1990 Mazda 626 DX review from North America

I have done almost all the maintenance on this car myself.

CV joints were replaced at 186,000 (right) and 191,000 (left), and both replaced again around 300,000.

Alternator replaced at 210,000.

Brake rotors replaced at 240,000. We live in the mountains, so the pads were replaced every 35,000 miles or so.

Starter motor replaced at 310,000.

I burned a valve at about 345,000 but did not have the time or money to fix it. Finally, nine months later at 359,000, I pulled the cylinder head. The bad cylinder was completely worn out, due to unburned gasoline washing the oil off the cylinder walls. The other three cylinders still had the hone marks from original manufacture.

We put in a used engine & transmission (104,000) in the car at 359,000.

The tail light gaskets leak water into the trunk.

Accidents: Hit by drunk driver in 1977 Oldsmobile 98 - $6,600 damage. The car at 196,000 miles at the time, and thankfully, I convinced the insurance company to rebuild it.

Hit a dog on the Interstate at night $1,200 damage.

Hit a deer on the interstate at night, at about 390,000. Due to the age & mileage, my insurance company totaled the car. With the insurance payout, we bought the "wreck" and had it repaired, a few rust spots fixed and a complete (budget) paint job done at Maaco for a total cost of $1,000.

The radio quit at about 380,000 and was replaced with a used 626 radio.

Best car we have ever owned! Good handling, good gas mileage, super reliable, roomy.

Very comfortable front seats.

By the way, the original clutch was still good at 359,000. I had four kids learn to drive in this car, we lived on a mountain logging road with 14-18% grades, and I pulled a trailer frequently.

My daughter is current the owner of the car which now has about 410,000 on it. When she wants to upgrade, I want the car back. I'm sure I can get a half a million miles out of it!