Protege: 1999-2000 vs 2001-2003
 

Hi, I've been looking for a used protege, and definitely want a 3rd gen. However, it is very hard to find a good 2001 within my budget, so I was wondering how big the difference is between the 2000 and 2001. This is talking about the regular sedan, non-ES.

Also, what is the 2000 Protege SE? I don't see this trim listed on any review sites, but it's all over the classifieds.


Thanks,
clicknext

People in the classifieds are retarded, SE no such thing. With new models means newer opitions. Motor 99-00 1.6 or 1.8. 01-03 1.6 or 2.0. I dont know much about the 1.6 but the 2.0 has been good to me. 2nd-3rd gen are good either way you go. Keep an eye out for milage and maintenance (of course), if you do that. You cant lose.

why dont you want an ES?

SE is a canadian thing. Im sure other members will be able to tell you what the specifics of the car will be.

There are very few diffrences between the 99-00 and the 01-03 pros. The looks mainly. Other then that the older pros have a stiffer steering setup and thats about it. The main diffrences lie in the engines. The 1.6 and 1.8 have drums in back, while the 2.0's ES have discs all around.

Then there are the interior colors and cup holders and such but thouse are seemingly randomly diffrent. IE my interior is gray but the same car in the same year will have a brown interior.

I would absolutely love to have an ES, but there are none within my price range (which is about $9000 Canadian, I'm in Vancouver BC, Canada).

lol, so what do you think this SE is? DX? LX? Can't be an ES because that came out in 2001, right?

$9000 is too much for a 99 ES, even Canadian money

I can find a 2000 "SE" (not ES) for $8500 Canadian. I'll go take a look at it sometime soon since it should be not too different than the 2001.

Cheapest 2001 I found was an ES going for $9000 Canadian with a ton of aftermarket stuff, but with two salvage titles (which here in BC means damage over $2000 if I remember correctly).

Be patient, dont jump at the first one you see and or like. I want a 2000 ES and if I had 9k I
would have one and have money to play with. ES is obviously top, cant afford it? Go next one down. Like I said you cant go wrong with any trim or year. Have fun hunting, and your patients will pay off.

SE is the base model here in Canada. SE's have a 1.8l engine, LX and ES have 2.0l engines. I think the 1.8 produces something like 108hp while the 2.0 makes 130.
I have an ES, but if I were you, I'd just get an LX. Pretty sure the only difference between the ES and the LX is that the ES comes standard w/ more options, but all the options are available on the LX. I think the interior on the LX and the ES is the same, but the SE has a biege interior, which I personally don't care for.

This may also help your search, but I can't remember if it includes info on Canadian models.

http://web2.airmail.net/theman/protegefaq/

Keep looking, i found my wife's '01 ES for $5500 (American) - very sharp car, just higher mileage (had all the service papers)

that's the 1.6 not the 1.8...making the 1.8L and the 2.0L on the same model would be rediculous

buy mine for $9500 canadian
www.freewebs.com/streetknight/mazda.htm