Used 1994 Mazda MX-3 Consumer Reviews
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Reliable, Cheap maintenance, motivating to drive....
The 1.8 V6 isn't very powerful but it has a very smooth and steady climb in the RPM's all the way to its 7000rpm redline. When it comes to windy roads, this car is very fast!! The engines small displacement and smooth feel all the way to the redline gives the driver the confidence that the engine can surely take a beating. Mine has 289,000km of hitting the redline every day and no problems. I change the oil evry 5 months or 5000kms though using the reccomended 10w30. The only Mazda MX-3 V6 I would avoid is an automatic one. The auto could not handle the power of the V6 and usually doesnt last. The 5 speed lasts forever provided u change the gear oil every 2 years (only costs 45$)
Still running at 17 years old
I purchased this car used in 1999 with 104,000 km and it was the 4 cyl. At that time I didn't have a lot of money for a car as I had just taken out a mortgage and needed a car. I am not sorry for this purchase, as the car has lasted me until now September 2010 and is now showing it's age and I am replacing it. I've pretty much driven it into the ground and other than maintenance, had not put money into any repairs...it's been very dependable.
Mazda Mx3
I have all power options, the pw broke on me, i also had to change the tranny, the engine is still strong, I can't seem to beat other v6 cars off the line but then when around 40 KM you feel that you are flying and it doesn't stop accelerating, it's an OKAY car. If you are looking for a nice 2 door V6, get a accord or solara, it's the same on gas, actually probably better.
Great Car!
I bought this car 5 years ago and it had over 140,000 miles on it. I have never had a serious problem with it. it's so much fun to drive. I highly recommend it to anyone. Great value, very reliable and great design.
Gas Milage Joy Ride
I have had my Mx-3 for a year now and I have had nothing but fun with it. The only real work done to it was the usual water pump and timing belt replacement. The car is economical and sporty at the same time. I love the gas milage compared to the typical gas hogs. I would suggest this car to anyone, especially those looking for a car you don't see everyday.
My Friend for 12 Years
I can't say enough about this car. It might not be the coolest car on the road but I owned this car for over 12 years, put over 110,000 miles on it, and it saved me a ton of cash. The reliability of this car is off the charts. I might have put $3k into it the entire time I owned it, and that's replacing consumables like brakes, exhaust, etc. The car never failed me once and is probably still on the road somewhere. I sold the car with 139,000 miles on it and it was still on the original clutch!
Best sports car under $6k!
The MX-3 GS Special combines several of my favorite features into one vehicle. Nothing (at this price) handles like this little monster. Car and Driver put this car in the 300Z/Supra/3000GT range of road grip, and after 3 years of fun (can you say 90 mph exit ramp circle?), I agree. This car has taken everything I have dished out with a smile. I drove this car 29 hours straight @ 90-100 mph --no probs. I've also driven it with 1 QT oil and NO water for days-with little loss of performance If you can find another car this reliable, fun, and feature-packed for under $6k used, please let me know!
Fun and very reliable car!
My wife got this car about 5 years ago when she was still in college and it has been rock solid the whole time. Being 6'2" tall, it's a little small for my taste, but it's perfect for her. It rides pretty rough, exactly what you want from a small car that really grips the road. Gas mileage is decent (upper 20's), but leaves a little bit to be desired for a car this size. I guess something has to give if you want it to perform the way this little Mazda does. It has good acceleration and even passing power on the highway thanks to the high revving V6. All around a very dependable fun to drive little car.
Good Car
I bought this car right out of high school. It has been great for me. It handles great and zoops around, very fun to drive. I've loved this car, I've driven almost into the ground several times with no oil for a week. I have had problems with the battery though. And I love the hatchback!
Good Summer Drive
Great car for the summer. Lots of fun to drive. Never have had problems with it until i wrecked it in the winter. Not the cheepest car to have body work done but has some nice aftermarket kits.
