This is a 2003 Mazda Prot'eg'e 5. A Southern car, it has had two local Tampa Bay Florida owners. Recent trade at an area Mazda store, I stumbled upon it on my ongoing search for nice older Volvo wagons. Nice and clean, drives well and has recent minor refurbishment to make it turnkey for its next owner/driver.

The Prot'eg'e 5 is a two year model from Mazda, being offered in 2002 and 2003. These are all well equipped, with cruise, power windows, mirrors and locks, along with 16 inch alloys, 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS and the like. The platform that this of model has a good reputation for both safety and reliability and the driving dynamics are superior to the competing Asian cars of this vintage. Most of these cars have high mileage on them, as their owners tend to actually drive them. With under 100k, this car is on the low end of the typical miles on the odometer.

Exterior. Silver. One of more upscale colors for this car, you can see that is good looking, almost totally original paint. The lower portion of the passenger side door was refinished to repair a scrape that was too deep to buff out. Other than that, its as it left the factory. All of the glass is crack/star free, all of the lenses are clear, and all of the trim is intact. Minor defects include a couple of paint chips on the bumpers, none bigger than a Sharpie point, and a small ding on the passenger side door. See included photo.Overall, better than average.

The Interior. Its all there in its Off Black Interior. It’s the only color offered on this model. No crack dash, clean glove box, clean center cubby, clean overall. The OE radio is functional with both single CD and cassette. Door panels are nice with just a bit of fade, carpet is quite nice and the seats are clean and without rips, tears, or heavy wear. No smoker environs. Good headliner. Original floor mats still looking acceptable..

Drivetrain. This is a 2.0 liter 4 with a 5 speed MANUAL TRANSMISSION. Starts right up, idles smooth, shifts well, stops decently, runs cool with good oil pressure. NO SMOKE, no funny smells. All of the controls work, tracks straight and pretty much does all of the things that its supposed to do in quiet and comfort. The shift it yourself portion of the program changes the character of the car a good bit. First off, it’s a good bit more responsive than the automatic transmission cars. Second, it’s a good bit quicker that the typical Prot'eg'e. For a normally aspirated 2 liter, it seems quicker than the rated 130 h.p., and the fuel economy has been good, an average of 27 mpg while in my care in a mix of suburban use.

I do mostly Volvo, Saab, and VW cars, and those folks are pretty particular so we went over the car’s mechanics pretty closely to make sure it’s a turnkey car for the next owner. It got the following…

· Shifter bushings.

· The refinish mentioned above

· Oil and Filter change

That was all it needed. Didn’t really need the shifter bushings, but I’ve done this on a number of Proteges and cars that share the same gearbox, and it does make shifting much more pleasant.

Its got a spare which looks good. Has all of the tools. Two keys, one remote. Wheels which are the factory alloys wheels in good shape; minor curbing but are round and true. Tires are matching brand/size/speed rating with the front’s looking virtually new and the rears about 1/2 worn. Clean, title history with title in hand. I’ll be putting a few more miles on it over the next week just to make sure I have not missed anything it needs to be the best it can be so we’ve added a few miles to the listing.

Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions that I get on my listings:

What’s the worst thing about this car?

Nothing known that has not been described or pictured in the listing that I am aware of.

What’s the best part of the car?

It does everything its supposed to do.

Could I drive this car back home

Can’t see why not.

The reserve, which WILL NOT BE DISCLOSED, is not unreasonable given the condition of this car, and is in line with the current market; it’s a used car, not an investment in automotive art. Please take an opportunity to look at the photos, ask any questions that you might have, and then feel free to press that bid button………

A Few words about condition, business philosophy, and why I’ve listed on E-Bay since 2001.

I try to accurately describe the listed vehicle to the best of my ability, but like you I am human, but assure you that I will not hide any known defects that materially impact the vehicle. I want you to feel “comfy” pressing the bid button! I don’t offer anything that I would not and have not driven myself, but please understand that all vehicles are complex machines and what works perfect right now may not the next time. Just like a new pet from the shelter, its first act as new member of the family might be to “mark its spot”. If you have doubts, PLEASE ask for the inspection report!!

I’ll be glad to share any additional information that I have about any item listed, and about the marque in general, but please understand that its up to you to determine if the car listed in this auction is the right one for you. Please don’t assume….it’s a good way to be disappointed…the only ‘stupid’ questions are the ones not asked, and after the auction is over is not the time to determine whether or not y’all want the listed vehicle!

Even NEW CARS might need some attention…like the 7 window regulators that have been put on my spouse’s car over the past three years (false economy by the designers), so if you have any doubts, feel free to make arrangements to have the vehicle inspected while its “at the auction” or ask for a copy of the inspection report which I will gladly provide to all bidders. Also, please feel free to contract with an independent concern to have the car third party inspected…I’ll be glad to share my experience with them, but please don’t ask me to recommend one over another…some are better than others…some do an excellent job, some are a waste of time and money.

