Conference terri::cars_uk

    
    Is this the car that requires you to have/start a family?
    
    If so, advertising is very naff! :^)
    
    Mark

    
    FWIW, my current 626GT 16v leasemobile has now covered 80,000 miles
    without any drama. Most of that has been in excess of 70mph, hammering
    all over Europe.
    
    Utterly reliable, quick, & relaxed. Cruises for many miles at a time at
    120mph on cruise control without the slightest anguish (for the
    nit-picking brigade, this is in Germany en route to Munich where such 
    sensible things are entirely legal -- & boring). Getting to the stage 
    where new shockers would be sensible -- rapid directional changes less 
    crisp than they were a few years back -- not surprising at 80K miles.
    
    I'm tempted by the new V6. I understand that, because of catalytic
    convertors etc, the new 16v version is significantly down on
    performance on my version -- unattractive on those days when I pack in
    800+ miles in a day.
    
    I'd recommend Mazda as a manufacturer to anyone. The model that takes
    your fancy is up to you .... prices used to be at low end, but now more
    mid-range. I remember that when I costed the 626 against a BMW 325 (the
    nearest performance equivalent in the BM range), the 325 was over 6k
    pds more when you compared the same spec -- decent sound, air 
    conditioning, sun roof, electric everything, alloys -- you know, all 
    the things that make a car habitable rather than just tolerable! 
    That was 4 years ago -- difference probably more now.
    
    Not easy to get discounts, especially for the coupe. 
    
    
    Colin
    
    Colin

Next week's Autocar & Motor has a test of the new 626. That's 8th
April.

Just in case you're interested.


	Ian

    A salesman in our office has heard rumours of quotes of:
    
    300 for the 1.8i
    800 for the 2.0i
    
    If these are true, they look very promising. He has put in for a real
    quote, 2-3 weeks ago!
    
    Greg

    
    any sign of a quote for a 6 cyl 24 valve GT?

    Had an invitation to the Ford TX5 (South Pacific Ford 626 re-badged
    model) last week.
    
    Nicer packaging than the 626 - CD and power-everything on the 2.5 V6
    GT - definately NOT a sports car but nice way to chew up some motorway
    miles!
    
    Local review of the 626GT sportshatch - praised the V6 but mourned the
    loss of the manic 2.2L turbo (reviewer was a petrol head from way back)
    High quality construction, initial oversteer and plough-on understeer
    if you give the V6 some stick. Will be interesting to see how Mazda 
    set the pricing of V6 4 door hatch vs MX6 2dr with 4WS and ALB.
    
    Will be trading my old 626GT in for the new V6 as soon as the bank
    manager will allow it! 
    

    I had 2 quotes recently for the 626
    
    1.8i came out at 880 pounds
    2.0 GLX ABS came out at 1500 pounds.
    The 2.0 has all the extras but performance on a test drive of both
    seems very marginally better.
    I have ordered the 2.0 GLX ABS and take delivery next week.
    
    I'll still get plenty of sleep at night though as i already have a
    family.
    
    	Kev

    The Auto Express magazine shown some photos of the new Mazda after the
    side-impact crash tests.  The car was in such a bad shape, with the B
    pillar and the two doors very badly dented.  One can imagined what
    will happen to the occupants if that was a real accident.
    

    
    Well, had my 626 'Facelift' Estate now for 3 months and mighty impressed
    I am.
    
    This, by the way, is the 'old' bodyshape estate 'cos they havn't done a
    new bodyshape estate yet. They just do a single model which has 2.0
    DOHC 16valves fuel injection plus ABS and CRUISE CONTROL standard.
    
    Only fault so far is the the legends on the cruise control rubbed off.
    They replaced the control stalk and all is well.
    
    Reliability after 3000 miles? 100% apart from the cruise control legend
    referred to.
    
    Performance? Blistering. Almost overpowered for the weight of the car.
    As someone said earlier in this conference, a real Q car. Doesn't seem
    to do much below 4500 rpm but then it just winds up to infinity with no
    problem. Smooth as silk.
    
    Overall Design? Moderate. Certainly my previous Montego Estate was a
    better design exercise. Looks plain from the front. Striking from the
    back except that its original looking tailgate has been copied now by
    Ford, Vauxhall et al. Some nice features internally. Lovely engine
    block, almost a piece of sculpture.
    
