I own a Mazda 626 Sedan in Prestige Silver colour, 1990 model ... bought brand new in Melbourne, Australia as a gift from my father for my 18th birthday. He paid $32,000 Australian dollars for it back then! It's now 32 years old, has done 500,000 kilometres and l continue to drive it daily. Has never failed me. Unbelievable car. I cannot part with it. My first and so far, only car ...!! People cant believe it.
I grew up in the suburbs north of Seattle. Near Boeing, Nintendo, and Microsoft. I was a car kid, these types of cars were everywhere. And because of the money flowing from the businesses I mentioned they were usually top of the line. I graduated HS in 1995. Fully loaded every opting Toyota Turbo 4X4 trucks, Corolla GTS, Mazda GTs(323 GT AWD / 626 / MX6) Acura NSX, Integras they were everywhere. I've owned most. I purchased an 87 626 GT(turbo) 5 door touring 5 speed with the incredibly rare Digital instruments. I loved that car. Btw the 1988 new body style had a digital instrument as well. Even more rare.
It's like that in one area near me, but not where I live. But l see the fancier cars pop up as I drive through the "rich" area along with some good condition retro and vintage cars. And some older ladies driving the sports cars (who were probably very young when this motorweek episode aired so it shouldn't be that surprising)
I have a ford Telstar 1983 2.0 ltr Ghia in immaculate condition, it came standard with oil pressure gauge and battery taco standard. Only problem it's a choke model. Gotta sit there for a min holding the choke. But she puts away rather nicely on 80,000ks since 1983.
Oh I forgot this existed! I've never seen one on US roads. What a great 'bubble' car. Handling and braking seems outstanding, even by today's standards.
From what I heard, the 626 w/4WS was a rare model that was available only for the 1988 model year. The four wheel steering option went on the MX-6 coupe the following year but it was still short lived and lasted for only a couple of years.
@@dwilsonjr78 Yeah, also according to a car book I had at the time it was also only an Australian spec'd model, not USA. I don't think the 4WS was widely available in the USA. I could be wrong, though. I had never heard of it until the book mentioned it.
I own a 1986 Mazda 626, and I absolutely love it. I have a Deluxe model, too. Only cost me about $700AUD, and just needed a few additional things done to it. No AC in it, though. But that is something we are looking at fixing in the future with a new compressor. At the end of the day, I am in love with the car, and if the AC on it worked, I would own this car until the engine finally breaks. Especially for my first car, I love it so much. An awesome car.
This was my first car i have ever owned back in 1990. i was also the only one in the US to have a manual trans due to my auto failing on me several times. So i met a guy that is certified mechanic at Goodyear and low and behold he had the only 4ws mx6 gt i have ever seen and he helped me swap my auto to manual...I have never seen another but my wife saw one and thought it was me but never seen then. I have been on several mazda forums and i currently have a mazdaspeed6 and i have still yet to meet another person that have had a 626 or mx6 4ws turbo..
That's with the automatic transmission and also Motor Week's usually slower test times compared to their contemporaries. Probably a mid 6 second 0-60 car under ideal conditions and maximized testing procedures IMO. I was 22-23 in 1988 and I remember how expensive this model was compared to other performance cars out there. $18K was a LOT for a mid-size Japanese sedan in 1988, that was base Camaro IROC-Z or top shelf Mustang GT money back then. Yes, it was quick, but for that money, us younger crowd(at the time) wanted a bit more pizazz in our performance vehicles(which still rings true today).
a fun car for youths studying in high schools or universities,those were the time of very classy,fun to drive cars at low price,these days what we have of the same price is a prius,eeuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I always liked this generation of Mazda 626. It was very attractive for the time and had some really interesting features, like the 4-wheel steering, and the powered dash vents that literally rotated back and forth automatically. That was quite a gimmick, but electronic gimmicks were all the rage in the 1980s. Anyone remember Chryslers who SPOKE to you? I guess that creeped people out, but I thought it was really cool.
My 1988 Mazda MX-6 (two door version of the 626) had those vents too, and were cool but a little annoying at times as they couldn’t point in different directions at the same time, like one for driver and other for passenger. Both always pointed in the same direction lol And thank god the MX-6 didn’t have those annoying motorized belts. I hated those! Haha
@@klasseact6663 The worst part about that was that my uncle had one of those cars (a Dodge 600 I think) and every time there was a family get-together, my grandmother got my cousin to do his, "how can a door be a jar?" act. Ugh.
I owned a 1988 MX-6 (626 with only 2 doors). It was an LX model with black clearcoat paint, and a 5-speed manual. It was one BEAUTIFUL car. It was loaded with every other option available. I could easily get 31MPG on the highway. It had some quirks that were pretty easy to fix, and I held onto it until someone rear-ended it (194K miles).
Yes. My Dad had a 1985 626 LX. Great car. He drove it for 60K, then handed it off to me. I proceeded to drive it for another 120k. Mazda was at the top of their game until about 1995. The economy and Ford were not helping. Buying themselves back from Ford in 2008 was a good move. Quality returned.
Love it how the 1989 Mazda 626 came out with this innovation 4WS on a 4 door model, even the 1989 Honda Prelude Si 4WS was first to do so, but on a 2 door. This is my favorite Mazda in the late 80's as well as the 2005 Mazdaspeed 6 turbocharged AWD.
Wow -- that turbo 2.2L really made that car. 7.2 seconds from 0 to 60 was *quick* in 1988 -- particularly for a 4-door sedan! If it wasn't the quickest 4-door sedan available in 1988, it has to be in the top 5. And can you imagine that engine paired with a manual transmission instead of that 4-speed slushbox? It would have to be sub-six-seconds to 60! Very impressive, even by todays standards!
