"Luc - The Acadian Oppo" (luc5)
09/16/2014 at 10:03 • Filed to: PROJECT FREE MAZDA
8
15|
"Luc - The Acadian Oppo" (luc5)
09/16/2014 at 10:03 • Filed to: PROJECT FREE MAZDA | 8
| 15 |
( Full disclosure : Mazda wanted me to drive this car so bad that my stepmom bought one used 5 years ago and just recently gave it to me since she no longer needed it.)
Exterior: 5/10
OK the paint is a bit rough,what used to be red is now pink and the clearcoat is peeling all over the place but other than the paint the car is super solid and virtually rust free. This is a hatchback an automotive style so popular that it's still made today and highly sought after by many Opponauts.
Interior: 4/10
Ah yes the interior. what's not to love about this spartan vinyl covered interior. The back seat(bench by the way no split folding here) folds down which turns this little hatchback into a car that can swallow a whole lot of stuff. Who needs a pickup when you have a hatchback?
Acceleration: 4/10
0-60 in roughly 10 seconds. while not fast by todays standard I have absolutely no problems keeping up with traffic and this beast will cruise on the freeway all day long without batting an eye.
Braking: 4/10
The car has brakes. Single piston disks up front and drums in the back. But in saying that the car weighs just over 2000lbs so these brakes are adequate at getting the job done.
Ride: 4/10
With a short 97" wheelbase this car is pretty bouncy and the very limited sound insulation makes for a bit of a noisy ride. Even if the car is a little bouncy it is not too stiff so you don't get that beat up driving it. It's no Cadillac but for a base model 21 year old econobox it's not that bad.
Handling 6/10
This is where the car shines. the handling is pretty good I can see why they made a rally car with the 323. the short wheel base combined with the light weight makes this a blast to throw around corners. it's pretty obvious it's a car from the same company that makes the Miata.
Gearbox: 3/10
It's a 4 spd slush box. It's been rebuilt 2 years ago so it runs as it should but it's not inspiring by any means.
Audio: 1/10
I have a tape deck and 1 working speaker so I cannot give it a zero. but a 1 is as high as I'm willing to give it. I eventually will replace/add(there is none in the back) the speakers with working units from the scrapyard.
Toys: 0/10
NONE! there is not one single toy. I have crank up windows,a steering wheel that doesn't adjust, a tape deck, no cruise, no A/C.
The only thing I have that resembles a toy is this toggle switch to turn on and off the cooling fan.
Value: 10/10
I got this car for free. A running road worthy car for free gets an automatic 10 in this category. So far with repairs and the Miata wheels I have $235.00 invested in this car so I can still give it a ten.
41/100
Engine: 1.6L SOHC 16-Valve I4
Power: 103 HP / 108 LB-FT
Transmission: 4 spd Automatic
0-62 MPH: 10 s
Top Speed: untested but I figure in the neighborhood of 110MPH
Drivetrain: Front-Wheel Drive
Curb Weight: 2,006 LBS Seating: 4 people
MPG: 25 City/33 Highway/29 Combined
thebigbossyboss
> Luc - The Acadian Oppo
09/15/2014 at 22:46 |
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Awesome. I have always thought the early Mazda 323 hatches were great cars. I am glad to see you didn't just scrap it, which is what a lot of people would do when encountered with a 21 year old econobox.
sellphones2493
> Luc - The Acadian Oppo
09/15/2014 at 22:49 |
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In complete candidness, I had a neighbor with one of these identical to yours as a child, and ever since I first laid eyes on it, I thought it was ugly as sin.
To each their own though. Enjoy a free car!
I think I recall you saying she went from this to a new Dodge Journey - how is she enjoying features?
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Luc - The Acadian Oppo
> sellphones2493
09/15/2014 at 23:00 |
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yup she went to a Journey. it has power window,power locks,A/C,Cruise, sunroof and a CD player.
Not too fancy in todays standards but compared to the Mazda you could call it loaded to the tits.
The only "feature" the mazda has is the optional automatic trans.
PS: the car is still ugly as sin it hasn't got any better with age.
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Luc - The Acadian Oppo
> thebigbossyboss
09/15/2014 at 23:06 |
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The little shit box is a pretty good runner. there is a few little issues still to sort out but overall I do not have any fears of taking the car for a spin. in the last 5 years it has never left anyone stranded.
the fact that it only cost me $10/month for insurance makes me want to keep it going so I can keep the mileage down on my 2013 Fusion.
These Mazdas are a fucking tank! I had a friend in high school that had the same as mine but with a 5spd stick. it had over 400,000kms and he seized the engine twice. how did he fix it? he removed the plugs, poured a bit of oil on top of the pistons, left is overnight and it started right back up the next day.
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thebigbossyboss
> Luc - The Acadian Oppo
09/16/2014 at 06:46 |
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He unstuck his engine? WOW! Lol @ insurance at $10/month.
Here in Ontario you pretty much can;t get any insurance for anything at less than $100.
Mattbob
> Luc - The Acadian Oppo
09/16/2014 at 10:41 |
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That's a Vacuum booster right there. These brakes at least were power assisted at one point.
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Luc - The Acadian Oppo
> Mattbob
09/16/2014 at 11:03 |
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I never noticed that! Thanks this means I can narrow down the vacuum leak. when the car is cold I have essentially no brakes and the car idles pretty weird. once the car warms up the brakes work fine and the car idles perfect.
The vacuum leak must be somewhere around the booster.
Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
> Luc - The Acadian Oppo
09/16/2014 at 11:08 |
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I want to get an old Mazda, I have my eyes set on a 1990 MX6, rust is not showing up really, the engine bay has seen better days though, .
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Luc - The Acadian Oppo
> Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
09/16/2014 at 11:15 |
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Give the engine bay a good degreasing and it will be good as new. these old mazdas are really reliable but if you live in the rust belt they rust pretty good.
I got lucky with mine as it's an original car from Vancouver,BC and it is now living in Edmonton AB. both places do not use salt on the roads so it's pretty much rust free.
lonestranger
> Luc - The Acadian Oppo
09/16/2014 at 11:51 |
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PRNDSL
Are you sure it's a 4-speed? Unless there's and overdrive switch somewhere, it seems like a 3-speed to me. Both 3- and 4-speed autos were common in small cars in those days, and apparently both were available in that generation of 323.
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lonestranger
> Luc - The Acadian Oppo
09/16/2014 at 11:52 |
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... or even inside the booster itself.
DocWalt
> Luc - The Acadian Oppo
09/16/2014 at 11:54 |
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What's the plastic duct immediately behind the radiator?
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Luc - The Acadian Oppo
> DocWalt
09/16/2014 at 12:10 |
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I have no idea? I was looking at that the other day and it's a plastic pipe that is totally sealed with a pipe that goes into the air box? it must be some type of vent, but to me it doesn't look like it serves any purpose at all. it doesn't suck in any fresh air or anything like that.
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DocWalt
> Luc - The Acadian Oppo
09/16/2014 at 13:23 |
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Ah ok, so it's a resonator box. Looks like a fun car!
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Luc - The Acadian Oppo
> lonestranger
10/11/2014 at 11:14 |
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Yeah I'm pretty sure it's a 4spd there is a button on the shifter that says "hold" but when you press it on the highway the car downshifts which makes me think it's a button to turn on and off the overdrive.