2002 Mazda Protege

In 2002 I had to replace my Aging 1994 Ford Escort. It was in it's death throes as far as the transmission was concerned. And since I was happy with that car I replaced it with the Protege since the cars were the same in many ways.
And I've been happy ever since. I wanted a basic reliable Japanese made car. And I wanted something different from the Honda and Toyota masses.This car fit the bill perfectly.
The runner up was the Hyundai Elantra, which price wise was the same but offered more standard equipment. In fact both cars were the same in many ways that the only difference was the Elantra had power locks, windows and mirrors.
This car came with the 2.0 liter engine and 4 speed automatic transmission. It's a smooth combination and has been very reliable, the best MPG I've achieved has been 35 MPG. But that goes downhill in stop and go traffic. Also the A/C, which works well, sucks gas as well, but that's to be expected.The stock tires were good. They lasted 50,000 miles and I could have gone to 60,000 but that would have been pushing it.The interior is comfortable for a economy car. All the controls are nicely laid out and clear. The lighting at night is just as good.The stock CD/cassette stereo sounded good, until the head unit started acting weird, like not turning off or not having a display.I replaced the audio system with new components.The car is still as tight as when it was new.
The one drawback with this car is that, while the handling is superior, the ride quality is harsh. You feel every bump and irregularity in the road. There's nothing wrong with the car, that's how the suspension is designed.
Aside from routine maintenance and some performance upgrades I recently performed, this car is the best I've owned bar none. It now has 52,800 miles and I plan on another 100,000 of trouble free driving.
If you find one used and in good condition, buy it! You'll like it!