Faster too with some mild upgrades, could get this into low 6 second range with cold temps. Beauty of turbos particularly back then which weren't so heavily computerized.
Almost all Japanese had 4WS except Toyota during that era. Prelude had 4WS Mazda 626 4WS Mitsubishi Gallant VR4 had 4WS Nissan 240SX/300ZX had HICAS 4WS
They used to film these segments not far from our house. Motor week started out a Maryland PBS show. Nowadays, they film all over the USA so we don't see them filming as often. My point? John Davis never reviews these cars, he's just reading someone else's review of the car lol.
Had one of these that we bought used in 1989 or 1990. It was a great car with the exception of the 4WS. The 4WS steering needed to be serviced at the dealer several times over the 2-3 years we had the vehicle. It was a fun car to drive.
That 0 to 60 was good for 1988. That car was way ahead of it’s time. Used to own a black 1990 626 DX, in the early 90s, no frills version, which drove well in the snow, and had a great 5 speed.
Always loved the MX-6. It was fast back in the day, and with some light mods (intake/exhaust/intercooler/boost increase), it was an absolute rocketship.
The '84 626 with the premium interior had them too. Mine was fine little car and those oscillating vents were fantastic! I've missed them in every car I've owned since!
I had an 87 626 GT turbo non intercooled sedan(the body style before this) and it was a lot of fun. I have never seen another one since i got rid of it in the mid 90s.
I bought a 1988 Mazda MX-6 GT a little over a year ago and I will never sell it. It's one of those once in a lifetime cars in my opinion, such a different experience!
I think it largely came down to distrust or skepticism of the reliability. I owned a 4ws and was amazed at the amount of people that just viewed it as something to fix. 4ws has always been a tough sell.
A lot if the problem was that for the first few years Quadrasteer was only available with a pricey option package. By the time GM got a clue and started offering it a la carte, the damage was already done, which is a shame because I test drove a 3/4-ton Suburban with it in period and it was amazing.
In New Zealand, there were also diesel models with 4WS, along with a 1.8 litre and a 2.0 litre petrol GT. The 1.8 petrol and diesel versions were both used Japanese imports, with the 2 0 litre GT petrol being available as a option new here.
David Aubin my 1993 escort that I used to have had that when gunning it while doing a left turn. finally died after having it 11 years from 2007-2018. fun but the catch you off guard torque. oh and was a 5 speed.
The 626 Turbo was/is a hugely underrated car. 4WS was a bit of a gimmick but the regular Turbo was a monster. A friend of mine had a normally aspirated 626 DX (1990 or 91) and it was a solid midsized sedan.
I owned an '88 626 Turbo with the 5 speed and it was an amazing car. Fast for it's era and durable. I put over 150k miles on it and beat it hard. It would outrun Integras and I could give Mustangs and Vettes a run off the line up to 3rd gear. The car absolutely loved to cruise at 100 all day on the highway.
I think I just discovered another eighties car that I didn't know about/remember that is now one of my favorites! I knew about this generation 626, but did not know it was available with 4WS.....and a turbocharged engine!
I love Mazda. I just wish they sold more of them. Makes it hard to find an old one to play with. A late 80's early 90's 323 would be awesome. They last forever as long as you don't live in the rust belt.
My dad gave me this hand me down in the mid 90s as my first car. Had a 5 speed and it ran 15.1 1/4 mile at a track in Wisconsin. Could burn rubber with the front tires for days.
I had a 1986 Mazda 626 GT Turbo Coupe [five-speed manual] fairly similar to this. Thankfully, I did not have the sliding shoulder belt, but I did have the oscillating vents and adjustable front struts. Also, mine had the upgraded stereo with five-band (?) equalizer. Rear windows were powered--pushed out by little arms! No boost gauge, but a "Turbo" light illuminated in the instrument cluster when it came on.
I'm really liking the oscillating vents.. they would be useful. In hot weather I'm always adjusting vents and can never seem to get them right because they are moved often. With oscillation no worries, they cool everyone.
I worked for Good Year back in the day, and they sent us techs to a specialized wheel alignment school to be able to service the cars that had 4WS. It was extremely interesting to learn about the newer technology. However, our independently owned shop decided not to buy the special alignment racks needed to actually do these cars, as there was a cost factor vs actually seeing 1 enter the shop. So I myself never got to drive nor service 1.... they were farmed out.
The mention at the end of the long-term test fleet makes me want to see some retro long-term test updates. How did the 4WS 626 fare six months down the road?
@jason9022 I still have an 86 (generation before this) in my garage. 626 LX burgundy ice in color. I've had it 20 years this year. Best friend gave it to me as a graduation gift. Other than maintenance, it's still solid, dependable as the tides.
@jason9022 never. Alot of memories with that car, for awhile it was one of the most dependable things in my life. I'm honestly surprised I've had it this long. I just don't have the heart to let her go. That same friend who gave it to me nearly died this Christmas, n is having surgery tomorrow. Kind of a sentimental car to me now
impressive numbers. I dont understand why they got worse as the years progressed. Even the latest 6 doesn't have numbers this impressive. Obviously with a turbo they would. So impressive for 1988.
Had a 1988 Mazda MX-6 (two door version of the 626) and damn I miss that car. Was only the LX so I didn’t get the turbo like the GT did (same 2.2 as in this 626) but the regular 2.2 was ok. And still got it up to 125 on the Pa Turnpike! Haha (Yeah I got pulled over later that night but at 90 mph...and Cops theme song was playing when he pulled me over! Unfortunately the Trooper did NOT find that amusing whatsoever and I got a ticket lol But the car was a great car! And it didn’t have the annoying motorized belts that the 4 doors had!
