![]() The Protegé’s lightweight, precise steering, and four-wheel independent suspension (with a surprisingly sophisticated twin-trapezoidal link design in the rear), made it certifiably tossable and an absolute joy to drive, even if the car lacked the substantial feel I admired in the Subaru. But what the car lacked in straight-line acceleration, it made up for in curve-carving prowess. Or like a sucker.Īs a DX model, the car had the less-potent SOHC version of the Protegé’s 1.8L engine, further hobbled by a four-speed automatic. “You can take it out by yourself take your time,” he smiled. The dealer handed me the keys for a test drive. Excepting the automatic transmission, which I did not prefer but had come to accept as a practicality, the car was nearly as basic as you could buy in 1991.īrochure image my Protegé’s interior was identical except for being equipped with an automatic transmission. The dashboard was replete with plastic delete plugs. Windows, locks, and mirrors were manual cruise and air conditioning were absent, and the car lacked countless small features (map lights, a driver’s visor mirror…even intermittent wipers) that I had come to expect on almost any vehicle. But the interior emphasized the DX’s base status much more emphatically than the exterior. The gray and black interior was tasteful and in nice condition, and everything was just as original inside, including the Mazda stereo. In all, outward appearances were quite respectable.Īfter the proprietor came out and glad-handed me briefly, he opened up the car. Aside from some slight fading on the plastic facia, the paint shone brilliantly. Walking around the car for a closer look, the Protegé appeared to be in fine shape and, with the exception of the aftermarket sunroof and a set of cheap pseudo-wire wheel covers sourced from some small Chevrolet, quite original, too. And though I’d never been behind the wheel of a Mazda, I always assumed them to excel in the driving fun department. Though aftermarket and of the manual flip-up type, the sunroof seemed well suited to the car. This Protegé also sported a glass sunroof, a feature I always appreciated. To someone whose car color tastes tended toward neutral tones, the notion of showing a little brash cheek was irresistible to my inner extrovert. Most noticeably, the car’s Blaze Red paint beamed off the dealer’s lot as I approached. And although it was a decade old and lacked the style of a mid-’90s Civic or the quiet competence of a Clinton-era Corolla, this Mazda promised a few unique advantages. Right out of the gate, the Protegé satisfied one prerequisite: It was a tidy Japanese subcompact. Like other Japanese cars (such as the “Corolla Tercel” and “Stanza Altima”), the Mazda Protegé retained the established name of its predecessor/sibling for its first couple of years. Finally at a small-time used car lot a half hour from home, I saw something intriguing: a 1991 Mazda Protegé DX. Several cars caught my eye, but none worked out. With autumn looming, I frantically looked for an alternative car, something affordable that would be fun to drive and allow me to pick up dates with some degree of dignity. I’d worked full-time at an office job that summer and amassed decent savings. With my dad driving his fair-weather 200SX throughout the summer, I had a reasonably easy time stealing the Legacy, but I knew the law would be laid down as temperatures dropped. The passenger’s side front door had been hyperextended, and my dad’s DIY solution to keep it closed was to drive a drop-forged center punch through the B-pillar and door, effectively deadbolting it for life. The Dodge-already an embarrassment when I first received it-had been rendered “date proof” in a senseless backing accident. Candidate three has its own unique angle, being the first vehicle that I actually selected and purchased with my own earnings.īy the summer of 2002, I was in a bind. Another contender is a 1990 Dodge Spirit ES, bought for me by my dad in August 2001 to keep me away from the Legacy. Though purchased in May 2001 to be my dad’s winter car, the Legacy captured my heart immediately, and I commandeered it through the following summer. My vote goes to a 1990 Subaru Legacy LS wagon. What do you consider to be your first car ?įor me, three vehicles could potentially lay claim to the title.
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