Red, A Partner To Endure With
I love my MX-3, even though the dependability rate is low I have not had any major problems. I replaced the radiator at seven years old and the axels at 6 (accident). She still runs well and looks good. The interior holds up wonderfully and with a monthly shampoo, and bi-weekly vaccum she is a sight for sore eyes. The look, ride, and control of the car I rate a 9. A 10 if she had leather seats.
great buy for import sports enthusiast
this car is, as all mazdas, is a great car. its reliable and takes a lot of abuse. i bought mine used from an individual who kept up with it pretty well. but since i've had it, i've had to replace the distributor (135$ at the junkyard) and spark plug wires (40$ at autozone). unfortunately, i let it run too hot trying to get it home after running out of coolant - the motor still runs strong, but it knocks like crazy. i'll be taking it to the mazda dealership for a diagnostic. so far they are guessing that is may be the lifters, if so, i will swap the motor with a KLZE for more horsepower, that is my only complaint on this car, why they put a 1.8L V6 and not a 2.5L V
zips beautifully
I bought this car as a senior in high school, it was economical and had great gas mileage. I havnt had problems with it until recently- the battery has lost ability to charge a few times, fan belt keeps snapping, and the Air Conditioner refuses to get fixed. I love the handling and the rougher ride- I feel like i'm in a tire commercial on a winding road. Acceleration is decent, I have the auto trans. but would have preferred a manual. Turning is easy at high speeds, it likes to hug the road and zips around heavy SUV's like its nothing. This is the only car i've been sentimental about- I dont know why. Its a great car for new/young drivers.
My road dog.
This has been the best car I have ever owned. I've had no major repairs or maintenance fees. I generally just keep the oil changed and regular $50 tune-ups. I'm beggining to have problems with the air conditioning and the automatic seatbelts. I have logged 140k and it's never stopped on me(knock on wood).
MAZDA M3X
Excellent car, real fun to drive and reliable. Driver seat is very comfortable for long trips. It is also economical, and fast when need. Hard to find at dealers since owners like to keep hold of their MX3’s.
GOOD SPORTY CAR
I bought it 2 years ago. It was almost 150,000 miles. Based on my tight budget i had few options then. I am glad that i made this bold, but right decision. I drove another 25,000 miles. Still very reliable. No repairs. Just basic maintenance.
What a fun car to Drive
This car is the greatest, I have so much fun driving it after 11 years I still enjoy getting in the car and going. Its also reliable with very few problems. I'm sorry Mazda doesn't make it any more or I would go buy another.
more power
i bought my mazda with 118000 miles and i drove the hellout of it and the only thing ive done is change the battery. but theres just not enough power.
A Fun Little Car
This is my first car, and it is SO MUCH FUN! It doesn't seem it, but it's quite tough (it survived my horrible beginners driving). Handles very well, and is easy to drive as well. With an exterior design that looks much newer than its year, and a roomy interior able to hold everything a teenager needs with ease, I will always love this little car!
Who needs botox...she still looks good.
This is my second MX3. First one was a 4 cylinder. The 4 cylinder just wasn't powerful enough...stick with the GS V6 with manual tranny (trust me). Worst case, stick with manual tranny in either model. The exterior of the MX3 does hold it's age well, very well actually. I still feel pretty cool driving it around after all these years. However, mechanically, the age of the car is starting to show. Common problems on this car include, power windows, automatic shoulder belts (recall), tons of front axle problems (front). Best bet is to buy from a dependable source or someone who keeps good records. Look for repairs in the areas listed prior. All in all, I would buy it again...It's that cool.;)
Worse car I've owned
I must have gotten the lemon of the bunch. I have had more problems with this car than any other I've had. The air conditioner has been replaced several times. Seat belts problems,rubber warping on all windows, I have a library full of the work I've had to have done on it and that was right after the warranty ended.
When are they going to build a new one?
This is my third MX-3, and my first V-6. I haven't had it long, but so far everything is great. I was able to grab one with under 100K on the ODO so that was definitely a plus. It's definitely a sleeper, as most would even expect a V-6 in such a small car. Beats most other cars its size and and even some bigger ones. Hopefully I can keep this one for a while :). P.S. My first one was in totaled in an accident...and continued to run even after the accident and the second one was bought from a shady guy that sold me one with a defective head. Third time's a charm right?
