1988 Mazda 323 4x4 16v DOHC 1.6 turbo

Summary:

It will put one hell of a smile on your face!

Faults:

Gear box, Transfer unit, Prop-Shaft and Rear Differential.

General Comments:

I love the car, best one I have ever owned. The only problem you have when it all goes wrong is getting hold of spare parts, the car is so rare now that most scrap dealers don't even know what it is! If I can't get this one fixed I will start all over again and look for another one.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th September, 2002

16th Jul 2003, 07:19

Well I started all over again a found another one. I have a whole car worth of spare parts now!

13th Jun 2006, 17:06

That's the way to do it, I also own one of these cars and done the same thing, got a whole spare car, as I found out that parts for them are not cheap.

1988 Mazda 323 Turbo 4x4 1.6 16v turbo

Summary:

The most capable car £500 will buy

Faults:

Rust here and there.

What do you want for £500?

General Comments:

This car is a reliable, capable little rocket that is great fun to drive. Looks naff, but packs a 135 bhp 1.6 turbo motor, permanent 4wd and 0-60 in 7.5 seconds. Destroys 5 GT Turbos, Nova GTE's etc, especially in the wet, and doesn't blow up every week either. Handling is amusing with shedloads of grip eventually giving way to a 4 wheel drift which is so controllable. Run it on cheap remoulds and it all happens at nice safe speeds.

Treat it to an oil change twice a year and plugs / air filter once a year and it just keeps on going. Zero oil consumption, zero breakdowns - typical Japanese efficiency. Mind you it will do 22mpg if you really give it death.

Must go - have a 5 turbo to bait on the way home. And he'll lose, just like he lost yesterday.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 19th June, 2002

14th Oct 2002, 08:01

I have a Mazda 323 and will be able to post some comments for you, but was wondering if you may be able to place me in contact with the person who wrote the last set of comments stating that he blew up his gearbox.

If not I shall happily write some comments, but ask to put in a message to the writer at the end.

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