Thinking about buying a 93 Protege

[Infinitrium]

I'm thinking about buying a 93 Protege SE to replace my piece of crap 88 Corolla. The protege is 500 bucks Canadian, with a parts car to go with it. It's a 4 door auto with the little trunk spoiler. It's got a power sunroof, power mirrors, remote start and not much else. The owner put a brand new radiator in it, new gastank, new front exhaust pipe and a new caliper. The tires have a fair bit of tread left. I took it for a little scoot down the road and it seems pretty nice. Suspension seems good and steering feels tight. The hold button works too. The car does need a front wheel bearing repaired and the brakes need to be bled. The car is in good shape, and in my opinion is worth more than the 500 bucks he's asking for it. What do you people think? Is it worth it? How reliable are these cars? I've heard some unpleasent things about the transmissions, but the B8 engine is supposedly pretty bulletproof. What kind of fuel mileage can I expect to get from this car? Here's a few pictures of the car.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...Protege002.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...Protege005.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...Protege004.jpg

[1967cutlass]

I once had an auto SE. Paid 500$ and sold it, running, for 100$ when it had ~200,000 miles on it. The motor is a tank, the tranny varies from car to car, but I drove mine HARD and it was OK. I would get 30mpg usually.

It's a decent car for a daily driver, I'd hit it.

[danielb927]

yea no worries with that engine it should last you as long as you need it. sounds like a pretty good deal to me, they're fun to drive, so it makes the daily commute a little more peppy if you're in a good mood

[EricM]

pictures didnt work

as long as that engine has oil in it, it will run.

i'd suggest it, you will definitely be making the right choice. you sound like somebody who is pretty good at working on it too, so welcome to the club.

[Infinitrium]

Hm. don't know why the pics didn't work, let me try again..

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a289/Infinitrium/Protege/93MazdaProtege002.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a289/Infinitrium/Protege/93MazdaProtege004.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a289/Infinitrium/Protege/93MazdaProtege005.jpg

[EricM]

wow i would jump all over that, cheap as hell!

[94GLD-DX]

is that the factory steering wheel? looks different from where i sit.

[EricM]

its canadian.

[LeeMoney]

That sounds like a great deal. the two things you sad were wrong with it are both easily fixed... bleeding is simple if you have someone to help and for the front wheel bearing all you have to do is remove the axle nut ( which will require a large socket that some people dont have layin around in their garage), 4 bolts and the nut hold on the tie rod end. When i did it i just took the hub to the machine shop and they pressed out the old one and put a new one in for pretty cheap.

So ya if I was offered this car for $500 I would be all over it

[Infinitrium]

Would it be any easier to just change the front hub? I have a decent assortment of sockets and wrenches and a 5hp air compressor. I can get a used hub for 35 bucks or so.

[LeeMoney]

Ya that would be way easier... either way you take off the hub. Sounds like that would be the cheaper way to go as well, just make sure you get the right hub obviously. Keep in mind your also getting a used wheel bearing though.

[Infinitrium]

Brought her home yesterday. The car runs and rides pretty nicely. Everything works too, heat, sunroof, hold button, mirrors, doors. Transmission seems to get a bit confused when going up a moderate hill and trying to speed up though. Seems like it'll downshift a few gears then shift up one gear a few seconds later. Other than that small flaw everything works fine.

[Jho]

I'm thinking about buying a 93 Protege SE to replace my piece of crap 88 Corolla. The protege is 500 bucks Canadian, with a parts car to go with it. It's a 4 door auto with the little trunk spoiler. It's got a power sunroof, power mirrors, remote start and not much else. The owner put a brand new radiator in it, new gastank, new front exhaust pipe and a new caliper. The tires have a fair bit of tread left. I took it for a little scoot down the road and it seems pretty nice. Suspension seems good and steering feels tight. The hold button works too. The car does need a front wheel bearing repaired and the brakes need to be bled. The car is in good shape, and in my opinion is worth more than the 500 bucks he's asking for it. What do you people think? Is it worth it? How reliable are these cars? I've heard some unpleasent things about the transmissions, but the B8 engine is supposedly pretty bulletproof. What kind of fuel mileage can I expect to get from this car? Here's a few pictures of the car.

Welcome to Club Protege.

Good choice in buying it! You got a good deal on it. Proteges are VERY reliable cars. The engine is solid, the automatic transmissions aren't the best, but with the SOHC, you won't have to worry about it so much. Just maintain it, and it will be faithful to you. You can expect around 30mpg, depending on the state of tune.