1993 Mazda MX3 GS 1.8L V6

Summary:

An affordable fun sports car

Faults:

Valve Cover gasket needed changing - 30$CD + 1 hour of my time.

2 Right front CV axles (This is because the replacement one died after a day of being on the car) - 300$

Ball joint - 150$

Driver door lock is ceased - Don't know yet.

General Comments:

I love this car. I got it cheap from a friend and plus it had 248,000kms on her. :s, but I figure if the engine goes, Ill buy the Japanese 2.5L KLZE engiine anyways. Its win-win. This car has some good power and has enough torque to leave civics, saturns, and any other mid-end rice-mobiles behind. Lots of fun to drive even around town. I don't like the transmission though, at 100kmh I'm at 3000RPM and at 120kmh, its at 3500RPM. Kinda high, but still reasonable. Interior is one of a sports car, it doesn't let you forget it either. Bucket seats and a low stance add to the luxury. Though this car is expensive to maintain if stuff goes wrong, I have been lucky and cannot complain too much. Gas is decent, 28$CD and the tank is full (91 Octane) and takes me 300-450kms (Depends on how I drive).

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 11th January, 2004

3rd Apr 2008, 10:04

I think actually high revs at normal speeds are a Mazda thing, my 1980 RX-7 revs at 3,300 rpm at 100kms. The problem with the rotary is that at those revs it really eats the gas, but why are you complaining? from what I have read on other reviews it still gets around 30mpgs that's about twice what my car gets and thus the reason I am buying an MX3 tomorrow!

1993 Mazda MX3 GS V6 1.8L

Summary:

A HUGE money pit!

Faults:

As my first car, I was excited and was looking for a nice looking car (ignoring the practicality of it all). Big mistake! I bought the car too quickly and the car has seriously left me in a huge debt. Maybe I was just unlucky buying a used, older car. And my ignorance played a good part in buying the worst possible car I could. Keep in mind I've had the car a year and a half.

The battery along with the alternator needed replacement almost right when the car was purchased. The alternator belt snapped. But hey, at least it happened right in my driveway!

Head gaskets are leaking and instead of replacing them due to the high costs I have to feed my car at least two liters of oil per week.

Air conditioning doesn't work.

Breaks have been replaced and continue to make grinding noises when coming to a stop, even though no mechanic can tell me the reason for the problem.

Ball joints, CV joints, and both front axles needed replacements.

The front passenger spring has broken.

I've had to get the starter replaced.

The muffler pipe needed replacing and now the catalytic converter needs to be done soon.

The 'check engine' light continuously goes on. O2 sensor, which I've been told is too expensive to replace.

The passenger side window won't go up on its own. I need to put it up from the drivers side. Motor problem most likely.

The seats in the back have worn. I'll have to get out the needle and thread and I'm not kidding.

The lighter element seems to be defective.

Tires have needed replacing.

And last, but definitely not the least the transmission needed complete replacement. The transmission before was unbelievably jerky. I was afraid to drive it due to the fear it would leave me stranded somewhere. And now after $1,500, it still rides pretty jerky. I'm not sure what to do about that now either.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but I'm sure you get the picture.

General Comments:

It's a quick car, but I'll never buy an automatic again.

People who sit in the back complain it's uncomfortable, but I love my bucket seats in the front! They're great.

The sunroof is great in the summer as well.

And that's pretty much all the good things I can say about the car.

To be perfectly honest I've spent more on this car than it's worth. Plus some.

It is really depressing to have to take the car into the shop at least once a month for a new problem and, as a university student, this car is definitely not affordable. The insurance is unbelievable as well. I wouldn't recommend this car to anyone at all. Please save yourself the time, money, fear, and heartbreak you'll get from owning this car. It's a serious money pit. Also, since it's been discontinued makes it much harder to find appropriate parts and makes things much more expensive.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 8th January, 2004

11th Jan 2004, 12:53

Dude, I have the exact same car I bought 6 months ago... But what were you looking at when you bought this car?? Did you not take it to the garage to get it checked? When things go wrong on this car, trust me they go WRONG, but so many replacements!! I feel terrible for you. Do yourself a favor and don't go to any casinos! loll I write this because my heart seriously goes out to you man. I hope all these new parts on your car stand up for a while :P Good luck.