I admire how Mazda offered non- traditional engines like the rotary, Miller cycle and this tiny 1.8L V6. A great company that builds interesting autos.
Tool0GT92 -- Mr Regular has quite the potty mouth. At first his vocabulary seems humorous, but it quickly becomes stale, juvenile and off-putting. Just not my style.
Huge,bloated and boring. My "exectutive hatchback" as it was called in Europe (Saab 9000) looks tiny parked next to a modern sub-compact. It looks small next to a Mini.
@@carloseduardoalmeida1173 I don't recall, exactly. It had a transmission issue I would later discover where it would rip itself out of third gear if accelerating uphill. And if it was against my best friend with his 96' Eclipse (which I assume it was) I'm guessing I would have dropped third and lost. So first race I probably lost. =)
The MX-3 is a GORGEOUS little car. I just wish I could find one!! I've loved the look of this car since I was a teenager when I saw one for sale in a parking lot around 2005.
@2 Corinthians 4:7-11 Really late on posting this question, ( It's been over a year since you posted ! ) If you are still on TH-cam these days, I'd like to ask about the blind spots on the car. I have read several people's comments on how terrible the blind spots are. Care to comment ? Also, what kind if gas mileage did you get with the car ? - Thanks !
Back in the days when there were so many options for 20-30 year old guys[girls too, I guess] to buy a reasonably priced car that was sporty. And had 2 doors. Escort,Beretta,Daytona,Shadow,Talon,Eclipse,Laser,LeBaron,Sunbird,Probe,GrandAm,Sundance,Tempo,Cavalier,Neon,and that is just the Big 3. Nowadays there are really only a couple of Imports. Civic? Veloster? Challenger/mustang/Camaro are not reasonably priced especially insurance for a 25 year old.
Changes in economic opportunities and spending power aren't helping in providing more variety in affordable but sporty car choices to the current 20-30 year olds. Carmakers that haven't make enough money from selling failed sedans/economy cars are now focusing solely on SUVs to recover those losses, leaving Honda & Hyundai to be the only ones still creating affordable sports sedans and hatchbacks.
I had one with a manual and the V6. It was a quick revving engine and my friend who rode sport bikes was surprised on how quick it would reach redline. I wish I still had that car.
I missed my MX-3s. First one was a red base model with a paltry 88 horses and auto box, then traded for a red V6 stick after a year and a bit. For a few weeks my friends didn't even know I had a different car except they noticed it "sounded different" LOL. Mazda has the 2nd smallest V6 engine in production back then. The smallest was Mitsubitshi Mirage V6 with 1.6L but never came to North America. Good times.
i still have the slushbox 88hp engine let me tell you the thing probably makes 65 to the wheels lol but it's slow in an endearing way it's not meant for speed it is just meant to get you where you are going in style
Sold as the Eunos 30X in Australia, priced around 40K, this was my first company drive car when i was a sales cadet. I remember that everyone around you drove faster because it had the "Eunos3" vanity plate! I had some very memorable moments in that little beauty! This week am about to pick one up that has only done 150,000km and I'm getting kind of excited!
I owned one of these, only in white. That tiny V-6 was so smooth, but it really had no power. Depending on where in the country you purchased it, you could get it with Yokohama A008 tires, which were extreme summer tires and made it great for auto crossing but were horrible in anything but perfect weather. Gheez I love these review. Reminds me of my early twenties.
My first car was a purple '95 mx3 with a 1.6 straight-four. I learned stick in that little thing but it was tired at 200K. Sold it because I thought I wouldn't be able to use stick going to school in San Francisco (to be fair, hill starts were very hard because it would gurgle for 30 seconds before it would give power after clutch release). I found it on the side of the road today, 4 1/2 years later, half chopped up outside a fire station. According to the locals, the lady I sold it to abandoned it about 6 months after I sold it. The cops took it in and they gave it to the fire department... who used it for jaws-of-life practice. Now I really feel bad for selling it. I could've saved it! I suppose this is my punishment for buying an automatic (I've since switched back to stick). Not to mention there was a late 80s Hyundai Excel wagon next to it that looked like it was in good shape... before they chopped it. It was a shame seeing two rare late-80's/early-90's cars chopped up like that... one of them wasn't very good to begin with, but that's not the point!
Doctor Robert that kind of treatment should have been directed at a more deserving specimen, like a Cavalier or Neon of similar vintage. What a damn shame.
@@thefuzzypickle8277 I did... sorta. I kick myself for not paying attention to the police auctions (or wherever the Fire Department got it), probably could've bought it back for a steal. It's definitely motivated me to keep my current Mazda on the road XD (it hasn't been easy).
@@comedyman112 1980 Mazda Capella (626) with the SOHC MA 4-banger. I've owned it way longer than I did the MX3 but being 40 years old, it's needed everything fixed at one point or another. We've been through too much together, though, so I won't give up on it now. lolz
Last winter I was contemplating buying a cheap, lightweight car with a short wheelbase and some good low-end grunt for a rallycross and ice-trial toy. I settled on a MX-3 V6 with a 5-speed... until I looked for one to buy. I found two for sale in the entire United States. That's when I decided maybe something a little easier to find and get parts for would be a better bet.
I used to work with a guy that had one. At the time i had a corolla gti and another buddy had a civic esi, all roughly 120 -130 bhp so made for some good close racing. In a straight line the civic and the corolla were neck and neck but the mx3 was always just that wee bit behind, BUT.....the sound of the mx3s engine with a full stainless exhaust and induction kit sounded pure race car.
