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MAZDA 323 Used Car Review

The Mazda 3 is today one of the country's most popular cars, yet Australia fell in love with Mazda hatchbacks as early as 1977 with the first 323. It sold like hotcakes in 1981 when a new-generation front-wheel-drive 323 replaced the rear-drive model. There were various hatch, sedan and wagon body styles, and in the mid-1990s there was even a V6 alternative to the mainly four-cylinder line-up. A sporty SP20 model bolstered the 323's image before the model was replaced from 2004 onwards by the Mazda 3.

Pros

Cons

  • Good ride comfort and handling for its time
  • SP20 variant was particularly good fun to drive
  • Refinement of old 2.0-litre V6
  • Spare parts may be harder to come by now
  • Autos only had either three or four speeds
This is general information and should not be relied on as purchasing advice.
Mazda323ManualIs your car registered?: Yes4 cylClear all

Top1998 MAZDA 323 PROTEGE 🏆 ✅rwc ✅rego ✅Manual ✅great car

  • 219817 km
  • Sedan
  • Manual
  • 4 cyl 1.6L

🏆🔥 1998 Mazda 323 Protégé 🔥🏆 Current (RWC) & QLD Registration 👉 4 Door Manual 4 Seater Sedan 👉 Comes With Current Roadworthy Certificate and QLD registration till 22/07/2024. ✅ Good Car, 4 Cylinder reliable, CD Player , Well Looked After, Fuel Efficient, Drives Great, Super Reliable. 👉 Drives Excellent ✔️✔️✔️✔️. 👉 Go

$3,199 Excl. Gov. Charges
Arundel, QLD

Dealer used
20 hours ago

Top1999 Mazda 323 BJ Protege Silver 5 Speed Manual Sedan

  • 200960 km
  • Sedan
  • Manual
  • 4 cyl 1.8L

Unitrade Motors is not your typical ‘used car dealer’, we offer you a purchasing experience like no other. We pride ourselves on being friendly, reliable, trustworthy and finding you the perfect car that suits your requirements. Our team carefully hand selects our vehicles with precision and confidence. It's the quality of our cars that is important to us - not the quantity. All of our vehicles are checked over by our trusted mechanics and come ready to drive away with a Road Worthy Certifica

$4,499 Excl. Gov. Charges
Carrum Downs, VIC

Dealer used
23 hours ago

Top2003 MAZDA 323 ASTINA hatch manual excellent value

  • 271297 km
  • Hatchback
  • Manual
  • 4 cyl 1.8L

🚗 For Sale: 2002 Mazda 323 Manual Hatchback Looking for a reliable, fuel-efficient car that won't break the bank? Look no further! Our family-owned business, serving the community for over 40 years, is proud to offer this gem: Price: Only $4850 Model: 2002 Mazda 323 Manual Hatchback Registration: 3 months rego Condition: Excellent, with no mechanical issues Recent Maintenance: Timing belt done at 200k Features: Super reliable, super fuel-efficient, drives like new Extras: New windscreen and

$4,850 Excl. Gov. Charges
Haberfield, NSW

Dealer used
26/04/2024

Top2000 MAZDA 323 PROTEGE SHADES 5 SP MANUAL 4D SEDAN

  • 197605 km
  • Sedan
  • Manual
  • 4 cyl 1.6L

Great little manual car nil engine issues. - new battery bought 15/4/24 - Year old brake disc - new rear shockies - damage on attached photos Ready to go.

$4,000
Midland, WA

22/04/2024

1987 Mazda 323 DELUXE 5 SP MANUAL 4D SEDAN

  • 198621 km
  • Sedan
  • Manual
  • 4 cyl 1.6L

Mazda 323 1987 5 speed manual. This car is a pleasure to drive. It's light, handles well and is great on fuel. Everything is functional - including all electrics. The tires are near new, so they'll be safe over winter. The bodywork has a few dings and fading paint. There are spots of rust however given the car's age it's in remarkably good condition with nothing structural to worry about. It does have air conditioning however it's not as effective as a modern cars. The most recent service ha

$3,800Negotiable
Wembley, WA

4 hours ago

2002 MAZDA 323 PROTEGE SP20

  • 225827 km
  • Sedan
  • Manual
  • 4 cyl 2.0L

2002 Mazda 323 Protege SP20, this is a very rare and unique sports sedan, it has had one owner from new, and he is a Mazda Master Technician at Mazda Dealer, (now retired). It is in beautiful original condition inside and out. It drives as you would expect of a car that has been loved and cared for by somebody who has been trained by the factory to do that very thing ! A one off opportunity for someone to enjoy a stunning Mazda sports sedan in immaculate condition as it came from the factory.

