search to 2 model years. happy shopping!

December 4th, 2010, 04:41 PM	#5
protezhay Members Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 10	Hey guys, thanks for the responses! I'm planning to use it as a fun-to-drive beater commuter to be honest Good gas mileage and still fun to throw around the occasional corner without too many mods. The most I would do is an intake and maybe a short throw shifter, so I'm not worried about the weak transmissions on the 1.8 Proteges Maybe $1500 - $2000 or so for the car and $500 to do some of the minor maintenence (fluids, maybe a timing belt) I could go the Civic route but everyone knows the Protege is the better car stock

December 5th, 2010, 08:48 AM	#7
protezhay Members Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 10	Hey Mike, I know the FS is bolted to a stronger tranny but I hear the FP is more rev happy which I like Maybe I should just go for the FS anyways, '01 ES Protege's get discs in the back too Mazda really should have put the BP in these cars, what an engine (and a BP-T swap would be easy!) Oh and are the 4-bolt hubs known to have problems? Why is 5-bolt a good idea? Thanks again guys, I think its great that theres a Protege club especially for this area, I see more Protege's than Civics around here

December 5th, 2010, 01:41 PM	#8
Hacker 2010 Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: North York Posts: 948	The other negative about the FS engine is that it likes to consume oil. In my case, it consumed up to 1 L oil per 200 km before I had it rebuilt. J.

December 5th, 2010, 02:18 PM	#9
protezhay Members Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 10	Hacker: I haven't heard anything good about the FS engines so I am trying to avoid them I wonder if the FP is any better reliability wise. I hear the transmissions are bad

December 6th, 2010, 09:03 AM	#10
Mike_Moss Officer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Westside Posts: 10,927	I'd still buy an FS-powered BJ. They are most common and have the most swappable parts available.