A '93 (same color) but with the round dash vents was my 1st car ... it was gutless (I had the 4 cylinder).. but it was my 1st car. I see one every once in a great while nowadays...
My dad once had a '95 MX-3 with the 1.8 V6. It was a 5-speed Manual transmission, and it was fun to drive. Unfortunately it got totaled in a hit and run accident a year after he bought it. He was really pissed off about it.
I've owned three modern Mazdas, including an RX-8, and I still think the MX-3 is the best looking Mazda, and one I wished I've owned. It's amazing how they shoehorned a V6 into that thing. I've also owned a 2014 Honda CR-Z in that similar blue, and I figured it was a good throwback to the 1990s hatchback theme, reminding me of the MX-3.
It is a pleasure to trip through the past as Motor Week covers cars from my college years through grad school. It also shows us how far we have come since my youth.
Back when I was in HS my friend had one of these and when he told me it had a 1.8L V6 I said "you mean 4 cylinder" and he said no, insisting it was a V6. I said no way is it a V6 my Ford Escort ZX2 had a 2.0L engine and that's a 4 cylinder! The smallest V6 I knew about was in the Probe/MX6 at 2.5L and that's already so small it's silly when most V6's are like 3.0 to 3.5L I said there is no way you have a 1.8L V6 lol Hondas have 1.8L 4 cylinders and this went on and on he was getting so mad insisting again that it was a 1.8L V6! Well turned out he was right and I learned something new! I remember hearing that the engine was smooth but still seemed strange my ZX2 had a DOHC Zetec 2.0L 4 Cylinder that made like 130HP or about the same as this. Was it wroth the extra bank, extra cams, extra spark plugs and injectors to make such a small V6?? I liked the car just fine but the engine seemed so strange!
CDN12Guns There are a few good reasons to use a V6 over a four-cylinder. More cylinders mean a greater valve area for a given displacement, meaning that the 6 cylinder car will have an airflow advantage. Also, maximum RPM is dictated by the weight of the pistons and how long their stroke is - more cylinders means each one is lighter and the stroke shorter, allowing it to rev higher without coming apart. Of course, Mazda were not using either of those advantages, because 130hp and 7500rpm out of a 1.8 can easily be achieved with a four-banger. Just look at Honda's B18C VTEC monster with like 190hp and almost tickling 9k. That's really pushing it. If Mazda had gone mouth-foaming crazy like Honda had, this little V6 would be making fantastic power and the most unbelievable sound. But, Mazda always had that Wankel card to play, and in terms of craziness, a rotary can go full two-stroke insane if you want it.
Mazda went "crazier" with other aspects of the engines. Designing the block for better sound and to cancel out unpleasant vibrations. Also with the intake design and the VRIS system designed to keep airflow and power up through the rpm range. Something only higher end cars had at the time. Like the Porsche 959, Taurus SHO, I think Mercedes had a similar intake for a V6 also, and of course the legendary 4AGEs from Toyota in the MR2s and the AE86s. So while the numbers may not appear stellar, you have more of that power all of the time... not just when the VTEC kicks in. You have to wind out a type R or S2000 to get all of the ponies. Then you pay crazy prices for mods because everyone wants the parts. You could pull off a JY upgrade 180-190hp for a few hundred if you know what you're looking for in almost any JY. I have the klze 2.5l and the MPGs aren't that far off an ecoboost1.6l making less power, less fun, not as smooth with drive by wire and whatever the turbo is doing. The ecoboost is saying it gets 23.5, while the KLZE is about 22 with my foot in it. There are people claiming high 30s hypermiling KLs with a turbo. I can't claim that though. That's pretty good for sitting at around 3k rpms at freeway speeds. The KLs can handle 9k but only just, then the oil pump won't hold out. 8k is possible but not absolutely necessary, you want more, you turbo it. Forged steel cranks fixed in a cradle, no crank caps. They didn't exactly skimp. If you need rods, Millenia S has better ones for boost. So far as engine sound goes, mine sounds better than any VTEC zinging at 9k. Give a listen
I have a v6 1.8 Mx 3 :-) Believe me it is worth it. The sound is amazing. Back then in Japan, they had to make a v6 engine,but at the same time it had to be small so the taxes were affordable. 25 years later, i can still get the rpm to 7k and the sound is never boring! :D
Back then the woman living across the street from me had one of these. It really sounded great when she would start it up every morning before she left for work.
Direct competitor to the Nissan NX2000 at the time. Went with the NX2k as it was cheaper to buy, being significantly discounted on the lots. Best choice ever, as it was a faster car, had far more of an aftermarket (turbo kits, Japan spec DET drops ins), and was super cheap to own with its Sentra heritage. Went on for 250k before giving it away. Never any mechanical problems other than the a/c hardware crapping out more than normal.
I love the styling of these cars. The fuel economy is surprisingly disappointing (I average 30mpg in my MT BRZ,) but the engine sounds marvelous. Thanks Motorweek!
LoveMyZJ -- No matter how you slice it, 30 MPG is very impressive for a V6 -- especially from this era. I can't think of another one that even comes CLOSE to that figure.
I had a 93 mx3 with the 1.6 4cyl. Awesome little car. I had a manual 5 speed swapped into my automatic mx3. They hung a clutch and I drove to Virginia Beach and back to Maine a few times that summer. I had a full exhaust and an exedy clutch. It sounded nice! I miss that car. Can’t find them anymore.
