Mazda MX-3... any good?

n299

I'm 18, had 3 convictions and 1 accident... I'm
not a bad driver, I was just stupid when I first
started driving. Anyways, I'm looking at a used 4
cyl MX-3, probably 93-95. I was wondering if
anyone had problems with them, or any other
constructive criticism about them. My 68 Bug isn't
fairing well during the winters, so I figured I
could use an upgrade.

Thanks,

Brandon

97grandamgt

Mx-3's are few and far between. Mainly because they never sold well, and were only produced from '92-'94. My stepfather owns a V6 model(translation: pocket rocket) and it has 140,000 miles on it, and drives like it's brand new. I don't know much about the 4 cylinder models, but they should be just as reliable. Also, a 4 Cylinder will be MUCH better on insurance. This is not the worlds safest car though, due to it's size. But it has been a great car during the winter, here in Rochester, NY last winter we got a huge storm, and the Mazda had no problem getting around(although it did have 4 snow tires on it).

Hopefully this will be of some help.

-Ben

ruben2

How many horses does have the mx-3 v-6? Does anyone knows its 0-60 and quarter mile times?

97grandamgt

I don't know the numbers, I just know it's pretty impressive for 1.8 liters. (Thats right, it has 6 cylinders, and is only 1.8 liters in displacement.) I would guess somewhere around 145. But the kicker is it has tons of torque. It's too easy to break the front wheels free if your not carful with the clutch. I have been trying to find the specs on it, to no avail.

michael28

The mx-3 v6 has 130hp at 6500rpm and 115 torque at 4500. The 0-60 as I recall from Motortrend was 8.3 seconds. The car really does not have that much torque and could use more. It is a high revving powerplant.

judas

You're right on the HP and TQ numbers but I think you're a little optomistic on the 0-60 times. I was thinking it was 8.7. 1/4 time as around 16.1-16.3. I test drove one years ago and it didn't compare with the two pocket rockets I had about the same time, an 89 Mirage GT Turbo and a 89 Supercharged MR2. The engine, while smooth, is surprizingly gutless. Also, I doubt there's much difference on insurance between the 4 and the 6. Either way you're looking at an older car that wasn't very expensive when it was produced. I doubt the insurance company is going to kill you too bad for the extra 25 or 30 HP the 6 has.

vader007

I have had no problems with my car. The only thing is, it is so low to the ground and many a times have I scraped. It's been a very reliable car for me and gets great gas milage. I'm actually selling mine now, It will be impossible to put a baby car-seat back there in those bucket seats!

esimpson

Got a '93 4-cyl with 120k miles on it. Repairs have been non-existant. Just the standard preventative maintenance, tires, belts, oil, filters, headlights. I'm shooting for 200k before considering a new car. We'll see.

Keeps going and going. Pretty good in the snow - has a slight understeer if you hit a corner too hard, easily controlled by letting off the gas and the front end whips back in line.

vocus

For a 1994 or newer MX-3 GS with automatic. Always LOVED them! Just my thoughts

tickbitty

just saw one of these and thought I'd look it up. Can't believe it was not a more successful car. Great looking, and a hatch!! WoW

photog0264

I recently purchased a Brand new Escort ZX2 and love it dearly. However it was involved in a serious accident and I am stuck with a rented @#@# Escort sedan till mine is repaired. Because of my loathing for this smelly abused under powered car. It got me thinking back to the days when I had two vehicles and the ease with which I could deal with these types of minor crisis. So I have begun a used car search to be concluded in the spring of next year.

