I like the family sedan time more than this 7 persons suv time. When people who’s got their first baby directly thinks they need an suv because it’s save and they need space..
the part that really hit me is the part where he says teenagers now will still have those 2020 memories in a 1990s style. my car is a late 90s/early2000s car and i’ve made so many memories in it, so much so that i think i will forever like 90s stylized cars. im only a senior in highschool but that doesn’t mean i cannot appreciate the look and feel of cars before my time because 90s cars are the first cars for my generation, and i find comfort in that.
I feel the same way about my 94 teg. Sure it's much more pain to use the original cassette deck, but I wouldnt have it any other way, you feel like you are outside of time driving a old car with no modern distractions.
I literally got a 1995 mazda 626, 4 cylinder, not the V6 so it takes regular gas. But yeah, 90s cars will always be the soft spot for people like us. I feel like it doesn't matter how amazing cars will get, we will only appreciate the simplicity, the practicality and analog controls for everything. People loved the fact that they could pay less for a car by not getting any fancy stuff, so there's so many 90s cars that keeps up like a modern car, but has like a cassette deck (ooh retro), hand-crank windows, no A/C (unthinkable today in a new car).
5:08 - "And the 2.5L V6 that's in this '97 626 is the same V6 that's in the Ford Probe." Y'know, I think I'd like to see an RCR Stories about Ford and Mazda. There's GOT to be something worth telling there.
TheTipsyCanadian , me too!!! I live in Texas so it would be a trip. But I would love to take the speed on a interstate extravaganza, especially with the end goal of Mr. Regular roasting me for buying a knockoff-WRX-frontwheeldrive-discount-yeehaw-thesnackthatsmilesback-Mazdaspeed3. To make matters worse she’s a genpu. But HEY! I took her to the border of Mexico from my hometown. About an 8hr round trip. Only had to fill up once!!! She’s mostly stock, and just in beautiful shape, hovering around 85,000miles currently. I’d love to see the bootleg beemer in action!! Do you have some vids on your page?
Mazda 626: A car so devoid of identification and style, that you’d probably succeed in successfully committing a robbery/murder. It’s a car that looks so generic and featureless, that unless you knew what it was, you’d most likely struggle to give a detailed description of the car past the color and body-style.
When he pulled the saturation out, I said it was green 😂. Even as a car enthusiast, I would not be able to identify the make and model. The rear reminds me of a Galant VR-4, so I would have assumed Mitsubishi, if I had to give a police report. Mazda 626: The official car of successful criminal activities.
Yup, that was the decision for many. The previous 626 was very Camryesque. This one is less so. I think it looks good in its generic 90s way. It's well proportioned and unfussy. Without the faux-wood the interior is made of good plastics and everything fits tightly. Compare this to a 90s GM model and this looks remarkable.
My father passed away a few years back at 91, he'd probably owned about 20 cars over the better part of a century, he bought his first with the larger portion of his $200 discharge bonus from the Army in 1946. a '38 Ford sedan. and I remember I asked him one time late in his life what his favorite one was. "The green '96 Mazda 626." I was like "...really? the 626?" "Yep. solid car. It is what it is." Sorry for your loss, my Dad and I had a lot of fond memories of that car as well. And compared to the '89 Celebrity I had then, mid 90s when K-cars were still a common sight as daily drivers, lots of stuff from the late 70s and 80s still on the road it definitely felt like more of a step up at the time than it might seem now 25 years later.
That's weird I was thinking about these just yesterday. My dad had a European 5 door model 1992 Mazda 626 2.0 GLX when I was growing up so I have a soft spot for them. My dad always talked about the car as a "wolf in sheep's clothing". Also ours had the number plate etched into all the windows. Had no idea if previous owner had chose to do the same thing or was just something the dealers did back then.
I think in the UK, the plate sticks with the car from first registration even after a new owner, correct? We did etching here in the States back then but it was always the VIN since plates change with new owners. It was one of those overpriced dealer add ons thought to prevent theft.
@@two-face1041 but it wasn't, the maszd 6 has a lot of Ford (and Volvo) DNA but this car is basically all Mazda, except for a lot of the electronics that came from Mitsubishi. By this point Ford had enough interest in Mazda that they could impose some things on them, like using the Ford automatic transmission on the 4 cylinders starting in 1994. And they invested enough in the 2nd generation Probe that shares this chassis that they didn't have to fudge the styling to hide the sedan sourced platform. This chassis was all Mazda though along with most of the drivetrain, one thing lost when Ford made them join the corporate platforms in the early 2000s is that this chassis was designed to have exceptional weight balance with the front wheels pushed forward farther than typical fwd cars. Tue Mazda 6 along with the 3 lost this design momentum and its only been since the 2014 divestment that Mazda has moved back in that direction.
Yet they are secretly fantastic performers. Even though I'm a diehard Mazda fan and particularly a fan of this chassis in the form of the mx6/probe I just can't seem to get any interest in these things going other than as parts donors. Sadly looks do in fact matter when it comes to cars and these just don't look like something I could have passion for.
the eunos 500? i had one too (callled the xedos6 here) it had a manual, wich nobody did (even in germany, were automatics are considered weird to this day) the paint had it with existing and took it upon itself to flake into the wind. to me it looked like an aston martin e36 competitor. and the sound of that 2.0V6 ooooohhhhhhh, what a car.
I reckon the eunos models looked quite unique from other vehicles. The eunos 500 was an awesome looker! And the eunos 800/millenias look great when lowered. Im from nz too, and i agree their fairly rare, but they do pop up from time to time.
I had a ford probe GT with a 5 speed in my early 20s and it felt like a supercar to me at the time! That little v6 is still one of my favorite engines ever
RCR described by Mr. Regular: "Now this may be their first car - So they're going to have modern 2020 memories with the style of the 1990's, and I think that's cool, man."
Good catch! Have to wonder if it was accidental, not noticed by Mr. Regular, or if he very deliberately included that. Knowing him, though his videos are a bit more tame than they used to be, I have to believe this was intentional.
whizzkid except this IS that engine. I owned a ‘93 version (same generation), but with a 5-sp manual. The engines were the same between the two (and the Probe).