Spending every last dime you have on a used car with an expectation that it will give you faithful service with no additional expenses for the next 10 years probably is not a real good idea, so use your head, spend within your means, and leave a little in reserve for a ‘rainy day’.

I try very hard to use objective terms in the listings, and where possible, can provide quantitative data on things that can be measured without taking the car apart, so if you have questions on things like tread depth, compression readings, voltages and the like, feel free to ask and if its possible to provide the data I will. However, please keep in mind that subjective terms like Excellent, Mint, Good, etc. are subjective terms that vary from situation to situation, and from individual to individual, so if in doubt please refer to the photos AND feel free to ask detailed questions.

Remember that this is a USED CAR!!!!. While I try my best to make sure each unit has been carefully described, you should be aware that they are not in "as new" condition, except where the addition of new parts has been indicated. There can be undiscovered flaws, but each car has been gone through using a two page checklist, a daily use evaluation (that means I’ve actually driven it, in traffic, just like an owner might use it) , and an overall visual inspection. Cars with built in diagnostics such as OBDII are also read, and identified flaws corrected. Each car has been given a check of all safety systems, all operational controls are functional, and any needed repairs or replacements are performed unless otherwise indicated. Unless otherwise indicated, these cars are being “AS IS”, WITH NO WARRANTY EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. To make things really clear, if its not as described, I’ll bust my butt to make it right before it goes out the door, but if you blow a hose while doing 90 mph 6,000 miles down the road and warp the head ‘cause you decide to make it to the next exit 26 miles south and expect me the pick up the tab, please don’t bother to bid…neither one of us will be happy….

While I do my best to offer the best cars that I can, I am not able to predict the future (If I could, I could see a job at the Federal Reserve...), hence the "no warranty" provision of the transaction. If you feel the need to find a warranty of some sort, there are some excellent providers that can be found on the 'net, along with some not so good ones. I don't offer them since some companies that offer some sort of protection do so at a cost that I don't think is reasonable and offer as "incentive" for the dealer as much as 50% of the retail purchase price! I'm here to offer cars, some interesting parts, and some other auto related items and leave it at that. I’m not in this to lose money, or to rob folks, just to try to keep busy, earn a decent living, and make it to retirement without having to dip into my savings from my days in Corporate America.

To help calibrate what I’m doing, like you, I go searching on e-bay for a decent deal on a car to make sure that what I’m doing is the right thing. I’ve been both thrilled and so angry I could spit nails over the way folks describe what they are offering.

Unless specified in the description, all cars have a clean title history. Please e-mail me for particulars on any vehicle. In no case will I sell a car that has had any structural damage that has the potential to impact the safety or quality of the vehicle. If I don’t feel comfy showing the car in person, it will never make it to E-Bay.

I'd appreciate it if you'd also take a look see at the “Feedback" section. Even if you don't bid on this auction, I hope that you'll find some useful info that might encourage a look at another auction of mine, or to ask a question or two about the marque. I specialize in Saab, Volvo, and VW products and am more than willing to give folks an idea of what to look for when considering these brands and what resources exist to help support your needs. Typically, there are 40 to 50 cars, trucks and vans on the lot.

I'm affiliated with an independent licensed and bonded dealership that has been in business at the same location, with the same owners, for over two decades, and I’ve passed my 10th year of “playing with cars full time”. I’m here because the dealership’s operating style is one where each vehicle and each customer gets personal one-to-one attention from an equity owner, not some here today, gone tomorrow employee. No gold chains, no Rolex watches, no cheap suits. After years in the corporate world, its refreshing to work with folks who are straightforward, decent, and fair. It’s tough to find folks like that in the corporate world, let alone at a car store! Typically, there are 40 to 50 cars, trucks and vans on the lot.

You are welcome to inspect the cars at any time during normal business hours. ", and the reserve price, if any, will be LESS than the local offer price for the car. PLEASE do not ask for the reserve on the auction as I WILL NOT DISCLOSE RESERVES; I will NOT RESPOND TO THE QUESTION and YOU WILL BE PLACED ON A “NO BID” list. Each car listed is hand selected and personally driven by me up until the car goes to auction here on E-bay. I built my first VW motor when I was 14, and that's more years ago than I'd like to admit, and approach each car as if it was going to be my own or a family member’s. Any repairs identified as being needed while being driven are done (any safety related repair done under the supervision of an ASE Tech) to make the car roadworthy and ready to drive, and I will be glad to detail those repairs for you, right down to the brand of parts used, if you will e-mail me your questions. In my prior career I was a corporate "weenie" with the same firm for 25 years and when it came time to do something different, I turned my hobby into a business.