$5,650 Excl. Gov. Charges
Kempsey, NSW

Dealer used
14 hours ago

1998 MAZDA 323 PROTEGE 🏆 ✅rwc ✅rego ✅Manual ✅great car

  • 219817 km
  • Sedan
  • Manual
  • 4 cyl 1.6L

🏆🔥 1998 Mazda 323 Protégé 🔥🏆 Current (RWC) & QLD Registration 👉 4 Door Manual 4 Seater Sedan 👉 Comes With Current Roadworthy Certificate and QLD registration till 22/07/2024. ✅ Good Car, 4 Cylinder reliable, CD Player , Well Looked After, Fuel Efficient, Drives Great, Super Reliable. 👉 Drives Excellent ✔️✔️✔️✔️. 👉 Go

$3,199 Excl. Gov. Charges
Arundel, QLD

Dealer used
20 hours ago

1999 Mazda 323 BJ Protege Silver 5 Speed Manual Sedan

  • 200960 km
  • Sedan
  • Manual
  • 4 cyl 1.8L

Unitrade Motors is not your typical ‘used car dealer’, we offer you a purchasing experience like no other. We pride ourselves on being friendly, reliable, trustworthy and finding you the perfect car that suits your requirements. Our team carefully hand selects our vehicles with precision and confidence. It's the quality of our cars that is important to us - not the quantity. All of our vehicles are checked over by our trusted mechanics and come ready to drive away with a Road Worthy Certifica

$4,499 Excl. Gov. Charges
Carrum Downs, VIC

Dealer used
23 hours ago

2003 MAZDA 323 ASTINA hatch manual excellent value

  • 271297 km
  • Hatchback
  • Manual
  • 4 cyl 1.8L

🚗 For Sale: 2002 Mazda 323 Manual Hatchback Looking for a reliable, fuel-efficient car that won't break the bank? Look no further! Our family-owned business, serving the community for over 40 years, is proud to offer this gem: Price: Only $4850 Model: 2002 Mazda 323 Manual Hatchback Registration: 3 months rego Condition: Excellent, with no mechanical issues Recent Maintenance: Timing belt done at 200k Features: Super reliable, super fuel-efficient, drives like new Extras: New windscreen and

$4,850 Excl. Gov. Charges
Haberfield, NSW

Dealer used
26/04/2024

2003 Mazda 323 SP20 Manual Sedan

  • 222400 km
  • Sedan
  • Manual
  • 4 cyl 2.0L

Perfect car for a first car buyer! It is an awesome first vehicle. It's a great car to learn manual on. FEATURES FIRST CAR BUYERS LOVE: - Power steering - Front & rear power windows - Full body kit - 16" alloy wheels - Climate control air conditioning - Kenwood DDX4 double din head unit with Bluetooth connectivity and nav SAFETY FEATURES 2 airbags to protect you and your family. I've had the car for 8 years it's never skipped a beat, it's very reliable and cheap to maintain. Rego runs out in

$3,500Negotiable
Chester Hill, NSW

24/04/2024

2000 MAZDA 323 PROTEGE SHADES 5 SP MANUAL 4D SEDAN

  • 197605 km
  • Sedan
  • Manual
  • 4 cyl 1.6L

Great little manual car nil engine issues. - new battery bought 15/4/24 - Year old brake disc - new rear shockies - damage on attached photos Ready to go.

$4,000
Midland, WA

22/04/2024

2003 Mazda 323 BJ II-J48 Astina Shades Black 5 Speed Manual Hatchback

  • 144498 km
  • Hatchback
  • Manual
  • 4 cyl 1.8L

SN1401 ***NEW TIMING BELT KIT - RWC - ALLOYS - PRICE IS DRIVE AWAY*** This 2003 MAZDA 323 is located at National Automotive, (Ph: ), Carcity, Ringwood, 25 kms from the Melbourne CBD. While we consider reasonable offers be aware we have priced this car as competitively as possible so our price is fixed. HOURS: MON - SAT 9:30 - 4:30 - SUN 10:30 - 4:00 PM Great looks and driving enjoyment comes in the shape of the MAZDA 323 Shades. The 2003 Mazda 323 Shades makes a statement.