The ZE had hopes and dreams for valve spring retainers, though. Everyone just uses DE retainers when they buy a ZE. While it's a less common occurrence, DE's will also drop valves, I killed one that way at around 7,500 rpms. My goal is to build a 10.5:1 ZE or KLG4 (98-02 626 Engine, different ports/solid lifters instead of the HLA's) capable of reliably revving to 9,000 rpms or so, and I keep changing my power goals but I guess, 400 HP or so on boost with K1 rods and Wiseco pistons..
@@Jamesbond22855 I applaud that dream. the sound these engines make at high rpm is already up there with the best. I can't imagine what it would sound like at 9. Personally, I'm thinking of something similar, but keeping it NA. I haven't quite figured what car to put in though...
Yeah, yeah, yeah, wassup, Liberty City? You checkin out Gaaame Radiooo, my name is Stretch Armstrong, I'm in here with my man, Lord Sear... Yo what's the deal fam!? Right here at Game Radio, Liberty City, where the players play, and the pimpers pimp, and the hustlers hustle along y'all! You're gonna hear the finest in hip-hop music, right here on Game Radio, yo Stretch, come on man, hit us with the exclusives! How the hell do I remember all this to quote, I haven't played GTA III for a decade or longer...
Always enjoy these type of reviews, cars you see & generally never take a second look at. Can't wait to see more! Would love to see a YF Sonata turbo review since it was of the newer modern midsize sedans to replace traditional V6s with a turbo 4cyl- and a powerful one at that (274hp). Kind of a sleeper, even at today's standards. Could only imagine the RCR commentary on the torque steer lmao.
Yeah i want to see a saab 95 aero for the same reasons, you can pick one up for around 1k and it makes 275hp but more importantly 450 lbs which is mental. yet no one outside saab communities seems to know what they are. looks average but absolutely dominates at light to light drags 0-60 in like 6 secs
Saab did that wayyy first. Check out the 9-5 aero, or 9000 aero which can make over 300hp in a 4 cyl with a pcm flash, absolutely amazing underrated cars.
This was my first car! When my grandmother went to a home, my parents "assigned" this car to my brothers and me when I was 20. We passed it around for four years (2012-16) until my dad donated it. Ours was a 1998 Mazda 626 LX (4-cyl. auto) in that typical '90s dark green but it had the swing vents too! We thought it was normal and when we bought cars of our own, we felt cheated when we didn't get that feature haha
Time shows just how nice this car is! Whenever one came into my dads shop growing up, I loved pressing the “swing” button on the AC vents and watching them move 😂
I remember a discussion among engineers at a place I used to intern about how owning a shitty car is a rite of passage, you've never really grown up until you've spent at least a year or so with a total turd. One of the guys there said he had a car that would overheat on hot days, the only solution was to activate the "auxiliary radiator," more commonly known as the heater. I myself started out with a total piece of shit when I was 16, almost 10 years ago, but I never got rid of it, I just fixed it up ... sort of ... WHERE THE FRESH HELL IS THIS OIL LEAK COMING FROM I JUST FIXED THAT OTHER ONE!!!
Quill Maurer that's my MINI Cooper. Transmission leaks, broken driver side window regulator, strut towers shot, and more. I'm getting a new car soon and owning a shitbox will make you baby a new, nice car.
@@quillmaurer6563 I agree, my first year of college I drove a 1983 Chevy Citation. God that thing was awful. Thankfully I crashed it and upgraded to a Cavalier lol.
1991 Grand Marquis. I had it for 4 years, and it stranded me on the side of the highway no less then 6 times. I replaced the block because it blew a rear main seal after I had a head gasket done. AC Compressor, alternator (twice), air pump (thrice), oil pan, U joints, upper air filter housing box, driver door lock, drivers door power window switch panel, rear passengers window regulator, pretty much the entire front suspension in bits and pieces... And I loved that car to death. And the memories I have from driving that thing around are priceless.
Dude it's Timberline Mica not silver! And that sweet revving 2.5 V6 was Mazda designed, used by Ford for the Probe. I dig the fact that the protection sticker was never peeled off the V6 emblem atop the engine. I owned this 1997 626, as an LX-V6, with a 5-speed manual transmission. That thing was a hoot to drive! So damned smooth. Wheel hop was atrocious during clutch dump take offs, and there was a certain sense of fragility in the drivetrain which was off putting. I could go on and on about that car. Thrilled to find your channel and this video - love your editorial style and whacky sense of humor. Keep 'em coming! I've got a 2004 Mazda 6S V6 5-speed manual with 202K miles on it for sale if you want to drive it for a review. ;)
My friend had one of these cars. I have so many found memories of going to school in one of these, or the mall, or anywhere. It was an event. And my friend did his best to run that car into the ground because it was 'fast'. Great vid.
Hey RCR. Hope you are having a good one, video came out 5 minutes ago and I can't wait to watch. Keep up the good shit, your videos get me through my long ass shifts, thank you.
The last few lines about cars like these being someones first car threw me back to being so excited to no longer ride the bus but to get to drive my own 1995 Cutlass Supreme to school everyday. Seeing the interior of this car and thinking back on being so new to getting behind the wheel made me so happy to think about. This was a wholesome car review.
I’m 21. And have more then enough appreciation for my 97 Chevy lumina. 90s cars are fading fast and I want to make sure I can keep mine on the road for as long as I can.
I inherited a 1999 Mazda 626 V6 with AT, and I can attest that the transmission is as terrible as the engine is good. Very smooth engine, with great torque, that simply overwhelms the meager GF4A-EL transmission that was meant for much smaller vehicles. So bad, that even with an additional transmission oil cooler fitted by a dealership, overheats when merely cruising on flat land at 55mph. It's like the manufacturers tossed the engineers a bag of rubber bands and told them "See what you can make with these!". Even after a full rebuild to repair an exploded forward sprag, the transmission is sluggish and jerky, throwing codes for "incorrect final drive ratio". Complete and utter citric acid, devoid of the redeeming parts of a lemon. Needless to say, I do not drive that thing, and I'm wondering how to get rid of it without feeling guilty about passing the burden onto a hapless buyer!
