buying a high mileage protege?

[pete c]

There is a 95 dx 5 speed locally for sale. It looks pretty good other than some minor front right corner damage, cracked windshield and broken driver's window. It has 187K on the clock. It also has a salvage title hanging in the side window. The salvage title was issued about a year ago.

I am guessing that somebody busted into it to steal something and the insurance company totaled it since a 10 year old protege w/187K don't take much to be "totaled".

I haven't spoken to the owner yet, so all this is mere speculation.

Anyway, I realize that buying anything w/nearly 200K on it is a crap shoot. I wouldn't hesitate to take a chance on a similar corolla as those motors can routinely go 300K with decent care. Does the same apply to the protege?

I don't know if it's a 1.5 or 1.8. Being a dx, I would guess it's the 1.5. It is pretty well equipped though. It has a tach, AC, factory tape deck.

The interior, other than a little dirty looks remarkably unworn for something with this many miles. The tires are about 2/3 worn, but, there is no indication of uneven wear. I'd rather see this, than a new set of cheap tires.

My biggest questions are what do I need to look for? What is typical engine life? Am I looking at new wheel bearings, tranny work, brake work. What will a new/boneyard windshield/driver window run me? How difficult are they to work on? Is dropping the tranny for a clutch job easy?

Asking price is 500 obo. If I can get it for 2 and not have to drop more than another 3 or 4 into it, it could make a nice winter beater/commuter.

[xerooption]

There is a 95 dx 5 speed locally for sale. It looks pretty good other than some minor front right corner damage, cracked windshield and broken driver's window. It has 187K on the clock. It also has a salvage title hanging in the side window. The salvage title was issued about a year ago.

I am guessing that somebody busted into it to steal something and the insurance company totaled it since a 10 year old protege w/187K don't take much to be "totaled".

I haven't spoken to the owner yet, so all this is mere speculation.

Anyway, I realize that buying anything w/nearly 200K on it is a crap shoot. I wouldn't hesitate to take a chance on a similar corolla as those motors can routinely go 300K with decent care. Does the same apply to the protege?

I don't know if it's a 1.5 or 1.8. Being a dx, I would guess it's the 1.5. It is pretty well equipped though. It has a tach, AC, factory tape deck.

The interior, other than a little dirty looks remarkably unworn for something with this many miles. The tires are about 2/3 worn, but, there is no indication of uneven wear. I'd rather see this, than a new set of cheap tires.

My biggest questions are what do I need to look for? What is typical r...like engine life? Am I looking at new wheel bearings, tranny work, brake work. What will a new/boneyard windshield/driver window run me? How difficult are they to work on? Is dropping the tranny for a clutch job easy?

Asking price is 500 obo. If I can get it for 2 and not have to drop more than another 3 or 4 into it, it could make a nice winter beater/commuter.


well, my protege has 120,000 km on it and it runs fine...it's great for winter except it doesn't have a computerized ABS, but if u can do a manual ABS effect with ur brake...it's fine. I'm planning to stick a protege GTR or GT-X engine in it in 2-3 yrs. and spend prob about 3 grand on it (new GTR brakes, body kit,etc...) Also, see if the seller protects the car...like washes it every once in a while like once every month or something. Proteges lasts for quite long...the engine life (this usually applies to 90-94 proteges).