A family member had the same car.. a 88' 626 LX. Did yours have the push button adjustable suspension? I can remember putting the shocks in sport and carving the windy mountain roads of Vermont. For 145 hp, it was pretty peppy and def handled like it was on rails
@@supafrancis no, unfortunately my MX-6 did not have the adjustable suspension, and I’m not sure if that was even offered on the LX. Only ones I seen with that were the GT version with the turbo. Definitely would have liked to have it but even the regular suspension was great in that car. Handling was nearly as good as my 2016 Fiesta (the handling in the Fiesta is actually extremely good for a cheap car) and was quite comfortable even on all but the roughest of Pennsylvania roads. I didn’t have the moonroof in mine either. I don’t know for sure but that may have only been offered on the GT as well in my area. I’d love to find me another one someday. Preferably the GT but the LX was still a great car and I’d happily own another LX as well (as long as it’s a manual like my 88 was) Mazda/Ford really had a gem with those two cars, and I miss mine dearly
i had an 89 mx6 gt 4ws. that car ran great. it was a 5 speed, turbo, lots of fun. when the 4ws worked it was really neat. especially low speed manuevers. i never raced one, but id like to see one vs. a same year rx7 turbo. just to see how it compared directly to their flagship sports car.
I had a 1990 2.2 Mx-6 Burgundy on Burgundy 😂. One of the best cars I’ve ever had . 5 speed with the 2.2 was plenty peppy and fun. Would’ve like to have had a turbocharged one. I bet those where a blast!
MOTOR HAWK car n truck enthusiast because it doesnt make them enough money to justify this system on a modern car. Why bother with something like this, that everyone would want, when you can sell a fwd crossover with low hp and a huge touch screen for double the price? It makes total sense in the cost world. I hate the way cars are made now, but no company in the US cares enough to make cars like this again.
@@LrulestheworldM8 old cars were also having something known as class!! even a small family hatch used to be attractive and a status symbol during the 80s even if people were damn rich!!
People see driving as too much of a chore and not as pleasurable as an enthusiast does. The companies have people thinking a higher center of gravity is safer. Also, mechanics these days don't know how to work on cars beyond plugging in diagnostic computer and throw parts at it with no regard to the price to fix it.
Very rare option in the late 80's and early 90's. But when I bought after market brake, exhaust and steering parts for my plain '92 MX-6 LX the store would always ask me if I had the 4WS. Hah! Hey, my brother has two wheels from a 4WS car.
So many features in a midsize car of this era. Turbo engine. Oscillating vents. Split-folding rear seats. ABS. WOW! 4WS was likely a little complicated for the avg consumer to comprehend then. Even on high performance cars like the Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4, it was not thought of as a must have. It is still around with Porsche, Cadillac(CT6 Platinum), and of course, the hypercars.
halo hunter no, those were in a class below the 626, along with the 323/Protege. The 626 was in competition with the Accord, Passat, etc. I had almost zero interest in American cars of that era, so I’m not sure of the 626’s competition in that respect (perhaps the Taurus, tho that was admittedly larger). Regardless- definitely not in the Cavalier/Tempo realm, and larger and more refined than the Jetta.
@@BeefyMon The 323 & Protege were subcompact through 1994, and even the Beretta/Corsica which were only slightly larger than the Cavalier but larger than this were considered compacts. Midsize has to be certain dimensions. The Taurus and Lumina were midsize, much larger than this car. This and the Cavalier are nearly identical in size.
halo hunter ah, you’re probably correct. For some reason I was thinking “class”, not size. That said, it HAS to be larger than the Jetta of that era... I don’t have specs handy, but my friend owned one, and my 626 was clearly larger.
This was 30+ years ago - on a family sedan no less. And one that was not even close to the market leaders by volume. How many 30+ year old cars (that are not muscle cars or super cars) do you see regularly?
@@scdevon Well I've done my part - bought two new Mazdas in the past 6 years, and maybe set to buy another new one this year unless the Honda CR-V's roominess sways us in that direction. I also convinced a friend to check out the CX-9 a few years ago - not sure it was on his car shopping list at the time but he bought one and loves it!
4WS must have had issues, because for a couple years in the late 80s alot of the sportier Japanese cars had it as an option, but it disappeared within a few years.
This car looks like a lot of fun to drive, and I've never even seen a 626 with 4WS. Mazda needs to bring it back. Imagine 4WS on the current CX-5, 6, or 3.
My dad bought one in 88, but non turbo.. he couldn't get one for some reason. It was a LX. Had 300,000 on it when he traded it in. It still ran good and got 29mpg. My grandparents like my dad's so much they bought one. My Grandpa gave it to me in 95 when I got my driver's license. Took that car to hell and back and it keept coming back for more. Had it up to 130 down a hill, the nose started to get light. I always saw the 5 door with a turbo. I think I saw one sedan with a turbo and one with 4ws. Man I loved that car. Oh I still have the sticker for my grandfather's I think it was $11,000 for an LX model
102,200 miles? Is that all? High cost of repairs? What did your next new or used car cost? And what were the monthly payments? I don't want to be tough on you but I would regularly that generation Mazda 626/MX-6 in junkyards around 2010 with 250,000 or more miles on the odometer. And I am in the rust belt! Have a good one Chuck.
I had an '87 626 with the 2.0 normally aspirated. It wasn't nearly as powerful or sporty, but it did have a 5 speed and got MUCH better fuel mileage (40 MPG on highway). It really was a mistake to not offer the '88 4WS with a manual transmission. Probably would have cut at least a full second off the 0-60 time.
An '87 626 LX automatic sedan was the original family car in my life from when I was born, and was technically the first car I ever "drove" lol... Lots of emotional connection to that body style and engine. I believe the fuel injected version made 120hp... Impressive for 1987, when VW had a 115-hp 2.0L in new Jettas as late as like a few years ago!
