1993 Mazda MX3 from North America - Comments

Nothing so far. I have done no work to the car besides oil changes. I did need new tires after 50,000 miles. It will probably need new brakes soon, they are beginning to squeek on and off.

I love this car. It's cute, sporty, fast, and everyone loves it. The front seats are very comfortable they hold you in around fast corners! The back seats are small, but I noticed that before purchasing it and they are also bucket so they give added leg room. I love the fold down seat, it's amazing how much you can fit back there! The car also drives very well in snow. The style makes the car look newer than it is, most people think it's much newer.

Probably to late for the original poster, but anyone else reading this, if your brakes squeal, it's probably just an annoying noise and nothing else (have them checked of course just in case). They just do that on this car sometimes. I've had my rotors turned, pads replaced, they still squeak (started around 35k miles, now at 93k miles on same rotors)... it's slightly annoying, but nothing really to be done about it, I've heard that replacing them doesn't help either, they just have that tendency to squeal. The saving grace though is (at least on mine) they can't be heard inside the car with the windows up. (Maybe if I turned EVERYTHING off inside (fan, radio), dunno, but under normal conditions I'd never know). Have had the car since I bought it new off the lot (4 miles), it's been a wonder, a few minor repairs, and a bit high on scheduled maintenance, otherwise completely reliable, and has never left me stranded (even after doing over $22,000 in damages to it over the years, I'm amazed it hasn't picked up and left me on it's own at this point).

Chris.

Just another comment on the sqeaky brakes. Sometimes brakes just sqeak due to the type of pads or rotors you have. If you have aftermarket pads the materials in them cause the to wear down fast because the are a harder material. When the connect with the rotor the squeak due to this. Its not a big deal at all, but do get the check to make sure the pads are still good.

I went to a shop to get the brakes on my '96 MX3 done.. and afterwards I heard a squeeking/scraping sound. I took them back to the shop and complained, and found out what happenned.

They had used generic 3rd parts brake pads... which don't fit quite the same. They replaced them with a higher-end pad and it has been fine since. Simply put the lower grade brake pads squeel with this car due to the tight tolerances involved.

Squeaking brakes can also be the result of organic pads. When I had mine in Germany, now I have it back in the states (I loved it so much I had it shipped home), I replaced the pads shortly after arriving. The mechanic said that I had non-asbestos pads on the car, and they're also forbidden in Germany, and that contributed to the squeaking with my factory rotors.

My MX-3 GS is twelve years old, a '92, and it has yet to be anything, but reliable. There is documentation to support hard starting in cold weather with the K-08 engine, but even in the minus and sub-zero temperatures in Montana, this car started every time, and it does well in the snow; albeit, with the proper tires. I can refute the hard starting issue because of how it easily starts in the temperatures of Montana as well as, the fact I left it for fourteen days in -20 weather while on vacation in Austria. When I returned my neighbor said it would start no problem, I was reluctant and bet him a rack of mineral water it would not start. Imagine my surprise when I cranked it over, and it started without issue. Then imagine my next surprise when the mineral water cost over $14 for twelve 750 milliliter bottles.

I've been driving it now steadily for over seven months, after it sat for five in the Montana cold. It has never let me down, and now I've got countless people offering me to buy it because of its excellent handling. Nope, I am keeping it until the motor quits, then I'll replace that with the KL-ZE 200HP motor. It drops right in, and I have no rust,... the car is completely aluminum and galvanized steel. I love my little car, although I know how fast it will go, 143mph I have to keep it below 75 in Montana. I miss the days of running with the upper line BMWs of the day. In the city now, I drive it with extreme moderation and am able to coax 29 miles to a gallon in the city. On a trip from Reston West Virginia to Saint Ignatius Montana, two-and-a-half days later, average speed 70-85 I averaged 36 miles per gallon. That's no fib, that was a surprising reality.

I will probably by an RX-08 to treat myself after I get my Psychology degree, if they are still available from Mazda at the time.

To anyone who has this car, regularly scheduled maintenance and tender loving care otherwise will yield as much luck as I have had.

I intend to have it for another twelve plus years.

Yes I own a Mazda MX3 GS, fully loaded and the BEST car ever. I have been putting expensive oil in it and she purrs like a kitten. This car was built in Japan in the summer of 1992. I just recently put 140,000 miles on it about ready for my second timing belt. I am hoping to get it to 200,000 miles. I too have the front right brake squeak, but my stereo is always on so I don't hear it that much. I have replaced the Distributer, Radiator, Exhaust Boot (cracked??) and routine maintenance like new Transmission set up, Air, Oil and Fuel Filters a must. I just recently did a major tune-up all new wires, spark plugs, rotor & distributer caps. This car is expensive to keep up, but if you keep it up it will last forever. I hope...

Thanks, Dawn.

I have a Mazda MX-3 and I also have problems with the radiator and the alternator. I have put 4 alternator belts on the car in the last 2 weeks. It needs replaced, but as far as the Car, She has been really good to me. I have been trying to find new or used seats that are in good condition, but I can't find them anywhere. If any one has any Ideas please let me know.

Thanks Bridgett

bcl_angel@yahoo.com.