I remember my mom’s 626. Best memory was we were coming home and park outside the apartment and my younger brother just spews chunks all over the backside of the driver’s seat. Loved that car and I still miss it.
@@seththomas9105 and mild bolsters, my similar era Mazdas all had shredded seats because the bolsters were deeper and they got rubbed raw. But these seats are easy enough to find in good shape.
Yeah they definitely hold up better than many supposed luxury brands.The seats in BMW's from the same era go to shit in 5 years or so. I have a 2000 626 and the seats still look great. They could use a little leather conditioner and a good cleaning, but they are still solid.
Have a 98 626 EU-spec. Good car, but rusting...Currently looking for a 93-97 Mitsubishi Galant E50, that was cool looking and has a good reputation and better rust protection. (Germany). 2.0 V6!
I love your last statement, which it really resonates with me. It’s basically why I continue to love driving my ‘91 Accord and to enjoy the analog experience that I have with it, especially the cassette player. I may not have been born in ‘91, but I love the 90’s experience. Definitely a great watch!
Back in 2008 me and a buddy of mine went on a beach trip with his family and on the way down to the North Carolina coast we did 129 mph in his Mazda 626 V6 on highway 74. I still can't believe that car went that fast.
80s and 90s versions of the Ford Laser and Telstar were just boxy body (with a few tweaks) versions of the Mazda 323 and 626 and used the same/compatible parts. Similar story with Holden (GM) and several brands of Japanese cars in the 80s.
"it could be in grand theft auto 3" oh my god, that is the perfect way to describe it, and specifying it with GTA3 is the one thing that elevates it to that perfection it really is "an car"
Owned the '89, with a 5 speed, 4 cylinder. To be honest, it was probably the best car I ever owned. Handling was way better than you might expect, the power was just enough to be fun with the stick, it was good on gas, had insane reliability, comfortable on the highway, decent stereo, sensible controls and ergonomics, big trunk, etc. It just did all the things you want a car to do in the real world really, really well. About the only thing wrong with it was that it came from that era with the automatic seatbelts on tracks, when you could put those in to comply with a government mandate instead of having airbags. You still had to buckle the lap belt so it was a completely stupid and annoying idea. Sadly, the 626 lost its soul later on, and I remember renting a 626 from this mod-90s era at one point and being completely appalled by how much of what had made mine so good was now gone. It had become a cheap knock off of a Camry rather than its own, really good and unique thing. Go back 6 years, the 626 was a significantly better car then than the version in this video.
Thank you! A 98 626 standard with the 4cyl was bought by my parents new and later became my first car in 2005. So many memories came back watching this review.
Early 2000s Mazdas had some genuinely interesting paint colors after they switched over to the 3 and 6. I remember they had a metallic green for the RX8 that looked like crap in pictures, but it was fantastic in person.
Yeah, I have an 08 Mazda 3 in "metropolitan grey mica". Looks boring in pictures, but in the sunlight it's a really interesting color. From a quick google search, metro grey looks like a blue version of the metallic green you were talking about.
Best car channel ever! I am a hot rodding car nut, an obsessed mechanic of near 30 years, and you guys friggin nail it. i feel like if i was more creative/artistic my internal monologue and the soundtrack for the movie of my life would be your channel. Thank you for such awesome work. Come make an extended visit the Tucson area. The car scene is fun.
Great video, it was really informative. I was born in 96 and was looking around for a car to buy and saw one of these posted online around my area for a decent price. The car seemed pretty solid honestly, I’ve never had my own car before so I really have no idea what to even buy, but I have been considering this.
i had an 89 mx-6 gt 4ws for a bit. it had the oscillating vents too, but just in the center. it was pretty fast. meaty midrange until the little turbo ran out of steam. lots of fun though with the 5 speed
Thanks for reviewing this car! Brings back memories of my loaded 93 MX6 V6, which was essentially just the coupe version of this car. I had the 5 speed manual instead of the automatic and I could smoothly redline that little 2.5L V6 up to 7300 RPM, which was necessary since it didn’t have a huge amount of torque. So much fun! Lovely exhaust note and light handling compared to today’s cars. I still miss it.
When I was in high school I got a ride everyday in my friend Garrett's v6 Mazda MX6 a different Garrett had a 4-cylinder or 626 with motorized AC vents and I had a Ford probe 5-speed. We were a Ford Mazda shared platform car club. Best times!!
5:51 "...like it's making up for its soft suspension" WHY ON EARTH IS THIS A BAD THING FOR A CAR OF THIS TYPE Seriously, noone in their right mind would throw this thing into corners! Comfortable cruising, that's what it was made for
I had a 99 626, 2.0 4 cylinder with a 5-speed. Had a sunroof, all power, automatic radio antenna that worked, and the swinging central air vents. One of my favorite cars.
Speaking of the Contour, that car also got a lovely 2.5L quad cam V-6. But that was the Duratec 25, totally different engine, from what I could find. Weird that Ford used both.
Too bad these end up being almost every teens first car so I can hardly find one that isn't smoking like a freight train because it's been ragged on like crazy.
I really like your conclusion in this video. Modern 2020 memories in the style of the 1990s. I was born in the era this car was new. Vehicles like this are what I attach to a lot of memories, except mine was another boring economy family car, the XV30 generation camry. I never understood why 90s kids seemed to talk of these memories more when it felt like me and others my age, being a generation after, had a lot of crossover. You encapsulated that feeling nicely, helped me understand both your generation and mine and how they connect. Using a 626 to do so.That's why I look forward to monday, man. Every video of yours, while being funny, always helps me understand the world just a little bit better. Thanks.
Car colors just exist to gaslight you
I don't want a grey car
"sir that's silver"
what about that silver car there
"sir that's aluminium"
"I definitely don't want a brown car." "Oh, you mean this champagne colored sedan?"
Pewter
Is it grey? Is it blue? Is it green? The world may never know.