I've owned quite a few 1984-98 Mazdas, my favorite was my 1987 626 last year of body style, painted mirrors, GT. Amazing mpg and plenty of power. I drove it to 280,000 miles with only minor issues and maintenance. I'd pay a lot of money to find a truly perfect one.
There's a guy who posts motor week videos, but you have to search him on google. I'm not putting his username on here because motor week had him blocked from UA-cam so he started his own site. Use Google and you'll find his page.
I test drove A 4WS MX-6 GT but didn't buy it. Already had A MX-6 LX 5-speed at the time. Two of my brother's have this generation 626 GTs. When modified correctly, you can beat Corvettes with them. That added torque steer around 4K RPMs is an early version of VRIS. Which is like having A supercharged and turbocharged engine at the same time. The more you modify the engine the harder it hits at that RPM provided you leave the air intake intact. The adjustable suspension was the option to get but you can no longer get direct replacement parts for that.
I own a Mazda 626 Sedan in Prestige Silver colour, 1990 model ... bought brand new in Melbourne, Australia as a gift from my father for my 18th birthday. He paid $32,000 Australian dollars for it back then! It's now 32 years old, has done 500,000 kilometres and l continue to drive it daily. Has never failed me. Unbelievable car. I cannot part with it. My first and so far, only car ...!!
People cant believe it.
I grew up in the suburbs north of Seattle. Near Boeing, Nintendo, and Microsoft. I was a car kid, these types of cars were everywhere. And because of the money flowing from the businesses I mentioned they were usually top of the line. I graduated HS in 1995. Fully loaded every opting Toyota Turbo 4X4 trucks, Corolla GTS, Mazda GTs(323 GT AWD / 626 / MX6) Acura NSX, Integras they were everywhere. I've owned most. I purchased an 87 626 GT(turbo) 5 door touring 5 speed with the incredibly rare Digital instruments. I loved that car. Btw the 1988 new body style had a digital instrument as well. Even more rare.
It's like that in one area near me, but not where I live. But l see the fancier cars pop up as I drive through the "rich" area along with some good condition retro and vintage cars. And some older ladies driving the sports cars (who were probably very young when this motorweek episode aired so it shouldn't be that surprising)
4:51 John sure does love his oil pressure gauges and voltmeters.
instablaster
I have a ford Telstar 1983 2.0 ltr Ghia in immaculate condition, it came standard with oil pressure gauge and battery taco standard. Only problem it's a choke model. Gotta sit there for a min holding the choke. But she puts away rather nicely on 80,000ks since 1983.
It's all he ever talks about
Had an 88 626 without 4ws, stick shift. That car was peppy. Nice and quick off the line. One of the most reliable cars ive owned.
There's one up for grabs in immaculate condition right now for cheap near me. I might pick it up now.
buy it
Ah yes that was the good times when 95% of all cars in the 80s were reilable and lasted forever
Mazda was great back then. Reliable and somewhat quick
Oh I forgot this existed! I've never seen one on US roads. What a great 'bubble' car. Handling and braking seems outstanding, even by today's standards.
Even acceleration was pretty good for the time and for a 2.2 liter with supposedly just 145 HP.
From what I heard, the 626 w/4WS was a rare model that was available only for the 1988 model year. The four wheel steering option went on the MX-6 coupe the following year but it was still short lived and lasted for only a couple of years.
i drive it still today.daily
@@dwilsonjr78 Yeah, also according to a car book I had at the time it was also only an Australian spec'd model, not USA. I don't think the 4WS was widely available in the USA. I could be wrong, though. I had never heard of it until the book mentioned it.
I think the stereo is in a perfect spot. I can grab the cigarette lighter to spark up as I switch sides of my iron maiden tape.
I almost spit out my coffee on that one, thanks! 🤣
I own a 1986 Mazda 626, and I absolutely love it. I have a Deluxe model, too. Only cost me about $700AUD, and just needed a few additional things done to it. No AC in it, though. But that is something we are looking at fixing in the future with a new compressor. At the end of the day, I am in love with the car, and if the AC on it worked, I would own this car until the engine finally breaks. Especially for my first car, I love it so much. An awesome car.
This was my first car i have ever owned back in 1990. i was also the only one in the US to have a manual trans due to my auto failing on me several times. So i met a guy that is certified mechanic at Goodyear and low and behold he had the only 4ws mx6 gt i have ever seen and he helped me swap my auto to manual...I have never seen another but my wife saw one and thought it was me but never seen then. I have been on several mazda forums and i currently have a mazdaspeed6 and i have still yet to meet another person that have had a 626 or mx6 4ws turbo..
You are so lucky to be an owner of this awesome car. I really love these retro cars,I was born in 1990
0-60 in 7.2 seconds....not bad
Ikr. Looks like a maxima. Almost 200 ft lbs of torque
That's with the automatic transmission and also Motor Week's usually slower test times compared to their contemporaries. Probably a mid 6 second 0-60 car under ideal conditions and maximized testing procedures IMO. I was 22-23 in 1988 and I remember how expensive this model was compared to other performance cars out there. $18K was a LOT for a mid-size Japanese sedan in 1988, that was base Camaro IROC-Z or top shelf Mustang GT money back then. Yes, it was quick, but for that money, us younger crowd(at the time) wanted a bit more pizazz in our performance vehicles(which still rings true today).
a fun car for youths studying in high schools or universities,those were the time of very classy,fun to drive cars at low price,these days what we have of the same price is a prius,eeuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes that’s impressive acceleration for 1988 sedan. Most of them were slow.
