Well folks, I had my (third) SE-R for just about a year and spent the last six months of it in denial about my need for a four-door daily driver. I'd have liked to keep it and add another car to the stable, but parking would have become a major issue, not to mention the added insurance costs.

I decided since I was going to do this I'd go whole hog, take a small loan, and get something newer/low miles as well. I initially looked for a B14 SE or SE-L but met with no success, all the cars near me (within 250 miles or so) either being auto trannies or high mileage or both. I realized I'd need to branch out, and started looking at just about anything but Hondas. I wish I could buy a beater or any old thing for a DD, but it's just not in me. I looked at Imprezas and found much the same story as B14s, in my price range anyway, and I'd just about resigned myself to finding a Civic when I remembered how much I like the MazdaSpeed Protege. A good friend of mine has one, I've driven it numerous times, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

That brought me to snag number two, namely the fact that I don't want a daily driver that requires premium gas. I wondered to myself whether the N/A Proteges were any good, and drove a few, to find that actually they are.

Jump to early May, when I drove home a 2002 Protege ES. It was already wearing an intake, lowering springs, a B&M shifter, a poorly installed AWR rear sway bar, and a loud ricer muffler.

Pics on the dealer lot:

http://www.sr20forum.com/gallery/data/891/1829415601_219441356_IM1_02_565x421_A_562x421.jpg

http://www.sr20forum.com/gallery/data/891/1829415609_219441356_IM1_MAIN_565x421_A_562x421.jp g

http://www.sr20forum.com/gallery/data/891/1829415605_219441356_IM1_03_565x421_A_562x421.jpg

Interior:
http://www.sr20forum.com/gallery/data/891/1829415606_219441356_IM1_06_565x421_A_562x421.jpg

Engine bay (love those yellow couplers)
http://www.sr20forum.com/gallery/data/891/1829415604_219441356_IM1_09_565x421_A_562x421.jpg

I've already cleaned up the engine bay, painted most of the rusted brackets (and the heat shield) flat black. Painted the valve cover, and replaced the crappy yellow intake couplers with red ones from an old Hotshot CAI that I still had around. Added a leather B13 shift knob (same threads FTW) and a working stock radio/CD player. I also had the ricer muffler replaced with a stock unit less than a week after buying the car, and ordered the necessary parts to properly install the rear swaybar. I may not keep it though, it clunks, and apparently you either have to live with the noise or go back to stock :(

http://www.sr20forum.com/gallery/data/891/medium/P10100061.JPG

http://www.sr20forum.com/gallery/data/891/medium/P10100071.JPG

Plans are as follows: well, it's a daily driver. Not much. It's already got most of what I'd do to it. I want to find a leather steering wheel from a Protege5; while I don't really object to the stock rubber wheel, it gets seriously hot in the sun.

The springs are Sprint springs, and before you laugh, on this chassis they actually work. The car handles about like my SE-R did with Hypercoils, but rides quite well at the same time. I feel the front end is a bit too low and I may stick in some spring spacers to move it back up a half inch or so. I will most likely get new tires before winter as the ones on it (esp the rears) are fairly worn; I think I'd like to add a header for a bit more oomph, and that'll probably be about it.

Ideally, I'd have bought a clean 4-door B13 and converted it to SE-R spec; but without a clapped-out donor SE-R, and a shop to work in, it wasn't gonna happen. That and breaking up the SE-R I had would have been a crime, it was so clean. Maybe someday ;)

Comments welcome!

My buddy has one of these. My auto ser beat him lol (when it was auto) . There very nice cars and they ride and handle great.

Used to roll to class with a buddy who had a silver one...great reliable little car! Plus the 4 door was such a bonus for trips!

Which sway bar are you running? I have an 03 Mazdaspeed Protege, which has the clunk problem. From what I have researched, you can get the AWR Clunk Fix to fix it. This includes aftermarket endlinks, brackets, and I believe grease bushings an brackets. Im getting ready to finish mine by putting on the endlinks and I can let you know if it fixes it, if you would like.

It's an AWR sway bar, already has AWR Heim-joint style endlinks and brackets.

I can't find a clunk-fix kit on AWR's site, do you have a link?

Sorry its the AXR Clunk Fix, but here are some links.

http://www.autoxracing.com/content/view/2/10/

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123662798&highlight=AWR+Clunk+Fix

Thanks for the links man, but for $200 I'll turn the radio up.

looks good kent, first time seeing the protege. the se-r i got from you is great, but i might be selling it for a new edition i added to my car collection,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Thats a great daily ride Kent. I like the wagons a little better but hey they aren't for everyone :)

BTW, theres nothing wrong with a 4dr cars, I love out P11 daily ride.

Thats a great daily ride Kent. I like the wagons a little better but hey they aren't for everyone :)

BTW, theres nothing wrong with a 4dr cars, I love out P11 daily ride.

I had a G20 and actually ended up thoroughly disliking it. Nothing wrong with the car, we just didn't get along.

I looked at the P5 wagons also, but they were consistently a bit more expensive, so I went with the sedan.

Nice schoolteacher car, Kent. :)

hehe substitute teacher even. I'd rather have one of those than my old accord, though.

Nice schoolteacher car, Kent. :)

What can I say? If the shoe fits... ;)

Not bad at all Kent. I am trying very hard to steer away from an SR20 powered DD. Damn SR20 clutter my brain man.

Not bad at all Kent. I am trying very hard to steer away from an SR20 powered DD. Damn SR20 clutter my brain man.

I wasn't necessarily trying to get away from SR20 powered cars, but that's the way it ended up. I may find my way back someday, we'll see. I do think it's funny though that no matter what I do I seem to end up with a black car as a DD...

I'd consider a Protege myself if I was in your position. They are nice cars with a similar formula as our cars.

So the clunk is rear bar huh? I've got a friend with an MSP, and it's got a terrible clunk in the rear.

good looking DD

You know I can't help but think:

http://www.awrracing.com/images/espnl/protege_firelg.jpg

Looks good!
Having those two extra doors are invaluable on a daily!!! It's so much easier to haul stuff or people ... besides, if you really want a daily driver then it's always better to pick a car that you're not likely to mod-to-death.

As long as you don't get rid of your S13 then it's all good. :D

Sidebar: I would totally rock a Protege wagon!!!

Hey Ritt, I am thinking about purchasing a Protege myself (amongst a couple of other cars I'm considering). 2002 ES 5-speed, almost exactly the same. During those years they had gotten very good reviews from major auto publications. My only question is Mazda's reliability, but you guys are saying its a good car, so......

A dealer down here is selling one for $6k non-negotiable (or so he says), it has 89k on it. What do you think?