“Well what about that aluminum colored car over there?” ...”sir that’s primer grey”
My Honda's color is "Modern Steel"
It's fucking grey
"a greyscale family like this is supposed to remember to use premium fuel" LOOOL
Mazda 626. The official car of "That sedan"
Great comment😉
@@klasseact6663 thx
I like the family sedan time more than this 7 persons suv time. When people who’s got their first baby directly thinks they need an suv because it’s save and they need space..
when kids yell "car", this is the car
@@CarsMeetsBikes GREAT GREAT comment
the part that really hit me is the part where he says teenagers now will still have those 2020 memories in a 1990s style. my car is a late 90s/early2000s car and i’ve made so many memories in it, so much so that i think i will forever like 90s stylized cars. im only a senior in highschool but that doesn’t mean i cannot appreciate the look and feel of cars before my time because 90s cars are the first cars for my generation, and i find comfort in that.
I feel the same way about my 94 teg. Sure it's much more pain to use the original cassette deck, but I wouldnt have it any other way, you feel like you are outside of time driving a old car with no modern distractions.
I literally got a 1995 mazda 626, 4 cylinder, not the V6 so it takes regular gas. But yeah, 90s cars will always be the soft spot for people like us. I feel like it doesn't matter how amazing cars will get, we will only appreciate the simplicity, the practicality and analog controls for everything. People loved the fact that they could pay less for a car by not getting any fancy stuff, so there's so many 90s cars that keeps up like a modern car, but has like a cassette deck (ooh retro), hand-crank windows, no A/C (unthinkable today in a new car).
Haha: “the kinda parents that look like each other”
Sweet Home Alabama!
Mort and Muriel Goldman
The Van Houtens from Simpson's
Like milhouses parents? Lol
Im a drug dealer I purchased 626 in this exact grey color. All for keeping a low profile.
5:08 - "And the 2.5L V6 that's in this '97 626 is the same V6 that's in the Ford Probe." Y'know, I think I'd like to see an RCR Stories about Ford and Mazda. There's GOT to be something worth telling there.
I hope Mr Regular comes over to review my speed3
Remember that we almost got a FWD Mustang in a Japanese platform
Not just the same engine, the same platform as the Probe/MX-6.
@@STEF88988 I wish I lived somewhat near him to see if he'd review my Mini. The bootleg beamer
TheTipsyCanadian , me too!!! I live in Texas so it would be a trip. But I would love to take the speed on a interstate extravaganza, especially with the end goal of Mr. Regular roasting me for buying a knockoff-WRX-frontwheeldrive-discount-yeehaw-thesnackthatsmilesback-Mazdaspeed3. To make matters worse she’s a genpu. But HEY! I took her to the border of Mexico from my hometown. About an 8hr round trip. Only had to fill up once!!! She’s mostly stock, and just in beautiful shape, hovering around 85,000miles currently. I’d love to see the bootleg beemer in action!! Do you have some vids on your page?
Mazda 626: A car so devoid of identification and style, that you’d probably succeed in successfully committing a robbery/murder. It’s a car that looks so generic and featureless, that unless you knew what it was, you’d most likely struggle to give a detailed description of the car past the color and body-style.
When he pulled the saturation out, I said it was green 😂. Even as a car enthusiast, I would not be able to identify the make and model. The rear reminds me of a Galant VR-4, so I would have assumed Mitsubishi, if I had to give a police report.
Mazda 626: The official car of successful criminal activities.
If you see the european hatch version of this model you will love it. Mazda 626 are very different in europe only the 1990 vesion is the same
I had a 79 626 and so many people gave me thumbs up for it the rear was so good looking
its a ford Telstar..
"I just witnessed a bank robbery, the getaway car hasn't left yet"
Police: "Can you describe the car?"
"Ehhhhhhhhh....."
I like how he transcended the car at the end, and gave us a feeling of the era this car was meant for. I really wish he would do that more.
Kind of like his PT Cruiser episode too!
Yes that was great
"Was going to get a v6 Camry, but this was $4000 cheaper!"
Yup, that was the decision for many. The previous 626 was very Camryesque. This one is less so. I think it looks good in its generic 90s way. It's well proportioned and unfussy. Without the faux-wood the interior is made of good plastics and everything fits tightly. Compare this to a 90s GM model and this looks remarkable.
Ain’t no sclass though Mark Miller
Jæ Š Yeah but it’s reliable and it was 500 bucks
AVALON
Look Gordon, a car! We can use this to travel distances qui- HELLO GORDON.
“This is a car so devoid of company identification it can be used in GTA III.”
Man that brought back memories
My dad had this car, it was green. It was the 1999 model year.
Good I loved that car.
I miss my dad
Bro you got me crying in the club😔rip
My dad didn't have this car, but I still miss him! Hang in there dude.
My father passed away a few years back at 91, he'd probably owned about 20 cars over the better part of a century, he bought his first with the larger portion of his $200 discharge bonus from the Army in 1946. a '38 Ford sedan. and I remember I asked him one time late in his life what his favorite one was. "The green '96 Mazda 626." I was like "...really? the 626?" "Yep. solid car. It is what it is." Sorry for your loss, my Dad and I had a lot of fond memories of that car as well. And compared to the '89 Celebrity I had then, mid 90s when K-cars were still a common sight as daily drivers, lots of stuff from the late 70s and 80s still on the road it definitely felt like more of a step up at the time than it might seem now 25 years later.
Jonathan Gonzalez what club 😠
@@guikegriot Bro, Corona - more like: Morona.
That's weird I was thinking about these just yesterday. My dad had a European 5 door model 1992 Mazda 626 2.0 GLX when I was growing up so I have a soft spot for them. My dad always talked about the car as a "wolf in sheep's clothing".