That “hobby” has turned in to a full time, 6 day a week business. I’m proud to say that I’ve sold over 700 (actually closing in on 750) cars though E-bay and made a bunch of folks happy and me a decent living where I’ve been able to go more than 7 years without wearing a tie!! I work hard at this, and I take it seriously. Although we may never meet face to face, I want to earn your trust, and hopefully your repeat business and your recommendation. I’m not some “ex new car dealer whose wife threw him out of the house”, “an official liquidation center for vehicle disposal”, or a “new car trade in wholesaler”, but a car nut and now a small business person who believes that it is possible to buy a car from an ethical source who is familiar with the car. I stick with marques I’m familiar with, so as to minimize potential problems, and source the cars from reliable sources. Most of them come from New Car dealers, but some come from private party referrals, and every once in a while a car that was traded in by a local customer who’s needs have changed. As a matter of policy, if I don’t have the title AND a history for the car, you won’t see it on e-bay!!

Life’s too short to lie, and while one person’s trash …… I’ll try hard to call ‘em as I see ‘em.

One of the things that confuses me beyond understanding. Folks buy a car based solely on price, and then take it to a NEW CAR dealer or fancy emporium, pay OVER retail price for parts (IN ONE CASE MORE THAN 4 TIMES THE GOING PRICE!!!!), DOUBLE the going local rate for labor by a quality independent shop and them come back to me feeling that they have been ripped off. Like the “free coffee”, solid mahogany doors to the rest rooms and the fancy carpet in the waiting room are “no charge”???

All of the less than positive feedback that I’ve gotten in more than 10 years has come from folks who have done just that and I am peeved beyond words as a result of folks getting ripped off by third parties and then blaming me MONTHS after the actual sale! If you are the least bit concerned, I’ll gladly provide you with full documentation of the transactions where folks were not kind with the feedback PROVING to anyone with a brain that they were treated fairly and professionally by me and that I went above and beyond to make things right. If I screwed up, I’ll do my darndest to make it right, but if your expectation is of a brand new car at a fire sale price, please do us both a favor and kindly do not bid. If, on the other hand, you would like a more than fair deal on an above average car for the year and miles, your bid is encouraged.

The Fine Print and other info worth reading:

Car is offered FOB Tampa Bay FL. Car is 20 minutes from Tampa Airport and beautiful Gulf Beaches . Less than two hours from Disney and the rest of Central FL attractions. Come on down and play tourist with your savings. Winning bidder will get an e-mail with a request for information, followed by an express package with transaction detail and supporting documentation. Balance due within 7 business days via either certified funds, cash on local pick up or wire transfer with proper vetting with the financial institutions on both ends of the transaction. Seller can hold for 21 days at no additional charge while buyer makes shipping/travel arrangements.

Please bid with the understanding that the winning bidder has entered into a binding contract to buy the car. I work hard to find nice cars to bring to this auction forum, and I don't knowingly sell junk. I try to describe the vehicles to the best of my ability, and I will supply additional photos of any area of concern. As my name and phone number are in everything I run on e-bay, understand that I put my personal reputation out there and I hope that you have the same level of personal integrity. With that in mind, if you are unable to complete the transaction except for unusual and unplanned events, I will invoke my rights under this contract. Due to the large increase in deadbeat auction winners, by bidding, you have agreed that if you fail to complete the transaction except for those unusual events, you will compensate the seller for the full incurred cost of re-listing the item, plus a service fee equal to 15% of the bid, payable upon demand.

I will gladly answer any and all questions via e-mail and you can also reach me at 727-455-8491 from 9:30 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. eastern time except Sunday.. Please be aware that I am a solo operation, and it will sometimes take a little while to phone folks back, but I do check e-mail at least twice a day, ‘cept Sunday. I don’t use an answering service, I don’t have anyone who “takes care of stuff” for me, and I don’t use a third party listing service. Hate to do it, but because of some less than “stand up” folks on e-bay, I’ve been forced to go to “private auctions” on autos. I think it stinks, but several folks have been solicited with bogus offers and fake buy it now offers. The senders have been reported to e-bay, but it takes time for those folks to act, so for the time being…….

Florida deliveries are subject to local sales tax and $249 title/transaction fee in addition to winning auction bid and any applicable registration fees imposed by the STATE of FLORIDA. Shipped vehicles are not subject to FL sales tax, but are subject to a $149 transaction fee to cover the costs of moving the documents back and forth and to offset the costs of providing insurance coverage for the vehicles while awaiting shipment. Out of state buyers who require a non-permanent tag to drive the car home must be charged sales tax under FL law. ALL SALES SUBJECT TO THE FLORIDA STATUES AND BUYER AGREES TO STATE OF FL JURISDICTION. ALL LISTINGS CAN BE LEGALLY REGISTERED IN THE STATE OF FL AND CONFORM TO APPROPRIATE FL REQUIREMENTS. By bidding, you agree that these terms will apply to the transaction.

If you’d like to come visit, please call for an appointment and directions to our facility. A local buyer can end the auction early by exceeding the reserve providing the reserve has not been met. After the reserve has been met, the auction will not be ended early for a local purchaser. The car is displayed locally but not advertised in any other forum while on E-Bay. Out of state buyers, please contact me for shipping costs to your location at least 24 hours prior to auction close so that I can quote an accurate price as it varies a good bit by car and location, which is not included in the auction bid price. Thank you for bidding!!

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On Nov-07-13 at 17:26:36 PST, seller added the following information:

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