$7,490 Drive Away^
Ringwood, VIC

Dealer used
19/04/2024

1979 MAZDA 323 SUPER DELUXE 5 SP MANUAL 5D HATCHBACK, 4 seats All Othe

  • 133000 km
  • Hatchback
  • Manual
  • 4 cyl 1.4L

1979 Mazda 323 5 door, 5 speed manual. Good running order, used weekly on club rego with no issues. Has been resprayed by previous owner, has some marks and blemishes, some panel fitment could be fine tuned also, but generally looks pretty nice. Has 15 inch replica rims with good Continental rubber. slightly lowered all round and also has a slight sports exhaust giving a nice sound without being obnoxious. Interior is pretty presentable, seats are decent, dash has been retrimmed at some poin

$12,990Negotiable
Elderslie, NSW

17/04/2024

2001 MAZDA 323 ASTINA 5 SP MANUAL 5D HATCHBACK

  • 323000 km
  • Hatchback
  • Manual
  • 4 cyl 1.6L

Just had new fuel pump and filter, new spark plugs and leads also new ignition coil. Runs perfectly manual transmission. Only serious buyers. Will come with a pink slip and ready for rego Located Tumut NSW

$1,800Negotiable
Tumut, NSW

03/04/2024

1989 MAZDA 323 All Others 3 SP AUTOMATIC 5D HATCHBACK, 5 seats

  • 165000 km
  • Hatchback
  • Manual
  • 4 cyl 1.6L

1989 Mazda shades manual 165000 km’s, nsw rego until October driven to and from work mainly, preventative maintenance including timing belt has been done, regularly serviced and cleaned, never smoked in, very good car with no headaches, I’m the 2nd owner from new and have had no issues in the 2 years I have owned it, everything works well including heater and A/C $4500 pickup only

$4,500Negotiable
Thurgoona, NSW

30/03/2024

2002 Mazda 323 Protege Sports Edition 5 Sp Manual 4d Sedan

  • 182420 km
  • Sedan
  • Manual
  • 4 cyl 2.0L

Runs well & is very reliable, handles well & is comfortable. Interior kept free of chemicals, smoke, animals, etc. Has been regularly serviced & the last one was recent. Tires are good, overall condition is pretty good for the age. Was garaged over the last 2 or 3 years. Nice exhaust note as it's the sports edition, strut brace & firm suspension give an enjoyable direct feel of the Rd, got a bit of get up for what it is. Minor damage on the left front quarter panel area. Rego until July.

$5,000Negotiable
Lara, VIC

13/07/2022

Overview of the Mazda 323

Overview of the Mazda 323

The Mazda 3 is today one of the country's most popular cars, yet Australia fell in love with Mazda hatchbacks as early as 1977 with the first 323.

It sold like hotcakes in 1981 when a new-generation front-wheel-drive 323 replaced the rear-drive model.

There were various hatch, sedan and wagon body styles, and in the mid-1990s there was even a V6 alternative to the mainly four-cylinder line-up. A sporty SP20 model bolstered the 323's image before the model was replaced from 2004 onwards by the Mazda 3.

MAZDA 323 GENERATIONS (SINCE 1994)

1994-1998

1998-2003

RUNNING COSTS

Fuel Consumption

1.6L 4-cylinder: 7.0 to 7.7 litres per 100km

1.8L 4-cylinder: 7.7 to 8.3 litres per 100km

2.0L 4-cylinder (SP20): 8.0 litres per 100km

2.0L V6: 10.0 litres per 100km

= Highly economical.

= Good economy.

= Average fuel use.

= Heavy consumption.

Servicing

SIMILAR MODELS TO MAZDA 323

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR: MAZDA 323 (1998 TO 2003)

The youngest Mazda 323 is now quite an old car. That means you really need to look at every prospective purchase on its individual merits, rather than on any hard and fast rules.

That said, there are a couple of recurring themes to be observed, starting with a 323 that has ever had its engine overheated.

This can be tricky to determine years later, but any engine that blows blue or grey smoke on start-up, has a misfire or a rough idle could be exhibiting the long-term effects of once having been too hot. This damage is permanent, too, and won't go away with a service.

Automatic versions also required their transmissions to be serviced according to the factory maintenance schedule.

A quick check involves getting the engine temperature up to normal (after a five-minute drive, for instance) letting it idle and removing the transmission dipstick.

The fluid on the stick should be a clean, clear red colour and shouldn't smell of burnt toast.