Valve cover gasket leaking.
Front right tire wearing unevenly.
Wheel pulls slightly to the right.
Shifter bushing a little sloppy.
All of these were noted before I actually bought the car.
This is more of a first impression than a true review as I've only had the car four days.
The clutch is good, not too heavy and I can feel where it engages. Thumbs up.
The steering (aside from a slight right-hand pull) is good (no slop, responsive). Thumbs up.
The grey paint is faded on the roof and hood. If I was concerned about paint I would give it thumbs down.
Visibility is good. The mirrors are easy to adjust and the aft pillars are unobtrusive. Thumbs up.
Seats are pretty comfy. Not in bad shape for being 20 years old.
Performance. You won't win any races in this one. If I was 15 years younger I would give it thumbs down, but I just need it to putt to work.
Little touches. Big door pockets, locking glove box, fold down rear seats. Thumbs up.
I'll post more once I've put a few miles on her.
Keep up the oil changes and make sure the radiator fluid is changed on a regular basis (both cheap do-it-yourself kind of jobs) and this car should serve you well. Replace the timing belt too if it has no history of being changed (better done by a mechanic).
Update on the Mazda. Started overheating. Turns out it's more than the water pump. I don't plan on resurfacing the head on a $900 car. It wasn't overheating when I got it, this came on fast. I am less than pleased.
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