Faults:

Cylinder head gasket failure: the passage of time and cooling system deficiencies cause overheating, loss of compression, and white smoke in the exhaust.

The electric fuel pump (located near the tank) and older injectors tend to fail due to the accumulation of rust and dirt inside the metal fuel tank.

Wiring harnesses suffer from crystallization due to engine heat. The insulation becomes brittle, causing poor electrical contacts, flickering dashboard lights, or inexplicable switch failures.

The top-of-the-line GLX version came equipped with electronically adjustable suspension. Over the years, the actuators and special shock absorbers fail, and obtaining genuine replacement parts is extremely difficult and expensive.

General Comments:

It was a car that made you fall in love at first sight. It was an 80s car that looked like it had been built twenty years later, the kind that showcased typical Japanese technology and advancements.

Although it looked tiny from the outside, it was huge on the inside; there was plenty of room for two people, with a bit of luck, even two more could fit in the back.

By 1985 standards, the GLX trim was a showcase of technology. While European brands charged extra for every individual feature, the 929 came equipped with an interior that was highly advanced for its time. The cabin stood out for its exceptionally comfortable, plush seats and a dashboard packed with digital and analog controls, including cruise control, air conditioning with automatic oscillating vents, and even electronically adjustable suspension controlled from the center console.

Dynamically, being a rear-wheel-drive vehicle with a well-balanced chassis, it had a very smooth and elegant ride. The 2.0i fuel-injected engine is flexible and responds nimbly considering the vehicle's weight (around 1,220 kg).

For me, the best thing about the car is its classic Japanese mechanical reliability, there are no complaints there. It also boasts features that were ahead of their time, top-tier ride comfort, excellent sound insulation, and a soft, comfort-oriented suspension.

One area for improvement, in my view, was its high susceptibility to corrosion, though this was no different from most cars of that era, which tend to suffer from rust in the wheel arches and underbody. On the other hand, the scarcity of spare parts is another issue; while it is a reliable car, even the tiniest repair costs a fortune, and the parts themselves are hard to find.

Nowadays, for anyone who owns one in good condition, it is a fantastic cult classic, remembered as one of Mazda's most technologically advanced and luxurious flagship models. I really enjoyed it.

Faults:

Some hooligan smashed in my left passenger window, it proved incredibly hard to find a secondhand window, a new one was unaffordable since the car is extremely rare in the Netherlands.

General Comments:

It's a unique car, very luxurious. Most people become very excited when they get into the car, they jsut don't expect a car this old to be this luxurious.

Handling of the car is quit good, as long as the corners aren't too tight (it's quit a big car). The acceleration is excellent and the engine is a jewel.

Faults:

Engine cracked head at 155,000km - replaced with a reconditioned motor.

Power steering pump failed at 160,000km.

Paint faded very badly on horizontal surfaces after 12 years in Australian conditions.

New carburettor at 160,000km.

General Comments:

This car would have been brilliant with a better engine (something like a Subaru Turbo Boxer...!). It does lack a lot in acceleration, especially with the automatic slushbox and non-injected engine.

As it is, it has been a superb highway cruiser. Passengers often comment that the seats are the most comfortable they have ever been in. The handling is really quite excellent with the electronic suspension set to "Hard" - turns in beautifully at any speed.