Driver's door power window regulator (x3).
Lost some speaker connections (blew one of the 2 channels on the amplifier).
New clutch at 275,000.
Power locks stopped working somewhere in the low 300,000's.
By the end it needed new struts - going through front tires every 30,000 km's.
Besides the above minor details, I loved this car. Originally my dad bought it, it became the kids car in 1995 and we drove it until 2000. Ultra reliable, only once did it ever 'die' on me, and that's when it needed a new ignition coil.
To date it and the new (2000) Mazda Protege are the only cars that are still comfortable after a 6 hour drive. Everything important still worked at the end, sun roof, cruise control, radio, transmission was great.
One warning to the do-it yourselfer though: The front rotors for this model are pressed on, not bolted on. This makes them very difficult to remove and replace, especially after 200,000kms. We ended up having to take it into a shop and they removed the entire drive shaft from each side and then stuck them in a hydraulic press to get the rotors off.
I loved this car. Not too sporty, but very reliable, comfy, and practical. I was sad when I had to let it go.
I now have 220,000 miles on this 87 626 which I bought new for 13K; I've replaced both front axles once.
At 160K I had to replace the head gasket; I also did a valve job and replaced the rings (very good idea).
The AC has never cooled the car and I had to replace the window gear motors/ratchets (found two at a junk yard for $20 each).
The engine is sound and I haven't done a brake job in 3 years (no blue smoke). I've also replaced the clutch (150K).
Only one speaker (right front) works and I've had trouble with the tail lights burning out. Just now the left front axle has begun to click and I'm hoping I can get away with replacing only that one; by the way, according to the shop manual there really isn't an actual axle just a joint between the drive shaft and the wheel. Whatever.
A fine, dependable car. Oh, I also had a fender bender in this car, and the engine caught on fire once; I put it out with a garden hose. I didn't mention this to the mechanic who did the head job. This is between me and my car, only.
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