Used Car Review Mazda MX-6 1987-1997

Mazda has a long history of sports cars, genuine sports cars, not just coupes. The Japanese company famously reinvented the convertible in 1989 when everyone else considered the open-top car had been killed off by safety regulations. And Mazda is the only company persisting with the Wankel rotary engine with the RX-series of cars.

So it comes as no surprise that even the coupes in the Mazda lineup have a strong element of sporting DNA in their makeup. Witness the Mazda MX-6 as a classic example. Though the model isn't currently on the market, having been a victim of the loss of interest in coupes during the late 1990s, it's still well regarded by those wanting something out of the ordinary. And not only out of the ordinary, because Mazda's coupes are just as well regarded for their build quality as are the rest of the range.

The Mazda MX-6 was sold in Australia in two distinctly different models. When launched in October 1987 it was a hard-edged machine for the serious driver. Using a turbocharged four-cylinder engine of 2.2-litre capacity it had huge straight-line performance.

However, it could be a beast to drive, particularly in wet weather. When you put your foot down, initially there wasn't enough power, then suddenly there was too much. If you know what you are doing and drive the hot turbo Mazda the way it demands, the ride can be truly exhilarating. The biggest problem was that the MX-6 uses front-wheel drive and the wheels could be overwhelmed at full turbo boost at low road speeds. The result is savage torque steer, with the car even jumping substantially sideways if you get it wrong.

Most modern cars don't demand any real skill from the driver, so enthusiasts of these early Mazda MX-6s take pride at getting the best from them.

To tame the torque steer, four-wheel steering became an option in February 1989, though the 2WD remained on the market. It also made cornering even more positive and as an incidental bonus, tightened the turning circle to make parking simpler.

With the release of the all-new MX-6 in November 1991, Mazda took an all-new direction. The Mazda coupe became a classy cruiser, not a full-on bruiser. It used a smallish 2.5-litre V6 naturally aspirated engine and, so performance was on the modest side, totally removed from the animal antics of the old turbo unit.

The 1991 MX-6 has a sleek appearance with a distinctly pronounced slope of the cabin at the rear. Headroom in the back seat suffers. Try it with the kids if you are thinking of using the car as a family coupe because not only is there restricted space over the seat, but also the glass can let in too much summer sun.

In the later Mazda MX-6, four-wheel steering was an option. Due to the cruising nature of the car it’s probably of less use than in the turbo variants, but the tight turning circle can be really useful at times.

Both the MX-6 models are sold with the choice between a five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmission. The automatic is the more common in the later models, the manual is the unit of choice in the sporting turbo.

After a reasonable amount of success on the Australian market, the Mazda MX-6 was removed from the scene in September 1997. That was more a result of the severe rationalisation that was taking place in the financially troubled Mazda corporation, than because of any fault with the cars. But coupes were also falling out of favour at the time and other makers were also reducing their outputs.

These are quality cars that seldom give any problems. They are relatively complex so most repairs should be left to the professionals. Preferably those trained in Mazdas because the four-wheel steering setup is a pretty specialised unit.

The good amateur can do some routine servicing, but that should probably be the extent of home-based work on these sporty machines.

Have a chat to your friendly insurance company before becoming too enamoured of an MX-6 turbo. Chances are that if you’re a young and/or inexperienced driver with a poor driving record and living in a theft-prone area, the premiums are likely to make your hair stand on end. The V6 model will be much more reasonable to insure, though, again, your specific circumstances come into the equation.

You may also care to look at the Ford Probe while you are searching out Mazda MX-6s. Only sold here from 1994 until 1998, and never particularly successful, it shared many of its underbody components with the latter day Mazda MX-6. All the visible body panels are unique to the Ford but quite a few mechanical components are interchangeable.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Turbocharged engines are generally reliable, provided they have been correctly driven and maintained. If there's a service book with the car make sure the engine oil has been changed to schedule.

Any untoward sounds from the turbo are a cause for concern, as is hesitation under acceleration and/or smoke from the exhaust.

The fuel-injected V6 should start within a couple of seconds of the key being turned and immediately settle into a vibration-free idle. There should be no hesitation under acceleration and the exhaust should be free from smoke.

Gear changes on the manual ‘box should be light and easy and automatics should change ratios almost imperceptibly. If the car is being driven very hard some shift shock is acceptable.

Check for signs of uneven tyre wear, especially on the front tyres of a turbo MX-6. These could indicate hard driving, though it may be wheel misalignment problem. The latter could be the result of a twisted body following a crash. Beware...

Look for signs of repairs to the bodywork. Paint that doesn’t quite match and/or ripples in the panels are relatively easy to spot once you have some experience.

Check the condition of the interior and boot for damage caused by uncaring owners. Look for signs of drying of the dash top as the windscreen is large and slopes steeply.

Be sure that all equipment works correctly, especially in the upmarket V6 variants. Use the owner’s handbook for details of operation of everything from the complex stereo to the multi-function ventilation system.