1992 Mazda AZ3 review from Australia and New Zealand

The body is taut, some bolts loosen and general parts may come adrift and rattle.

Generally no faults mechanically.

A deceptively quick car if you use the gearing. It has no power under 3000 rpm, but once over 3500 rpm it can really motor.

The engine is indestructible as I have reached almost 8000 rpm in every gear, or higher without any problems - it's like a sewing machine.

The gearbox is well matched to the engine and changes up or down overlap well. You can hit 60kph in 2nd easily, yet at this speed 5th is comfortable. Unfortunately low is a bit high for rapid starts, and 5th at 3500 rpm for 100kph may mean power on tap, but to cruise fast means high revs and a lower fuel economy.

The car could do with more insulation of road sounds, and although solid has a basic construction.

So far it has been really tested on all sorts of roads and at 180 kph, but it has a cut-out that stops the damage. A rapid change down from 5th (the normal road gear) can result in the engine cutting out as you hit 2nd gear by mistake at 100kph. Not good, but it survives with no problems.

The thing is a bit compact. At 6ft the rear seating is very cramped. The whole thing is designed for short people - 5ft 5in the real Japanese boy racer machine. But don't knock it, as the girls just think it's the cutest.