Thinking about buying a 2003 Protege 5, wondering what to check/look out for

[rccardude04]

Looking at a 2003 Protege5 with 131k miles, 5-speed manual, appears stock otherwise.

I haven't gone to look at the car yet since it's quite a drive, but am planning to go look at it today (dealer claims to be open sundays.. we'll see).

Anyway, I am wondering what to look for on a 130k mile car here. The asking price is $4,000 (down from $5,400 a week ago). What should I look for on this car? Obviously, oil, coolant, shocks/suspension, rust, etc... but I remember my old MX-3 started blowing distributors at 120k miles and want to avoid a situation like that.

Anyway, hopefully I'll get some good suggestions. I also hope this is in the right place. If not, sorry. But I tried.

Thanks again!

-Eric

 

[tunerPro5]

Ask if they already change the timing belt, tune up, brakes and the rest of the fluids. In IL still selling for $6500....

 

[Scorch03]

Ruuuuusssst especially the wheel wells, hatch, doors (along the bottom on the inside) and pretty much everywhere else too.

 

[rccardude04]

Tunerpro5: I called the dealer and they seem to be a VERY small place, almost like buying it from a private seller... Hopefully that's why the price is so low. I always check the oil, coolant, look close for leaks, suspension, etc. Timing belts suck.

Scorch03: Rust on an '03? Wow. My '93 mx-3 never had any, even after being parked in soppy wet grass for a year. Odd. I'll keep an eye out. Thanks.

I keep reading info on the EGR valve failing on occasion, but can't seem to pin down a service interval? Also, I will definitely be calling the big dealership to see if the IM recall has been performed.

-Eric

 

[azuelke]

Also, I will definitely be calling the big dealership to see if the IM recall has been performed.

Pretty sure they "fixed" that problem with the '03's, even though it still happens to people. As everyone else said, main problems would be rust and timing belt, along with the obvious things. Good luck!

 

[rccardude04]

Pretty sure they "fixed" that problem with the '03's, even though it still happens to people. As everyone else said, main problems would be rust and timing belt, along with the obvious things. Good luck!

Plus, you'd think after 130,000 miles that it'd have failed by now anyway eh?

I'll still get ahold of the dealership. I always get nervous buying from tiny "cash-only" (no financing) places like this. But if the car seems good enough, it's worth a shot!

Thanks again, I'll keep y'all posted.

-Eric

 

[rccardude04]

Went and drove the car today and absolutely loved driving it. Needs a little more power but oh well. Took it down a curvy road. Engine noise is great while you need to hear it but quiet when you don't. Steering response is awesome. 900000x better than my g/f's '05 Neon. Power windows, locks, remote entry, you name it.

The bad news:

No records on timing belt (read needs changed)
Needs all 4 tires (they don't match and are worn)
Front tires wear a little uneven and steering wheel is tilted left a bit (alignment)
Looks like a 14 year old girl learned how to drive in a parking lot FULL of obstacles. Looks like the bodywork was scraped alongside a building, replaced left rear fender, replaced right front fender (primer black + clearcoat ftw)... drivers side foglight cracked, ... etc.

However, the interior is nearly perfect, EVERYTHING works. Engine sounds great and the oil looks cleaner than my truck even though he said it's actually about due for an oil change.

I am undecided.

-Eric

 

[deathegg88]

Hmm, that's a tough one; runs good, nice interior, but exterior sounds rough. Sounds like some ones I've looked at recently.
I'm kinda wary about getting one that's in any way beat, because IMO that can hide other problems. Saw it all the time when I used to sell cars years ago. I'm looking at an '02 tomorrow, 140k. I hope both of us can find one! Good luck!

 

[MaxPower]

Went and drove the car today and absolutely loved driving it. Needs a little more power but oh well. Took it down a curvy road. Engine noise is great while you need to hear it but quiet when you don't. Steering response is awesome. 900000x better than my g/f's '05 Neon. Power windows, locks, remote entry, you name it.

The bad news:

No records on timing belt (read needs changed)
Needs all 4 tires (they don't match and are worn)
Front tires wear a little uneven and steering wheel is tilted left a bit (alignment)
Looks like a 14 year old girl learned how to drive in a parking lot FULL of obstacles. Looks like the bodywork was scraped alongside a building, replaced left rear fender, replaced right front fender (primer black + clearcoat ftw)... drivers side foglight cracked, ... etc.