The car that keeps coming to mind is the 1993 Mazda MX3 GSi Hatchback. Despite it's age it for looks it can still hold it's own against most of todays more contemporary models and the same can be said for MX3 GSi's performance. What concerns me though is the mileage. Right off the mark despite it's past reliabilty it would end up being high maintence car due to the age. My late 1987 Acura Integra made it to 200,000 miles before the final bang from the transmision. With no disrespect intended to any of the owners of this little classic; I honestly can't see an MX3 making it much past 200,000 miles. In my case as the MX3 would be used as a back up and short zip run car the yearly mileage would be considerably less than normal. However it still makes me wonder just how much the maintence costs will be on plus 100,000 mile "pocket rocket" with a manual transmission. Certainly cheaper than if it had an auto trans. but even a manual trans can get expensive, this is to say nothing of the other repairs.

anonymous

I recently purchased a Brand new Escort ZX2 and love it dearly. However it was involved in a serious accident and I am stuck with a rented @#@# Escort sedan till mine is repaired. Because of my loathing for this smelly abused under powered car. It got me thinking back to the days when I had two vehicles and the ease with which I could deal with these types of minor crisis. So I have begun a used car search to be concluded in the spring of next year.

The car that keeps coming to mind is the 1993 Mazda MX3 GSi Hatchback. Despite it's age it for looks it can still hold it's own against most of todays more contemporary models and the same can be said for MX3 GSi's performance. What concerns me though is the mileage. Right off the mark despite it's past reliabilty it would end up being high maintence car due to the age. My late 1987 Acura Integra made it to 200,000 miles before the final bang from the transmision. With no disrespect intended to any of the owners of this little classic; I honestly can't see an MX3 making it much past 200,000 miles. In my case as the MX3 would be used as a back up and short zip run car the yearly mileage would be considerably less than normal. However it still makes me wonder just how much the maintence costs will be on plus 100,000 mile "pocket rocket" with a manual transmission. Certainly cheaper than if it had an auto trans. but even a manual trans can get expensive, this is to say nothing of the other repairs.

Your

freddy_k

I traded my '94 escort GT with a friends V6 MX3 for one full day. I was very happy to give it back to him. The escort was quicker and seemed more agile, and I found it all around more fun too drive.

bandersen1

I have a 92 with the V6 5-speed. You have to let it rev past 4 grand to feel the pull otherwise remember it is only 1.8 liters. I'm up to 170,000
kilometers and the car has only needed the usual stuff and one CV joint. Still, it is time to move on to something a little more comfortable - like a Millenia S!

How about swapping the engine with the 2.5 from the 626 or Mx6. It is a bolt-in job!

Check out www.mx-3.com for alot of info!

revka

This discussion has just been moved back from our Archived discussions and re-opened. If anyone has any experience or knowledge of the MX3, we'd appreciate hearing your thoughts. Thanks for your participation.

Revka
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dinu01

I will be buying one of these cars in Late May/Early June 2002 and I want to start my search. I want something reliable and fun to drive. I won't be doing any mods. Please help me decide.

Thanx,Dinu

thoth74

I have a '93 MX3 and would like to replace the 4cyl engine with the 6cyl from the same model. Anyone have any advice on this (where to go for the engine, other parts necessary like intake and exhaust manifolds, etc.)? I love the car and don't want to get rid of it, but the 4cyl is a bit weak for my taste. Thanks all.

Tup

We had a base MX3 here in Canada for 9 1/2 yrs. We just sold it and bought a Matrix(have a family now). The MX3 was a terrific little car. It was totally reliable. It was fun to drive and always looked good. Over the 9 1/2 yrs it depreciated 9,000.00 so I can't complain. The only things that seemed to go with it were wheel bearings and air seeping around the alloy wheels. The wheels did last extremely well for alloys in our salt soaked winter roads though it was mostly driven in the summer with the Subaru taking winter duty.

dinu01

If you don't mind me asking, was it a 4 or 6 cyl and how many kms did you have on it? I will be looking for one in mid May in Toronto.

