Old vs New: Mazda 626 vs Mazda3 (long and unscientific)

[orly_andico]

What other interesting vehicles do they have..

CX-7 definitely
RX-8
Mazdaspeed 3 or even the Grand Touring version (hatch with 2.3L NA engine)

unfortunately all of these are on the expensive side. Maybe if they brought in a 1.6L Mazda3 with a MANUAL transmission, that might incite some racer-boy types.

Incidentally I inquired about replacement suspension parts for the 626. 15,000 for H&R springs, and 45,000 (!) for Bilstein shocks.

The springs are OK. But the shocks are 3X the price of OEM's. Of course they are Bilstein and would probably outlive the 626 by a good margin.

I just don't have the budget to blow that kind of money on the aging 626. Oh well. I would've liked to replace all the underbody stuff, have it reupholstered in leather(ette) to get rid of the musty old car smell... the list goes on.