Also ours had the number plate etched into all the windows. Had no idea if previous owner had chose to do the same thing or was just something the dealers did back then.
hey i saw your videos
I think in the UK, the plate sticks with the car from first registration even after a new owner, correct? We did etching here in the States back then but it was always the VIN since plates change with new owners. It was one of those overpriced dealer add ons thought to prevent theft.
definitely had etched VIN on the windows on our '92 626 also, so seems like it just was athing back then
Yeah, me too. And then it comes into my feed. I was thinking of the boring twin turbo 626. Then this. Wow
This number will forever remind me of Lilo and Stitch
You win
Same but also my area code
Same I almost bought one too lol
I hope you get pinned
That’s what my family called ours lmao
I believe that was the title of the game. "Grand Theft Auto 3: The First One"
It really confused people who played previous games.
And I thought he was referencing “the Kuruma”..The first car, in all of its blandness, that we players get to operate.
It was the first 3D GTA. 1 and 2 were top down view like Spy Hunter
M Scuba that I know
@@jayda1k_ the kuruma was an intrepid/300m which were peak 90s soap bar
The owner seemed to have a good time with this video.
The owner is Ben Wright, the former RCR intern
@@carrot_exe that’s where I recognized the voice
I immediately thought about my Dad's old Taurus when I saw this, it looks so similar at first glance.
LazerLord10 it’s almost like it was made by Ford oh wait
My parent's Dodge Stratus from this year comes to me
@@two-face1041 but it wasn't, the maszd 6 has a lot of Ford (and Volvo) DNA but this car is basically all Mazda, except for a lot of the electronics that came from Mitsubishi.
By this point Ford had enough interest in Mazda that they could impose some things on them, like using the Ford automatic transmission on the 4 cylinders starting in 1994. And they invested enough in the 2nd generation Probe that shares this chassis that they didn't have to fudge the styling to hide the sedan sourced platform.
This chassis was all Mazda though along with most of the drivetrain, one thing lost when Ford made them join the corporate platforms in the early 2000s is that this chassis was designed to have exceptional weight balance with the front wheels pushed forward farther than typical fwd cars. Tue Mazda 6 along with the 3 lost this design momentum and its only been since the 2014 divestment that Mazda has moved back in that direction.
Most of them were built at the Flat Rock, MI Ford plant; including my former 1999 Mazda 626.
looks like a corolla to me lol, esp from the front. but then again cars in this segment usually look similar
I owned the Eunos version of this, fairly rare in NZ for even a Japanese car. Literally the epitome of "Just a car"
Yet they are secretly fantastic performers. Even though I'm a diehard Mazda fan and particularly a fan of this chassis in the form of the mx6/probe I just can't seem to get any interest in these things going other than as parts donors. Sadly looks do in fact matter when it comes to cars and these just don't look like something I could have passion for.
the eunos 500? i had one too (callled the xedos6 here) it had a manual, wich nobody did (even in germany, were automatics are considered weird to this day) the paint had it with existing and took it upon itself to flake into the wind. to me it looked like an aston martin e36 competitor. and the sound of that 2.0V6 ooooohhhhhhh, what a car.
I reckon the eunos models looked quite unique from other vehicles. The eunos 500 was an awesome looker! And the eunos 800/millenias look great when lowered. Im from nz too, and i agree their fairly rare, but they do pop up from time to time.
I had a ford probe GT with a 5 speed in my early 20s and it felt like a supercar to me at the time! That little v6 is still one of my favorite engines ever
That chassis and V6 was fun! Esp with a 5 speed, and definitely gives the driver more than what the numbers would suggest.
RCR described by Mr. Regular:
"Now this may be their first car - So they're going to have modern 2020 memories with the style of the 1990's, and I think that's cool, man."
4:56 Dog dropping a deuce
UUUUU I NEEEED TO POOOOOOP!
Or more accurately, a “deuce and a half”
5:09 Mr Regular subliminal message?
Good catch! Have to wonder if it was accidental, not noticed by Mr. Regular, or if he very deliberately included that. Knowing him, though his videos are a bit more tame than they used to be, I have to believe this was intentional.
And still more interesting to look at than the 626....
The performance version of this engine used in the mx6 is one of the sweetest ever made.
whizzkid except this IS that engine. I owned a ‘93 version (same generation), but with a 5-sp manual. The engines were the same between the two (and the Probe).
Matt Buckmaster you are correct. I was actually referring to the KLZE variant which is found in Japanese spec 626 and mx-6.
The ZE had hopes and dreams for valve spring retainers, though. Everyone just uses DE retainers when they buy a ZE. While it's a less common occurrence, DE's will also drop valves, I killed one that way at around 7,500 rpms. My goal is to build a 10.5:1 ZE or KLG4 (98-02 626 Engine, different ports/solid lifters instead of the HLA's) capable of reliably revving to 9,000 rpms or so, and I keep changing my power goals but I guess, 400 HP or so on boost with K1 rods and Wiseco pistons..
@@Jamesbond22855 I applaud that dream. the sound these engines make at high rpm is already up there with the best. I can't imagine what it would sound like at 9. Personally, I'm thinking of something similar, but keeping it NA. I haven't quite figured what car to put in though...
"My hands are all messed up, so you gotta drive, brotha!"
KURUMA
"STRRRREEETCH AAAARRRRMMMSSSTRROOONG ISS NOOOWWW INNN YOOOUURR WOOOOOORRLD!"
Yeah, yeah, yeah, wassup, Liberty City?
You checkin out Gaaame Radiooo, my name is Stretch Armstrong, I'm in here with my man, Lord Sear...
Yo what's the deal fam!? Right here at Game Radio, Liberty City, where the players play, and the pimpers pimp, and the hustlers hustle along y'all!
You're gonna hear the finest in hip-hop music, right here on Game Radio, yo Stretch, come on man, hit us with the exclusives!
How the hell do I remember all this to quote, I haven't played GTA III for a decade or longer...
The first station was Head Radio, not Game FM
The Kuruma in GTA3 was based on the Chrysler 300M
OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD !!!!!
Be careful, or you gonna be -sorry- BLOSTED!
I remember seeing that wood trim always advertised at the end of my motor trend magazines in the 90s... I didn’t think anyone ever bought it.
It was a dealer add on that my parents got. It was a pretty reliable car. I used to sneak it out after mom fell asleep for the night.
Always enjoy these type of reviews, cars you see & generally never take a second look at. Can't wait to see more!