I miss my mx3s. Had both the i4 and v6 versions. Loved this design and the way it drove. Too bad one was lost to an accident and the other would not pass smog anymore :(
I had two MX3's , a 94 1.8 DOHC 4 cylinder and a 92 V6 both stick shifts. I greatly preferred the 4 cylinder, but it was slow off a dead start. Great little cars that are must buys if you find them.
@@JackBandicootsBunker Agreed, might be a project of mine one day. I have two of these V6's, one is staying in the MX3, the other I'm toying with miata
I know where three of these are in three different towns.. all of them black.. all have different neon color/design graphics on them.. none have any sort of muffler at all.. all of them sound like a 4th of july fireworks show and smoke like a freight train.. but never seem to die.
Look at that, a stick shift!!! I heard something like 90% of Americans don't even know how to drive stick anymore. A good way to get a great deal on a used car:)
IN a sports car? Next to impossible? Most people are seeking a stick in a sports based car. I mean, they SHOULD be? Why GET one? Next year? Shoot, I still have my 92 GTI 16v.. fun cars are worth enjoying for years.
I didn't say next year, I said "next near" as in "nearly," which probably would have been the better way to word it. Look, I love stick shifts in theory and have zero interest in dual-clutch crap or paddle shift automatics. I can't believe there are some sports cars you can't even get with a manual anymore--I'd probably cross them off my list if I were shopping. But it's true, especially in non-sporty cars, that it's very difficult to sell a manual on the used car market and their value is a lot lower. Maybe it's partly because of where I live but traffic can be so bad that it's just a huge pain in the ass. In an ideal world I'd own two cars, one for that day-to-day shit and one with a stick for other times....
I think I am in more control in a stick. I know that many people live too far from their work place and commute in a car long distances. So glad I can bike to work or grab a bus. Planned my housing around avoiding that lifestyle. Stressful. I never forcasted selling a car when I bought it. But yeah, sporty car or econo box you are trying to get every horse out of, I would for sure go Stick no matter what I might potentially get in 15 years for it. The idea of a Mazda MX3 losing it's sweet smooth shifting 5 speed manual, and all that pep? Depressing. It would be like getting a Miata with a auto. Those have the most magical stick shifts. Sacrelage? Some cars, like a Miata, I doubt they lose out value. The people buying them are likely not looking for a mellow commuter car. Again, not that it matters in terms of getting what makes sense for you.
IKR? It's become a lost art just like lath and plaster. I'm 26 and I love stick shifts, so much fun!!! My dad has a 1999 Jeep Wrangler with a stick shift and I really enjoy driving it. My personal Vehicle is a 1990 Plymouth Acclaim LX. It's an automatic but it's a really nice car, very comfortable and I love it, I wouldn't trade it for anything. Way better then the shit their churning up these days!
I had one of these, but I didn't pay anything close to these prices. I had a 1993 Special Edition V6 with raspberry metallic paint, non-Honeycomb-cereal, five-spoke wheels, and standard black leather and it was $15500. I don't even think they made 2500 of them. I loved that car. The V6 was so smooth and it made the right noises. Honestly, it felt at least a class up from what I paid.
The Mazda MX-3 is an odd little car and should be considered a collectors item nowadays because of them being hard to come by and it also has a small V6. Yes, the Mazda MX-3 as far as I know has the smallest V6 found in a production car. Well, at least in North America. I know that Mitsubishi makes a 1.6 litre V6 engine that is commonly found in Lancers, but it was only sold in Japan though. I'm not a big fan of Nissans and the Toyota Paseo is a weak sauce car to me, so the Mazda MX-3 is my preferred choice of car. Oh and the V6 engine found in the Ford Probe and Mazda MX-6 is said to be a larger version of the Mazda MX-3's V6 engine.
I liked mine. It was the GS fully loaded. I traded my 92 mustang gt for it. It reminded me of the Honda CRX except it had a back seat. The reason we traded for it was, surprisingly our mustang didn't seem to fit our child seat in the back like I'd like it to. Again surprisingly it fit better in the GS and my full five piece drum kit also fit better. Probably because of the hatch angle being less sloped than the mustang. One of the surprising features, to me at least, was the ability to change the interior dashboard lighting from green to orange/red. It handled really well, like a rat with sneakers and with the V6 it was also surprisingly quick, not mustang gt quick but quick enough for my taste.
Mazda made some decent cars back in the day. They are in fact, in the Year 2023, still producing affordable car offerings that are modern and share the same tech features as many of its contemporaries. I could see easily have seen myself driving this car back in the day
My first car was exactly like this car only auto. In 2004 I was 14 and working, I bought a k$n typhoon short ram intake and a magna flow exhaust. Sounded REALLY nice but slow as fuck. Either way I loved it
I just purchased a 1993 MX-3 V6 special edition. It needs some work. These cars do not get their due. They are a far superior car to most econoboxes. The engine runs like my RX-7. The car is also far faster than my ‘91 Miata.
I remember having an argument with my friend who was saying it was the same v6 as the mx6 (2.5) I said no its a 1.8L V6. He went on to say there's no such thing as a v6 that small.... I still remember the look on his face when he looked it up after.
THIS IS THE BEST CAR OF THE WORLD AND STILL IS!!! Idrove a usa 1992 trought The nederland Amsterdam and bought also a v6 Canada precidia, best cars ever!!! You see a smal rubber strip by the door... saying touch.. thats for static elictricity so if you have it just touch the door and it wil get rid of your static fucing smart car... the timingbelt must never get replaced,,, Cause when it snaps the engine is still oke.... Non interfierence k8 engine!!! thats its the best car around!!
