Faults:

First things first--- the exhaust. Could be my fault, as it was my first winter driving---went into a field, and what not. Cost 80$ for them to weld the exhaust back together... a few months later, I replaced the entire exhaust system.

COOLANT LEAKS! This problem has been very consistent... She's in the shop for the third replaced water pump... Lucky for warranty, because the first go was pricey. (1st time leaks happened they told me it was the rad... 300$ later it was still leaking. They told me it was the water pump... another 500$ later it was still leaking. Then the exhaust went... and the battery. Another good 300-400$ there. Now this is the 3rd time I've brought her back to the shop... they finally realized that when you replace the water pump, they also need to replace the pulley, hence the many wasted water pumps.

General Comments:

Good little car, ABS system is sweet. Saved my butt a few times anyhow.

Nice extras with the leather seating, sunroof, etc.

Quick little bugger too. It looks like a granny car... until I get her going.

There are a few little problems with the car, for example, she makes some strange noises sometimes, for no real reason.

It has a hard time with the cold weather. (Ex: The doors refuse to shut as the little lever gets frozen in place and won't latch onto the door), runs a little rough when cold.

It has a difficult time getting moving from first gear to second gear... it just jumps a little and then she's off.

Overall, it's a good car. If you're not picky about stupid little things like a noise here and there, then for the price, it's a great deal. I paid 3000 for mine, and so far the only real problems have been the water pump.

Faults:

Nothing really has gone wrong with this one.

General Comments:

The car doesn't perform well, but it gets me where I need to be.

Faults:

My transmission has gone out twice. I was told that it was a design flaw. my engine is making a chirping noise when driven.

General Comments:

It is a very nice car very reliable until the transmission went out.

Faults:

It has a problem with frequently slipping belts. I have fixed the problem twice, with new belts and tension- for the time being (last 10 months), it has been mostly a success. I have heard the start of another slip, though, usually on a cold start.

The brakes make an awful noise- I have replaced all brake pads and rotors to no avail. I am simply stumped by it- I can't seem to figure it out. They seem OK under normal conditions, but under very aggressive driving, it is a little concerning.

The tranny shifts a little hard, kind of what you would expect from a shift kit. I am not sure if one has been installed. It is likely that one has- the car went through a full overhaul in 2000.

I have noticed recently some usually faint top end noise from the valve train. It got loud one evening which led me to believe that the oil was low- it was not- but the problem went away after the car was driven approximately 3 miles. I am assuming that it is a sticky valve and plan to research it thoroughly if the problem arises again.

General Comments:

As far as the handling goes, this car is top notch. The steering is superb and very responsive. I especially like the firmness of the wheel- Ford/Mazda got the right engineer to work on the steering for the 626.

I have not been disappointed by this car for the most part. It's good on tires and fuel and has relatively good features. It is not very responsive, but is what is to be expected of a 4 cylinder. The interior is fairly comfortable and nothing to complain about.

I do not like the amount of room that is available in the engine compartment to do basic repairs (e.g. replacement of the serpentine belt). It is pretty cramped- but I have seen FWD cars with less room under the hood.