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Mazda 626

2044 messages,  Last post on May 08, 2012 at 5:17 PM

You are in the Mazda 626 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Mazda 626, Sedan

Messages Page 44 of 205

#429 of 2044 4-cylinder transmission by windowphobe6

Feb 22, 2001 (6:32 pm)

Most of the issues with the LA4A-EL (aka the Ford CD4E) have already been addressed in production; the major fixes were phased in between 1996 and 1998. It is, to my way of thinking, not quite as agile a tranny as Mazda's own GF4A-EL, but it doesn't spend as much time hunting for gears, either - a good thing, since no one is ever going to accuse the four-cylinder 626 of being overpowered.
 
My 2000 LX (yes, it's a four) came with Bridgestone Turanzas; they're a touch on the loud side, but they did better in this winter's snow than I expected, and they have decent grip on the dry stuff.

#430 of 2044 Re: Jumpmom by scrible

Feb 22, 2001 (7:06 pm)

Ok so its comes to about 1.5% below invoice...now do you also get the $1500 rebate that they are offering aswell? Yeah you are a little ahead of us....we were originally looking at an Isuzu trooper but have changed gears when we found out that we got the Ford Partners plan...and I really dont like anything that Ford has except the Explorer and I dont want to pay an arm and a leg. So we are now looking into the 626...will probably drive one this weekend....
 
Once you get yours you'll have to let me know all the details..
 
Thanks

#431 of 2044 Re: jumpmom and scrible by hkchan

Feb 22, 2001 (7:16 pm)

Consumer Reports never tested the 626 V6. CR "normally" leaves out styling in its reports and styling definitely does not count toward the score.
 
Yes, you still get the rebate and/or low-rate financing with the S-Plan.

#432 of 2044 Move up from Mazda - your choices ? by dmallinder

Feb 23, 2001 (8:51 am)

I currently own a 99 LXV6 5sp which has been trouble free and a joy to drive. However I am in more fortunate financial territory than I was when I bought it and will shortly be trading up to a near-luxury sports sedan I will not name for the moment. Here's why. In the forum for that car one poster said that cars in the midrange class have no driving enjoyment - that they can be comfortable and reliable but not fun.
 
At least three posters - again in another thread - jumped in and offered Mazdas as examples of affordable driving fun and extolled their virtues over Camrys, Accords, etc. Two of them - including me - named the 626V6.
 
That started an interesting discussion to see if the rather cultish ( in a nice way ! ) Mazda clan would be more likely to move up in price to this same marque than any other. It seemed from that end like there was a connection.
 
So here's the question ( and no cheating looking for my posts ! ) I'll give you the list of cars I tested and see which if any would likely be your first choice if you were willing to spend that much. No particular order. The idea is not really to guess my choice but to see if there is some kind of idiosyncratic quality that defines the fans of both cars.
 
Lexus ES, Lexus GS, MB E class, BMW 5 series, Audi A6, Chrysler 300M, Acura TL, Infiniti I30.
 
Knowing that Mazda folks pick their cars usually because of that indefinable quality that sets them apart from other more prominent midrange cars like Camry and Accord, I wonder which one of those seems to appeal to you guys.
 
Thanks for participating !

#433 of 2044 RE: dmallinder by maltb

Feb 23, 2001 (9:16 am)

I don't see the Millenia S on your list, but that is my choice.
 
Yes, cultish in a nice way.

#434 of 2044 Why I left off the Millenia S by dmallinder

Feb 23, 2001 (9:23 am)

I did drive it. I left it off this list because it's not a move from Mazda. I didn't choose it for myself because it's smaller inside than the 626, has a pretty dull interior and seems to be noisier than a car like that should be. It is however a hell of a deal right now - you can pick one up for $25K in my neck of the woods.
 
Now imagine you want to spend 35-45K on a car - where do you go ?

#435 of 2044 This is a real problem by maltb

Feb 23, 2001 (9:35 am)

Lets see...45K? How about his and her's Miatas?
 
OK,OK, but you know that I will have to confession for having thoughts about other cars.
 
I pick the Benz.

#436 of 2044 Already have one Miata ! by dmallinder

Feb 23, 2001 (9:55 am)

Two would be extravagance. The only reason we are not currently a three-Mazda couple is because the trade-in inspector at the MAzda delaership noticed my wife's oil leak whereas the Ford guy didn't so we bought her a Focus ZX3 for winter ( in MN the Miata is not a year round car for obvious reasons ). It's a pity the Protege doesn't come in a hatchback format - which we both really like - or we'd have taken the lesser trade in anyway.
 
E class is nice. Very solid. However not what you would call a driver's car. Actually almost identical to the 626 in interior dimensions, it was my second choice and originally the one I thought I would buy. It's an MB with all the quality that entails but to be honest they also degraded the interior a little on the E class to get it - just - into that 45K range.

#437 of 2044 A Focus? by maltb

Feb 23, 2001 (10:00 am)

What a shame, had you waited until summer, you could have had a very nice looking Protege Hatchback. Oh well, next time...
 
As far as the choice of MB, I have not driven it but rather picked it for its reputation. My foul. I guess, I just haven't reached that place in my life where I feel the need to sink $45k into a car(read: I don't have 45K).

#438 of 2044 Damit by dmallinder

Feb 23, 2001 (10:04 am)

Didn;t know about the Protege hatchback. However we got the ZX3 last March and her car was peeing oil all over the place - quick sale was necessary. Actually Focus is quite fun too. Nice handling and quite zippy with the zetec engine. Not as solid feeling as the Protege was but a little quicker and had the hatch. It's not that bad of a car really - perhaps Mazda is rubbing off on Ford just like the other way round.
 
She puts on a lot of miles though and if HB Protege is still around in 2-3 years it will definitely be first on the list to replace the Focus.

Messages Page 44 of 205

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