Well you are right about that. I live in Greece and there are 2 mx3's with a factory 1.8 v6 on them. One is mine. Both are manuals. There were more tho..But not well taking cared of. Many of them are destroyed..Rusted out,crushed or whatever. Mine is rust free and still runs like a charm :-)
Few sold in the first place. I have seen 5- 16 valve 92 VW GTIs since I bought mine on the road, too. They are pretty rare. Also, I had a Chevy Sprint Turbo as well for many years, I saw maybe 5 in 19 years.
Are you sure that there only 2 MX-3s? I've seen 3-4 in the Thessaloniki area. 2 red ones, 2 green ones. The 1 green one looked like its bonnet was deformed a bit but the other 3 are driven quite regularly. There's a stickered-up faux tuner green MX-3 quite close to me. It sounds unremarkable considering it's a V-6.
A buddy of mine has one of these, worn and rusty but the drivetrain is in mint condition. Unfortunately it has the 1.6/ 5 speed, not the V6. Ironically on the highway with a fresh tune up, it netted 35 mpg, the same as his grandfather's 1989 Plymouth Horizon hatchback with the K-car 2.2 and a 5 speed stick. I'm still trying to figure that one out...
This was one Japanese car I found interesting back in the day. A 1.8L V6?! The styling like a compact and cooler Supra. Too bad they never produced an actual high performance version that could’ve saved mediocre Mazda.
we had the 1.6 version with a five speed and wow it was alot slower than i want to remember but damn fun. We had a straight exhaust with double rear exits, standard suspension but some matte black 18 or 20 inch motegi five spoke wheels
I admire how Mazda offered non- traditional engines like the rotary, Miller cycle and this tiny 1.8L V6. A great company that builds interesting autos.
@2B ... elsewhere these cars were Eunos, born to challenge Lexus. It failed unfortunately :(
I love their cars. The reliability (outside of the rotaries) is also chronically underrated by the Toyota fanbois.
Swap in a Mazda Japan Spec 200 HP KLZE 2.5L V6 from the contemporary MX-6 and you have one heck of a fun car. The V6 swap is easy to do.
Great references! But aside from the Miata, aren't they missing sports cars now?
I was expecting more torque but 1.8s gonna 1.8
i only watch the retro reviews, new cars are boring
I know
they all look way too alike
RelentlessRevolver7 check out regular car reviews if you haven't yet, he covers a lot of older cars
I agree to a point. For most new cars, they are all generic and boring.
Tool0GT92 -- Mr Regular has quite the potty mouth. At first his vocabulary seems humorous, but it quickly becomes stale, juvenile and off-putting. Just not my style.
Huge,bloated and boring.
My "exectutive hatchback" as it was called in Europe (Saab 9000) looks tiny parked next to a modern sub-compact. It looks small next to a Mini.
This was my first car. Same color as the one in the video, too. So many memories. First race, first date, first EVERYTHING in that car lol.
Did you win? Lol
@@carloseduardoalmeida1173 I don't recall, exactly. It had a transmission issue I would later discover where it would rip itself out of third gear if accelerating uphill. And if it was against my best friend with his 96' Eclipse (which I assume it was) I'm guessing I would have dropped third and lost.
So first race I probably lost. =)
👍🏽
First car accident ?
@@O-cDxA Nope surprisingly not!
It blew my mind when I street spotted one of these as a teen, and saw that V6 badge
The MX-3 is a GORGEOUS little car. I just wish I could find one!! I've loved the look of this car since I was a teenager when I saw one for sale in a parking lot around 2005.
Trance88 I got one
@2 Corinthians 4:7-11 Really late on posting this question, ( It's been over a year since you posted ! ) If you are still on TH-cam these days, I'd like to ask about the blind spots on the car. I have read several people's comments on how terrible the blind spots are.
Care to comment ?
Also, what kind if gas mileage did you get with the car ?
- Thanks !
Aqui no Brasil tem alguns! Eu tenho 🇧🇷
i know this is old but if you are still interested i got an automatic 93 at 279k miles that still runs and drives even though it's beat to hell
8.2 for 130 hp is pretty nice.
What a pleasant little V6
Brendan A. MacWade a tiny one too i was amazed when i learned it had a V6
Brendan A. MacWade i had one with what's called a klze engine rated at 200hp. fun car
It's a screamer, sounds like a mini-Ferarri
It's even more pleasant when you upgrade to the JDM 2.5L KLZE.
It screams tho!
This was one of my dream cars in high school. Along with a yellow M3. Attainable on 4.65/hour? No way. :-) It's great seeing this again in 90's teal.
Back in the days when there were so many options for 20-30 year old guys[girls too, I guess] to buy a reasonably priced car that was sporty. And had 2 doors. Escort,Beretta,Daytona,Shadow,Talon,Eclipse,Laser,LeBaron,Sunbird,Probe,GrandAm,Sundance,Tempo,Cavalier,Neon,and that is just the Big 3. Nowadays there are really only a couple of Imports. Civic? Veloster? Challenger/mustang/Camaro are not reasonably priced especially insurance for a 25 year old.
Changes in economic opportunities and spending power aren't helping in providing more variety in affordable but sporty car choices to the current 20-30 year olds. Carmakers that haven't make enough money from selling failed sedans/economy cars are now focusing solely on SUVs to recover those losses, leaving Honda & Hyundai to be the only ones still creating affordable sports sedans and hatchbacks.
