2000 Mazda Protege vs. 2005 Mazda Marathon

To start off, 2005 Mazda Marathon is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 2000 Mazda Protege. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 2000 Mazda Protege would be higher. At 2,260 cc, 2005 Mazda Marathon is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2005 Mazda Marathon (104 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 4 more horse power than 2000 Mazda Protege. (100 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2005 Mazda Marathon should accelerate faster than 2000 Mazda Protege. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2000 Mazda Protege weights approximately 268 kg more than 2005 Mazda Marathon.

Because 2005 Mazda Marathon is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 2005 Mazda Marathon. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2000 Mazda Protege, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 2005 Mazda Marathon (174 Nm) has 10 more torque (in Nm) than 2000 Mazda Protege. (164 Nm). This means 2005 Mazda Marathon will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2000 Mazda Protege. 2000 Mazda Protege has automatic transmission and 2005 Mazda Marathon has manual transmission. 2005 Mazda Marathon will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2000 Mazda Protege will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.

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