Mazda's MX5: The worlds best selling sports car

Advantages: fun, stylish, easy to drive, convertible
Disadvantages: fuel consumption around town, road noise on the motorway

...This review will concentrate on the 1.6 litre cars available in the UK from 1989 to 1993 I Bought my MX5 in the winter of 2006. I picked up an early 1991 model with the 1.6 litre engine and 67,000 miles on the clock. The car was faultless without an ounce of rust on the body and had a full service history with Mazda and had been cared for by the Lotus garage that had taken the car in as a part exchange. The car did require the big service at 60,000 miles (includes the cam belt change) which was carried out by MKG3000 Mazda of Twickenham for the reasonable cost of £390. Around town the car deals with bumps very well with only large pot holes sending a shimmy through the chassis. Road noise around town is also very acceptable and its light direct steering makes it easy to park. Around town you'll achieve around 24-26mpg...

ukfan 10.10.2007 · Read review
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Review of Mazda MX-5 1.6i

mazda mx-5 monza

Advantages: fun drivabilty
Disadvantages: space

...Having been given this car as a gift I was somewhat apprehensive fearing it's lack of practicality - I need not have worried, sure the boot is tiny and the rear window has no heater but once in the driving seat such worries are forgotten. The handaling and ride suit its sporting image and are superb as is the short gearchange. The roof is off in seconds and a powerful heater extend the topless driving year. Luggae can be stored in the ample glovebox with soft bags on the rear shelf or behind the seats dependant on the size of the passengers. Although no family car or mpv the mx-5 is the best drive I have ever experienced - try it next spring....

winprizes2000 30.11.2000 · Read review
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Review of Mazda MX-5 1.6i

Mazda 6 2.0 TS 5dr Hatch

Advantages: Space, Equipment
Disadvantages: Performance, Gearbox

...around town noticed the clutch "cluncked" into place even when you are especially carefull with it. Performance was a disaster. Found this car extremely sluggish. in order to get some performance from the engine you have to go right up the rev band it also doesnt rev that high only to about 6500 revs. This is especially noticeable on the motor way and when cruising in sixth gear. In order to over take you need lots of time in which the car will very slowly pick up speed even with foot down. It doesnt get much better either when you drop a gear to 5th to speed up the process. My own everyday car is a 2003 130bhp VW Passat tdi and its acceleration would leave the mazda 6 in its wake! Handling is quiet good, very direct steering. The ride is quiet rough though. One thing I didnt like was the manner in which the cruise control was set up...

d_cliff21 29.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of Mazda 6

Mazda b2500 double cab pickup

Advantages: Load capacity, offroad ability, towing,
Disadvantages: bit thirsty at motorway speeds

...I bought my pickup from Mackay trading in Edinburgh as a friend had just bought a similar one and his looked great and he was full of praise for it. It was an import from Cyprus but I was told it was UK spec. In fact it was UK road legal but the specification was lacking that of the UK dealership models in that it did not have Air Conditioning or Airbags. These omissions did not cause me any problems as I am happy to open a window if I get too hot and I have no intention of using airbags! The Mazda B2500 is the same vehicle as a Ford Ranger. Purchase cost By the time I had bought a canopy and load liner and a decent towbar I paid about £13000 plus VAT. Which I thought was a pretty good price compared to the more than £16000 plus VAT for the equivalent UK dealership price. Beware that imports might not offer a full 3 year...

pencilbooking 10.01.2005 · Read review
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Review of Mazda B-Series 2.5 TD

My ageing Mazda - I love her!

Advantages: sporty looks and reliability
Disadvantages: electrical problems like brake lights

...I bought my P reg Mazda 323 Innsbruck in April 2000 and have had it for seven years now and have not been disappointed. I can honestly say that it is RELIABLE! I wanted a Japanese car when I bought this one as I knew that they were reliable, but frankly some of them seemed 'fuddy duddy' (Honda) or boring (Nissan). When I saw this lovely, sporty hatchback it was love at first sight... Anyway, seven years have gone by and I can report that apart from the usual tyres and exhausts, nothing has gone wrong. I've had seven years of happy motoring, and despite feeling that I should perhaps replace my old Mazda, I can't seem to part with her! What I like about this car is that it seems very refined - electric windows, 3-way adjustable seats, electric sunroof etc. The bodywork has lasted well, and of course the engine goes and goes...