That's because the end goal is for them to be now private car ownership and no private home ownership
Since when are muscle cars imports ?
@@dustinnevarez614 dude named many junk cars in that list.
Then ingore legit cars today.
1992 was a great year for new car introductions. The Toyota Camry, Honda Civic, Lexus ES300 and this MX3 were major steps forward for the industry
The Future Is Here none of those represented “major steps forward” geez lol
If you like Japanese or German cars, 1992 was a very good time.
I love this forgotten lil sports car! The huge "cruise on" and "cruise off" buttons are awesome. lol
Gosh that exhaust note sounds teriffic! Far better than any 4 banger in a Scoupe, Paseo, Storm or Nissan NX could EVER sound.
I really like the fact that y'all are posting these retro reviews -- they bring back lots of memories for me.
I remember watching this when it first aired in '92, I never missed Motorweek on PBS back then
That was really cool they stuck a tiny little V6 in it. I remember that car. There was also a 4 cylinder version too on the base model.
These retro reviews are absolute gold for car geeks. Makes me appreciate today's engineering that much more.
I had a -94 back in the days, just like this one, and I just loved it.
Had to sell it as I got children but I still miss it :)
0:22 There’s always a recession going on in America.
I had one with a manual and the V6. It was a quick revving engine and my friend who rode sport bikes was surprised on how quick it would reach redline. I wish I still had that car.
I missed my MX-3s. First one was a red base model with a paltry 88 horses and auto box, then traded for a red V6 stick after a year and a bit. For a few weeks my friends didn't even know I had a different car except they noticed it "sounded different" LOL. Mazda has the 2nd smallest V6 engine in production back then. The smallest was Mitsubitshi Mirage V6 with 1.6L but never came to North America. Good times.
i still have the slushbox 88hp engine let me tell you the thing probably makes 65 to the wheels lol but it's slow in an endearing way it's not meant for speed it is just meant to get you where you are going in style
I was in love with this car when it first came out!
this was my first car. god it made a great noise
This was my exact first car. She was so much fun.
Love these little things, though when my Aunt had one we knew it as the MX-3 Precidia....
Watch it when it launches, that exhaust shakes soooo much
the exhaust was afraid of the car.... could not handle the mass power...
Yes? That's because it's attached to the powertrain with bolts and the chassis with rubber.
@@bmtphoenix uhh yeah most are but they don't shake like that
This awesome cars still run today. I have a MX3 with 1.6l and it still runs great at topspeed on the Autobahn. (about 195km/h)
I had one of these during the late 90s and I just loved it!!
I had one right after high school, it was used and still lasted me a long time until I ran it into the ground and sold it for 500$ GREAT CAR
Sold as the Eunos 30X in Australia, priced around 40K, this was my first company drive car when i was a sales cadet. I remember that everyone around you drove faster because it had the "Eunos3" vanity plate! I had some very memorable moments in that little beauty!
This week am about to pick one up that has only done 150,000km and I'm getting kind of excited!
I love the retro reviews that way u can always go back and look at a car that u plan on buying now very used
I owned one of these, only in white. That tiny V-6 was so smooth, but it really had no power. Depending on where in the country you purchased it, you could get it with Yokohama A008 tires, which were extreme summer tires and made it great for auto crossing but were horrible in anything but perfect weather. Gheez I love these review. Reminds me of my early twenties.
This is a happy and smiling econo sport car
Had one of these puppies. The V6 version in black. Loved it.
Love the Retro Reviews!
LOL @ the pipes shutter when he floored it on the 0-60!
My first car was a purple '95 mx3 with a 1.6 straight-four. I learned stick in that little thing but it was tired at 200K. Sold it because I thought I wouldn't be able to use stick going to school in San Francisco (to be fair, hill starts were very hard because it would gurgle for 30 seconds before it would give power after clutch release).
I found it on the side of the road today, 4 1/2 years later, half chopped up outside a fire station. According to the locals, the lady I sold it to abandoned it about 6 months after I sold it. The cops took it in and they gave it to the fire department... who used it for jaws-of-life practice. Now I really feel bad for selling it. I could've saved it! I suppose this is my punishment for buying an automatic (I've since switched back to stick).
Not to mention there was a late 80s Hyundai Excel wagon next to it that looked like it was in good shape... before they chopped it. It was a shame seeing two rare late-80's/early-90's cars chopped up like that... one of them wasn't very good to begin with, but that's not the point!
Doctor Robert that kind of treatment should have been directed at a more deserving specimen, like a Cavalier or Neon of similar vintage. What a damn shame.
Lol I would have cried if I saw my car end up like that
@@thefuzzypickle8277 I did... sorta. I kick myself for not paying attention to the police auctions (or wherever the Fire Department got it), probably could've bought it back for a steal.
It's definitely motivated me to keep my current Mazda on the road XD (it hasn't been easy).
@@Doctor_Robert what Mazda model and engine do you own now?
@@comedyman112 1980 Mazda Capella (626) with the SOHC MA 4-banger. I've owned it way longer than I did the MX3 but being 40 years old, it's needed everything fixed at one point or another. We've been through too much together, though, so I won't give up on it now. lolz
Last winter I was contemplating buying a cheap, lightweight car with a short wheelbase and some good low-end grunt for a rallycross and ice-trial toy. I settled on a MX-3 V6 with a 5-speed... until I looked for one to buy. I found two for sale in the entire United States. That's when I decided maybe something a little easier to find and get parts for would be a better bet.
