![]() ![]() With revised steering this year, the MP3’s roadability is still topshelf, and maybe slightly above the other Protege’s we’ve driven. Fortunately, when the designers tweaked the sound system they also bolstered a few other parts. It clobbers the compact sedans and valiantly spars with the bigger boys, and for good reason: It’s fun. The Protege has always been a critic’s friend. Modified from an original auto manufacturer’s show car (called the MPS), Mazda took its traditional Protege, spruced up the exterior like a tricked-out street racer, added fatter, 17-inch wheels, a spoiler and (did we mention?) the radio. Topped out and loaded at $18,530, it might be hard to get either away from it. The sales folks at Mazda thought it would be a good idea to build a niche vehicle, something appealing to either the teen-age son in the family or the father who hadn’t yet lost his hearing, but wanted to. They’d like you to believe, in this case, a good car starts with a great set of tunes, ergo: the MP3.Īlthough you’d have reason to believe Mazda brought in a set of 16-year-olds to tweak its Protege, the MP3 idea actually came out of a meeting with straight-as-plaid sales managers. The MP3’s real charm is in its firmer springs, stiffer control-arm bushings and an upgraded engine that keeps it fun even when your only musical selection is tires on pavement. Sure, the MP3’s 280-watt Kenwood Excelon Z919 head unit is a disco ball of flashy electronics and fancy buttons all hooked to a thub, thub, thub of a subwoofer better suited for Rage Against the Machine than Ray Charles. It’s 20 teen-agers in a 5-by-9 cell with ‘N Sync. But to say it’s just a stereo is to say sled dogs generally prefer red meat.Īs one auto critic noted, the MP3 isn’t really a vehicle. Hence, the name of the car, and a sizable understanding why it’s $2,000 more than a Plain-Jane Protege ES. New for 2001, in what Mazda calls its Performance Series lineup, the Protege is a decent ride with a stadium-sized radio that can handle anything you throw its way – either Memorex or MP3 digital audio burned in your best friend’s basement. Welcome to the jungle and goodbye acute hearing. Depending on your point of view – and likely your age – about 60 ticks in the cross hairs of the MP3’s fury will give you all the ammo to know this midsize, unassuming, sporty sedan is really Axl Rose in disguise. Experimented with premium gas as expected could not tell a difference.You don’t need a week in the new Mazda Protege MP3 to draw some decent conclusions. All fill ups are overfilled until it lets no more gas in. Fuel light just came on.in summer usually means at least 1 gallon left in a 14 gallon tank. Cold morning fillup at different gas station.įilled tank early in morning at approximately 42 degrees. Traveled 70 mph for about 30 Miles with three people in car. Shut off after just one overfill.įuel light did not even come on. Fuel light had just come on 2 miles before filling up. Pump may not let you overfill.įilled up at different gas station. 630.5 kmįilled up at a GetGo for first time. Average cost per gal/L: $3.20 per gal (US) $0.00 per L (price data entered for 15 fill/s).EPA Combined Rating / % over rating: 24 mpg (US) / 19.3% (based on 90-day fuel economy).You must sign in to add / modify vehicles in the EM garageĮfficiency log for: Aeroge - 2001 Mazda Protege MP3 ![]()
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