Mazda MX6 - a modern classic?

JonW

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3,259
all,

Bit of a long shot, but is anyone on here knowledgable on Mazda MX6’s… I’m toying with a purchase but don’t know all that much about them, so would welcome any views, tips, things to look out for, etc….

Am also interested in whether anyone thinks they meet the definition of a modern classic?
 

Hawk13

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1,471
My mate has got one and loves it ... but it seems to me that it is high maintenance and always needing work.

As for a modern classic - yes in my view.
 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
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Best forgotten in my view, like the Ford Probe that it shared a lot if I recall correctly.
Not even a rotary to make it a bit special, and front wheel drive.
Quite pretty looking though.
 

Jamin

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237
One of my favourite cars in my youth, me and a friend spoilt it by sticking on viper stripes one day when we were bored, took them off shortly after though.
It wasn't the fastest car at the time but a little unusual and could seat 4 comfortably and the 2.5V6 was smooth.88339883408834188342
 

makeshiftUK

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1,089
Used to own a V6 Ford probe for my sins... absolutely loved it. Both the Probe and MX-6 were assembled in Flat Rock, Michigan... production run for the Probe was '93 to '98-ish, I think the MX-6's appeared a little earlier.

Cool things to note... MX6 had 4-wheel steer which I think was pretty special at the time... but the Probe had pop-up lights and wins there ;) I don't think I ever saw another engine variant beyond the KL-DE/KL-ZE (*** variant) 2.5 V6 in the Mazdas, whereas the Probe was offered in an underpowered 4-cylinder flavour.

Don't expect stellar performance... 163bhp from the V6, rising to 200-ish in the -ZE variant which only made it to Japan... 0-60 in over 8 seconds for the Probe, and I'm guessing similar for the Mazda. A sports car it was most certainly wasn't (Celica, Corrado etc. had sportier credentials), but as a GT it certainly delivers over long journeys.

Look out for rust... wheel arches, sun roof. Distributor/immobiliser issues affected 'early' Probes from 93 - 95, not sure if they carried over to the Mazda. Boot struts always prone to going given the weight of the tailgate... easy and cheap to replace. Modern classic I'm not sure, but there aren't many on the roads that's for certain...
 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
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9,033
As I said earlier, best forgotten unless for personal nostalgic reasons.
You will end up spending a fortune, only for a brief pause and comment 'I had one of those' and nothing more, when parked in a field at a local car show.
 

makeshiftUK

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1,089
And forgot to mention… oil control rings on pre-1995 Probes were a weak point and resulted in oil starvation… I speak from experience.

Buy a late version of either if you can, parts are cheap and enjoy it…
 

philw696

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25,119
I think I would rather have a Peugeot 406 Coupé 3.0 V6 manual box for me but then I'm a little perverse.
 

foibles

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511
Unless this car is a known quantity to you, I'd certainly steer you towards the series 3 honda prelude instead. Great build quality, wonderful shape, very nostalgic and certainly a classic. Far better engineered.

88822
 

Andyk

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61,040
I liked the Prelude especially the one before the one pictures above. That was a lovely shape….Certainly made the Mazda look rather boring.
 

rockits

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I had a Ford Probe V6 for a few years and loved in. Did tons of miles in smooth comfort. Never liked the successor.

Saved my life in a horrible fatal car accident sone years back too so will always be eternal grateful.

Always preferred the Probe to the MX6 but manly because of looks inside and outside as I expect the MX6 to be pretty much the same car other than that.
 

rockits

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I have been looking to buy a nice one again for years but nothing has come up that fits as yet.
 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
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9,033
Honda made some great design cars in the late 80's and 90's, CRX and even the Aerodeck.
It was the daily driver of choice in my family we had a couple of Civics, including the first Civic VTec, Accord and Legend.
 

zagatoes30

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20,763
Honda made some great design cars in the late 80's and 90's, CRX and even the Aerodeck.
It was the daily driver of choice in my family we had a couple of Civics, including the first Civic VTec, Accord and Legend.

Agreed loved the first Aerodeck and mate had a 2.2 Vtec Prelude Motegi which was an awesome piece of kit but the little 1.6 Vtec in the MK2 CRX was a real gem
 

rockits

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I had a Honda CRX 1.6 VTEC Transtop import which was immense fun. What a little engine.

Also had a 1988 MK1 MR2 T-Bar that I wish I still had.

My brother had a Prelude 4WS jobby that was the most reliable car ever.
 

philw696

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25,119
The Civic EG9 I took to Landau for the track days was one of the most fun cars I have ever put on track for sure.
For a standard car apart from a Mugen air box it was amazing.