Faults:

Idle problems.

Starting issue if you have just run the car - engine flooding.

Front wheel bearings.

Seats in the rear ripped to bits.

Gear box shifting weirdly, then BOOM! No gears at all, and stranded in the middle of nowhere!

Head gaskets blew.

General Comments:

Awesome performance from such a wee car, and it sounds wicked. Really enjoyable to drive...

HORRIBLE to repair! Will suck more money than it's worth. Definitely go for the manual and do not touch the auto. Check the radiator for bubbling and signs of head gasket issues with these cars.

Not economical for a 1.8, but economical for a V6.

The car had a rebuilt engine as well, but obviously the rebuild was of poor quality, due to the head gaskets going in less than 5000kms. There was over 12k spent on this 2k car!

Faults:

The only work that I have done to the car is a brand new battery, and an oil change.

The car does need a new CV axle on the driver's side, because the boot is cracked and the axle is clicking when I go around corners. I work at a dealership, so I can get the parts and labour for next to nothing.

It had brand new tires, and brand new brakes all around.

All the fluids turned out to be new and current.

The exhaust system had some new parts as well.

The head gasket around the back of the engine is starting to seep, so I am going to have to keep an eye on that.

I believe this car was very well maintained by the previous owners, I think it was a commuter car for a long time. The couple who traded this car in bought a 2009 Ford Escape; they just had a baby, and I think they didn't feel safe in the MX3.

General Comments:

I bought my 1992 MAZDA MX3 from the dealership that I work at. Someone traded in the car for next to nothing, so I had the opportunity to pick up the car for $250.

I was skeptical about the car at first, because I thought it would be a piece of junk, turns out I was wrong!

I also have a 1999 nissan pathfinder, and ever since I bought this mx3, the pathfinder has been parked.

This car is so fun to drive, it's like a go kart!!! It runs really really well for having so many kilometers on the clock.

I really enjoy driving my MX3 around. Best $250 I ever spent to buy the car!!!

I may keep the car, or I may sell it. I am still unsure about what to do. I could drive my pathfinder in the winters and drive my mx3 in the summers. For now, I will just keep enjoying my V6 MX3.

:0 from, british columbia, canada.

Faults:

The alternator has gone out and the battery needed replaced. but the previous owner had a huge stereo system in it that was running around 5000 watts.

General Comments:

Great handling, amazing acceleration for a 4CYL, It's a pretty small car but I'm a small person at 5' 3", amazing trunk space, inside amplifies 12" sub woofers , its sad that it's a uni-body though, the seats are very comfortable.

Faults:

Engine Control Unit failed at about 80,000 miles.

Have had to replace the flexible air intake twice (when it becomes cracked, it throws the mixture out-of-whack, resulting in poor idle). Replaced it myself for about $70 US / took about 15 minutes.

Seats starting to wear (I attribute this to normal wear & tear after 16-plus years).

Rust over rear fenders, and under door sills - again, still better than average - I'm in Wisconsin, and they use lots of salt in the winter.

General Comments:

Fun to drive (quick, but not fast - it handles great). Nice, precise shifter & sporty handling.

My wife originally bought this car before we were married, and I learned how to drive stick on it. Surprisingly, it still has the original clutch.

Highly recommend a set of dedicated snow tires for it if you drive in winter ice & snow. Separate summer tires make it more fun in nice weather.

I'm thinking of looking around for a '94 GS, to do the KLZE engine-swap (nearly doubles the horsepower).