2000 Mazda 323 LX 1.6 from Israel

Summary:

Good family car, not for racers..

Faults:

Ignition coils malfunctioned after the engine was steam cleaned. It cost approximately 120$ and car was back on business.

General Comments:

Maintenance is quite cheap, very reliable, but engine power is relatively weak. Road behavior is good in turns, but springs are quite hard so the car is a bit "jumpy". You don't have the comfortability of a european car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 21st March, 2004

2000 Mazda 323 FGSE 1.5 Injection from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Great runabout, but not really too useful for long distance work

Faults:

Paintwork on the bottom of the door sill flaked off after a stone bounced from the road at speed. The underside of the sill appears to have some sort of rubber undercoat which apparently is designed to flex when hit. Unfortunately, the paint doesn't.

General Comments:

I've only done a thousand miles in the car. I came to the 323 from a Mondeo Estate TD. It's a different world.

No longer beaten away from traffic lights by little old ladies in Micra's.

This little beaut goes round corners like it's glued to the tarmac.

The seats are a bit harder than I'm accustomed to.

Headlights are a bit strange. The beam gives various zones on the road and the car could use a set of driving lamps.

Top gear seems very close, in ratio, to 4th. The car feels as if it could use another gear. Gearbox can feel a bit muddy at times especially if the change is a bit on the quick side. I've had one or two crunchers over the past week.

The ride is a bit on the lively side. At speed, concentration has to be 100% as Scottish roads, even Motorways, can tend to be a bit uneven.

The wiper control must have been put in back wards. I still have to look at the control before I use the wipers. Why would I want to spray water on the rear screen and not use the wiper?

The car does have several saving graces.

Loads of legroom both front and rear.

The boot is good for a car of this class.

Security is good. Alarm, immobilizer and remote central locking.

The electric windows have a safety cut out in case of body parts getting in the way. (I've not tried this one out yet)

Aircon...I LOVE IT!

I did make one modification. I changed the radio out for a Radio/CD/MP3 unit from Sony.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 15th May, 2003

24th Jul 2004, 07:52

I own a 323 F 1.8 Twin Cam Sport, apparently a limited edition before they switched the Sport model to 2.0 . There are a few things in this article, such as the gearing comments and the problems with fast shifting, that also ring true for my car. It's a great machine though, despite this - even if 100mph in 5th is close on 5000rpm. I've hit 120 before, but at this speed it was close on the red line and pangs of guilt made me back off. It's not a high speed cruiser in any respects, but definitely a machine to hit the twisty's with at pace. I'm really looking forward to the Mazda 6 MPS turbo next year!

5th Oct 2004, 10:26

I agree about the gearing comments. I have a 1.6 model, which is similar to this 1.5GSE, just 10bhp more and a few cc bigger (it replaced the 1.5) and find the revs too high for my liking. At dead on 100mph the revs are dead on 5000rpm. It hardly inspires one to go faster than this, even though I have. That said it is a cracking handling machine at the expense of a rather firm and sometimes noisy ride. Build quality especially interior is first class, Audi Standard.

2000 Mazda 323 GSi 1.8 1.8 Auto from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Mr average!

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

When in gear "DRIVE" and stationery, there is a rattle coming from above- annoying.

Horn sounds naff.

Interior is grey and dull.

Fiddly Sony stereo with mini-disc, poor sound quality from speakers.

Does on average 31mpg, around town about 20mpg, poor for a 1.8i.

Very quick especially with the "HOLD" mode which drops a gear to give more power.

Good looking car, sleek and respectable.

Very comfortable and well equipped.

Heavy steering and dull to drive compared to the facelifted 323 2001-onwards, which is as fun as a Ford Focus.

Well composed and tautly controlled at all times.

A MR Average car that is well built, but lacking in character, like a Golf really.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 8th February, 2003

29th Mar 2003, 05:24

You bought the car second hand

Nuff said.