I'm looking for a car, any advice on a mazda 626 reliability?

Question

i'm looking for my first car- and there were a few we found. there was an '03 ford taurus with 66000 miles on it in good condition. but then i found an '02 mazda 626 with 78500 miles and i fell in love with it.

there were a few problems with the mazda though. my mom said the brakes were beginning to grind, and there was a squealing belt- the serpentine belt. but irregardless, i want to know if mazdas are good cars, reliable, especially for a beginning driver.

help?

Answer 1

If you are REALLY looking for good reliability, Honda is the best way to go.  Their cars easily last 250,000 miles if they have been properly kept up with.  

As far as Mazda goes, yes they are good cars.  But only recently have they been really making a name for themselves.  

Answer 2

Mazdas generally are very reliable, but the 626 is a hit or miss affair. Some years are good- others aren't. I'm a Mazda fan but I do know that the 626s (4cylinders and V6s) after 1994 have troublesome transmissions. The issues you mentioned are easy to repairs-which shouldn't even cost $500 to repair at any repair shop. My primary concern will always be the transmission on these cars. If it's running fine just keep it serviced every 15,000 miles. Trust me on this. Tranny shops preach this regardless of what the manufacturer says. Many transmission specialist say that the overdrive and the torque converter are what fails first. If you do the fluid every 15,000 miles, There's no chance of the fluid getting too dirty to be ineffective. It can last a relatively long time like this. Regardless, the 626 is a better car than a Taurus.

Answer 3

the grinding brakes means they are worn and need replacement.  there is a metal tab on the brake pads, and when the pads are worn down, this tab will rub on the brake rotor to remind the driver to change them.  worst case scenario, this tab was ignored, and now the pads are worn to the backing, which is metal.  so, instead of brake pad on rotor, now it is metal backing plate on metal, and the rotor(s) are toast.   screeching belt can be a couple of things.  most common is the tensioner has lost it's "spring", which keeps the belt tight.  so, new belt and tensioner.  it also could be a bad pulley, like the a/c or alternator is broke, and the belt is moving on a pulley that don't want to turn.  or, the harmonic balancer has separated.  this is on the crank itself.  the outer part of the balancer is bonded to the inner part, and over time, they can separate.  then, the outer part moves independent of the inner part, and makes a screeching sound like a loose belt.  

     we had a 96 626, one of the worse cars we have ever owned.  dunno if it is still made in the us, ours was, and it showed.  before that, we had 2 323's, made in japan, and after we have 2 millenia's, also made in japan.  the build quality is night and day.  we will never get another 626.  

Answer 4

They are very reliable.

The belts are probably loose. That is why they squeel.

But if they need to be changed, it is a cheap fix.

And the brakes should cost $75 to replace.

It is definitely better than the Ford.

Answer 5

mazda 626( 2002 ) reliability is excellent , according to consumer reports .