I had a look at a Mazda MX-6 today, it will be for sale in a couple of
months.
Its a 93, 2.5 V6, manual, there doesn't look anything wrong with it. A local
mechanic is running around in it at the minute and he reckons its straight.

At £1100 should I have a punt?

If anyone who has any knowledge of these wants to offer an opinion feel
free.

R D S <rsandr (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote:

From what I recall, the V6 is thirsty and prone to breaking.

Built in America, so not up to usual Mazda quality standards.
Essentially the same as a Ford Probe which can be bought for
significantly less money - not a lot more buys a Cougar.
--
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - Hongdou GY200 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI SE - COSOC KOTL
BOTAFOT #87 - BOTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #

SteveH wrote:

Agreed.

And having owned a Probe, then my current Cougar (Soon sadly to be sold
to a mate) I would say steer clear of the MX6. Lots of expensive things
to go wrong .... the Probe seemed to need droplinks for the rear
anti-roll bar at every service, went through brake pads like nothing
I've ever owned and the V6 is prone to distributor failure - which used
to mean £400 but there's now a cheaper repair available.

I'd steer clear though - for a cheap car it could be expensive to keep
going.

The Cougar by contrast has been a very very good car which owes my
nothing (having had only consumables replaced over 6 years and 75000
miles) and I will be sad to see it go .... only reason I'm selling it on
after 6 years is that a company car is about to split us up.

"DougP" <DougP (AT) binternet (DOT) com> wrote

Noted.

Have either of you got any opinions on the Xedos, it caught my eye while
looking at MX-6's.

R D S <rsandr (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote:

6 or 9?

Doesn't matter, really, given that they all have the Mazda V6 lump.

You think a 156 is expensive and unreliable..... a TSpark has nothing on
the potential for financial ruin of the Mazda V6 ;-)

If you want reasonably priced and reliable, you want an old shape (B5)
Passat..... mine was on nearly 180k miles when I sold it.
--
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - Hongdou GY200 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI SE - COSOC KOTL
BOTAFOT #87 - BOTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #

"SteveH" <steve (AT) italiancar (DOT) co.uk> wrote

They are a good car for not a lot of money but we have the Fuglipa for
sensibility and reliability.

If the Alfa ever comes out of the garage I will probably sell it as I doubt
I will ever drive it without my arse twitching. While it is the best car I
have ever driven I would have to be a cock to get another even though deep
down I admit I have a bad 'un and a properly looked after one would probably
be a different kettle of fish.

So...
If you were going to spend 1000-2000 on something to make your pulse race a
bit what would it be? Or for that money would you be playing with fire?
Toyota Celica?

I may be having an early mid life crisis!

R D S <rsandr (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote:

So why are you looking at fancy Mazda saloons?

Indeed it would.....

A cheap Celica could well be a money pit. They're not all that unless a
GT4, which *will* be a money pit.

All depends on what you want.... personally, I've gone with my
old-school Alfa 75 (returns from a more extensive resto. than originally
planned in a couple of weeks) - but I've also had a MkI Golf Cabrio and
Fiat Spider for fun in the past. You'd get a lovely MkI Golf GTI Cabrio
for that money.... well worth it, IMHO.

Alternatively, if you have a garage and it's not a daily driver, an old
Alfa Sud or Sprint would be top of the list.

For a daily driver that's not garaged, a MkI MX-5.

I had one in my mid 20s ;-)
--
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - Hongdou GY200 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI SE - COSOC KOTL
BOTAFOT #87 - BOTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #

SteveH (steve (AT) italiancar (DOT) co.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying :

Is there any other kind...?

Adrian <toomany2cvs (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote:

Heh, probably not.

However, in this case, it's still going to be largely on budget.

The guy doing it had issues with getting a paint match, so has sent it
off to his local pro sprayer - however, he's held his hands up to it
being his problem and is doing it out of his own profits. Which is nice.
--
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - Hongdou GY200 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI SE - COSOC KOTL
BOTAFOT #87 - BOTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #

"SteveH" <steve (AT) italiancar (DOT) co.uk> wrote

I was sidelined and drawn by equipment and percieved reliability.

I had dismissed convertibles after owning a 93 Astra, it was painful, the
wettest year of my life.
Are the ones you mention more watertight?

I think I had a mini one about 10 years back, long overdue another.