I used to work with a guy that had one. At the time i had a corolla gti and another buddy had a civic esi, all roughly 120 -130 bhp so made for some good close racing. In a straight line the civic and the corolla were neck and neck but the mx3 was always just that wee bit behind, BUT.....the sound of the mx3s engine with a full stainless exhaust and induction kit sounded pure race car.
A '93 (same color) but with the round dash vents was my 1st car ... it was gutless (I had the 4 cylinder).. but it was my 1st car. I see one every once in a great while nowadays...
My dad once had a '95 MX-3 with the 1.8 V6. It was a 5-speed Manual transmission, and it was fun to drive. Unfortunately it got totaled in a hit and run accident a year after he bought it. He was really pissed off about it.
I've owned three modern Mazdas, including an RX-8, and I still think the MX-3 is the best looking Mazda, and one I wished I've owned. It's amazing how they shoehorned a V6 into that thing. I've also owned a 2014 Honda CR-Z in that similar blue, and I figured it was a good throwback to the 1990s hatchback theme, reminding me of the MX-3.
I have two of these now. They are fun as hell to drive
Loved my 1994 GS, wish I could get one today!
It is a pleasure to trip through the past as Motor Week covers cars from my college years through grad school. It also shows us how far we have come since my youth.
"Still a few seen on the regular here in Maryland" Dang, really? I'm up in the heart of the rust belt and haven't seen one in ages.
I myself live in Maryland and have never seen one in my life
Best thing ever is you can fit the 2.5 v6 from the 626 or mx6 in the mx3. There are viedos here on TH-cam about it.
Back when I was in HS my friend had one of these and when he told me it had a 1.8L V6 I said "you mean 4 cylinder" and he said no, insisting it was a V6. I said no way is it a V6 my Ford Escort ZX2 had a 2.0L engine and that's a 4 cylinder! The smallest V6 I knew about was in the Probe/MX6 at 2.5L and that's already so small it's silly when most V6's are like 3.0 to 3.5L I said there is no way you have a 1.8L V6 lol Hondas have 1.8L 4 cylinders and this went on and on he was getting so mad insisting again that it was a 1.8L V6! Well turned out he was right and I learned something new! I remember hearing that the engine was smooth but still seemed strange my ZX2 had a DOHC Zetec 2.0L 4 Cylinder that made like 130HP or about the same as this. Was it wroth the extra bank, extra cams, extra spark plugs and injectors to make such a small V6?? I liked the car just fine but the engine seemed so strange!
CDN12Guns ikr that was my reaction when i saw one & then looked them up so cool little V6 very unique
It's worth it for the V6 sound... and the 2.5 Probe v6 fits as well as the 200hp 170tq version of that engine. Bolts right in.
CDN12Guns There are a few good reasons to use a V6 over a four-cylinder. More cylinders mean a greater valve area for a given displacement, meaning that the 6 cylinder car will have an airflow advantage. Also, maximum RPM is dictated by the weight of the pistons and how long their stroke is - more cylinders means each one is lighter and the stroke shorter, allowing it to rev higher without coming apart.
Of course, Mazda were not using either of those advantages, because 130hp and 7500rpm out of a 1.8 can easily be achieved with a four-banger. Just look at Honda's B18C VTEC monster with like 190hp and almost tickling 9k. That's really pushing it. If Mazda had gone mouth-foaming crazy like Honda had, this little V6 would be making fantastic power and the most unbelievable sound.
But, Mazda always had that Wankel card to play, and in terms of craziness, a rotary can go full two-stroke insane if you want it.
Mazda went "crazier" with other aspects of the engines. Designing the block for better sound and to cancel out unpleasant vibrations. Also with the intake design and the VRIS system designed to keep airflow and power up through the rpm range. Something only higher end cars had at the time. Like the Porsche 959, Taurus SHO, I think Mercedes had a similar intake for a V6 also, and of course the legendary 4AGEs from Toyota in the MR2s and the AE86s. So while the numbers may not appear stellar, you have more of that power all of the time... not just when the VTEC kicks in. You have to wind out a type R or S2000 to get all of the ponies. Then you pay crazy prices for mods because everyone wants the parts. You could pull off a JY upgrade 180-190hp for a few hundred if you know what you're looking for in almost any JY.
I have the klze 2.5l and the MPGs aren't that far off an ecoboost1.6l making less power, less fun, not as smooth with drive by wire and whatever the turbo is doing. The ecoboost is saying it gets 23.5, while the KLZE is about 22 with my foot in it. There are people claiming high 30s hypermiling KLs with a turbo. I can't claim that though. That's pretty good for sitting at around 3k rpms at freeway speeds.
The KLs can handle 9k but only just, then the oil pump won't hold out. 8k is possible but not absolutely necessary, you want more, you turbo it. Forged steel cranks fixed in a cradle, no crank caps. They didn't exactly skimp. If you need rods, Millenia S has better ones for boost.
So far as engine sound goes, mine sounds better than any VTEC zinging at 9k. Give a listen
I have a v6 1.8 Mx 3 :-)
Believe me it is worth it. The sound is amazing. Back then in Japan, they had to make a v6 engine,but at the same time it had to be small so the taxes were affordable. 25 years later, i can still get the rpm to 7k and the sound is never boring! :D
Back then the woman living across the street from me had one of these. It really sounded great when she would start it up every morning before she left for work.
