Overview & Reviews

User Reviews:

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  Check other Better Cars - 1999 Mazda 626
  By AnandCR - January 17 - 10:00 am

  I would advice not to go for it. The Transmission by Ford is useless and all these years they cant even build a simple automatic reliable transmission. Transmission sucks and produces knock on very shift on a stop and go stop and go road.

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  Needs VROOM VROOM - 2000 Mazda 626
  By fastmov4 - January 17 - 10:00 am

  I bought my 626 4-cyl auto. a year old and 14K on the odometer. It has been a great car! This is a superb highway car and handled an Ohio winter on all- season radials with no problems. The steering feel on this car is simply outstanding. You just point the car where you want to go and it goes! Overall, I would buy this car again in a heartbeat!

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  My sporty sedan - 1999 Mazda 626
  By Lets Go - January 1 - 8:36 am

  The professional reviews are pretty accurate. If you need the comfort and roominess of a sedan but like to drive on windy curvy roads you wont be disappointed. While you wouldnt compare it with a Porsche for handling, I drive frequently on 1 lane roads and the performance is good. With the fold down seats I have room for my stuff when I am enjoying the great outdoors.

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  Great car for the money! - 1998 Mazda 626
  By TrafficGuy - December 19 - 10:00 am

  Replace the O2 sensor regularly and the brakes and its all good!

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  Good car - 1999 Mazda 626
  By Ray - November 10 - 9:26 pm

  Bought our red Mazda hot rod used off of a two year lease with about 36,000 miles. Now have 184000. Normal maintenance, no unusual problems, continues to run like a champ. Looks great, but there now is corrosion underneath the car around suspension components and gas tank. My trusted mechanic recommended that my daughter not drive it 250 miles to university considering it could break down far from home. This car which has taken my family on trips across the US is now in semi retirement shuttling my youngest son to school and back (10 miles). Although its now our "beater" it still looks good with its red, rust free exterior, leather seats and still shiny aluminum wheels.

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  Best daily grind car - 2000 Mazda 626
  By Playfirst - October 10 - 3:30 am

  Very comfortable, engine buzzy at 75 mph, slow pick up - dont even bother to rev it past 3500 rpms, handles great, avg. 27.5 mpg mostly city driving. Awesome car for a practical lifestyle. I love it - best beater, daily grind car!

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  My 626 - 1999 Mazda 626
  By deonne - October 6 - 2:00 am

  The Mazda 626 is a popular vehicle. However, do not let this fool you. I have had problems with my Mazda and am currently replacing the transmission at 71,000 miles. Now, after much research, Ive found that the 626 has a common transmission problem. Unfortunately, it is not on the current list of recalls - but you can find it with the Office of Defects from the National Transporation Highway Safety. Please also be aware that Mazda Corporation does not stand up for the consumer, but sell vehicles with known defects. I recommend you think about buying another car, before you buy a Mazda.

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  Fun with 5 speed, but materials/build okay - 2000 Mazda 626
  By boost4 - October 3 - 1:40 pm

  This car is my 2nd 626 and 3rd Mazda. The others were turbo 4 cylinders which are still lasting longer than I imagined. My current 6s V6 is fun to drive and makes great high revving sounds, but is a bit low on torque. What I have found quality-wise leads me to believe it will not hold together like my circa 80s cars did. So far the coolant expansion tank has sprung a leak, so it was replaced. The drivers door power lock motor ate itself making a horribly loud noise while operating. Both are common issues for this model, and it did help that both parts were acquired from the dealer for around $50. I refuse to blame these quirks on US assembly, as my previous ones were both US & Japanese made and both were excellent.

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  Could be better..could be worse - 1999 Mazda 626
  By kat - September 6 - 12:53 pm

  Im only 17 so when looking for a car my grandpa wanted me to get one little but Nice. So he picked it out. At first it was great but within a week it was a total pain. The back sway bar was broke, there was a little oil leak and the fuel pump went out. In total repairs where over $1000. Thats a lot for a girl in school and working a minimum wage job but I got it fixed and its a great car. Everything works good. Pretty good gas mileage and not too bad on insurance.

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  Avoid automatics at all costs - 1998 Mazda 626
  By HankMcStanky - September 6 - 2:00 am

  This was my second 626. The engine has been mostly fine, blew a head gasket at 85,000 but that feels like a fluke. The door seals, mentioned by many others, are annoying but no big deal. The trouble, as youve guessed, is the automatic transmission, made by Ford, which completely fell apart at 90,000 miles, took $2500 to fix, and has been back in the shop 3 more times in the next 12,000 miles. Some apparently break as early as 60,000. Its sad, because I really liked the car up until the fateful day it was towed to the shop. Look for a manual, which is what Ill be in the market for as soon as this one breaks again.