1988 Mazda 626 LX 2.2L from North America

Summary:

I love it and it will always be in my Heart and Family

Faults:

Front struts replace at 89,000 miles.

Passenger side CV joint was replaced at 95,000.

Radiator failed at 135,000.

Driver side CV joint replaced at 165,000.

Besides that there was just minor work I did such as oil change, fuel filter, brakes, tires, and air filter.

General Comments:

This car has been reliable to me. it has never left me high and dry no matter what I did to it like off-road, climb curbs, and E-brake turns.

The only upgrades I did to it was added a K and N air filters and added engine treatments.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 25th September, 2003

1988 Mazda 626 DX 2.2 from North America

Summary:

Fantastic!

Faults:

CV joint

Exhaust

AC.

General Comments:

It's a great car and just got a 91 hope it works out as well.

If you can get one that has been taken care of BUY IT!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 30th August, 2003

22nd May 2011, 09:49

Wow, 300,000 huh? That's amazing. I'm gonna be buying one with 212,000 on it already, but from what I hear this is a great car, so I'm gonna risk it. The interior is extremely well taken care of, which pretty much tells me that the owner took good care of the car overall.

1988 Mazda 626 GT 2.0i from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Great for a first car

Faults:

Clutch went at 130,000 miles.

General Comments:

I have had my 1988 F. Reg 626 GT 2.0i 16 Valve Up To 140mph. I recently put the car on to its drivers side by taking a corner to fast creating £110.00 worth of damage to the passenger side indicator drivers side wing mirror and front bumper. It could do with a respray as the paint has faded it is starting to peel from the rear wing and from the wheels. It could also do with a new front wing, but it still goes like a rocket and it has only done 135,757 miles. Parts can be hard to find, but my scrappy has a H reg 626 Coupe GT so I have done alright.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 4th June, 2003

13th Jul 2003, 04:53

My 1991 Mazda 626 Gti has 133,000 miles and is rust free apart from the sunroof. It out accelerates most other GTi's much to their disbelief! Not having the burden of a CAT exhaust helps performance. If you want to get 0-60 down to near 7.5 seconds try a Jetex sports air filter and Splitfire (correct spelling) spark plugs. The engine kicks out a high voltage so replace ignition leads frequently - only buy Mazda leads as they are designed for the output.

Other leads burn out in half the time.

Good driving - Steve.

1988 Mazda 626 LX 2.2L from North America

Summary:

I wish I could find another like this one

Faults:

Keep in mind that this is a high-mileage car, and these faults were distributed over 190,000 miles of driving. CV boots are fairly short lived, averaging one boot replacement every 18 months.

The clutch master cylinder began leaking and needed replacement at about 150,000 miles.

The gears in the electric window lifts have failed on both rear doors, making the windows impossible to open and allowing them to fall down over big bumps.

The moon roof needs a nudge before it will pop open, but the sliding function still works.

I've replaced the leaking valve cover gasket twice.

The electric antenna will no longer go up-and-down. So I unplugged the power connector on the radio, pulled the antenna up and left it. No problem.

It takes so long to warm up in cold weather, I replaced the 185-degree OEM thermostat with a 195-degree one. It didn't help.

The lap belt tends not to fully retract when you take it off, causing it to fall out the door when you exit the car. When it does, the door doesn't fully close, leaving the dome light on. Several times I failed to notice the door hadn't completely close and the battery ran down.

The shoulder belt is one of those annoying motorized mice. If you open the door and stick out your head -- like to get a better view when backing up -- the accursed thing will try to decapitate you. Hell has an especially warm place reserved for the inventor of the motorized passive restraining shoulder harness.

One wheel bearing, one CV boot and joint, and one tie rod end -- and who knows what else -- now are worn out (after more than a quarter of a million miles, I don't wonder). I can buy a newer model of the same car for less than the repair so, sadly, it's time to put it out to pasture.

General Comments:

This car has been extremely economical basic transportation. Except when the battery has gone dead, it has never failed to start. Not once!

It still has the original clutch.

Until six months ago (at about 250,000 miles) it still gave 32mpg or better around town, 34mpg or better highway.

This is without a doubt the best buy I ever made in a car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 18th December, 2002

15th Oct 2004, 09:12

I also have one of these cars, and just had to comment on your remarks about the seat belts. I couldn't agree more, am rolling on the floor laughing.