@@GalenlevyPhoto I was expecting 0-60 to be an "impressive" 10.5 seconds...lol
I have a 1992 626 lx and it runs amazing. It's been with my family since 1995. Such an amazing car to drive
I always liked this generation of Mazda 626. It was very attractive for the time and had some really interesting features, like the 4-wheel steering, and the powered dash vents that literally rotated back and forth automatically. That was quite a gimmick, but electronic gimmicks were all the rage in the 1980s. Anyone remember Chryslers who SPOKE to you? I guess that creeped people out, but I thought it was really cool.
The door is a jar, urrr, ajar
My Acura does that. Always thought it was cool in the old Chrysler's
My 1988 Mazda MX-6 (two door version of the 626) had those vents too, and were cool but a little annoying at times as they couldn’t point in different directions at the same time, like one for driver and other for passenger. Both always pointed in the same direction lol
And thank god the MX-6 didn’t have those annoying motorized belts. I hated those! Haha
@@dragon81heart my 93 626 had that same feature. I think they did away with it when the nameplate died.
@@klasseact6663 The worst part about that was that my uncle had one of those cars (a Dodge 600 I think) and every time there was a family get-together, my grandmother got my cousin to do his, "how can a door be a jar?" act. Ugh.
I owned a 1988 MX-6 (626 with only 2 doors). It was an LX model with black clearcoat paint, and a 5-speed manual. It was one BEAUTIFUL car. It was loaded with every other option available. I could easily get 31MPG on the highway. It had some quirks that were pretty easy to fix, and I held onto it until someone rear-ended it (194K miles).
31 MPG was very excellent for that car Bro 🏆
Very patient driving and gently handle on optimum power output 🎉❤
This is a rare find
exactly, i found 3 or 5 car owners of ford telstar,
Yes. My Dad had a 1985 626 LX. Great car. He drove it for 60K, then handed it off to me. I proceeded to drive it for another 120k. Mazda was at the top of their game until about 1995. The economy and Ford were not helping. Buying themselves back from Ford in 2008 was a good move. Quality returned.
Love it how the 1989 Mazda 626 came out with this innovation 4WS on a 4 door model, even the 1989 Honda Prelude Si 4WS was first to do so, but on a 2 door. This is my favorite Mazda in the late 80's as well as the 2005 Mazdaspeed 6 turbocharged AWD.
Vv ,*
Wow -- that turbo 2.2L really made that car. 7.2 seconds from 0 to 60 was *quick* in 1988 -- particularly for a 4-door sedan! If it wasn't the quickest 4-door sedan available in 1988, it has to be in the top 5. And can you imagine that engine paired with a manual transmission instead of that 4-speed slushbox? It would have to be sub-six-seconds to 60! Very impressive, even by todays standards!
Faster too with some mild upgrades, could get this into low 6 second range with cold temps. Beauty of turbos particularly back then which weren't so heavily computerized.
I had a 1992 626 - same body style but no 4WS. 5 speed manual. Loved that car. No issues whatsoever. Now have a Mazda3. Love that one too.
Forgot to mention the 626 went to over 300k miles. Pretty impressive. Original engine.
Hell no, 4WS isn't a fad! By the mid 90s, all cars will have them. I guarantee it!
Yup. Mitsu had it on the 3000GT w/ 4WD.
Almost all Japanese had 4WS except Toyota during that era.
Prelude had 4WS
Mazda 626 4WS
Mitsubishi Gallant VR4 had 4WS
Nissan 240SX/300ZX had HICAS 4WS
Chang Kun Toyota had the Celica 4WS
Liam Maupin the Celica All-Trac turbo is AWD, not 4WS.
@@lordmaster5522 fifth generation ST183 and sixth generation ST203 variants of the Celica had 4WS, but they were only sold in Japan.
Still the best car reviewer. Had enough of the shitty top gear
Me too!
You're right!
Check out car throttle yt channel and it's way better than the humdrum, artsy-fartsy top gear.
The Clarkson era top gear was good. The new shit is just trash
@@griffinmackenzie Well said. The modern top gear is crapola.
They used to film these segments not far from our house. Motor week started out a Maryland PBS show. Nowadays, they film all over the USA so we don't see them filming as often.
My point? John Davis never reviews these cars, he's just reading someone else's review of the car lol.
My brother owned one. He bought it new and drove it for 6 years. During this time he never had severe problems.
Had one of these that we bought used in 1989 or 1990. It was a great car with the exception of the 4WS. The 4WS steering needed to be serviced at the dealer several times over the 2-3 years we had the vehicle. It was a fun car to drive.
That 0 to 60 was good for 1988. That car was way ahead of it’s time.
Used to own a black 1990 626 DX, in the early 90s, no frills version, which drove well in the snow, and had a great 5 speed.
Always loved the MX-6. It was fast back in the day, and with some light mods (intake/exhaust/intercooler/boost increase), it was an absolute rocketship.
HOLY OSCILLATING FAN VENTS WHY CANY I HAVE THAT NOW!!!
Haha! My 2002 626 has those!!
Newer Lexus have them
I had an '88 MX-6 with them.. it was super cool
Don't forget this was 1990s Japan their ecodomy was booming then and manufacturers were more willing to take risks.
The '84 626 with the premium interior had them too. Mine was fine little car and those oscillating vents were fantastic! I've missed them in every car I've owned since!
I love these quirky Japanese cars from the 80s.
I always liked those , they look nice and 7.2 to 60 is very good for 1988
I wish modern car reviews were this informative in such a short time
That was my first new car I bought myself when in the Navy..1989 model..
190lbs of torque!! Hell yeah now that's what I'm talking about and that was in the late 80s! Just amazing!!
I had an 87 626 GT turbo non intercooled sedan(the body style before this) and it was a lot of fun. I have never seen another one since i got rid of it in the mid 90s.
