1997 Mazda MX6 LS review from North America
"Solid drive-train and performance, but lacks in comfort and attention to detail"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Leather lining along passenger and driver door interior started to peel back at edges after a few months of driving. The dealer informed me that the leather was cut too short during assembly and they replaced the lining for free.
About a year after purchase, car interior was filled with little creaks and squeaks. Had to nearly flood (no joke) all exposed surfaces with Armor All to quiet.
After two years, noticed that front passenger seat sometimes fails to lock when reclining.
Air conditioning intermittently failed after two years. Every time I brought it into the dealer to be checked however, it worked fine. *naturally* When it does occur, it's almost as if the compressor fails to engage and all you get coming out of the vents is room temperature air.
A couple of lights on the panel console burned out three years after purchase.
Vehicle windshield assembly is not nearly resistant enough to daily road wear. Front windshield is essentially a magnet for cracks and stars. Rear window gasket lining started to fray after three years.
Power antenna failed 5 years after purchase, but this was to be expected.
Vibration has steadily increased through the years. Any loose vehicle component (such as the glove compartment) has a tendency to rattle during highway driving.
General comments?
I bought this vehicle for its body design primarily and for the most part haven't had any major problems to write about. I acknowledge that most of the items notated above were failures that occur through time and wear. I have found the drive-train of the MX6 to be more than adequate and have had no issues with the core engine or its components.
The rear seats are terribly unpleasant both in comfort and head clearance. I am a short individual (5'7") and my head brushes the cabin ceiling whenever I ride in the back.
The air-conditioning in this model while functional, doesn't cool well enough. On hot days here in Texas, the best you can do to cope is to open/crack the sunroof and put the blower to maximum.
Road noise is very high.
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  | Very sexy and sleek ride, but.. |
| Hot, sporty, reliable, affordable, fast |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| First year of ownership | 1998 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | V6 Manual |
| Performance marks | 7/10 |
| Reliability marks | 7/10 |
| Comfort marks | 5/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 7/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 9/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 98 miles |
| Most recent distance | 61000 miles |
| Previous car | Toyota Corolla |
| Date of Entry | 19th March, 2003 |