Faults:

Nothing really serious went wrong with the car. I had to change the rare right suspension for carrying a lot of load in the boot.

Replaced the automatic transmission from pulling trailers.

General Comments:

For it's age its unbelivable how these cars run. Since I bought it I hadn't touched the engine at all and the car was very useful to me because I travel long distances everyday and work. It was in my family for 5 hard, long years and still is. The thing that I like about it's a hatchback and is low, and it makes it look sporty with hood scoops. The car is comfortable and all the electrics work. Telstar is amazing car and it would be really sad to see it go. I got used to the car and I just wouldn't want to purchase any other.

Faults:

At 90000km's and after 19 years with an older driver the clutch had worn down to the springs, needed to be replaced.

At speeds above 60 km/h a "rubbing" noise would become apparent at the rear. This is due to right side rear wheel bearing, replaced and removed noise.

Right hand rear brake cylinder was leaking, needed to be replaced.

Heat resistant rubber pipe that leads from the top of the engine to the air filter assembly became hard and brittle, needed to be replaced.

General Comments:

Car is a pleasure to drive.

Excellent availability of parts as parts are interchangeable with the Mazda 626.

Accelerates nicely off the line with good low end torque for day to day driving and good high rpm power when needed. Suffers badly in first gear at high rpm, although 2nd gear and higher produce nice results when given more acceleration then normal.

Only problems with the car is soft rear suspension. Will not take 3 adults in the back without a constant ticking noise from the right hand wheel. Prone to rust, especially on the rear wheel arches.

Car is very succeptible to understeer, easy to slide in wet weather so caution should be used when driving in the wet.

Faults:

Nothing has gone wrong with the car while it has been in my possession.

General Comments:

This car has plenty of guts when required.

Good handling.

Excellent seats.

Plenty of boot space for your golf clubs.

Faults:

Battery was the most recent failure. Front power window (drivers side) has also failed. It had a leak in the seal for th drivers side of the front window, but I think I've fixed it with a bit of silicon.

Seats are a bit worn and the auto transmission takes ~1.5 to 2 seconds to engage which I believe is a good sign that its pretty worn.

General Comments:

I am surprised at how well this car starts every time even during the cold Perth winter mornings. It hasn't failed me yet, fingers crossed. I only drive it ~8km a day, but the brakes are good, engine is strong and above all else it starts every time.

Faults:

Very little has gone wrong with the car over the last 18 years I have owned it, and many of those things that have gone wrong are normal wear and tear items. Those items that have needed to be replaced are:

Electronic ignition.

Rear muffler.

Rear brake linings.

Water pump.

Clutch (original wasn't worn out, but wasn't disengaging properly - I actually suspect it is a linkage problem.

Rear windscreen heater switch.

The only real problem it has is that it appears to be prone to rust, although it has never been garaged, so to some extent this is to be expected.

Rust areas are rear wheel arches, bottom of rear windscreen, side skirt panels (especially under rear doors) and bonnet.

General Comments:

This car has been a real pleasure to own and drive.

It is economical, roomy, reliable, travels really well over distances, happily tows a loaded trailer and very reliable.

Being a locally produced car, parts are still readily available, even genuine parts from the dealer, and reasonably priced.

There seems to be a benefit in the fact that it is basically a Japanese design, but modified to suit Australian conditions and locally built.

Faults:

The car has a strange electrical problem in that all the warning lights flash and the alternator shows that it is not charging. There is a lot of 'ticking' sounds just like the indicator. The problem is erratic and doesn't affect the car at all. Someone told me to replace the alternator brushes, is this the solution?. Any help would be very much appreciated.

General Comments:

Apart from the electrical 'glitches' the car drives and handles well.