Mazda - Eastern Wisdom

The Mazda 323 was a subcompact car produced by Mazda between 1976 and 2003. In the United States it was originally known as the GLC and finally in 1990 it became the classic Protégé.

Interestingly, the American 323/Protege was more cost effective to purchase than its competition; such as the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, and Daewoo. A top 10 recommendation among most US car magazines, the Protégé is widely known for not only its spirited handling, but also its reliability.

The 80’s saw the Protégé as Wheels magazine’s Car of the year, but the best was only to come. The 1994 Mazda Protégé was the last year before the rare yet ultra cool ES model was introduced. If a 1996 Mazda Protégé is what you are after then the ES is an absolute must for you; there is no if’s, and’s, or butt’s about it. Complete with the sporty quick high revving Miata motor, the ES is the only model that actually came equipped with this engine; so be patient and hold out for one of these. Trust me; you’ll be glad that you did.

For the 1997 Mazda Protégé I would still give you the same advice, but once the 1999 Mazda Protégé was released the ES Miata engine was dropped and performance became quite drab. The 2000 Mazda Protégé is also a no-go as far as I am concerned, but beginning around this period you will find a host of Mazda Protégé parts of the performance variety. Such as a Mazda Protégé air intake good for five to ten horsepower. Using the proper aftermarket Mazda Protégé parts it would be possible to add in the upwards of 25 to 30 horsepower without too much alteration. Mazda Protégé performance parts can also be found at some dealership outlets as well. Your Mazda Protégé performance has its limits; so there will be a point where you will have to settle.

For the 2001 model year, introductions fell to the limited-edition Mazda Protégé MP3 featuring a new sport-tuned suspension, 17 in wheels, and 140 horsepower; a 450-watt Kenwood MP3 stereo, and a sportier front end. A few years later Mazda introduced a new Protégé, which according to its 2002 Mazda Protégé 5 brochure has not only more performance and road capability but also matches its performance with a deeper rumbling engine.

The 2003 Mazda Protégé 5 hatchback is one of Mazda’s best selling models, and continues to be today. Everywhere I go I see one of these, with a grinning driver singing “zoom-zoom” all the way to the grocery store. Well, perhaps that was all just a dream but either way the Protégé drives like a dream, and just may make your day a little brighter! With a vehicle that has been claimed by various Internet sources to be one of the greatest models that Mazda has ever made. I would say that this should make your entire year is look a whole lot brighter; especially since you will probably rarely find yourself in a dark, dismal car mechanic shop. Of course you are there to pick up a non-Mazda Protégé driving friend. Happy driving to you… Zoom Zoom!