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. Car is now in Nevada away from salt.What do you consider to be your first car ?įor me, three vehicles could potentially lay claim to the title. ![]() The exhaust rusted apart just after the downpipe so it's a little loud but fixing that means a full exhaust replacement. There is now a hole in the back seat floorboard from rust and the seat belt mechanism broke - replaced with junk yard piece. Still runs great, which means in over 155k miles it has never had a mechanical problem. 16 years later, it's now the teenager's car. Repaired the hood and front-end plastics myself summer 2019. Hopefully it doesn't cost too much because this car still has LOTS of useful life in it. I have not had an estimate for repairs yet, but the hood is crumpled, the grille is gone and headlights smashed, but the fenders seem OK. Shortly after 150,000, my son rear-ended another car. It runs perfectly - if it wasn't for rust, it would look and work very much like new. Both passenger side electric locks no longer work. Still no mechanical problems or break-downs. Rust wreaks havoc on these cars, though not as bad as some other cars. The timing belt et al has been changed and the car continues to run great. The worst thing on it by far … is the rust in the rear fender wells.Īfter 105,000 miles, everything else still works great.Īt 150,000, I've replaced the right rear strut because it rusted apart. The passenger side electric door lock stopped working at about 50,000 miles. ![]() The sway bar bushings wore out at 85,000 miles and the tubing to the mass air flow sensor cracked, but a redneck duct tape fix still works. It's been a great car, extremely reliable and is still fun to drive. I bought my 2003 Protege ES new based on handling and ride - and looks.
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