WHAT IS IT?
Zoom, f-ing zoom, with apologies to Datsun 510 fans, this was maybe the best small wagon Japan ever produced. Car and Driver called its driving dynamics “scintillating,” and loved its tactile steering and supportive seats. The general market was as ambivalent you’d think–wagon popularity was already on the wane in the early 2000s, but enthusiasts adored them, especially with an available 5-speed manual. Sadly, it’s another case of a car that was everywhere until it wasn’t. Outside of California, rust got them before their drivetrains wore out. Out west, you still see a few with bleached paint, torn seats and smokey 250,000 mile plus engines, still doing whatever they’ve done for the last quarter century.
WHY THIS CAR HAS BEST ONE ON THE PLANET CHOPS
99% of the remaining Protege 5s fall into the aforementioned, beat-to-hell pizza delivery or surfer conveyance category. Nobody has seen one this nice since well, they were new. Everything on it is early zoom, zoom era nice. Seats, paint, engine compartment all look nearly new. Is it the preferred Sunburst/Vivid Yellow with a manual? Obviously not. But beggars can’t be choosers. If there’s another out there this nice, we’d be shocked. With just 23,000 miles, it’s not cheap, $13,995 at a used car lot in Roseville, CA that seems to specialize in clean, rust-free Cali Japanese cars.
Zoom, f-ing zoom
I adore this car. This is an automatic so I’d have to downgrade it a bit as a “best” candidate, but the Protege5 is a car I’d still buy today. I was the district sales manager for the San Francisco area when these were new so I chose one as my company car and my regional manager couldn’t understand why I didn’t choose something bigger and more comfortable. It wasn’t super powerful, was a bit noisy at speed, and the ride wasn’t cushy, but it was light, practical, fun, and handsome. I haven’t seen one this clean in years, sadly.
I think this is just an amazing little survivor. Is it the ideal spec? Nope, but I can’t imagine that there’s a nicer Protege 5 out there.