However, the interior is nearly perfect, EVERYTHING works. Engine sounds great and the oil looks cleaner than my truck even though he said it's actually about due for an oil change.

I am undecided.

-Eric

new tires - $550 mounted and balanced, with alignment
timing belt and waterpump - $600
foglight = $100
body repair = $$$

Maybe for $3000, but not $4000. And given the lack of documented maintenance, it clearly wasn't well-loved.

 

[azuelke]

^ Agreed. I would try and get a lower price if all of this needs to be done.

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

Buying a brand new car is so iffy nowadays with recalls all over the place that I wouldn't worry about paying less for something that needs a little love to be all good to go, just make sure it's not major stuff or hidden unfixable stuff. That way you can adjust your offer on it. On top of the already suggested stuff, I'd pull plugs to see what they look like and check how sooty the exhaust tip is due to rings or valve stem seals could have issues & agree about asking for lower price. Body work if nothing more than scrapes, just get it done at some point, IMO.

 

[CheeseHelmet]

No distributor on the Protege 5 so you wont have that problem.

He just has to worry about flaky coilpacks

@rccardude04, you should also check out the motor mounts, especially the front one as they tend to rip after a while.

 

[rccardude04]

Hmm, that's a tough one; runs good, nice interior, but exterior sounds rough. Sounds like some ones I've looked at recently.
I'm kinda wary about getting one that's in any way beat, because IMO that can hide other problems. Saw it all the time when I used to sell cars years ago. I'm looking at an '02 tomorrow, 140k. I hope both of us can find one! Good luck!

That's what I'm afraid of. If they constantly ran into stuff, maybe they were also bouncing off the rev limiter trying to slalom light poles? lol who knows...

new tires - $550 mounted and balanced, with alignment
timing belt and waterpump - $600
foglight = $100
body repair = $$$

Maybe for $3000, but not $4000. And given the lack of documented maintenance, it clearly wasn't well-loved.

Yeah I was thinking if I do keep going, try to knock him down closer to 3000

^ Agreed. I would try and get a lower price if all of this needs to be done.

Buying a brand new car is so iffy nowadays with recalls all over the place that I wouldn't worry about paying less for something that needs a little love to be all good to go, just make sure it's not major stuff or hidden unfixable stuff. That way you can adjust your offer on it. On top of the already suggested stuff, I'd pull plugs to see what they look like and check how sooty the exhaust tip is due to rings or valve stem seals could have issues & agree about asking for lower price. Body work if nothing more than scrapes, just get it done at some point, IMO.

The body is more than just scrapes though. The right side looks like it was rubbed against a building or something. LOTS of door dings and one that is actually creased to the point of popping it out and applying bondo. It's pretty rough. Also missing the driver's side skirt, ... among others. The worst part is the mismatched paint on the left rear and right front fender. The left rear doesn't even line up with the headlight. I would put new parts on it.

No distributor on the Protege 5 so you wont have that problem.

Problem was never "fixed" mine is a late production model 03 and it had that recall. Not a big deal, just call mazda, give them the vin, check open recalls and have it fixed.

On the distributor, I really meant any specific stuff like that. It appears the EGR, water in the plug acces and coil packs, and the intake manifold butterfly dealies are about it. I will call Mazda to check on the recall status.

He just has to worry about flaky coilpacks

@rccardude04, you should also check out the motor mounts, especially the front one as they tend to rip after a while.

The passenger side engine mount was torn. It looked easy enough to change though. Never did check the front and rear even though those would be the most likely to be broken. If I go back to look again, I'll definitely give it a look.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. The more I think about it though, it seems like I should try to find another one that's been more well-maintained. :\

-Eric

 

[MaxPower]

For very little more, you can get a P5 in MUCH better shape, and which will cost you LESS in the long run.

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

Based on further details about the car, I agree with this^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[gsmooth]

...look for another car!

 

[rccardude04]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm going to pass on this particular car and keep my eye open.

I'd REALLY like to find an '04-'05 Mazda3 Hatchback but they don't seem to ever be for sale. It's like nobody wants to get rid of them. If I find another P5 closeby though I'll sure go look at it. That car really did drive nice (as I'm sure y'all already know).

Thanks again!

-Eric

 

[rccardude04]

Found a Mazda3 Hatch close. Going to look at it tomorrow. Maybe this'll be the one!

-Eric