1985 Mazda 626 4 door LX A review from North America

Replaced alternator once at around 185000.

Replaced head gasket at 212000.

I used this car for almost ten years, on the road while helping to upgrade our communications system in the US to fiber optic. From Eastern Indiana, to Western Montana and Idaho. Used this car during this time. It was always reliable, comfortable, and very dependable.

I would drive from 100 miles to sometimes 1500 miles, from my home to where I was working, mostly interstate travel. It has a 5 speed manual transmission, and would drive for hours on end, at 80 miles an hour on 38 miles to the gallon of diesel fuel. It has the Japanese version of the Perkins diesel 4 cylinder - 2 liter engine.

I drove in 100 degree heat, and -34 degrees of no heat (in Northern Minnesota), and it always performed the same. I used 1 gallon of gasoline, to a full tank (14 gallons) of diesel fuel, and have never ever had fuel problems in the coldest of weather.

Have never before or since had seats that were as comfortable as they are in that car.

I still use this vehicle on occasion, but we are both pretty much retired now. Everything still works well. Have never ever even had to do anything to the brakes or the clutch. I always used the engine for braking, as much as I could, being a former truck driver. Also, the owners manual suggests replacing the timing belt every 100,000 miles, ("whether it needs it or not"), but I have never gotten around to do that either.

Cannot say enough good about this vehicle, and will probably never sell it - and we are both getting well on in age.

Jack Miller

Northwest Iowa USA.