My mom had an 87 5 speed in black. It was fun to drive but the 88 was much more car.
I bought a 1988 Mazda MX-6 GT a little over a year ago and I will never sell it. It's one of those once in a lifetime cars in my opinion, such a different experience!
This Mazda was fire. I had the five speed. Amazing.
30 years later and this car is still nice and quick on the quarter mile too good brakes more than good!!!
Even GM had a 4 wheel steering truck at one point... The average person didn't care enough for the technology to become mainstream
I think it largely came down to distrust or skepticism of the reliability. I owned a 4ws and was amazed at the amount of people that just viewed it as something to fix. 4ws has always been a tough sell.
A lot if the problem was that for the first few years Quadrasteer was only available with a pricey option package. By the time GM got a clue and started offering it a la carte, the damage was already done, which is a shame because I test drove a 3/4-ton Suburban with it in period and it was amazing.
Passive 4 wheel steer was on quite a few cars in the 80s and 90s. It basically changed the amount of toe as the suspension traveled.
I think the Kia stinger has it now.
In New Zealand, there were also diesel models with 4WS, along with a 1.8 litre and a 2.0 litre petrol GT. The 1.8 petrol and diesel versions were both used Japanese imports, with the 2 0 litre GT petrol being available as a option new here.
2:05 John: AND WITH IT, COMES AN ARM TWISTING BURST OF TORQUE STEER! LOL
David Aubin
my 1993 escort that I used to have had that when gunning it while doing a left turn. finally died after having it 11 years from 2007-2018. fun but the catch you off guard torque. oh and was a 5 speed.
The 626 Turbo was/is a hugely underrated car. 4WS was a bit of a gimmick but the regular Turbo was a monster. A friend of mine had a normally aspirated 626 DX (1990 or 91) and it was a solid midsized sedan.
I owned an '88 626 Turbo with the 5 speed and it was an amazing car. Fast for it's era and durable. I put over 150k miles on it and beat it hard. It would outrun Integras and I could give Mustangs and Vettes a run off the line up to 3rd gear. The car absolutely loved to cruise at 100 all day on the highway.
I think I just discovered another eighties car that I didn't know about/remember that is now one of my favorites! I knew about this generation 626, but did not know it was available with 4WS.....and a turbocharged engine!
what a beatiful car, i never seen one of those
I love Mazda. I just wish they sold more of them. Makes it hard to find an old one to play with. A late 80's early 90's 323 would be awesome. They last forever as long as you don't live in the rust belt.
My dad gave me this hand me down in the mid 90s as my first car. Had a 5 speed and it ran 15.1 1/4 mile at a track in Wisconsin. Could burn rubber with the front tires for days.
Late 80s and the whole 90s were an eden for japanese-american cars. G'd, i wish i had been an adult back then.
I had a 1986 Mazda 626 GT Turbo Coupe [five-speed manual] fairly similar to this. Thankfully, I did not have the sliding shoulder belt, but I did have the oscillating vents and adjustable front struts. Also, mine had the upgraded stereo with five-band (?) equalizer. Rear windows were powered--pushed out by little arms! No boost gauge, but a "Turbo" light illuminated in the instrument cluster when it came on.
Didn't even know this car existed. So cool
I'm really liking the oscillating vents.. they would be useful. In hot weather I'm always adjusting vents and can never seem to get them right because they are moved often. With oscillation no worries, they cool everyone.
Wow...I had no idea this model was so cool. 4WS, anti-lock brakes, turbo, 0-60 in 7.2, two shift modes, and oscillating dash vents?!
I worked for Good Year back in the day, and they sent us techs to a specialized wheel alignment school to be able to service the cars that had 4WS. It was extremely interesting to learn about the newer technology. However, our independently owned shop decided not to buy the special alignment racks needed to actually do these cars, as there was a cost factor vs actually seeing 1 enter the shop. So I myself never got to drive nor service 1.... they were farmed out.
The mention at the end of the long-term test fleet makes me want to see some retro long-term test updates. How did the 4WS 626 fare six months down the road?
@jason9022 I still have an 86 (generation before this) in my garage. 626 LX burgundy ice in color. I've had it 20 years this year. Best friend gave it to me as a graduation gift. Other than maintenance, it's still solid, dependable as the tides.
@jason9022 I've never driven it in the winter, so even in NY, there's no rot. Could use a paint job, but, even the interior is in great condition.
@jason9022 never. Alot of memories with that car, for awhile it was one of the most dependable things in my life. I'm honestly surprised I've had it this long. I just don't have the heart to let her go. That same friend who gave it to me nearly died this Christmas, n is having surgery tomorrow. Kind of a sentimental car to me now
Maybe they're not finished with the long-term test!
@@davidg4026 LOL!
impressive numbers. I dont understand why they got worse as the years progressed. Even the latest 6 doesn't have numbers this impressive. Obviously with a turbo they would. So impressive for 1988.
I had an '88 MX-6 LX 5-speed non-turbo.. it was a blast to drive.
Had a 1988 Mazda MX-6 (two door version of the 626) and damn I miss that car. Was only the LX so I didn’t get the turbo like the GT did (same 2.2 as in this 626) but the regular 2.2 was ok. And still got it up to 125 on the Pa Turnpike! Haha
(Yeah I got pulled over later that night but at 90 mph...and Cops theme song was playing when he pulled me over! Unfortunately the Trooper did NOT find that amusing whatsoever and I got a ticket lol
But the car was a great car!
And it didn’t have the annoying motorized belts that the 4 doors had!