DON'T BUY AUTOMATICS
This would be an excellent car, as long as you get the standard. Turns out the Auto-Tran is the same one as the Ford Escort. It may have saved them (Ford) money on manufacturing cost, but it's undersized for the 130 Hp engine of the MX-3. I've already had to replace my Transmission and my have to do so again.
Great compact, fun sporty car
I have had this car almost a year and hasn't let me down yet. i have a list of mods done to my car, faster than civics . and no body does any mods and they should i don't plan on selling it anytime soon.
best car for the daily driver
I have owned this car for more than 6 years and I'm very pleased with it. It's really hard to move onto something newer. It has one of the best handling abilities compared to all FWD cars even being 15 yr old car. I'm not even talking about how much more positive difference it makes when you start adding upgrades and engine swaps are easy and inexpensive (200hp J-spec kl-ze) will waste much more expensive cars such as Integra type R, S2000's, etc.
AWESOME CAR!!!
This car is great!! Handles well both in the rain or snow. In fact it makes it hard for one to trade it in! But people often hit the front of the car (SUVs) due to it sits so low. Needs more power but not much to maintain! Costly for repairs or maintance but worth it. I'm not looking forward to replacing this car... Great first car or just driving.
MX3
Not bad the drive is very smooth and comfortable. Pickup is a little slugish and the visibility out the rear driver side is very poor.
economic yet sporty!
this car is SO fun to drive. while it has its fair share of mechanical issues and kinks. it is still incredibly reliable, and should last a longggg time if maintained properly. if you plan to buy this car do your research! mx-3.com has a tech forum which details most of the common problems found on this car. most of the problems are minor. that aside, the car is zippy, its sporty, and its FUN. it handles like its on a RAIL. not only that it gets good mileage, and it's easy to maintain. i wouldn't trade my mx-3 in for anything out there today! :)
94' MX-3 GS
This is a great little v6 engine. I bought it used with 183,000kms and it now has 200,000.... i have not had a single engine related problem and it runs good and pulls hard. Also has original tranny, and at 200,000 kms, thats one good reason why imports are great and GM's SUCK !!!
Reliable
This car is very reliable with a unique look and a good balance of pickup and power while maintaining 25- 30 mpg. I replaced a rusted muffler at around 50k miles, both CV joints at around 60k miles and the roters and pads at around 73k miles. I consider all of those to be standard maintenance.
good car
I have been the first owner of my car and aside from my regular maintenace of the car, I have had no really major problems. Well worth the money spent.
Niche Car Waiting To Happen
I absolutely love my Mazda MX-3. I don't think for what I paid I could possibly find a car thats more fun to drive, and easy to find information on too. I recommend all MX-3 owners and future owners go to www.mx-3.com for all their mx-3 information. I've had the car for about 3 months its the best car I've ever had. The car has fantastic cornering, and really good acceleration. The seats hug you when you drive all and all great car.
Cool Car
this is a great car I have had mine for a little less than 6 months but i love it i had a little electrical trouble but that was because whoever i bought it from could nt put in a stereo. my car has 190000+ miles on it and still runs like a charm, mazda did great.
Love to Drive
This car is fun to drive, and believe me I love to drive it.
Excellent Car
I've had an mx-3 for a couple years now and like it very much.
Fantastic car
My wife bought her MX3 GS new in 1994, and it still has under 40,000 miles on it and is still like a new car. Granted she has not put a lot of miles on it, and it is garaged all the time, but this has honestly been one of the absolute most trouble-free cars I've ever seen. Add to that that it is fun to drive, looks good, it's comfortable and relatively economical. After 18 years of ownership my wife still loves her MX3 and never even considers that she might want somethng newer. Only regular upkeep (oil changes, 1 set of tires, 2 batteries, 1 tune-up and we did the 60K scheduled maintenance at 30K just because of its age), and 1 minor repair (cracked air hose). Hard to beat
94 MX-3 GS
Awesome little car!! One of the best cars one can buy for bang for the buck. A total blast to drive. Very fast and very quick.