Direct competitor to the Nissan NX2000 at the time. Went with the NX2k as it was cheaper to buy, being significantly discounted on the lots. Best choice ever, as it was a faster car, had far more of an aftermarket (turbo kits, Japan spec DET drops ins), and was super cheap to own with its Sentra heritage. Went on for 250k before giving it away. Never any mechanical problems other than the a/c hardware crapping out more than normal.
I love the styling of these cars. The fuel economy is surprisingly disappointing (I average 30mpg in my MT BRZ,) but the engine sounds marvelous. Thanks Motorweek!
LoveMyZJ -- No matter how you slice it, 30 MPG is very impressive for a V6 -- especially from this era. I can't think of another one that even comes CLOSE to that figure.
Remarkable how they did this whole review without talking about the Honda CRX Si.
I had a 93 mx3 with the 1.6 4cyl. Awesome little car. I had a manual 5 speed swapped into my automatic mx3. They hung a clutch and I drove to Virginia Beach and back to Maine a few times that summer. I had a full exhaust and an exedy clutch. It sounded nice! I miss that car. Can’t find them anymore.
I miss my mx3s. Had both the i4 and v6 versions. Loved this design and the way it drove. Too bad one was lost to an accident and the other would not pass smog anymore :(
What a great little car. I haven't seen one of these in a long time.
My first car, the MX3, great little thing. Unique. Oddly.
I had two MX3's , a 94 1.8 DOHC 4 cylinder and a 92 V6 both stick shifts. I greatly preferred the 4 cylinder, but it was slow off a dead start. Great little cars that are must buys if you find them.
Those wheels would look good on a Miata MK.1. And the engine.
That engine would be perfect in a Miata!
Jaden Sanderson Agree on the engine. That V6 needs to be inside a Miata~
@@JackBandicootsBunker Agreed, might be a project of mine one day. I have two of these V6's, one is staying in the MX3, the other I'm toying with miata
I loved my MX3
I’m so happy to see Mazda getting back to building quality fun driving cars again‼️
I know where three of these are in three different towns.. all of them black.. all have different neon color/design graphics on them.. none have any sort of muffler at all.. all of them sound like a 4th of july fireworks show and smoke like a freight train.. but never seem to die.
My brother has a '93 and taught me manual with it! It was so fun!
Look at that, a stick shift!!! I heard something like 90% of Americans don't even know how to drive stick anymore. A good way to get a great deal on a used car:)
Yes, but then next near to impossible to sell it.
IN a sports car? Next to impossible? Most people are seeking a stick in a sports based car. I mean, they SHOULD be? Why GET one? Next year? Shoot, I still have my 92 GTI 16v.. fun cars are worth enjoying for years.
I didn't say next year, I said "next near" as in "nearly," which probably would have been the better way to word it. Look, I love stick shifts in theory and have zero interest in dual-clutch crap or paddle shift automatics. I can't believe there are some sports cars you can't even get with a manual anymore--I'd probably cross them off my list if I were shopping. But it's true, especially in non-sporty cars, that it's very difficult to sell a manual on the used car market and their value is a lot lower. Maybe it's partly because of where I live but traffic can be so bad that it's just a huge pain in the ass. In an ideal world I'd own two cars, one for that day-to-day shit and one with a stick for other times....
I think I am in more control in a stick. I know that many people live too far from their work place and commute in a car long distances. So glad I can bike to work or grab a bus. Planned my housing around avoiding that lifestyle. Stressful. I never forcasted selling a car when I bought it. But yeah, sporty car or econo box you are trying to get every horse out of, I would for sure go Stick no matter what I might potentially get in 15 years for it. The idea of a Mazda MX3 losing it's sweet smooth shifting 5 speed manual, and all that pep? Depressing. It would be like getting a Miata with a auto. Those have the most magical stick shifts. Sacrelage? Some cars, like a Miata, I doubt they lose out value. The people buying them are likely not looking for a mellow commuter car. Again, not that it matters in terms of getting what makes sense for you.
IKR? It's become a lost art just like lath and plaster. I'm 26 and I love stick shifts, so much fun!!! My dad has a 1999 Jeep Wrangler with a stick shift and I really enjoy driving it. My personal Vehicle is a 1990 Plymouth Acclaim LX. It's an automatic but it's a really nice car, very comfortable and I love it, I wouldn't trade it for anything. Way better then the shit their churning up these days!
look at the exhaust during the 1/4 mile lol
The House of the Rising Sun all that Powah!
Didn’t expect the engine to sound that good
I had one of these, but I didn't pay anything close to these prices. I had a 1993 Special Edition V6 with raspberry metallic paint, non-Honeycomb-cereal, five-spoke wheels, and standard black leather and it was $15500. I don't even think they made 2500 of them. I loved that car. The V6 was so smooth and it made the right noises. Honestly, it felt at least a class up from what I paid.
What a cool little car. I remember these well.
The Mazda MX-3 is an odd little car and should be considered a collectors item nowadays because of them being hard to come by and it also has a small V6. Yes, the Mazda MX-3 as far as I know has the smallest V6 found in a production car. Well, at least in North America. I know that Mitsubishi makes a 1.6 litre V6 engine that is commonly found in Lancers, but it was only sold in Japan though. I'm not a big fan of Nissans and the Toyota Paseo is a weak sauce car to me, so the Mazda MX-3 is my preferred choice of car. Oh and the V6 engine found in the Ford Probe and Mazda MX-6 is said to be a larger version of the Mazda MX-3's V6 engine.
