BA11P1 323 Astina - What are they like?

[demuire]

Cool. Well I'll look through the log books this arvo and see when the water pump was last replaced. Am leaning towards the P2 at the moment because it's newer and has some other accessories on it for the same price... But yes, have yet to see the cars in person.

Funnily enough both are within 500m from each other (different street though), both are white...

[demuire]

I am proud new owner of a 1996 BA11P2 323 Astina

... now to sell the Camry...

[demuire]

P3 will have the Airbag for driver but no ABS unless optioned.

Mazda servicing can be cheap on their bread'n'butter models - some of the parts (200000km would be a very major) are actually quite cheap compared to other marques. If it's getting a timing belt pay a little extra and get a new waterpump on it as well. They are known to leak as they get old and they need everything pulled off the front of the motor to change them.

A.

Well then, this service is becoming rather interesting. They started off the cheapest quote ($563), and have quickly become the most expensive ($1200), water pump was $250 inc labor, and timing belt replacement in the quote did NOT include the tensioners, which are an extra $250. I guess this is a lesson to find out EXACTLY what is included in the service next time - the other workshops I called (~$700-900) included all these bits...

DOH.

And then to add insult to injury the car won't be ready till Friday (they have to order the tensioners in). 3 bloody days for the service. Just as well I haven't sold the Camry yet...

[Jim]

i really like these things, and would have bought one except I couldn't physically get in the damn thing.

[Aaron]

Well then, this service is becoming rather interesting. They started off the cheapest quote ($563), and have quickly become the most expensive ($1200), water pump was $250 inc labor, and timing belt replacement in the quote did NOT include the tensioners, which are an extra $250. I guess this is a lesson to find out EXACTLY what is included in the service next time - the other workshops I called (~$700-900) included all these bits...

DOH.

And then to add insult to injury the car won't be ready till Friday (they have to order the tensioners in). 3 bloody days for the service. Just as well I haven't sold the Camry yet...

They're pulling a cunt act there. The pump is quite cheap for new Mazda, and the tensioners are a ripoff. They should be included in the Timing belt Kit. Except to keep your initial quote down they'll have just priced the belt.

How are you enjoying the car though? Is it proving to be as good as you hoped?

A.

[demuire]

Pump from Mazda was $160 (Repco $150), with $50 labour, $40 for coolant (???).

Car is really quite nice. Quiet, relatively fun to drive as long as you keep the revs up (it's not as flexible as my 4AGE Corolla), comfortable... It doesn't even squeek or anything. I do like it quite a lot. If only it didn't understeer quite so much...

And, after pulling the dash apart (to have a look at putting the new immobilizer in, I ended up getting it professionally done :p), and also the gf's 121 bubble thing, I'm really quite impressed with the Mazda interiors. From the way the parts "hook" into one another (instead of using a bazillion screws and bolts), to the use of push out re-useable clips (instead of silly christmas tree ones), even the quality of the plastic. Compared to the Toyota's I've worked with in the past, it's really quite a welcome change

[rorge]

Slightly on but slightly off topic..

What are the v6 versions from the early to mid 90s like? And what's the Eunos 30x like in comparison??