Would love to see a YF Sonata turbo review since it was of the newer modern midsize sedans to replace traditional V6s with a turbo 4cyl- and a powerful one at that (274hp). Kind of a sleeper, even at today's standards. Could only imagine the RCR commentary on the torque steer lmao.
@@arnehurnik that's almost as much as a 60s small block.
Yeah i want to see a saab 95 aero for the same reasons, you can pick one up for around 1k and it makes 275hp but more importantly 450 lbs which is mental. yet no one outside saab communities seems to know what they are. looks average but absolutely dominates at light to light drags 0-60 in like 6 secs
how on earth they get that kind of output from a bland 2.0L turbo 4?? That's almost as much as a range-topping 2019 Golf R
Kaleb M YESSSS
Saab did that wayyy first. Check out the 9-5 aero, or 9000 aero which can make over 300hp in a 4 cyl with a pcm flash, absolutely amazing underrated cars.
Oh man, this was my first car. So many memories
This was my first car! When my grandmother went to a home, my parents "assigned" this car to my brothers and me when I was 20. We passed it around for four years (2012-16) until my dad donated it. Ours was a 1998 Mazda 626 LX (4-cyl. auto) in that typical '90s dark green but it had the swing vents too! We thought it was normal and when we bought cars of our own, we felt cheated when we didn't get that feature haha
Time shows just how nice this car is! Whenever one came into my dads shop growing up, I loved pressing the “swing” button on the AC vents and watching them move 😂
Me too! My friend drove one in 1999 and I thought that was super cool! 😊
I love how Roman used a Sum 41 tune at the end there
My dad had a 94 Probe GT with the same engine. I miss that sound
first generation probe GT is one of those best cars no one remembers cars.
The memories made in a shit car are more important. When you crash it the only thing left will be you and those memories.
I remember a discussion among engineers at a place I used to intern about how owning a shitty car is a rite of passage, you've never really grown up until you've spent at least a year or so with a total turd. One of the guys there said he had a car that would overheat on hot days, the only solution was to activate the "auxiliary radiator," more commonly known as the heater. I myself started out with a total piece of shit when I was 16, almost 10 years ago, but I never got rid of it, I just fixed it up ... sort of ... WHERE THE FRESH HELL IS THIS OIL LEAK COMING FROM I JUST FIXED THAT OTHER ONE!!!
Quill Maurer that's my MINI Cooper. Transmission leaks, broken driver side window regulator, strut towers shot, and more. I'm getting a new car soon and owning a shitbox will make you baby a new, nice car.
@@quillmaurer6563 I agree, my first year of college I drove a 1983 Chevy Citation. God that thing was awful. Thankfully I crashed it and upgraded to a Cavalier lol.
1991 Grand Marquis. I had it for 4 years, and it stranded me on the side of the highway no less then 6 times. I replaced the block because it blew a rear main seal after I had a head gasket done. AC Compressor, alternator (twice), air pump (thrice), oil pan, U joints, upper air filter housing box, driver door lock, drivers door power window switch panel, rear passengers window regulator, pretty much the entire front suspension in bits and pieces...
And I loved that car to death. And the memories I have from driving that thing around are priceless.
@@jaymorrison2419 I loved those big rear wheel drive sedans!
Dude it's Timberline Mica not silver! And that sweet revving 2.5 V6 was Mazda designed, used by Ford for the Probe. I dig the fact that the protection sticker was never peeled off the V6 emblem atop the engine. I owned this 1997 626, as an LX-V6, with a 5-speed manual transmission. That thing was a hoot to drive! So damned smooth. Wheel hop was atrocious during clutch dump take offs, and there was a certain sense of fragility in the drivetrain which was off putting. I could go on and on about that car. Thrilled to find your channel and this video - love your editorial style and whacky sense of humor. Keep 'em coming! I've got a 2004 Mazda 6S V6 5-speed manual with 202K miles on it for sale if you want to drive it for a review. ;)
626: the definition of regular.
*Except for the fuel! Haha
@@nodsib not when ur like me and got a the i4 engine that just takes regular
This Mazda looks like it might be a base model Infinti, Nissan, and Mitsubishi.
In Canada I think this was called the 626 Cronos or the premier trim model.
If you squint hard enough, it looks just like it could be mid-gen refresh of the first-gen Altima.
could be also chevy, chrysler, mercury
Infininissubishi
@@andrewstewart1464 YES!!
1:55 - "Krumsville". This is where the villains live in a lazily-written Saturday morning cartoon show.
Berks County represent!
My friend had one of these cars. I have so many found memories of going to school in one of these, or the mall, or anywhere. It was an event. And my friend did his best to run that car into the ground because it was 'fast'. Great vid.
Hey RCR. Hope you are having a good one, video came out 5 minutes ago and I can't wait to watch. Keep up the good shit, your videos get me through my long ass shifts, thank you.
The last few lines about cars like these being someones first car threw me back to being so excited to no longer ride the bus but to get to drive my own 1995 Cutlass Supreme to school everyday. Seeing the interior of this car and thinking back on being so new to getting behind the wheel made me so happy to think about. This was a wholesome car review.
They need to make a sticker "My other car is a Yaris..."
Wait there's no cassette stuck in there?
I had a 09 Yaris. It had ac issues. Other then that, it was fun
Mazda 626: Two words... "Ibishu Pessima"
yes
Yeh.
Yupp
Totally.
I always drive the 90s Ibishu Pessima everytime I play BeamNG Drive because it looks so close to a real 626 which was my first car.
These cars are so good with the 5 speed manual transmission!!
Did they come with the v6 and the manual?!
@@Darylrb1983 yes!
Yes, I had one, and it was, for the time, a fun car to drive.
I have one and it gets up. Keep up with modern cars.
Is the first gear super short in the V6 manuals as well? I had a 4cyl version with a manual, you'd need to change up at 15km/h.
I’m 21. And have more then enough appreciation for my 97 Chevy lumina. 90s cars are fading fast and I want to make sure I can keep mine on the road for as long as I can.
Ay, it's a Merit from GTA San Andreas
I'm pretty sure the Merit is an Impala.
