1994 Mazda 323 Base review from North America
"An excellent second car or runabout."
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Rear shocks began to bottom out at 30,000 kilometres.
Radio was faulty from start, but partly had to do with a recall that hadn't been announced.
Battery died within three years, although this might have been due to driving conditions. I was driving the car up in northern Canada, and -40C was common. Replaced the battery with a small tractor battery and had no problems after that.
General comments?
This is good little and peppy car that could stop and start on a dime.
If you are going to be using it in cold climates, upgrade the battery and use synthetic oil. It is worth the extra expense.
The rear seat is small, and the wheel wells intrude. With the seats folded down, you get adequate cargo space, but since they don't fold flat, it isn't great.
Recommended reviews
| Best car that I have owned |
|
| Easy to work on, Easy to drive, the perfect First Car |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1994 |
| First year of ownership | 1995 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2000 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.6 litre gasoline Automatic |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 9000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 60000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Toyota Corolla |
| Date of Entry | 15th May, 2002 |