1994 Mazda Lantis Type R review from Australia and New Zealand

One front CV joints have been replaced.

The clutch has worn to the point were it slips badly when attempting to engage it above 4000 RPM.

This model was only available new in Japan, however many of Type R's have found their way to New Zealand as used imports.

As the top-of-the-line model, the car came with a lot of extras (climate air conditioning, fog lamps, spoiler, sports suspension).

The engine produces about 125 Kw with reasonably flat power and torque curves, which makes the car surprisingly quick. With careful control of the accelerator pedal, the engine can be made to produce some very nice sounds.

The car has sporty handling with suspension tower braces front and rear. It is possible to throw the car into corners with minimal body roll and under steer at speed.

Despite the sporty nature of the car, when driven quietly good fuel economy can be achieved. There is not a lot to fault the car and it is always a pleasure to drive after driving other cars.