Mazda 323 Fastback (1989-)
  • Economy

    Value

    5 out of 5 5.0

    All the car I wanted for the £900 I paid for it.

    Costs

    2 out of 5 2.0

    Expensive parts and services (blame falls partly on local dealer though).

  • On the road

    Driving

    5 out of 5 5.0

    Most fun car I've owned. Responsive, informative handling.

    Performance

    5 out of 5 5.0

    Fantastic. Quick, good road holding, beat my mate's mk4 Golf GTi (for which he paid £10,000). Can't winge at all.

  • Living with it

    Reliability

    5 out of 5 5.0

    Didn't have a single reliability problem.

    Image

    3 out of 5 3.0

    My wife loved it, I hated it. Looks like an 80s reject trying to fit in in the early nineties to me. Too personal to judge accurately.

    Comfort

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Only let down by uncomfortable seats (could be my arse was too big for them though.)

  • Security and Service

    Security

    1 out of 5 1.0

    Awful. No nothing. The doors lock, the windows shut, after that you're on your own.

  • Problems and Ownership

    Problems

    Engine

    None, except overheating due to a cracked radiator.

    Other

    Sticky leccy window buttons, seriously fiddly to get at the stereo.

    Ownership

    Did you buy the car new?

    Used

    Would you buy the same model again?

    Yes

    Did you buy from the same manufacturer again?

    Yes