Would look mint on a set of nice motorsport wheels!
Details in short
1.5 16v 89 bhp
5 speed manual
10 months mot
86k on the clock
some history
recent oil change,new downpipe,new sump, new cv joint, wipers, front brakes and new brake fluid
std radio supplied, cd player will be removed, along with the rubber floor mats
leccy front windows, manual rear
central locking with two keys
4 doors, 5 seats, decent boot.
coupe looks, but with practicality!
£500
located in hook norton, oxon
See below for detailed waffle.....
Good example of a mazda 323f 1.5 16v manual with a reasonably low mileage of 86k, This will rise slightly as I use it 3 times a week.
The car has had 2 previous owners prior to me. I bought the 323 on a bit of a whim to use over spring. It is a model I have always fancied owning, it hasn't dissapointed! Practical, good on fuel, cheap to tax (lower band) and very sharp to drive. I should probably keep it, but I can't bring myself to get rid of my bmw compact, mad as that may seem.
I also own a pair of mazda mx5s (yes I love old mazdas) and this handles just as well! Having looked underneath the 323, the floorpan shares some design with the mx5. It has chassis rails which run the full length of the floorpan, much like the mx5s do. Probably one of the best front wheel drive cars I have driven and I have driven some fairly good fwd cars, new shape mini, fiesta st to name a couple.
The car mot is valid until march 2017. There were a couple of advisories. The front brakes were flagged as being worn, so I have replaced these and bled the brakes also. A rear drop link has a bit of play and the front exhaust section was listed as being weak. Both very minor, so I haven't done anything to rectify them as they are fine for the time being. The car was mot'd by a close friend who has only recently got his mot licence, so he was very careful to check everything! The MOT took nearly two hours! I'd much rather know my car is in good working order as I use it mainly for ferrying my two young kids around.
The engine and running gear all work well. I don't have any proof of a cambelt replacement, but would assume it has been done at some point given the mileage. It does have some stamps in the service book, so it seems to have been looked after. It doesn't worry me too much, as a: It is a fairly cheap retro car and B: the engine is non interference, so if the belt were to snap, you just need to fit a new one. So the worst case is you would need towing home.
The engine is an 89bhp 1.5 16v unit similar to the engines found in the mx5. Fairly revvy and nippy. Will return 35-38 mpg in my experience, driving a mixture of windy country roads and A roads.
Oil has been changed recently. Has also had a few parts replaced. Downpipe is new, as is the sump. I have also fitted new front wiper blades and had a c.v. joint replaced in march 2016.
Gearbox is a 5 speed manual and works fine.
Wheels are in fair condition, some light scuffs, minor corrosion and brake dust staining. two front tyres are fairly new, as is one rear. The other rear could do with replacing soon as it is a bit old.
The bodywork is very tidy for a 20 year old car. No serious rust or corrosion on the body or underneath. There are one or two scuffs, the odd dink etc, nothing you wouldn't expect of a car that is 20 years old. The paint polishes up very well. I have machine polished it and waxed it recently, but would benifit from additional paint rectification if you are fussy
Radio aerial is broken, but a replacement is supplied unfitted. I don't listen to the radio, so it hasn't bothered me enough to replace it.
Interior is very clean and tidy. The drivers seat has some heavy wear to the side bolster, I have now sewn the side bolster up. I would assume this was caused by a larger person using the car at some point, as there is little wear elsewhere on the interior.
Front windows are electric, rears manual. There is a manual sunroof too, which works perfectly and does not leak.
I have installed a modern cd player, but the original tape deck will be re-installed.
Heater works well on all settings. Rear heated screen functions correctly.
Loads of storage compartments, it has two glove boxes and a deep storage box in each door card!
It really is a great little car and I'll be sad to let it go, however I own 4 cars in total and with summer not too far away now, I'd really like to get one of my mx5s back on the road.
located in hook norton, north oxfordshire
07841 481156