    Build Quality? Well, most things are engineered down to a price. Thin
    body panels, cheapish looking controls etc. However, the actual quality
    of construction seems very high, a major difference between this and the
    Montego. Wouldn't like to be in a serious accident in it.
    
    That's it really. I think I can live with this for three years!
    
    Richard

    
    Richards --
    
    "just winds up to infinity", eh? My 16v 626 hits a major non-event at
    approx 7.1k rpm when the rev limiter cuts in with a clout. Engine is
    supremely strong & still accelerating hard then, so what have u done to
    disable the rev limiter?
    
    BTW, I suspect u also know some tuning tricks I don't know. I've blown
    a few engines asunder in my time (on the track), but never got one to
    rev to infinity :-)
    
    
    Colin -- a ferociously satisfied 626 owner

    
    Colin,
    
    	Well, I don't make a habit of redlining it but the last time I did
    I'm sure I chickened out at 7500 rpm. Just felt it was going to go on
    beyond 8000 if I didn't lift my foot. I shall make a more analytical
    study next time and report back.
    
    	Richard

This is fairly typical of japanese engines. I used to run a Corolla GT coupe
the last of the RWD cars. The engine was the old F3 engine with a rev limiter
at 8000rpm. I called TOMS to ask what I could safely go to if the rev limiter
were removed (I used the cxar for hillclimbs and sprints). The answer came back
"It's ok to 10000!!!!" Apparently they do it for reliability. Like the Mazda
the Toyota was still accelerating hard at 8000. I never did take the rev limiter
off but my wife and I enjoyed three seasons motor sport and NOTHING went wrong
with that car in the engine or gearbox dept.

    
    
    This 626 engine - is it the V6 that's in the Xedos? 
    
    Thanks 
    Al

    
    No - the one we`re talking about is the 16v 4 pot 2 litre. To my
    certain knowledge, it still performs like a bandit even with >100k on
    the clock .......
    
    Colin

    
    Just thought I'd update this. Two years  and 33,000 miles now and my
    views havn't changed. It has been 100% (and I mean 100%) reliable except 
    for a rather disconcerting couple of episodes:
    
    I went out to start the car one day and when it fired it clattered like
    the big ends had fallen out. Blue smoke came from the exhaust. I
    stopped the engine and tryed again five minutes later. Still the same.
    Convinced this was a major breakage I got the car towed into the
    nearest Mazda dealer who held on to it for a day or so. The verdict?
    "Normal, sir, just needed a slight adjustment"! Therein followed a
    pythonesque discussion rather akin to the 'parrot sketch'. However,
    seeing as it wasn't my car I took their word.
    
    The car performed with no problems at all. The same thing happened a
    month or so ago but this time I just continued to drive it. After a few
    minutes the knocking stopped and all seems normal.
    
    I would be seriously worried if this was my own car. However, Mazda
    reckon this is normal for a DOHC engine. Anyone have any similar
    experiences?
    
    Richard

I've got an 'old' style 626 estate with the DOHC 16V 2 ltr engine, 
this model ran in parallel to the 'new' 626 for some time. I too have 
had the death-rattle a couple of times. In each case it lasted for 
two or three minutes then went away. 'My' MAZDA mechanic said that 
the DOHC engines sometimes do this when they are relatively new and 
the hydraulic valve lifters aren't yet fully run in (he reckoned that 
these engines are so well engineered and built that they only get 
really well bedded in after 20-30,000 miles!!!). He didn't mention 
any adjustments but just advised me to run the engine at a fast idle 
until it cleared!

I've had my car for just over two and a half years and apart from a 
problem with idling a few months ago (base idle adjustment screw came 
loose) it has been 100% reliable - the most reliable car I've ever 
had (that includes Volvos, SAABs and Fords - the Fiat and Rover I 
prefer not to talk about!).

- John.

    
    Mine is the old style estate as well. Facelift mode I think its called.
    
    My previous car was a Montego estate. This was also 100% reliable
    (honest!) over 3 years and 40,000 miles. However, it suffered from trim
    falling off for the first year. My sister now has it (55,000 miles now)
    and its only had to have a new alternator (apart from usual exhausts
    etc). My Montego and Mazda have beaten my 300 series Volvo and 3 series
    BMW I had previously hands down in the reliability stakes.
    
    Richard