A family member had the same car.. a 88' 626 LX. Did yours have the push button adjustable suspension? I can remember putting the shocks in sport and carving the windy mountain roads of Vermont. For 145 hp, it was pretty peppy and def handled like it was on rails
My 91 mx6 LX governed at 110mph
@@supafrancis no, unfortunately my MX-6 did not have the adjustable suspension, and I’m not sure if that was even offered on the LX. Only ones I seen with that were the GT version with the turbo. Definitely would have liked to have it but even the regular suspension was great in that car. Handling was nearly as good as my 2016 Fiesta (the handling in the Fiesta is actually extremely good for a cheap car) and was quite comfortable even on all but the roughest of Pennsylvania roads. I didn’t have the moonroof in mine either. I don’t know for sure but that may have only been offered on the GT as well in my area.
I’d love to find me another one someday. Preferably the GT but the LX was still a great car and I’d happily own another LX as well (as long as it’s a manual like my 88 was)
Mazda/Ford really had a gem with those two cars, and I miss mine dearly
@@gemstatefisherman3409 I wonder what the ‘88 was governed at (if it was) and when they lowered it
Definitely something to try to find the info on!
So many of these oldies were ahead of their times. I still love my 1999 626 hahaha and it had the swinging A.C. vents
mines broken :(
that's an impressive amount of torque.
Love to see a review of the Eagle Vision TSi or the Chrysler Cirrus!
i had an 89 mx6 gt 4ws. that car ran great. it was a 5 speed, turbo, lots of fun. when the 4ws worked it was really neat. especially low speed manuevers. i never raced one, but id like to see one vs. a same year rx7 turbo. just to see how it compared directly to their flagship sports car.
I had a 1990 2.2 Mx-6 Burgundy on Burgundy 😂. One of the best cars I’ve ever had . 5 speed with the 2.2 was plenty peppy and fun.
Would’ve like to have had a turbocharged one. I bet those where a blast!
why cant auto companies develop such dying tech instead of working on annoying electronics,infotainment systems and related stuffs
MOTOR HAWK car n truck enthusiast because it doesnt make them enough money to justify this system on a modern car. Why bother with something like this, that everyone would want, when you can sell a fwd crossover with low hp and a huge touch screen for double the price? It makes total sense in the cost world. I hate the way cars are made now, but no company in the US cares enough to make cars like this again.
@@LrulestheworldM8 ,yeh what they want is just money and also they are making cars more ugly and abnormal looking ,especially the prius
@@LrulestheworldM8 old cars were also having something known as class!! even a small family hatch used to be attractive and a status symbol during the 80s even if people were damn rich!!
People see driving as too much of a chore and not as pleasurable as an enthusiast does. The companies have people thinking a higher center of gravity is safer. Also, mechanics these days don't know how to work on cars beyond plugging in diagnostic computer and throw parts at it with no regard to the price to fix it.
@@vinzclortho7766 , But how do they even imagine , and what ways a higher center of gravity is safer?, it would lead to a serious roll over!
Very rare option in the late 80's and early 90's. But when I bought after market brake, exhaust and steering parts for my plain '92 MX-6 LX the store would always ask me if I had the 4WS. Hah! Hey, my brother has two wheels from a 4WS car.
Clean and very nice looking car. I’ll buy it new today!!
So many features in a midsize car of this era. Turbo engine. Oscillating vents. Split-folding rear seats. ABS. WOW!
4WS was likely a little complicated for the avg consumer to comprehend then. Even on high performance cars like the Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4, it was not thought of as a must have. It is still around with Porsche, Cadillac(CT6 Platinum), and of course, the hypercars.
There's no way this is a midsize car. It's close in size to a Cavalier, Tempo, Jetta, etc (compacts) of the same year.
halo hunter no, those were in a class below the 626, along with the 323/Protege. The 626 was in competition with the Accord, Passat, etc. I had almost zero interest in American cars of that era, so I’m not sure of the 626’s competition in that respect (perhaps the Taurus, tho that was admittedly larger). Regardless- definitely not in the Cavalier/Tempo realm, and larger and more refined than the Jetta.
@@BeefyMon The 323 & Protege were subcompact through 1994, and even the Beretta/Corsica which were only slightly larger than the Cavalier but larger than this were considered compacts. Midsize has to be certain dimensions. The Taurus and Lumina were midsize, much larger than this car. This and the Cavalier are nearly identical in size.
halo hunter ah, you’re probably correct. For some reason I was thinking “class”, not size. That said, it HAS to be larger than the Jetta of that era... I don’t have specs handy, but my friend owned one, and my 626 was clearly larger.
@@BeefyMon you're right about that, the Passat is the closer car. The Jetta is basically a golf with a trunk.
I would buy one if they were produced today.
Me too
@@edwarddot94mazda 626
Sad that I don’t see these on the streets anymore.
This was 30+ years ago - on a family sedan no less. And one that was not even close to the market leaders by volume. How many 30+ year old cars (that are not muscle cars or super cars) do you see regularly?
@@scdevon Well I've done my part - bought two new Mazdas in the past 6 years, and maybe set to buy another new one this year unless the Honda CR-V's roominess sways us in that direction. I also convinced a friend to check out the CX-9 a few years ago - not sure it was on his car shopping list at the time but he bought one and loves it!
@@RoadCone411 I see a good amount of 30 year old Camry’s and Accords still running around.
@@BernonCars They each outsold the Mazda 5 to 1 or more...
I have one! St Augustine Fl if you are interested...comment back.
I loved seeing this and never knew it had 4 wheel steering and it was as fast as it was then.
4WS must have had issues, because for a couple years in the late 80s alot of the sportier Japanese cars had it as an option, but it disappeared within a few years.
I like the car's style, very 80's. Interesting to have 4ws in those years. I like this car
This car looks like a lot of fun to drive, and I've never even seen a 626 with 4WS. Mazda needs to bring it back. Imagine 4WS on the current CX-5, 6, or 3.
