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20/04/2009
By EWAN KENNEDY
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Popular with used-car buyers since its release way back in 1979, the Mazda 323 has a reputation for clever design and high build quality. Those older models have generally died of old age by now, but cars from about 1994 onwards are worth considering. These newer models are larger than in early ones and can be used as family cars by those with pre-teen children.
The Mazda 323 hasn't always been a player only in the lower rungs of the sales-race ladder. It went upmarket between 1994 and 1998, even sporting the option of a six-cylinder engine. But buyers showed a distinct lack of interest and the 323, and its successor, the Mazda3 have stuck with four-cylinder powerplants ever since.
 The 323, indeed Mazda passenger cars in general, have been longtime favourites with retired people. These cars can be excellent buys as they are generally driven sensibly and benefit from being serviced strictly by the book.
Easy to drive, the Mazda 323 handles well and provides good comfort on most roads. However, on poor quality bush roads the short-travel suspension can make it less than happy.
Mazda 323 was offered with a range of bodies: four-door sedan, four-door hardtops, five-door hatch and station wagon. The pure station wagon was withdrawn in 1989, but the hatchback from 1998 is almost wagon-like in its styling and practicality and we have heard owners actually calling theirs ‘the wagon. The sedan from 1994 until 1996 continued to use the old body, first released in 1989, not the sleeker shape of the hardtops and hatchbacks.
As mentioned, most engines are four-cylinder units. These come with displacements of 1.6 and 1.8 litres, with the 1.6 being by far the most common. The lovely little V6 1.8-litre unit gave the 323 an exceptionally refined feel. Interestingly, though, the V6 doesn't always have as much performance as the 1.8-litre four, being set up in the European fashion with a strong emphasis on the top end of the rev range.
Gearbox options are five-speed manual and either three or four-speed automatic transmission. The three-speed auto was only used on the lower cost models and only until 1996, when it, too, was updated to a four-speed.
 This small-medium Mazda is fairly easy to work on, with a tidy underbonnet layout and a reasonable amount of space. As is often the way with Japanese cars it’s best to remove the complete engine/transmission assembly when doing anything more than the more basic of repair work.
The Mazda dealer network operates in most country towns of any size. Spare parts are generally readily available, though some less-common bits for the oldest models are starting to become scarce.
Insurance premiums are moderate and we don't know of any of the major insurers that differentiate between the four and six-cylinder engines.
Aftermarket suppliers, particularly wreckers, often specialise in Japanese vehicles and can be a handy source of bits for older models. Ford’s Laser shared many components with the Mazda 323, though not the six-cylinder engine, offering a further source for spare parts.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Rust is unusual in the Mazda 323s of this era, though it was a problem in older ones. To be on the safe side check the lower areas of the car’s body, around the front and rear windscreens and the fuel filler cap.
 Sun-damaged paint, at its worst on the horizontal surfaces, can be the result of a car that has spent all its life in the open air.
Engines that have done a lot of work may smoke from the exhaust under hard acceleration. Let it idle for about a minute before carrying out this test, then floor the throttle and look for a big belch of smoke at the back.
Check the engine’s cam-drive belt has been replaced according to the servicing schedule. Failure to do so can cause expensive engine damage.
Manual gearboxes should be light and simple in their operation. Any reluctance to go into a lower gear should be treated with suspicion.
Listen and feel for an automatic transmission that is either reluctant to change, too eager to change or which is harsh when it does shift gears.
Drive the car with the steering on full lock in one direction then the other and listen for clicking sounds from the front-axle universal joints.
The interior trim is finished to a high standard and generally stands up well. However, pay particular attention to the condition of the dashpad if the car is getting on in years.
CAR BUYING TIP
Good cars can be owned by bad drivers, and vice versa. Never assume any car is as good as it looks so always call in an expert for that final opinion. |
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