Faults:

Radiator split on top and had to be replaced. This I did myself and found it easy to replace.

Oil cooler had to be replaced. Didn't know this model had this attached as the library manual I looked at didn't show this cooler in any of it's diagrams. I replaced the head gasket, thinking it was the problem first.

Have had the clutch plates replaced twice in the time I have owned it.

General Comments:

Great reliable car, as you can see from the kilometers I have done.

The has good performance. You can fly along on the open road at a great number of knots for hours at a time.

Petrol consumption is excellent except when you really put your foot down. I mean when traveling at 140 K's plus.

Full electrics and a sunroof make it very nice to drive.

Faults:

Water. I lost three water pipes in six weeks, putting the car off the road for majority of that time. Easy to fix, but getting to the dealer was a pain.

Eastgate Mazda service superb. Had the parts the next day.

Brakes are vague and need new pads.

Windscreen slipped and had to be reset.

Paint's faded badly.

Rust!

General Comments:

Fantastic car. Despite the above, I've given it a 7 for reliability because it has been running some silly temperatures with the water problems, and the engine is fine and dandy and feels like it will go on for ever.

It's fast, fun, comfortable. Doesn't handle brilliantly, but does the job.

I intend to use this as a project car - do the pads, wheels, air filter mods, etc. then plonk it on a race track for some real fun.

Faults:

During my two years of ownership, the auto-choke would never work correctly. No matter how many times it was in various shops it still ran too fat for too long.

It died on the motorway, the ignition module was at fault. This was fixed very quickly and it wasn't even that expensive, but I still don't like it when a car breaks down on the motorway.

One year later it started running really bad all of a sudden. Turned out it was nothing more than the ignition leads, although this was very expensive to fix.

Then once a rear wheel bearing went (suppose that's normal) and two weeks later a component in the rear suspension failed, causing the same symptoms as the failed wheel bearing.

Radiator was doomed at 215000 km.

But the car's worst problem is rust. This car rusted very fast once it got started. The rear wheel arches completely disappeared in two winters. Also the sills rusted. But miraculously, the doors never showed any sign of rust.

General Comments:

Bumpy suspension, but a quick car that was quite good to drive.

I bought this car to get a cheap, reliable car. However, I have to say I was disappointed. I know it's an old car, but still. I thought the reliability would compensate for the lack of character, but I was wrong.

So I sold it (very hard to sell), and now own a Citroen XM instead. At least, it doesn't rust!

Faults:

AntiAfter burn valve needed replacing.

Cooling hoses replaced.

Oil leaks from engine.

Shocks changed.

Poor braking.

General Comments:

It is a very lovely car that I don't intend to sell. However parts are very hard to come by, especially on the net.

Faults:

Sticky central locking on passenger door, passenger door lock seized, rubber cowl around gear stick split.

General Comments:

Very reliable car with plenty of poke for what is essentially a family car, but not very economical on fuel. Also performs well as a towcar for pulling a caravan but, as before, fuel economy is not too clever.