The '92 V6 I had was quick, reliable and great for long trips.
I liked mine. It was the GS fully loaded. I traded my 92 mustang gt for it. It reminded me of the Honda CRX except it had a back seat. The reason we traded for it was, surprisingly our mustang didn't seem to fit our child seat in the back like I'd like it to. Again surprisingly it fit better in the GS and my full five piece drum kit also fit better. Probably because of the hatch angle being less sloped than the mustang. One of the surprising features, to me at least, was the ability to change the interior dashboard lighting from green to orange/red. It handled really well, like a rat with sneakers and with the V6 it was also surprisingly quick, not mustang gt quick but quick enough for my taste.
Love the MX-3 it is very reliable fun to drive and a headturner.. i got a 95 MX-3
These were cool cars in the 90s. Sad i cant find them anymore.
My baby sitter growing up had one of these and her sis had the mx6. Both nice cars.
Would love to find one of these
I had a GS for High School (92 has a nice interiors)
Mazda made some decent cars back in the day. They are in fact, in the Year 2023, still producing affordable car offerings that are modern and share the same tech features as many of its contemporaries. I could see easily have seen myself driving this car back in the day
My first car was exactly like this car only auto. In 2004 I was 14 and working, I bought a k$n typhoon short ram intake and a magna flow exhaust. Sounded REALLY nice but slow as fuck. Either way I loved it
I just purchased a 1993 MX-3 V6 special edition. It needs some work. These cars do not get their due. They are a far superior car to most econoboxes. The engine runs like my RX-7. The car is also far faster than my ‘91 Miata.
The 2.5 liter is 👑
I wish this car pops up in some video games....this thing looks so sweet for a 90s small coupe....
I remember having an argument with my friend who was saying it was the same v6 as the mx6 (2.5) I said no its a 1.8L V6. He went on to say there's no such thing as a v6 that small.... I still remember the look on his face when he looked it up after.
Friend has one with 200k miles. Got it for 500 bucks.
Still goes!
DIY Channel I'm thinking of getting one too a stick shift for 900 but won't know if it'll pass smog or not. That's holding me back
Even if you had to buy a Cat,still worth it man.
I didn't realize South Park had smog testing.
That lil 1.8 v6 sounds so nice
THIS IS THE BEST CAR OF THE WORLD AND STILL IS!!! Idrove a usa 1992 trought The nederland Amsterdam and bought also a v6 Canada precidia, best cars ever!!! You see a smal rubber strip by the door... saying touch.. thats for static elictricity so if you have it just touch the door and it wil get rid of your static fucing smart car... the timingbelt must never get replaced,,, Cause when it snaps the engine is still oke.... Non interfierence k8 engine!!! thats its the best car around!!
I loved my 94 mx-6 ls, but I've always liked the mx-3
Hearing These Numbers Hurts My Ear And Makes Me Wanna Cry.
This is the most interesting car for Mazda in 1992, because of the 1.8 Liter V6 option.
How? The rotaries were wayyy more interesting
I wish I had one..... I love the v6 mx-3 :'(
Used to see these everywhere. Just realized I haven't seen one in years. Probably all rusted out.
Well you are right about that. I live in Greece and there are 2 mx3's with a factory 1.8 v6 on them. One is mine. Both are manuals. There were more tho..But not well taking cared of. Many of them are destroyed..Rusted out,crushed or whatever. Mine is rust free and still runs like a charm :-)
Few sold in the first place. I have seen 5- 16 valve 92 VW GTIs since I bought mine on the road, too. They are pretty rare. Also, I had a Chevy Sprint Turbo as well for many years, I saw maybe 5 in 19 years.
Competition. Price. People were spending less on Geo Storms and Honda CRX Si.
I just sold my 94 mx-3.. not much rust at all and 170,000 miles on it.
Are you sure that there only 2 MX-3s? I've seen 3-4 in the Thessaloniki area.
2 red ones, 2 green ones. The 1 green one looked like its bonnet was deformed a bit but the other 3 are driven quite regularly. There's a stickered-up faux tuner green MX-3 quite close to me. It sounds unremarkable considering it's a V-6.
TBH, this is still a handsome car. But, when's the last time you saw one?
Thank you Mr. Davis.
A buddy of mine has one of these, worn and rusty but the drivetrain is in mint condition. Unfortunately it has the 1.6/ 5 speed, not the V6. Ironically on the highway with a fresh tune up, it netted 35 mpg, the same as his grandfather's 1989 Plymouth Horizon hatchback with the K-car 2.2 and a 5 speed stick. I'm still trying to figure that one out...
Came across a red one of these on CarGurus for 8 grand. Two owners, only 70k miles. If I had the cash it would be very tempting.
It was amazing on the curves
Had they brought the Ford Puma across the pond, it would have made an interesting rebadged 2nd gen MX-3. The styling cues are strikingly similar...
My 2nd favorite 90s Mazda design after the FD....
This was one Japanese car I found interesting back in the day. A 1.8L V6?! The styling like a compact and cooler Supra. Too bad they never produced an actual high performance version that could’ve saved mediocre Mazda.
2nd best Mazda production car ever
Those V6's sound sexy af.
we had the 1.6 version with a five speed and wow it was alot slower than i want to remember but damn fun. We had a straight exhaust with double rear exits, standard suspension but some matte black 18 or 20 inch motegi five spoke wheels
Awesome 🏆