1984 Mazda 323 familia review from Australia and New Zealand
"I couldn't ask for a more reliable or practical car"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The auto transmission failed at about 100,000km. The repair was straight forward. Apparently this is something that happens with this model car.
Other than the replacement of things that wear, nothing has gone wrong.
Oh yes, now that I remenber, the shocks seem to have seized, i.e. they have very limited travel, which makes for a hard ride. But as it doesn't affect the handling of the car, and due to the age of the car, I have decided it is not worth replacing them.
General comments?
This car has proven to be completely reliable transport.
My main complaint is the three speed auto transmission. On a hill it is either lugging in top or reving hard in second.
On the open road the car runs at 4000 rpm at 100kmh, which seems rather high, but has not affected fuel consumption 35-40mpg or the life of the engine.
The car's reliability may have something to do with having the car serviced every six months, irrespective of the distance travelled.
Recommended reviews
| Cheap car, outstanding performance |
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| I like the fact that the parts are interchangeable between the, Mazda and Laser models |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Year of manufacture | 1984 |
| First year of ownership | 1991 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.5 petrol Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 50000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 167000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Nissan Sunny |
| Date of Entry | 8th April, 2006 |