Couple of facts (based, as well, on the '94 Topaz L4 5spd 2 door I have in my rather large "fleet"):
- Mazda designed and mfr'd 5 speed MTX-III transaxle
- Short, duplex timing chain with spring-steel tensioner - all my Morse
- 2/3rds of a Ford L6 200 cu. in (more or less)
- poor lasting power tie rod ends / inner tie rods
- unequal camber, LHS versus RHS front suspension, in part to compensate for unequal length half-shafts; particularly ugly looking positive camber for the front wheels, and the rear springs have a propensity to sag... and go to substantially negative camber.
- short / long arm and trailing arm independent rear suspension
- very, very hard to access water pump
- '92 to '94 had an improved harmonic balancer to partways quell four-cylinder "boom" / resonance... but they do wear out, and require the engine to be dropped .... to below the frame horns - to re and re them
- intake restricted 2.3 litre / 140 c.i. engine... but surprisingly economic with fuel.
- 3 speed A/T really, really needs a 4th gear.
- the engine, given a modicum of care, is stupid simple... and that old fashioned OHV / pushrod technology lasts and lasts. I don't recall if the head is aluminum... but the block is cast iron, and the oil pan is aluminum.
- sequential solenoid actuated fuel injection.
- runs OK, but no hot rod.
NOT a vile car, but no smoking great one either