What kind of quality?

Hey guys, dropping in from the Honda/Acura forum!

I was hoping to get some help. I am trying to give my brother a hand buying a used car, and I was thinking a used Protege might be the way to go. He is not racing it, and only needs it to last and get around without problems. It seems to fit his budget well, and Ive heard some generally good things as far as quality. If you guys can attest to this cars longevity, or just some pointers on what quirks, etc. to look for that might warn of problems in the car I would greatly appreciate it. Outside of Hondas I don't know alot of vehicle specific info, but used Hondas tend to cost more, and frankly can be a bit overpriced. Any pointers, specific info will help alot...thanks in advance guys.

Well, I look at proteges as the poor mans civic. Not because it's a lower quality car - If anything it's a higher quality vehicle, but because where it doesn't have the riceboy fan following they don't cost as much.

You go to a car lot and try to buy a civic, the owner knows that people are willing to pay more for a civic because so many people want to tune them. Since virtually no one uses proteges like that, they're much cheaper. And, in case he ever does want to race, tell him to look for a 1991 Protege GT, GT-X, or GT-R(the GT-R is a hatchback 323). The GT is a Front wheel drive 1.8L with about 170HP Stock and the GT-X and GT-R are 4WD and turbo charged for about 220HP Stock. The GT and GT-X are 4 door coupes and the GT-R is a 2 door hatch.

But as for reliability, better then civics in my opinion. My friend has one from '92 and she's got over 250,000Kms(just over 150,000miles) and the engine just needed to be replaced, but that was only because someone hit her. They're great cars, especially for the money.

Thanks, that was some helpful info man. I was thinking along the exact same lines as you, I just wanted someone to confirm it. Also, the info on different trims is really helpful as well. I guess I'll stand by my advice now and tell my brother to go with the Protege. I myself have considered getting a new MP5, as my family car....those things are nice.

Thanks again CAptynCrunch!

I bought my 2001 Protege used as cars are generally expensive in Canada so I bought mine with low kilometers and got a good deal.

The fit and finish of the car is good. The handling is very responsive. I was also looking at buying a Saturn or Toyota Echo and the Protege handled much better. It's a "solid" car and well made.

The only complaint about the Protege which is common is that the standard engine is only 103hp. I would have liked the acceleration to be faster but to me that's a minor issue. I am glad I bought it.

P.S. In my city a Civic with air & automatic would have been over $20,000 +14% tax and I bought mine for under $16,000. I expect the resale value to be lower than a Camry or Civic.

Hey whats up I'm usually found in the 92 and up civic forum here because I drive a 96 honda civic cx hatch. My girlfriend bought a 99 protege lx because it was one of the cheapest cars out there. Well after a ride through the twisties I'm hooked. The handling is great but there is sadly no power. Even though my civic has about the same hp as her car mine is about 400 pounds lighter ( no power anything in mine even no power steering) and so therefore faster. So I start looking on the net for some info and all I get is info on the mp3. Well here in this forum I read about the protege gt, gtr, and gtx. Talk about raising my interest to a greater degree. Can anyone give some websites or forums that I can read about doing an engine swap into a early 90's protege or just general info. By the fall I was ready to swap a b18c1( integra gsr engine 170 hp 128 tq) into my car but if I can get that power with protege handling sign me up. Thanx

I bought a 2002 LX Protege for $14,500 US
(for a previous post) I did not know that the 1.6L only make 103hp it is underpowered. But in the US, I think that all Proteges in 2002 shares the 130hp 2.0L engine now.


But the quality of Mazda or the Proteges is really good and to the point where it is even better quality than the new Toyota Corolla. I choose it over the Corolla since I get the same things, power everthing, abs, cc, a/c, auto, etc for $1,500 less.


My father used to have a 1987 1/2 323 Hatchback with only 85hp and was 1.5L, his car was great too! Fit and finish was excellent at that time. Don't buy the Civics, they are underpowered, but they do give a slight better mpg.


The 2002 Proteges all have 135 lb-torque, which is better than the Civics (between) 106 lb-torque and 117 lb-torque.

As for handling, man the 2002 ones are subperb! I added 205/16/45 tires and it is a blast to drive at corners!!

Definitely recommend it.

I run a 2001 protege for work and after all the cars I've owned this car is tops in my books, handling can't be beat a little underpowered but that can be improved.A civic? Naw I hate the hoppy rear end on civic's I can't understand how Honda can design a car with such crappy rear handling characteristics.We got some bad roads up here in Canada especially bad elevated highways with expansion joints that are bumpy, just watch a Civic along a route like this and you'll see that rear end hoppin an boppin all over the place....also if you ever get into a little fender-bender with a Civic you'll trash the front or rear bumper cover's since they are like glass compared to the protege's extremely flexible bumber skins! I had someone open their door while I was rolling and damn near took it off, all I got was a scratch in the paint in the passenger side corner! I thought my bumper would be toast and was surprised.Our company has about 6 guys running civics and every car has cracked bumper skins.I was distracted one day and rear ended a van that had a bumper hitch on his back steel bumper, bent the thing right up and I had only a scratch and dimple in my bumper, I was amazed! Go Protege for sure :)