2000 Mazda Xedos 9 review from UK and Ireland

None.

This car gives phenomenal performance with excellent road holding.

It is a beauty to behold - a real wolf in sheep's clothing.

I had my 2-litre Sierra Ghia Auto for 10 years before it gave up the ghost.

My lady partner has had a Mazda 626 1.8 for 8 years, now with 130,000.

I have been most impressed with its reliability, performance and comfort, even now.

So, I looked for a Mazda to replace the Sierra.

I could not believe that a car costing around £28,000 new, five years old, with 50,000 on the clock, could be bought for £4,700.

It just doesn't make sense.

Having run it for 5 months, I am delighted.

What a bargain!

It surely has another 100,000 left in it

- for under £5,000.

The performance is fantastic, very important to me, though at age 65 I am not a boy racer, more an OAP racer.

Kickdown at all speeds produces a tremendous surge of power and leaves the various GTIs etc struggling in its wake.

However, the engine is comparatively quiet at speed, and very quiet when driven slowly.

My main complaint is that it has a not too clever turning circle, and can be difficult to park in restricted areas i.e. multi-storey car park.

It is not an economy car, being insurance group 17, and will probably be expensive if something goes wrong.

But I say, if ever you are looking for a great second-hand bargain, and have the chance of a Mazda Xedos 9 with 2.3L Miller Cycle engine, grab it with both hands.

People, prior to close inspection, have mistaken it for a Mercedes or BMW.

So, what you get is a classy looking car with performance to amaze.