It’s nearly time to send my 1990 SUV to pasture. It’s sad because it’s only got 206,000kms on it, but the bearings in the alternator sound terrible and the brakes are nearly shot. I’m now in the market for a new car/truck/SUV and truly have no idea what I need or want. Actually, I know what I want but an Audi wagon isn’t in the budget this year… or next… or even the year after that.
A friend of mine raves about his Mazda6 Sport. He’s 6’4" and claims that can fit two of his giant-sized road or full-suspension bikes in the back of it as well as all the gear for a weekend trip. If he’s comfortable in the vehicle, obviously the interior is very roomy.
Given that I’m looking for a vehicle strictly for shopping at Home Depot, driving to races and on skiing/biking/backpacking trips to the mountains, I can’t justify the cost of a new vehicle. I’ve been thinking about everything from GMC half-tonnes to little hatchbacks. I am planning to spend 10-15Cdn$, so I’m looking for something in the 1999-2003 range.
My current thinking is a Mazda Protege5. This is the four-door hatchback and there appear to be heaps of them on the market right now.
Questions:
(1) Does anyone own one of these? If so, do you like it? What are the comparable (import) vehicles? Would it be the Civic and the Golf or something bigger?
(2) Does anyone know how the size of the Protege5 compares to the size of the Mazda6 Sport? Yes, I realize that the Mazda6 is a superior vehicle. How does it compare in size to a Civic or a VW Golf? I’ve been in a lot of those, but never a Protege5.
(3) Does anyone know how the Protege5 is for carrying bikes inside?
(4) Do you have any other ideas of bike-friendly cars/trucks/SUVs in that price/age range?
I can answer on behaf of the Mazda6 Sport. I have the sedan, and with the fold down seats you can fit two bikes in there. The protege5 is a totally different car, much smaller. (think Golf vs passat). If you get a five door (the wagon) you should be able to get two bikes, gear and two people in no problem.
I have owned a Protege 5 since 2003. 1) I love the car. Only complaints are that the engine and wind noise are a little bothersome, and the handling is sport inspired so it can be a little harsh if you are used to something softer. 2) Smaller than Mazda6 but bigger than both a civic and golf. 3) You can fold the seats down and certainly put 1 or 2 bikes inside but they would need to overlap and partially lay on top of each other. I have a roof rack on mine. 65k miles and no problems so far…knocking on wood.
Brent - someday I plan to have a garage and that Darth Vader vehicle certainly wouldn’t fit. This is the kind of car I’m thinking of today, but I don’t really like the colour:
It seems that North Hill, Sunridge and Kramer all have a bunch of 2002s on their lots. Hopefully they’re just lease returns and not POS cars that people traded in.
I’ll probably change my mind tomorrow and look at something else.
you might be able to find an ex-lease Subaru Impreza in your price range as well. have you looked on autotrader.ca?? similar size to the mazda, but also all wheel drive and some of the most durable cars on the market.
I don’t own one, but I’ve driven a co-worker’s, and it seems like a decent enough car. I know a few people that own one - I’ve never heard any bad stories. That’s as good as I can do. Myself, I prefer the simpicity of a pick-up - no racks, no stripping down the bike to cram it inside, no dirty interior - of course, I’m partial to Nissan’s, but with them you either get a Frontier (small) or a Titan (expensive). Hopefully next time around I can convince my bride to go with the Titan.
I have a 2003 P5. I don’t love it, but I don’t hate it. I drove an Accord sedan for a while before the Mazda, so fitting bikes wasn’t really an option. I had hoped to be able to get a bunch of stuff in the Protege when I got it, but I’ve found its not as roomy as I’d hoped. I can get one bike (front wheel removed) leaning over to one side and a good amount of other stuff in there. Two bikes would be tougher as someone else mentioned but not impossible. There just isn’t a lot of headroom in the back. If seats/posts were removed it would probably be more doable.
All this I can deal with. What bugs me most about the car, is the transmission. 4 speed auto. This car is my first automatic transmission. Compared to a 5 speed, I have to say, it was really poorly designed. I think the “sporty” design leads to crappy gas mileage. Yes, it is a zippy little car (more HP than my accord which was larger) but the mileage really sucks. 26 on the highway.
Living where I live now, if I had it to do over, I’d probably go with a relatively new VW van and convert it to bio-diesel, but I know that isn’t really practical in most parts of the world.
i’m not saying don’t buy the car, I’m just saying its less car than I had hoped for.
I took the DIY approach with my house… I’m currently training for Alcatraz/IMC, renovating the house and working 45h/wk. I’d love to dig out the Haynes manual and put what I learned in high school auto mechanics to use, but there just aren’t enough hours in the day.
I’ll second MarkC’s comments. I like mine well enough that I chose it over a Mazda 6 sedan when my wife and I split. Both were 5sp manual so I can’t comment on the auto trans that the other poster mentioned but I think this car really deserves a manual because it is a fun driving car. Sporty w/ a tight suspension. I sometimes carry 2 bikes in back, but you need some rags to keep them apart because they will be up against each other. Still room for gear w/ two bikes, but not a huge rear. Hope that hepls.
Two bikes fit in with the front wheels off and three fits no problem with all the wheels off. I have a canvas sheet that I layer between the frames. Not too sure I would do the muddy mtb thing too often.
Having owned one since 2001 I can say I can get up to four bikes in it, if I pile them carefully.
Having said that, one bike and racing gear is no problem whatsoever, and on my last trip I had a large suitcase, a medium suitcase, a PowerMacG5, a 20" Display, a duffelbag, a sleeping bag and misc. other items plus a P3C in it.
My Fiancee has a Mazda protege 5 (5 speed manual) and its a very nice little car. Sporty with plenty of room for moving stuff around. We made a trip from California to Michigan in it with 2 bikes and everything she owned
When we are not trying to transport a whole house of gear this car can easily fit 2 bikes inside with gear and 2 on the gavin custom fork mounted (cost 40$ in parts) bike rack.
Overall a great car what ever you want it for, quick but has good gas milage if driven steady… unless its towing large boats and trailers of course
I too am looking at new cars right now. Difference being I am going new, not used.
I have narrowed the list to Toyota Matrix TRD Special Edition, Mazda 5 (2006) and Subaru Impreza Wagon.
The primary focus in this quest has been to replace a '97 Escort with something that will suit the needs of my growing family and allow my wife easier use of the stroller etc… when I am not around to help. A secondary goal is somthing that will transport our bikes better than the Escort or our Civic.
Anyhow, I eliminated the Protege5 (Mazda 3 Sport) from my list when my buddy who has the exact car you pictured earlier let me try and shove my Giant in its back end (not Brokeback Style, I’m talking about the bike). With the front wheel off it barely fit and I was nervous of laying two bikes on eachother. I have started looking at these other vehicles because they have more ‘trunk’ space and/or a sensible roof rack that will allow for bike carriers.
That issue aside, if you have one bike ot transport the engine in the Protoge5 is well tested and reliable and the car itself is certainly safe to drive.
