1990 Mazda MX-6 info

[noob2k6]

Hello this is my first post as i am new to this board, id like to ask a few questions on a 90' mx-6.

Whats the specs like horsepower, torque and curb weight? (the regular model)

Does the 1990 model have a tachometer or just a speedometer.

Until what mileage do real problems start occuring or if there even are considering your driving normal.

The guy im buying it from is selling it for 200 bucks, but the catch is the thermostat for the engine is broken, and the shifter is kind of hard to shift the gears but works. How much would a thermostat cost or do you really need one????

[xjoeharperx]

There are a lot more catches than the thermostat and shifter for 200 bucks...id stay away from this one...especially a probe/626 that already has problems...ill never buy another one again

[vendaz]

I currently own a '90 MX-6, which I've owned for five years. I can't tell you the details about curb weight or any of that, but it does have a tachometer in all models, presumably. I have an LX model, so I'm certain the GT model does too.

My car has 142,000 miles on it, and has been completely reliable so far. However, little things are starting to go wrong with it just recently, and just the other day I just started experiencing a problem with the gas line which is causing my car to convulse below 1,000 RPM. I haven't taken it in to find the cause yet, but I'm thinking this is only the beginning of the problems that I may face, so I'm planning on replacing it this year.

Otherwise, the body, engine and interior are all in great shape for a 15-year-old car, and I've been very pleased to own it. It's great to drive and has been extremely low-maintenence, esp. considering that I haven't put a lot of work into it (poor college student) other than oil changes and repairing what few things have gone wrong.

As for what you're buying, I'd say be careful. If you're not expecting a lot, you'll be fine, but any old car is going to require more and more repair over time, even reliable cars like Mazdas.

[noob2k6]

What kind of little things might you be talking about? are those little things neccesary to fix or can live without??

[vendaz]

Little things that have happened in the last year:

Driver's door handle broke, door wouldn't open
Driver's power window motor died, had to be repaired
Driver's door latch froze open in winter (went back to normal once car was warmed up, but this took 15 minutes). Guess I should have just replaced the damn car door, but oh well.
Muffler failed and had to be replaced
CV boot ripped on passenger side
Slight oil leak
Brake squeal-pads need to be replaced
Tires
Headlight out


As you can see, nothing really too bad. But when you don't have a lot of money to go replacing things, this stuff can get really irritating really fast. Aside from my latest problem (which I mentioned in the other post), virtually NOTHING has gone wrong with the engine. I'm worried that it will, but it's nothing that a good tune-up (replacement of all major hoses and belts) wouldn't prevent, I think. I also do a lot of driving, including longer trips, and I've always been very satisfied.

[vendaz]

Oh, a couple others I forgot:

Display on radio went out (tape deck didn't work when I bought it)
Driver's seat adjusts kind of weakly, you can set it in place but it might shift around until it catches.
Trunk leaks a little water, nothing too bad.

Also, I think it's inevitable that something will go wrong with the automatic seatbelts, but that hasn't happened in the 5 years I've owned it.

[xjoeharperx]

I had a 90 probe..same car different body....I bought the car with 27k miles...in one year I went through 4 alternators, powersteering pump, headlight motor, cv joint (at 36k miles..less than 1/2 expected life span), door handle broke, numerous electronic problems, rear hatch door seals and tail light assembly...too much for one car

[RoxysBrian]

I've had my 92 MX-6 for right about a year. When I bought it it had 122,000 miles on it. The only thing it needed was new front brakes and tires. I too have had the same problem with the drivers' side door handle breaking and finally found the stupid thing on E-bay. I also have the same leaking trunk problem but have found out on www.consumerguide.com that this is a common problem with this body style. But I now have a little over 147,000 miles on it and have driven from the far eastern side of Mississippi to over half way across Texas and back with no problems. Gas mileage is pretty good. I usually average almost 70 and still get 25-30 mpg depending how hard I drive it. Best I've ever gotten is 34 mpg and worst is 25.

[vendaz]

RoxysBrian,

It is a good little car, isn't it? Despite these small problems, I've had a great time owning it. My first car was an '84 Cadillac Eldorado, which was a complete disaster of a car that I couldn't even trust to take out of town.

But my Mazda just goes and goes. I even like it so much that I'm still debating between going to a newer Miata and keeping my MX6 another year.

[RoxysBrian]

I love my little car. Wish it was a turbo, but it's great. I plan on driving it till it falls apart and I'm forced to buy another car. Sunroof works, power windows works, automatic seatbelts suck tho. I plan on adding a remote start as soon as I get he wiring diagram for it.

[RoxysBrian]

Getting back to the main point, the car weighs 2560 lbs, 110 hp or 145 hp if you have turbo, 130 lbs/ft or 190 lbs/ft for turbo.
The 90 model has both a tach and a speedo.
Yes, you need a thermostat, without it your car would overheat and eventually ruin the motor. They cost about $5 or $6.
Is it an auto or a manual?
For a little more info, go here: http://auto.consumerguide.com/auto/u...ex.cfm/id/2198

[noob2k6]

manual tranny

[RoxysBrian]

I would probably stay away as well. If it's hard to get in gear, then that means the something will probably go wrong with the tranny soon.