1994 Ford Telstar GLEI review from Australia and New Zealand

I've found that parts from the local parts store (Repco Appco Supercheap) are very expensive for this model, which I suspect if due to it being a rebadged Mazda, this had led to be using suspect second parts in many cases.

Replaced Many parts due to neglect by previous owners.

Rear brake calipers every 5000KM.

Most major problem I've had with this car is the rear brake calipers, they can be expected to seize (according to MX5 website) after 50000KM. I've replaced the RR 3 times and the LR twice, my fault for not investing in a brand new caliper or at least a reconditioned one tho. I have a very cheap wrecker nearby who I can get calipers from for only 18$, whereas a new or reconditioned unit would cost about 150$

Distributor cap, replaced at 159,999 only to discover the entire dizzy was stuffed so then distributor @ 160000 (internal coil failed, replaced with part from wrecker that also failed 5000Km later)

Power steering pump @ 150000 (bought car with shaft to pull wheel bent - perhaps from over tightening of belt tension? - which produced loud noise)

Coin holder to right of steering wheel stopped clicking shut. Cupholder has been replaced 4 or 5 times since I've had it, the little plastic clip in the middle snaps really easily.

Electric window control switch failed at around 180,000KM.

Electronic aerial has failed and I've replaced the shaft 4 times, and also replaced the entire unit twice; the aerial shafts are VERY expensive as new unit from a parts shop, (three times any other unit on the shelf).

This car has made me develop a close relationship with my local Ford wrecker... due to its high KM's and rough life with previous owners, I've become rather intimate with what it looks like up on wheels stands or with the inside of the engine bay.

I imagine it would have been a really nice car before it hit 100,000 KM.

This car handles really well on the open road, she is peppiest from 70KPH-...150KPh, tested on a bring your own car track day, (totally legally :)

She dives into corners nicely, and you always feel like you're in complete control.

The only thing I don't like is the shallow cup holders, they are about 2 CM deep and completely useless, you have to have one hand on your cup when you drive, which renders them pointless.

The boot although cavernous, has a skinny opening, which is skinnier than the distance between the wheel arches, which means that although with the back seat folded down (and it doesn't fold down completely flat) you have a large space, you can't physically get items that wide into the boot.