EmmB 05.06.2007 · Read review
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Review of Mazda 323 1.5

Mazda RX-8 - An experience

Advantages: Spacious, speedy, stylish
Disadvantages: Fuel consumption - ouch!

...I love cars! I love something with a little 'poke' and something that's got fun factor. Looks are quite important too.......and the Mazda RX-8 ticks all of these boxes. I became the owner of a second-hand 2 year old 192bhp 4 door version a month ago and I like it. It sticks to the road like brown stuff to a blanket......you can do a good 80-90 mph round a sharp bend without losing control of your sphincter and feels very safe and controlled. Steering is quite stiff but very responsive and, again, gives you that feeling of control. It looks good too.....very sleek in profile and a bit of a beast from the front view. The interior is 'ok' but could be better. There's a lot of plastic but it's not too crringeworthy. The 6 CD multi-changer is a nice bonus and the Bose sound system is crisp and clear and does not distort...

rotty64 14.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of Mazda RX-8

Mazda RX8: the driver's advocate

Advantages: Affordable, impeccable handling, styling, standard features, power, fun factor, driveability, usability (a true everyday sports car)
Disadvantages: gas mileage, lack of low end torque, Mazda service

...opposed to a piston engines 40 or so) there is very little to break down. The engine has purred on to 30,000 miles without a hitch and since Mazda extended the warranty to 8 years on the Renesis engine there is little to worry about. The rest of the car has a 5 year/60,000 mile warranty and aside from needing a few ECU upgrades I have had no unscheduled visits to Mazda. Mazda's service is far from the best, in fact the people at Mazda take twice as long as they say to fix your car and will almost never work with you to help you. They do whatever they feel is right once you give them your credit card. I recommend taking your RX8 to specialists when it needs work done. Overall this car is sheer driving bliss. The funky suicide doors that open out allow easy access to very functional backseats; although closing these doors can be somewhat...

eweibmanm 25.12.2008 · Read review
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Review of Mazda RX-8

Amazing Mazda

Advantages:
Disadvantages:

...Mazda dealerships must be one of the most laid back I have come across. If you want the hard sell they will do it for you but it clearly is not something they want to do. Naturally, of course they will butter you up and try to make you feel good and you can always rely on a cup of coffee. I was told that Mazda only allot so many cars each year to each outlet but dealers do have to achieve their targets. Why so laid back then? I have come to the conclusion that they feell the cars sell themselves and visitors will return after they have look at the competition and seen the difference. Not cheap of course but if you are anxious for a bit of quality at an affordable price this could be where to go. I think most car buyers would do well to consider Mazda for sensible style, quality of build, reliability and residual value....

REG 08.07.2000 · Read review
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Review of Mazda

Westleigh Mazda

Advantages: Friendly, informative, helpful.
Disadvantages: None spring to mind

...I've been a fan of Mazdas ever since I had my first second hand, B-Reg Mazda 323 in 1997. Although I wrote that one off after 6 months, I bought an almost identical one straight away which ran smoothly for a year before I sold it to a friend who still runs it with hardly any maintainance required. Since then, I've had a Ford and a Peugeot, and when I was looking to buy another car, I found another Mazda 323, and had to buy it - it was such a relief to be driving one of these fantastic cars after the troublesome Peugeot. Anyway, the point of this rambling discourse is that I wanted to look after my shiny new (well, second-hand) 323F, so I've been to Westleigh Mazda, in Leigh-on-Sea Essex, on two occasions, and both times they were incredibly helpful and informative, and I never felt pressured into paying for any services they offered...

Athena 11.07.2001 · Read review
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Review of Mazda

MX5 1.8 Sport

Advantages: Dead easy to drop the top (and put it up again)
Disadvantages: Fuel economy coulld be better

...For the Summer I purchased a second hand MX5 1.8 Sports. It was 4 years old and had the matching hard top as well as the permanently fitted cloth soft top. I had done my home work and this was the one that every review was recommending. It is one of the limited edition Sports and as such comes with leather heated seats. First things first, off came the hard top and into storage until winter. The hard top was very simple to remove and the soft top just flips up and down. However neither my wife or I can pull the soft top up when sitting in the seats. One of us has to get out. Both the hard top and soft top have a heated rear window which is essential and in a two seater cabin. The fold up rear wind deflector is not that good so long hair still gets blown forward. Top Gear did an effective demonstration of the difference...

ForlornHope 23.07.2007 · Read review
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Review of Mazda MX-5 1.8i