1991 Mazda MX5 review from Australia and New Zealand
"Great handling, reliable roadster. Would gladly buy another"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
210,000km whine from rear differential. had it replaced.
205000km, play in the steering rack meant it failed a 'warranty of fitness', so rack was replaced.
Drivers door lock would not unlock, just wear and tear. replaced lock.
Very little actually.
Just regular maintenance: tyres, brake pads, spark plug leads, cambelt and water pump, and oil changes.
General comments?
Although not absolutely perfect reliability-wise. Mostly wear and tear stuff. It is now a 14 year old car. Considering the mileage I have done in 7 years of ownership, and the sometimes aggressive driving style, the car has done very well. Still on the first clutch, but I feel it slipping a little on quick gear changes.
Have changed the air filter to make more air get in more directly, perhaps a small performance gain.
Bigger tyres on 16" alloys, better grip in the wet, the old 14" felt skittish and scary in the wet.
Reasonable performance and economy, great handling. Still turns heads after all these years even.
More fun, economical and quicker than the boring Toyota Camry which is the other car, although that is more comfortable and safer.
Great little car, that's why I've kept it so long.
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| A fun bargain |
|
| 1990 - MX5 "A" Package 1.6 Liter Straight 4 Best piece of machinery ever |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1991 |
| First year of ownership | 1998 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2005 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.6 petrol Manual |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 7 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 111000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 213000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Ford Laser |
| Date of Entry | 14th November, 2005 |