1986 Mazda 323 Turbo 4wd review from Australia and New Zealand

Head gasket blew at 100,000km.

Had an excessive appetite for clutches.

Turbo started to smoke at 110,000km.

Nylon radiator drain plug deteriorated and fell out on the motorway, causing catastrophic overheating.

Unhealthy noises started to come from the centre differential at about 160,000km.

Very quick, very nimble and very entertaining to drive, especially on gravel, wet roads or snow.

The 323 is an excellent performance bargain if you can find one that has a service history.

Parts are expensive, for instance NZ$350 for a head gasket set, NZ$700 for a clutch overhaul.

I ended up fitting a second hand engine into the car, instead of rebuilding the original engine. This was not such a good idea and I was never very happy with the result. Having said that, the car managed to do many high-speed, long-distance road-trips loaded with passengers and luggage, the only downside being the smokescreen that appeared whenever you overtook someone!