@@lowliifer No the Premier would be the Impala.
@@PHILMKD95 the premier is more akin to the malibu or the aveo
Look up an impala 05 and then look at the merit and its literally an impala.
The Merit is definitely a Mazda 929
I inherited a 1999 Mazda 626 V6 with AT, and I can attest that the transmission is as terrible as the engine is good. Very smooth engine, with great torque, that simply overwhelms the meager GF4A-EL transmission that was meant for much smaller vehicles. So bad, that even with an additional transmission oil cooler fitted by a dealership, overheats when merely cruising on flat land at 55mph. It's like the manufacturers tossed the engineers a bag of rubber bands and told them "See what you can make with these!". Even after a full rebuild to repair an exploded forward sprag, the transmission is sluggish and jerky, throwing codes for "incorrect final drive ratio". Complete and utter citric acid, devoid of the redeeming parts of a lemon. Needless to say, I do not drive that thing, and I'm wondering how to get rid of it without feeling guilty about passing the burden onto a hapless buyer!
Sounds like Honda with their V-6/AT cars.
How about a manual swap?
If you go that route, let me know!
Guy looked like he was having a ton of fun doing the review
I remember my mom’s 626. Best memory was we were coming home and park outside the apartment and my younger brother just spews chunks all over the backside of the driver’s seat. Loved that car and I still miss it.
Why does the 626 look more like a "Ben" than the guy who owns it?
As a Ben I take offense to that.
@@Hactarux Well, do you look like a car?
@@calebtakespictures I mean maybe? Not a 626 though. I would like to believe that I look more like a first gen Scion xB.
I have super early memories of my aunt owning one of these, I remember the old style Mazda badge more than the car itself
It’s amazing that after 23 years, the car seats hold up well
Low miles, garaged, Grandma.
@@seththomas9105 and mild bolsters, my similar era Mazdas all had shredded seats because the bolsters were deeper and they got rubbed raw. But these seats are easy enough to find in good shape.
Yeah they definitely hold up better than many supposed luxury brands.The seats in BMW's from the same era go to shit in 5 years or so. I have a 2000 626 and the seats still look great. They could use a little leather conditioner and a good cleaning, but they are still solid.
My parents bought the 96 burgundy 626 with a gold strip in 98. I drive it now. It's such a simple sedan yet I love it.
Have a 98 626 EU-spec. Good car, but rusting...Currently looking for a 93-97 Mitsubishi Galant E50, that was cool looking and has a good reputation and better rust protection. (Germany). 2.0 V6!
We had the european 1990 mazda 626 2.0 sedan. The 1995 hatch 626 2.0 and the 1998 hatch 626 1.8. Great line
The Netherlands
I love your last statement, which it really resonates with me. It’s basically why I continue to love driving my ‘91 Accord and to enjoy the analog experience that I have with it, especially the cassette player. I may not have been born in ‘91, but I love the 90’s experience.
Definitely a great watch!
It was Pa/north Jersey in the 90's. Of course the vin is on everything
Back in 2008 me and a buddy of mine went on a beach trip with his family and on the way down to the North Carolina coast we did 129 mph in his Mazda 626 V6 on highway 74. I still can't believe that car went that fast.
Ah there's my Ford Laser, or as close as it gets to being one reviewed by Mr Regular
80s and 90s versions of the Ford Laser and Telstar were just boxy body (with a few tweaks) versions of the Mazda 323 and 626 and used the same/compatible parts. Similar story with Holden (GM) and several brands of Japanese cars in the 80s.
@@DaemonlordX Which came first - the Telstar/Laser, or the 626/323? I mean, who borrowed from who?
@@numbereightyseven Yes
@@numbereightyseven Ford got the desgns from Mazda aa they owned 1/4 of Mazda at the time.
The owner of this car seems like a character.
I like him!
I remember this car looking like a Ferrari when I was riding around in my dad's Honda Accord DX..
My God that's a big back seat for the class and time.
Love those oscillating vents, and has a nice ride. Would own.
Omg, my s55 amg didnt even have swinging vents...I've never seen those befor . How cool !
Your S55 doesn't have fake fucking wood slapped across the interior either! Stop acting like you got beaten by a goddamn Mazda
My dad had a 626 in the early 90s. He loved it
"it could be in grand theft auto 3"
oh my god, that is the perfect way to describe it, and specifying it with GTA3 is the one thing that elevates it to that perfection
it really is "an car"
Mr Regular is the sagely and well-researched individual that the car enthusiast community needs
Owned the '89, with a 5 speed, 4 cylinder. To be honest, it was probably the best car I ever owned. Handling was way better than you might expect, the power was just enough to be fun with the stick, it was good on gas, had insane reliability, comfortable on the highway, decent stereo, sensible controls and ergonomics, big trunk, etc. It just did all the things you want a car to do in the real world really, really well. About the only thing wrong with it was that it came from that era with the automatic seatbelts on tracks, when you could put those in to comply with a government mandate instead of having airbags. You still had to buckle the lap belt so it was a completely stupid and annoying idea. Sadly, the 626 lost its soul later on, and I remember renting a 626 from this mod-90s era at one point and being completely appalled by how much of what had made mine so good was now gone. It had become a cheap knock off of a Camry rather than its own, really good and unique thing. Go back 6 years, the 626 was a significantly better car then than the version in this video.
Hey, you know what... this one had me smiling almost the whole way through because I grew up in the 90's as well. Thanks for that. I needed it.
90s japanese car with wooden steering wheel: I like steering with them because their flat surface feels so good ON MY MONUMENTAL LOVE STICK
626 was my glow-up car in high school. I loved it and remember absolutely nothing about it. Miss you, 2003.
Class of 2004 here, I feel ya!
"I just thought of the Arch Deluxe -- and it wasn't even in my notes!" Awesome 🙂
@Mike S The Arch Deluxe was McD's attempt to go "upscale" and "adult". Didn't work out.
But I kinda liked that sandwich.
I had a 626 “hatch” in the UK. It was such a good car.
