1988 Mazda MX6 review from Australia and New Zealand
"Unassuming Assassin"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Front control arm broke whilst driving. No warning or wear visible. I put it down to a freak accident.
Several cooling hoses have been replaced. Not very expensive, but some are extremely difficult to reach.
Turbo blew at 200,000km (320,000 miles). It simply stopped providing boost. No damage to the engine. It did well to last that long.
Replaced hydraulic lifters at 200,000km.
C.V. joints every five years. I have just done them for the second time. You learn to recognize the sound.
General comments?
15 years old and still going strong. With only small modifications this car still beats modern 2.0 liter turbo cars without any effort. Sorry Nissan & Subaru, but your new cars are being embarrased by 15year old Mazda's every day over here in Australia. On the downside it takes a lot of skill to keep it on the road. The "Un-guided Missile" lives up to it's name, and the torque steer takes a while to get used to.
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 1994 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.2 turbo Manual |
| Performance marks | 7/10 |
| Reliability marks | 8/10 |
| Comfort marks | 8/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 72000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 225000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Porsche 928 |
| Date of Entry | 26th May, 2003 |