Faults:

The rear stabilizer links have broken; replacing these also required replacing the forward arm.

The B.A.C. valve and throttle position sensor malfunctioned, and they needed to be replaced. This was a very expensive repair ($1100).

The right rear brake line blew, and the brake fluid cylinder on the right rear blew previous to the brake line.

General Comments:

My car has a very comfortable ride. It handles very responsively on the turns, but it does not have very quick acceleration in either power or economy mode.

I really like the option of outside air vent or fan. I also like the tachometer being included even though it is automatic. The seat belt clips, however, have broken on both front seats.

Repairs are very expensive with parts that must be ordered through the dealership.

Faults:

Small valve leak on cylinder number three when I bought it. A year later, number four did the same thing. Head cylinder have been changed.

I had to select the sport selection on the electric suspension to get a better handling.

The car is fairly quiet below 80km/h, but wind noises from the rear windows start on higher speed.

I had to change the rear amplifier module on the radio.

General Comments:

Very powerfull car.

Handling still good and fun to drive.

Clutch, shock absorber, radiator, alternator, starter are all original.

The engine is still running smoothly. No oil consumption noted.

Fuel consumption is fairly good: 10 liter/100km on highway.

Faults:

Friction parts replaced periodically, as should be expected. First clutch replaced at about 250,000 km.

Rebuilt engine at 282,000 km because of oil burning. Now at 400,000 km, it is burning oil excessively so we will soon retire the vehicle.

Power windows now operate only from the driver's door switches.

Oil drips have been a problem throughout the life of this car.

General Comments:

This has been a comfortable reliable car for 14 years. I'm sad to see it reach the end of its life and wish I could buy a new one just like it.

Faults:

Only the components you expect to wear have needed replacement. As my car has now done 153,000 miles, quite a few things have had to be replaced, eg brake discs and clutch. But nothing has broken unexpectedly.

General Comments:

Parts are rather expensive, and most are not easy to find, but my dealer has always been able to source anything I've needed within a couple of days. Specalists are best for some parts - eg brake pads and discs. Ferodo pads can be bought for £26 from brake people, but don't expect Halfords to stock anything. The oil filter for the 626 GT is different from the normal 626 one, and only available from Mazda dealers - don't use the pattern ones - you'll be told the normal filter fits (and it does) but the correct one is best.

I run my car on synthetic oil. It will still do over 130 mph on German autobahns, and reach 60 in a touch over 8 secs. I bought it at 5+ years old with 82,000 on the clock - I've done 70,000 in 4+ years.