Thank you! A 98 626 standard with the 4cyl was bought by my parents new and later became my first car in 2005. So many memories came back watching this review.
Early 2000s Mazdas had some genuinely interesting paint colors after they switched over to the 3 and 6. I remember they had a metallic green for the RX8 that looked like crap in pictures, but it was fantastic in person.
Yeah, I have an 08 Mazda 3 in "metropolitan grey mica". Looks boring in pictures, but in the sunlight it's a really interesting color.
From a quick google search, metro grey looks like a blue version of the metallic green you were talking about.
Color code 18J emerald green mica. Mmm
same with my family's old mazda 6. it was called metallic or something like that, but looked purple from some angles. I called it lavender.
13:18 Aw man, as an early 2000's car owner, those tape adapters are such a huge part of my life.
"It makes me appreciate my Yaris even more"
I had one of these, with a stick shift, I loved it. drove it to 240k miles and then gave it to my dad, he still drives it.
4:56 background dog making a hot *B R O W N*
Best car channel ever! I am a hot rodding car nut, an obsessed mechanic of near 30 years, and you guys friggin nail it. i feel like if i was more creative/artistic my internal monologue and the soundtrack for the movie of my life would be your channel. Thank you for such awesome work. Come make an extended visit the Tucson area. The car scene is fun.
As always, great work! Please do a Millennia in the future. Amazing cars!
Great video, it was really informative. I was born in 96 and was looking around for a car to buy and saw one of these posted online around my area for a decent price. The car seemed pretty solid honestly, I’ve never had my own car before so I really have no idea what to even buy, but I have been considering this.
Mazda 626 is underrated same with the Mazda "Oh Yeah that happened" MX-6
Finally someone who knows about it
What about the MX-3?
i had an 89 mx-6 gt 4ws for a bit. it had the oscillating vents too, but just in the center. it was pretty fast. meaty midrange until the little turbo ran out of steam. lots of fun though with the 5 speed
@@TheMinecraftgosmoo the cool thing i remember about those was the tiny 1.8 v6 you could get in them. always wanted to drive one and hear it
Jet Fire I have a MX3 right now I just swapped in the 2.5l V6 from a Ford Probe GT. The thing feels like it’s on rails, it’s crazy.
Thanks for reviewing this car! Brings back memories of my loaded 93 MX6 V6, which was essentially just the coupe version of this car. I had the 5 speed manual instead of the automatic and I could smoothly redline that little 2.5L V6 up to 7300 RPM, which was necessary since it didn’t have a huge amount of torque. So much fun! Lovely exhaust note and light handling compared to today’s cars. I still miss it.
theres a guy in my town with a giant V6 number plate on one
When I was in high school I got a ride everyday in my friend Garrett's v6 Mazda MX6 a different Garrett had a 4-cylinder or 626 with motorized AC vents and I had a Ford probe 5-speed. We were a Ford Mazda shared platform car club. Best times!!
4:52-5:14 :doggie takes a dump
0:00-13:55 Mazda takes a dump
I was hunting for this comment
I think the value of this car just went up. Thanks, RCR, for the memories, and the added anticipation of possibly owning one in the future.
Im a simple man. I see Mazda, I hit the thumbs up button.
My favorite feature of any car I've ever owned was the swinging vents of my old 2000 626. Blew my mind when I discovered it.
Oh Mazda I remember the 90’s 929, 626, 323 good cars expensive spare parts though...😌
Goodness i love the look of a 929. Finding parts looks to be an issue.
As a huge hockey and music nerd, 12:00 is just one of many reasons why i love this channel
5:51
"...like it's making up for its soft suspension"
WHY ON EARTH IS THIS A BAD THING FOR A CAR OF THIS TYPE
Seriously, noone in their right mind would throw this thing into corners! Comfortable cruising, that's what it was made for
I had a 99 626, 2.0 4 cylinder with a 5-speed. Had a sunroof, all power, automatic radio antenna that worked, and the swinging central air vents. One of my favorite cars.
You could remove the badge and put it in a video game, and mazda wouldn't notice
You could leave it on there it isn't a car you look at twice.
its like those cars they put in commericals so you dont recognize the brand of the car
Speaking of the Contour, that car also got a lovely 2.5L quad cam V-6. But that was the Duratec 25, totally different engine, from what I could find. Weird that Ford used both.
My parents had one of these brand new, a gold colored one. Lot of memories in that car, from road trips to school trips. Good times
I LOVE that you referenced Chinese Democracy. It's one of my favorite albums. For those who don't know, it's Guns N' Roses most recent album.
YES, YES. A 90'S MAZDA. YES, YES.
It’s a Miracle
Surprised to find one so rust-free. Great cars, but their Rustbelt life expectancy was on par with a Lancia in Ol' Blighty.
I had a 98 mercury mystique. 5spd v6. Those chassis are awesome
Too bad these end up being almost every teens first car so I can hardly find one that isn't smoking like a freight train because it's been ragged on like crazy.
I really like your conclusion in this video. Modern 2020 memories in the style of the 1990s. I was born in the era this car was new. Vehicles like this are what I attach to a lot of memories, except mine was another boring economy family car, the XV30 generation camry. I never understood why 90s kids seemed to talk of these memories more when it felt like me and others my age, being a generation after, had a lot of crossover. You encapsulated that feeling nicely, helped me understand both your generation and mine and how they connect. Using a 626 to do so.That's why I look forward to monday, man. Every video of yours, while being funny, always helps me understand the world just a little bit better. Thanks.
YES! The oscillating air conditioning vents! 😆 I remember back in the day... and STILL think it's cool; nice touch. 😎
SWING
@@turbo.dad.restores 🤣🤣🤣
12:00 as a canucks fan, it's nice to know even people on the other side of the continent know about that particular bungle all those years ago.
$500 car....someone call Scotty Kilmer😅
The truth about Mazda 626 (and why I'm buying one)
@@stgrsa ....or "I was wrong about Mazda"😋
"Mazda has changed the game"
Those 90s Mazda's had trash transmissions
@@tylersmith4265 ...but were they made by JATCO🐸🐵