No Budget Reviews: 1998 Mazda 626 (GF) 2.0 SE Automatic - Lloyd Vehicle Consulting

[@uhn100]

Mazda were making some great cars in the 80s Joseph I had a 929 the top model and it was a joy to drive as usual it fell victim to the tin and was to far gone underneath to save so good to see someone is restoring and saving this 626 thanks for this video best regards Andy Allen.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, Stephen is determined to save it from the inevitable corrosion. I was privileged to have had a go in this. Haven't seen a 929 in a very, very long time!

[@uhn100]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Good for Stephen Joseph I hope he is sucsselful I am not surprised you have not seen a 929 I think they all suffered the bad corrossian on the front end when mine was up on the car lift I was truly shocked that in the time from the previous MOT it had corroded away and it was not something that could be repaired or welded anyway thanks for the reply best regards Andy Allen.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, only ever saw a 929 when Ian Seabrook did a video with one. Otherwise, I know nothing about them whatsoever....

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

The saloon version looked very sharp in a dark metallic colour with a leather interior.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Sir, we do like a beige leather interior, don't we?

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

@lloydvehicleconsulting Yes, with piping matching the carpet colours.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you, sir!

[@frazzleface753]

Sir, this is a treat. A rare car for sure. 0-60 in 9.3 seconds was pretty good from a small family saloon in the 1990s.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Sir, we did enjoy ourselves, but the manual versions are better, of course.

[@mattw8332]

Excellent! There was a silver 1998 626 1.8 up for sale at a car dealer very close to me.67,000 miles, price £2,000 or thereabouts. I was sorely tempted.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

They are quite tempting, sir, aren't they?

[@nathanstevful]

We had an early 90s 626 it was a 2.0 12v auto. Very nice as I remember.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

All the 626s do seem to be quite appealing, don't they?

[@nathanstevful]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting yeah it was a nice car very smooth and quiet. Same with the 6 when it replaced them.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, I really want to film all three generations of the Mazda6.

[@5pot4pot]

What a lovely thing. We used to see loads of these around here, all from Mike Machin Mazda in Wolverhampton. I know you go to Summit quite regularly and I’m only 20 mins from there (between Wolves and Telford) so you are more than welcome to test my 05 S60 2.0T and 01 MGF 1.8 should you ever wish to

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

You are very kind, sir! My e-mail address appears in the video, as always. I borrowed a 2001 MGF recently, as you probably know, so I would probably be keener to have a go in the Volvo, as it has been ages since I drove an S60.

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

An excellent review of another car you don't see very often on the roads. Annoyomus looking but reliable.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you very much indeed, Mr Watters! Yes, very anonymous, but quite dependable back in the day.

[@jdnrotterdam2150]

I think i told this once here. But my family ( my father and uncle’s) drove all the 90s 626’s when they where brand new ( as a company car) Also this model. But my dad had. The 1998 mazda 626 hatchback 1.8 90hp with only front electric windows and a/c and a lpg tank! But still my favorite 626 was the 1991 mazda 626 2.0. I hope to see one on this channel one day.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Sir, we do like these 626s, but they are rare. The 1.8s were a little bit slow in the GF models like this one. If I get offered any more, I will not be turning down the opportunity...

[@jdnrotterdam2150]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting i agreed. My father first drove the 1991 626 sedan GLX with a 2 liter engine with 4 electric windows and a/c we loved that car! But when his company lease contract was done he choose the 1998 626 GF with the 1.8 90hp . They had a limit on the budget for the company cars so the 2.0 glx was not on the list anymore to choose. I remeber that my father said nice car but i liked the old one better! It drove better. Less sound . And faster

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

The 1.8 GF would probably be fine, but this 2.0 with 134 bhp was so much better!

[@davidrumming4734]

I do remember them Back then Mazda was pushing the executive market with those. They were built to last. Unfortunately when you go up against more fun cars from Ford, the Ford will usually win. But I bet the Ford spent more time being fixed. And that’s the thing back then and still today, only a handful of manufacturers can almost guarantee that turn key reliability for years & years….and they may not be the most fun or most fuel efficient or most spacious or have the best soft touch plastics inside. It’s always a choice. Love the 323f styling…would like to see a review of one.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

The Mondeo and the GF 626 share no common engineering whatsoever, which is quite strange to me. The Mondeo Mark II is better to drive than one of these, but really quite different in character. I like those, but I sort of have a soft spot for these. I would like to review a BA 323F! Thank you again for watching, sir.

[@tobeycat2007]

I bought one in same colour years back from auction 2 litre gls 70k direct from fleet for about 3k nice car good to drive.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, the steering doesn't have the most feel, but with this 2.0 engine, they are quick and comfortable with plenty of things to play with. Thank you for watching, sir!

[@pizzalover3]

Thanks for the video, sir

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

As always, sir, we aim to please!

[@seancooke7332]

I confess that I had forgotten about this model 626. It did not look very special although the 4 door saloon was an attractive shape. The exterior of the previous Mazda 626 from 1992 looked much better but the interior of this later model is much more roomy and inviting. I would like a 2 litre version of this 626 or a 2 litre Mazda 6.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Sir, we would also like to try a Mazda6 if possible. They share no engineering in common with their predecessor. The previous 626 is also a car I would like to try, perhaps a little better looking than this car...

[@seancooke7332]

​@@lloydvehicleconsultingI have have driven a 1993 Mazda 626 with its curvy body and neatly integrated rear spoiler. It was very good over long distances except that the tailgate vibrated such that using the rear view mirror was very disconcerting. Sadly, we can not discuss its Supercharged engine.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you for your self-censorship, sir! Indeed, we are not able to discuss said 626.

[@Ogiftedgrm]

I saw 1998 Mazda 626 DX Sedan with 198,567 Miles for $1,500... should I purchase it?.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I wouldn't be able to say without seeing the car myself.

[@stephenwestley1017]

Many thanks the car originally came with a CD changer sc the cable stool exists in the boot Il it's not mint but it is honest wish it was better presented but I was in the middle of doing the bodywork

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you again for the chance to drive this rare car, sir!

[@jasejj]

You say it takes a different type of person to pick one of these over a Mondeo/Vectra, but I would have a 1990s Japanese car over a '90s GM product every day of the week. Not even close.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Sales of the Mondeo and Vectra were enormous in the late 1990s, so to opt for this would have been a bit unusual. I would happily have another one of these, so I am also very much a person would be prepared to stand out from the crowd in that way.

[@jasejj]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Popularity has never been an indicator of quality though. If it was, the MK4 Escort would have sold six cars.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Never underestimate the power of the Ford marketing machine between 1970 and 2000.

[@JK-rt2jj]

Doesn’t this have the sealed “service free” auto box? Those were known for their unreliability.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I don't think that any transmission is sealed for life in actuality, is it?

[@jamesparker4782]

Sweet spoiler.x

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

It was great, wasn't it?

[@Koulis_]

Not a big fan of these mainly because of the styling. It's strange how certain Japanese manufacturers go through phases of dull design and then have a run of interesting and imaginative styling. Honda are guilty of this too.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

The Mazda6 which followed this car was very, very different. It's not a bad car, but it is quite plain in comparison.

[@DarkSphinxx]

God that interior looks terrible! Fake wood and plastic, not going to go down as a classic lol

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Typical 1990s family car interior, really...