Our Cars--1998 Mazda 626 LX
Submitted by Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame
The reason I've been thinking more about cars and car issues lately is because my commuter car was totaled (hit by a motorcycle while the car was parked). I spent a great deal of time researching to determine value while searching for a suitable replacement.
I ended up getting a steal--a 1998 Mazda 626 LX 4-cylinder with 83,000 miles for $1,000. According to Edmunds, it is worth $4,000 retail or $3,100 in private party sale in Hawaii (where I am). I could get $2,300 for it as a trade-in. The typical Mazda transmission problems from that era should not be a worry, as the transmission was replaced last year.
I was looking for a car that I could drive for a month, then sell without a loss while shipping my '01 Prizm for the upcoming move to Texas. Not only did I do that in spades, I ended up getting a car I don't want to give up, so maybe we'll sell the Prizm instead.
Without further ado, I give you An Ode to My Mazda 626:
O! My 626,
You are lovely.
You look so nice parked in my assigned space,
Your elegantly aggressive stance and perfect proportions
Displayed for all to see.
You have all the comfort and gadgets a man could hope for,
Including air vents that swing at a touch of a button.
You have decent fuel economy, but enough power to
Cruise smoothly at interstate speeds.
Acceleration may not be world-class,
May not approach current sedan standards,
But your steering is so precise, so rock steady,
That driving is a simple, daily pleasure.
I feel great just slipping behind the wheel.
You are larger than any except the most recent Corollas and Civics, but
With an elegance and comfort and little
Touches of quality in materials and the way
Knobs and switches move, that I feel more
Decadent than an Accord or Camry owner.
I cannot believe I found you for just $1000.
I do not want to lose you, my 626,
But cold, hard cash is hard to resist.
I may have to look for a used 626 in Texas...
--Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame
(Note from Chris: Nathan didn't have any photos, so these are just two plain-Jane 626s I found for sale online. Both cost more than $1,000!)
Mochi Mochi on April 02, 2008 at 06:17 PM
Nathan - Amazing deal! You are the king! That's an unbelievable price for a great great car. I remember the reviews of the 1st Gen 626, Road&Track and Car and Driver raved about how awesome the 626 was. They called it a competitor for the BMW 3 series of the time. Nice work. This car is a great all around driver with potential for some serious driving. By the way, I loved the article on the Courier too.
The Luke on April 03, 2008 at 12:14 AM
Keep it and ditch the Prizm!
Nathan on April 03, 2008 at 09:24 PM
Well, it doesn't drive like a BMW 3, but it's a 4-cyl auto. I could see where it could feel like it was coming close if you had the 6-cyl and a stick.
I think we are going to keep it. It needs a few minor repairs, so that will make it count as about $1500 price than the $1000, but that's still about half price.
I wish I could take credit for that, but it was just luck, and running into a family that was selling an absent (living overseas) daughter's car and not really knowing how much it was worth.
Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good.
Mochi Mochi on April 03, 2008 at 11:33 PM
"The first Mazda 626 appeared in most markets in 1979. It was a front engined rear wheel drive compact, little changed from the Japan-market Mazda Capella on which it was based. With an 80 hp (60 kW) 2.0 L SOHC straight-4 F/MA engine, it performed well, with both Consumer Guide and Car and Driver magazines comparing it with a BMW. One innovative feature was a split-folding rear seat, which increased cargo capacity and flexibility tremendously. This first 626 was a hit, doubling Mazda's US sales." That's from wikipedia regarding the 1st gen 626.
At the time I had a BMW 320. Car&Driver was making the comparison to the 320 (4cyl 2.0l). They said the 626 was a great car. Not quite as refined as the BMW but good acceleration and great handling. I kind of hate the term "a poor man's" fill in the blank. It is especially distasteful when applied to a BMW. I thought I loved my BMW but I was pretty happy when I sold it. I had to do a lot of work to get it to handle the way I wanted. When I test drove my civic I was amazed at how much better it handled (stock) than the 320 did with all kinds of suspension mods. Don't get me wrong it was a nice car. But I don't miss it at all. It had semi-trailing arm rear suspension that was a killer if you weren't careful. The 626 sounds like a much saner more manageable car with reliability that BMW could only dream of. The current 626 I'm sure is a great car. I've gotten some rides in a friends 323 - that's a sweet car.
BTW: you did your research. You found the car. You got an amazing price. Part of being lucky is making luck happen. Finding the right deal usually takes more than a little work.
Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame on April 04, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Handling IS rock-solid. I could absolutely believe C&D compared its handling to a BMW3. I was objecting to the comparison in speed/acceleration, which may not be fair. It accelerates smoothly, rather than briskly.
...but not "smoothly" like Granny's car. Smooth like quality.
The car was "Zoom Zoom" before they adopted that slogan, I think.
Basically, the car just about oozes quality in all sorts of little touches that I don't even consciously realize.
The split folding rear seat is cool, and has already come in handy.
It sometimes seems like Mazda should have better sales, because I've known a dozen people who love their Mazdas to death. Finally getting my hands on one, I can see why. Reading about the current Mazda3 that lets you get BMW3-style driving experience for Kia-competitive prices just strengthens that impression.
I've loved Hondas for about a decade now, but when it comes to buying a used car, their resell value is so high that I end up picking up Toyotas for the reliability/adequateness for the cheaper price. But now that I've jumped into the Mazda pool, I may never go back. Especially if they can come up with a Sport-Cute as versatile, powerful, and fuel efficient as the RAV4.
Chris Hafner on April 04, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Nathan: "Including air vents that swing at a touch of a button."
I had a 626 rental car back in 1998, and I fell in love with this feature. Envision a hot, sticky summer day, and you're setting off on a three-hour drive.
The air conditioning is too cold to have blowing directly on you for the whole drive. Yes if you turn down the AC or divert the vents, you get too warm.
Normally the best you can do is turn the AC off, then on, then off, then on - you cycle between being too warm and too cold.
But with the Mazda, the vents swing back and forth just like an oscillating fan, spreading the cold air throughout the car and keeping you cool without chilling you to the bone. It's a fantastic idea that I'd forgotten all about, and for the life of me I'm not sure why nobody else has picked up on it. I don't even recall the Mazda 6s I've driven having that feature.
CGHill on April 05, 2008 at 02:52 PM
My '93 626 was a bit wonky, but the 2000 version was, to my way of thinking, the best $20k car around at the time. (I had the dealership slide a tape deck under the CD/radio unit, which brought the sticker up to $20,250; I actually paid somewhere around $17,500.) I drove this little darb across three dozen states, never got less than 20 mpg - hit the low thirties on occasion - and the thing was absolutely charming in the twisties. I'd have it today were it not for one of Bambi's dumber descendants, who did a half-gainer off the grille at 65 mph one summer day.