'01 Protege Broke Down - Just venting

[slavrenz]

Well, just replaced my muffler and resonator today - went with Walker for $150 for parts, not too shabby. Hopefully she stays running for a while now

 

[NCZ13]

I bought a 99 LX with 105,000 and a bad clutch for $2000. Ive put the clutch in, and replaced all sway bar links, and both front control arms, and done all the brakes for fun, and ive got a check engine light that wont go out, but im pretty happy with my purchase.

Tommorrow the new kyb's and lowering springs go in.

It does sound like you've gone through a bit of stuff on a car that new and that expensive, but im sure you are still cheaper overall than a new car.

New cars are a big scam, but we buy them because it feels goo.

i fail to see your point?

new cars are safer and better equipped at a reasonable price. (example would be how NAV is now an option on most economy cars such as the civic or mazda3)

not to mention new cars are marked up very little at the dealership. Usually only 1-2k over what they pay, if not less. (of course varies from company to company as well as dealership, but you get the idea)

 

[DeanSweet]

not to sound like an arse... but you do all this work and you couldn't figure out that a heat sheild was loose? shrugg.

 

[fLyPiNoY7]

lol...besides the problems ive caused while modding the car, the only things ive had to replace were a misfiring coil, the front sway bar bushings, and the normal fluids/tires...car has 80k on it now

 

[bgibb68]

how many miles on the car???

i replaced all my struts at 80k(all were gone), vc gasket also, and just normal upkeep

if your car has close to 100k you are gonna be replacing most of what you listed for the most part

 

[Apollo64]

I picked up my 99 Protege LX 1.8l two years ago when it was at 111,000KM. Just rolled it past 155000 and am only now having to replace some major pieces like the rear struts, exhaust and clutch disc.
Life is easier when you work in the Auto Parts business tho .

 

[bgibb68]

I also looked at a 2001 VW Jetta for $7500 - could have almost had it without all the problems with the Protege now

don't think vw close to perfect...a friend of mine had 2 yr old jetta tdi with a bad fuel pump at 30k....car died on a freeway and a trooper(suv) almost rearended us at 70mph...and then the vw dealership was trying to blame us for putting gas in it

 

[slavrenz]

not to sound like an arse... but you do all this work and you couldn't figure out that a heat sheild was loose? shrugg.

Well, you're definitely walking that line of sounding like an arse...I was out driving in the middle of the night with no light to look under the car, and it didn't sound like your typical heat shield banging. It sounded like a suspension part went out (like maybe the control arm I just had to replace). Granted I didn't feel anything to indicate that, but I had free towing on my insurance, and I didn't want to take the remote risk of doing damage.

 

[13thmonkey]

hey well dont think down on the cars if proper care is taken there awesome cars ive had mine about two years (i no not much) but its a 2003 somewhere near 70k and all ive had to do is replace a sparkplug and i do kinda drive like a racer from time to time...i love the car i also add subs to the back so theres weight and an racing exost but that wasnt needed