Thanx, Dinu

Tup

We had a red 4 cyl with alloy wheels. It had 189,000Km's and worked extremely well. It was starting to seep a little oil around the head gasket but not too much...I put in some of that gasket swelling stuff into the oil about 2 thousand Km's before we sold it. Actually, I had also just replaced the original battery a month before we sold it. My wife did not drive it hard though.

lngtonge18

My friend recently bought a 93 MX-3 with the 1.6 four cylinder. It has 107k on it. It runs good, revs smoothly and doesn't smoke any. However, it has a slight stalling problem. The engine will stay running fine when it is cold. Once it warms up, it will stall periodically when you stop at lights unless you keep your foot on the gas. It doesn't matter whether the AC is running or not. It just suddenly cuts off without warning. We changed the plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor and checked the air filter. It still didn't get rid of the stalling. I artifically increased the idle rpms to keep it running as a stop gap measure. What could be the problem?

mjlohman

Refridgerant is the old 12 type. Does anybody know of a kit to update it to the new type?

himarx2

Help! I've looked for the fill plug for my 1994 MX3 transaxle fill plug, 1.6 liter 4cyl. The service manual says to ck it on the side of the case but it isn't there. I had 3 other mechs. put it on a lift and they couldn't find it either! I found the drain plug no problem. Can anyone help me here? Do I fill through the speedometer cable housing like on a 6 cylinder? Did they do a mid-year engine change and not put it in the Mitchells Service Manual? Please post or email me at spoonkwsn@yahoo.com...Thanks for any help with this STRANGE problem.

revka

For more expedient feedback, you may also want to post (copy/paste) your message on our Town Hall Maintenance & Repair message board. Good luck, and please keep us posted on your situation.

Revka

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nippononly

the V-6 in the MX-3 was a 1.8 liter engine??? That has to be the smallest displacement I have ever heard of for a V-6. I am wondering if this is a misprint...

I heard the V-6 MX-3 was amazingly reliable and trouble-free, a really good buy, and the only slight disappointment with it was that it was nose-heavy in handling character.

Too bad they are so rare or I would have bought one a couple of years back, and probably would still have it today.

lngtonge18

The MX3 GS did in fact have a 1.8 liter 130 horse DOHC 24 valve V-6. It was known as the smallest displacement V6 in the world.

abcdave

The stalling could be caused by a faulty Fuel Pressure Regulator, or a faulty Idle Air Bypass Valve, It could be either of those,since you said it only did that when the vehicle was at operating temp.

mx5

I have a Miata that had the same stalling problem - only happened at stop signs/lights. I used to "blip" the gas pedal to keep it from stalling.
I first went to a Mazda dealer, who didn't know what the problem might be. I then went to my regular mechanic. He said he'd seen the problem before and that the injectors needed to be properly cleaned. He cleaned them, problem gone, car runs better than ever.

uomdeacon1

I just recently received a '93 MX-3 GS for XMas It's got the 5-speed so hopefully it'll have the zip my '97 2.4L Sunfire did. It looks like I got a good one since mine only has 56K miles on it.

shadowfax2

The MX-3 GS is a great little car. I've had mine for 11 years now. Bought it off the showroom floor in December 1991...one of the first little V-6s on the road. It is so much fun to drive. Not too quick off the line but when that little six gets up to 3,500 rpm look out!

I just bought a brand new Accord V6. The GS was so good I didn't want to trade it, so gave it to my daughter.

I never had a major mechanical problem with mine. Parked it outside year round for the first 6-7 years, and drove it winter and summer (Maine winters). The car started without a hitch every time..even in below zero temps.

It is a rugged little car in the snow too. Put snows on the front and it had great traction as long as you start off in second gear.

The car has about 80,000 miles on it now and has a couple of problems. Would be interested in some feed back...

She is starting to burn some oil between oil changes. Usually down about a quart or quart and a half. Also, in extremely warm and muggy conditions the car idles high...at around 2500 rpm vs the usual 500. This goes away as soon as the weather cools or the car cools down. The car is not hot..at least the temp gauge doesnt indicate it is overheating.

Any information anyone can provide would be appreciated.