Test drive Mazda Xedos 9 1993 - 2001 sedan
The ghost is samurai
Massive machines such as Mercedes-Benz W221 or BMW 7-Rihehe E65 are now in fashion. Graceful cigar -shaped cars are now not popular, but the time when they dominated the roads have not been the past. And this is remarkable, since a great many machines that are not reminiscent of the fundamentals of the rifle are still driven along our roads, among them such as the elegant BMW 7 -rehe E38 or the classic low Jaguar XJ, by the way, are not only in the representative segment, but And in the business class: Nissan Maxima, Volvo S80 and Mazda Xedos 9. It is about the last sedan known in Japan and the USA even like Millenia or Eunos 800, we will tell in more detail.
This is a sophisticated car, abounding with curious technical solutions, it is annoying that the machine that appeared in 1993 was discontinued in 2001, and even those copies that were the last to have the last from the assembly line for many years. And besides, the next generation of this model in Europe did not appear, some kind of replacement was the six, which became the famous and replaced two Xedos 9 cars and versions 626/Xedos 6 at once. What problems are a considerable age of the Japanese?
To begin with, those who follow the fashion will surely be unhappy: after all, the car is hidden according to the old, indentable to patterns now. However, it does not become less elegant and beautiful from this. The restyled version that appeared in 2000 is especially pleasing: the model looks quite fresh. Sorry, Xedos 9 is available only in the form of a sedan. Only one claim can be presented to the case: the rear wheeled arches sometimes rust in elderly specimens. There is no need to wait for other troubles: there are no complaints for seals, the frontal frame maintains integrity for a long time (the other Mazda cannot boast of those years).
Characteristics
Type of body sedan
The number of doors 4
Sum of places 5
Length 4825 mm
Width 1770 mm
Height 1395 mm
Wheel base 2760 mm
Road clearance 120 mm
Suspension type:
Front independent, double -leaf
Rear independent, multi -link
Type of drive front
Brakes:
Front disk ventilated
The rear disc
Gas tank volume 68 liters
Acceleration to 100 km/h* 8.6 s
Max. Speed* 220 km/h
Fuel consumption, l*:
City 12.6
The track 6.8
* Data for a car with a 2.5 l engine and manual transmission.
The salon is also good: wonderful ergonomics, comfortable seats, high -quality decoration materials, good equipment (almost all cars are equipped with an electric packet, velor, or even leather upholstery, on -board computer and air conditioning), everything is quite decent. With the adjustment of age: the interior does not look very modern even at the restyled version, which received some additions such as an optronic dashboard. But the inner space is thought out to the smallest detail: it received many compartments for storing things. However, the representative claims of the sedan are not entirely justified, at least at the back of the place for a car of such sizes are not enough.
This omission is compensated by a rather high level of comfort: the smoothness of the course is excellent and isolation of the cabin from noise and vibrations is acceptable. And due to the design of the suspension, which is characteristic more likely for the rear -wheel drive machine, the control of the Xedos 9 is very decent. Mazda accelerated dynamics depends on the installed engine: with a base 2-liter engine, it is unhurried, and with more voluminous units with a 2.5-liter V6 with a capacity of 165 liters. With. and a 2.3-liter engine with a mechanical supercharger, which allowed to achieve a return of 210 liters. S., quite energetic. The last motor informs Xedos 9 very worthy dynamics, but is unreliable: the compressor does not differ with trouble -freeness, and its bulkhead will cost a decent amount, moreover, not every company will take up the repair. Therefore, a more reasonable acquisition will be a car with a 2.5-liter power device: its accelerated dynamics is good, although worse than that of the compressor unit, but in terms of durability and cheapness of operation, it will give 100 points ahead of the time-consuming and expensive in the repair of a 5-stroke engine 2.3 liters of 2.3 liters. This does not mean that the 2.5-liter V6 is troubled, for
it is characterized by such malfunctions as extrusion of oil through different seals and gaskets, the noise of worn camshafts, a failure of temperature sensors from an insufficient level of antifreeze. The 6-liter V6 (144 hp), known by the Xedos 6 2-liter model, has a similar set of malfunctions, since both structural motors are very similar. It should be noted that all models in the consumable material are considered to be a fuel filter of rough cleaning in the tank, and in addition, the age of many machines is considerable, therefore, there is a large risk of buying a copy, which in the very near future will require major overhaul of the engine. In any case, Xedos 9 must be served in a timely manner: to replace the oil with filters every 810 thousand km, and the installation of new candles every 20 thousand km.
How do the gearboxes behave? Surprisingly good: that automatic machines, that the manual transmission are quite reliable. Unless in the mechanics the mechanism of selection of gears can sometimes acidify (the car remains on the go, but it becomes more difficult to switch the transmission than usual). As a consolation, a rare need for maintenance: to climb into the manual transmission no more than once every 100 thousand km. Automatic machines in this matter are more demanding: oil replacement they need every 3040 thousand km.
The design of the suspension is always a compromise: you improve the controllability of sacrifice smoothness and vice versa, and if you try to combine both, then the details of the chassis are not too durable. Mazda engineers in the case of XEDOS 9 managed to achieve a good balance of all qualities: the machine has a decent level of comfort, decent controllability, and relatively high reliability. More or less often you have to change only the front lower levers, and then they out of order because of a long service life, and not because they are weak. The brakes are also very good: 2-piston calipers are installed in front, and the same as on the 280-horsepower Toyota Mark II Tourer V (unless the Xedos 9 brake discs of slightly smaller diameter), which means that there should be no claims efficiency of inhibition . By the way, since we talked about the chassis, it should be noted that the 2.3-liter Xedos 9 has unique suspension details. This is another reason not to contact such a rare and expensive car in maintenance.
Despite its relatively high reliability, sophisticated appearance, good driving properties and rich equipment, this car is all. Still, one will not work: one will not like the impracticality of Xedos 9, the other is his solid age (the youngest specimens will soon turn ten years!). But connoisseurs of a real classic will surely accept this car. After all, the Nissan Maxima speaker in the same class is quite widespread, almost consumer goods compared to Mazda, despite the fact that real representative cars of the same sense, say BMW E38, are much more expensive both in the purchase and maintenance.
The advantages and disadvantages of the model
Advantages
Elegant appearance, good road manners, a high level of comfort.
Flaws
Very expensive spare parts, an obsolete interior, the oldest cars 16 years old.
Approximate price order in Moscow, in rubles:
170 thousand (Xedos 9 1994);
200 thousand (Xedos 9 1996);
250 thousand (Xedos 9 1999 of release);
300 thousand (Xedos 9 2000 release);
400 thousand (Xedos 9 of 2002 release).
