Faults:

60,000 miles; a starter.

89,000 miles; timing belt.

General Comments:

I bought the 98 626 LX with a 5 speed manual in 2001 with 45,000 miles on it. It had a salvage title because of a front end collision. It was $8000 so I bought it... Seemed like a good deal. It looked like it had all been fixed properly.

At about 60,000 miles I had to have the starter changed for like $300... Since then it has been flooded twice in the Houston weather... the first time was $3000 worth of damage, and the second time was $1300, but that was paid for by the insurance.

I always have the oil changed with Mobil 1.

At 89,000 miles the timing belt broke, but that was my own fault for not getting it done before it broke at 60,000. It have to have a new cam cover because of that, so a $300 preventative cost me $900... my bad.

Other than it sounding like the spare bouncing around in the trunk (which it isn't) from the rear suspension, my only other thing has been replacing the plug wires an unusual amount of times. Paid a little extra for Bosch this time, and it seems to be fine. The car still runs great.

All in all, for as many years as I have had it (7), and the fact with the floods and it being totaled before I bought it, I think it's held up pretty good... but I'm also in a warm weather state... these might be more suited to the south than the north.

Faults:

Nothing!

General Comments:

Excellent car, all the negative reviews for the Mazda 626 on here seem to come from the USA, and those cars are built somewhere else I'm sure...

This car is 10 years old and nearly done 100,000 miles and it's still going like new.

In the UK, we have Japanese built Mazda 626's, and they are very reliable, well equipped cars.

Handles very well - bit of a bumpy ride though, better at speed, unrefined around town.

Lots of space. Nice interior.

Looks good - I have saloon with alloys not the usual hatchback ones you see.

Very reliable so far. Economical 2 litre engine (about 35 MPG) and goes well when you need to.

Overall a nice car, can't fault it. Shame you guys in the USA got badly built versions of them.

Faults:

Bought second hand. Been a dream car. Will be very sad to replace it.

Poor rear visibility makes it easy to bump into obstacles.

Front electric window motor burnt out at 146,000 miles. Rust damage only just starting to appear, but it has been routinely garaged.

General Comments:

Utterly reliable - has never failed to start first time.

Good performance.

Very poor rear vision, e.g. when reversing.

Faults:

The transmission failed a few months after I bought the car. I have found out that this is a common problem with the 626 model that can be prevented with a transmission fluid cooler. After having the transmission repaired I have had no real problems.

General Comments:

The 626 is a nice looking, comfortable, and very efficient car so long as you take care of your transmission. I would recommend buying one, but make sure to have your mechanic or transmission shop check it out first.