1999 Mazda 626 LX review from North America
"Great car, crappy automatic transmission"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
When I bought the car about a month ago, I had to change all the fluids and get new tires and the brakes fix.
The engine light comes on sometimes. I had it checked at Auto-Zone and they said that the catilyc converter needs to be replaced.
While I was driving my OD light came on and the transmission started to shift rough. So I let it rest for a litte while and it was fine. I got it checked out and found out that my transmission overheated, burned the transmission fluid because the radiator has a blockage and its not cooling the transmission properly. so I have to get that replace. After that I'm selling the car (Got a 05 Toyota Matrix, I love it). Hopefully that solves the overheating problem.
General comments?
The 626 is a great car with the exception of the transmission (which is made by Ford) Its the worst transmission by far that I have ever had in any of my cars. It feels like it would break easily and it shift rough. That's why I drive it very gently. I can't wait to sell it. If it was a 5 speed this car would be hard to beat.
The ride and handling is great. I love the sporty feel of the car.
The car is slow unless it's a manual. (another reason to get the manual transmission.
The car is attractive and the interior is comfortable.
Overall the 626 is a great car with lots of sporting potential. I recommend the V6 and manual transmission. With that combination you have a serious sports sedan. The 4 cyl should be decent with the manual also. I highly highly recommend that you AVOID the automatic. That's the only reason that I'm selling it.
Recommended reviews
| Good deal at purchase, but costly to maintain |
|
| Good-looking and comfortable, but very unreliable |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Model year | 1999 |
| Year of manufacture | 1999 |
| First year of ownership | 2006 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0 DOHC Automatic |
| Performance marks | 6 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 4 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 6 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 101000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 103400 miles |
| Previous car | Toyota Matrix |
| Date of Entry | 21st April, 2006 |