My dad bought one in 88, but non turbo.. he couldn't get one for some reason. It was a LX. Had 300,000 on it when he traded it in. It still ran good and got 29mpg. My grandparents like my dad's so much they bought one. My Grandpa gave it to me in 95 when I got my driver's license. Took that car to hell and back and it keept coming back for more. Had it up to 130 down a hill, the nose started to get light. I always saw the 5 door with a turbo. I think I saw one sedan with a turbo and one with 4ws. Man I loved that car. Oh I still have the sticker for my grandfather's I think it was $11,000 for an LX model
I would want one if it came in manual, everything else about this car is really cool!
You asked the question, anybody ever driven or seen one. I still own my 1988 Mazda MX6 GT Turbo with 5 speed, btw. A very quick driver.
Now it’s rare even here in Japan
My wife had a regular 5 speed 626 when I first met her, it was a peppy little car and used almost no gas.
Bring back the '80's!
Wow. That little thing is quicker then most cars of today!
Car looks damn good, and oscillating air vents in 88? Impressive
Brings back good memories…my dad had a ‘91 626 that I remember as pretty quick for that time
わたしは日本でカペラC²という車に乗っていました。これがMAZDA626に相当します。私のはクーペです。
電子制御4WSで、高速運転時は同位相、低速バックでは逆位相となります。高速での車線変更ではクイックでリニア感があります。逆に車庫入れや縦列駐車のときは良く切れます。
同時代の日本車でHONDAプレリュードなどは機械式の4WSでした。その後は4WD全盛になり、4WSは消えました。
MAZDA626は性能の良いレシプロエンジンで車の性格はハンドリングの良さ軽さに評価が高かったです。
カペラの初期型にはロータリーエンジンも使われたこともありますが、ロータリーはRX-7などに集約され、
90年前後にコスモというバブリーで高価な車に1度だけ搭載されました。
カペラも途絶え、いま私はロードスターに乗っています。妹の夫がMAZDAの国際部に勤めているから、車はマツダ車にすることに決めています。
7.2 seconds to 60mph in 1988 WITH an auto....fast af !!
I loved mine back in the day, had the 2 door. The very high cost of repairs drove me to junk it when it had 102,000 miles.
102,200 miles? Is that all? High cost of repairs? What did your next new or used car cost? And what were the monthly payments? I don't want to be tough on you but I would regularly that generation Mazda 626/MX-6 in junkyards around 2010 with 250,000 or more miles on the odometer. And I am in the rust belt! Have a good one Chuck.
Best generation of the Mazda 626/6.
I had an '87 626 with the 2.0 normally aspirated. It wasn't nearly as powerful or sporty, but it did have a 5 speed and got MUCH better fuel mileage (40 MPG on highway). It really was a mistake to not offer the '88 4WS with a manual transmission. Probably would have cut at least a full second off the 0-60 time.
An '87 626 LX automatic sedan was the original family car in my life from when I was born, and was technically the first car I ever "drove" lol... Lots of emotional connection to that body style and engine.
I believe the fuel injected version made 120hp... Impressive for 1987, when VW had a 115-hp 2.0L in new Jettas as late as like a few years ago!
The MX6 GT 4WS came with a 5 speed, auto as an option. They reserved the 5 speed to the 2door sport version.
I've owned quite a few 1984-98 Mazdas, my favorite was my 1987 626 last year of body style, painted mirrors, GT. Amazing mpg and plenty of power. I drove it to 280,000 miles with only minor issues and maintenance. I'd pay a lot of money to find a truly perfect one.
626 was a nice car. 323 also back in the day.
That was a quick sedan for 1988…first time I’ve seen “oscillating air vents”!
Thanks for uploading, would love to see the MX-6 vid been uploaded
Mitsubishi Diamante please!
jason9022 I know that. But I wanna see a motorweek video.
And mid 90's Mitsubishi Galant.
Yes I'd like to see a 3rd gen
There's a guy who posts motor week videos, but you have to search him on google. I'm not putting his username on here because motor week had him blocked from UA-cam so he started his own site.
Use Google and you'll find his page.
I would love to Mazda to bring back the 626 and 929 sedans
I’ve had this car for about a year now
I test drove A 4WS MX-6 GT but didn't buy it. Already had A MX-6 LX 5-speed at the time.
Two of my brother's have this generation 626 GTs. When modified correctly, you can beat Corvettes with them.
That added torque steer around 4K RPMs is an early version of VRIS. Which is like having A supercharged and turbocharged engine at the same time. The more you modify the engine the harder it hits at that RPM provided you leave the air intake intact.
The adjustable suspension was the option to get but you can no longer get direct replacement parts for that.
This Mazda was once part of Motorweek's long term test fleet
My favourite gen 626! Although the hatchback looks better in this trim level.
For 1889 Mazda sold the (basically 626 coupe) MX-6 with the four wheel steering option but you could get a 5 speed manual too.
I had a friend with one of these. It was a 5-speed with blue interior. She almost took my virginity in that car. Oh, the good ol' days. 😊❤❤❤
I got this one, it was best car I ever had
That torque though.
Today's mazda 6 is a real looker. Seems like its 626 predecessors were also good lookers in their day
Radial tires? What car manufacturer was putting bias ply tires on new cars in 1988?
Try to find one of those in 2019? 😶
I do. More than once
They have biodegraded.
I have one lol
I have a 1992 one without 4ws but its a stick, quite fun to drive
If we had this model here back in the day I think that I would of been good competition for the Subarus, Mitsubishis, and Nissans
Hey Mr. Motorweek! please realese the 1988 mazda 929 review, it was a very fine car. Thanks!
Also available in 1988 in white with white wheels was the 35th Anniversary Corvette.
These videos are really good quality for 31 years ago.