Used 1999 Mazda 626 Consumer Reviews
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Still my favorite car
Courtney K, 03/03/2016
1999 Mazda 626 LX V6 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This was my very first car at the age of 15 with my driver's permit. I learned how to drive in this car so you could say I have a biased opinion towards it but after driving many different models and owning a 2001 Chevy Lumina and a 2012 Ford Focus (absolute garbage, never buy a Focus or a Ford), this Mazda still wins hands down. For being over a decade old at the time of owning it, it felt very sporty and aesthetic compared to my peers' vehicles. It still looks nice compared to boxier models in the 90's and even early 2000's. My 2001 Chevy Lumina looks like an old granny car compared to the 1999 Mazda 626. It's a stunning car in candy apple red. The interior was also pleasing to the eye. Lots of plastic but it didn't feel cheap like my 2012 Ford Focus does. The controls were easy to change while driving. I can't comment on the stock radio because mine had a custom Pioneer installed when I got the car, but the sound from the stock speakers was much more "tinny" than my Lumina. If that isn't as important to you as the performance then I would absolutely still recommend this car. With a V6 I had no problems getting up to speed and maintaining that speed. I've yet to drive a car that could match my Mazda's power. And it still got pretty decent gas mileage, I averaged 20-22 on the highway and 15-18 in the city. The only downside to this car is its issue with belts and the transmission. I replaced the serpentine belt twice in one month and the alternator belt broke while I was driving home and I had no idea until the battery light came on and I literally rolled to a dead stop in my driveway. The alternator belt was only a couple months old when it snapped. The other issue is the transmission, Mazdas are notorious for trannys having short lifespans. Towards the end of my ownership, the transmission would buckle and jerk when upshifting. If I'd had the money at the time, I would have repaired it because I loved the car, but unfortunately I had to sell it as is and get a more reliable car. My 2001 Chevy Lumina gets great mileage and I have not spent a single dime on repairs in the 4 years I've owned it (WOW!) but I still miss my Mazda 626.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Time to trade it in I guess
grathy, 08/08/2008
1999 Mazda 626 ES V6 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I'm at 66,700 for this 1999 beauty, but I guess it's time to trade her in. In the past year, I've put over $1800 into the car, and I'm nervous to continue driving her long distances, should something else go wrong. It's kind of like having an elderly cat or dog. You love them, but you know it's just a matter of time. So, reluctantly, I will be saying goodbye to my sage-green gal, and hope that she finds another good home, swinging vents and all!
1999 Mazda 626 for sale near you
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- LX SedanMSRP: N/A1,253 mi away
Could be better..could be worse
kat, 03/15/2009
1999 Mazda 626 LX V6 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I'm only 17 so when looking for a car my grandpa wanted me to get one little but Nice. So he picked it out. At first it was great but within a week it was a total pain. The back sway bar was broke, there was a little oil leak and the fuel pump went out. In total repairs where over $1000. Thats a lot for a girl in school and working a minimum wage job but I got it fixed and its a great car. Everything works good. Pretty good gas mileage and not too bad on insurance.
1999 Mazda 626 LX w/ 200,000 miles
mlapompe, 07/14/2009
1999 Mazda 626 LX V6 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I purchased this car in Nov 1999 with a $2,250 rebate at $16k. As of July of 2009, it has 200,000 miles. Around 68k (after warranty exp) miles, I replaced the rack & pinion. I have changed the timing belt & water pump twice as part of scheduled maintenance. No transmission problems (problems w/ 4cyl)! The car still drives good. I just purchased a 2000 Lexus GS w/ 124k miles on it and I'm looking forward to getting 400,000 miles out of that. The Mazda will be used as a spare car until it can't run anymore. The parts are a bit expensive though.
Excellent alternative to Accord/Camry
paulbl, 10/30/2002
1999 Mazda 626 LX 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Overall a vehicle that has exceeded my expectations. Very reliable, not a single problem, just routine maintenance. Excellent fuel economy with the 4cyl 5sp - 30-31 mpg in daily driving (in the horrible Seattle traffic), 36-38 on the hwy. Runs fine on regular unleaded and has adequate power for merging and passing. Great seats, more comfortable than the ones in my parents' Passat! Great leg room front and rear, 4 six-footers fit fine in this car. Could have less road noise, changing the tires helped here (to Yokohama Avid Touring radials), as did adding noise reducing material behind the front doors. Overall highly recommended.