THEY say third time’s a charm, and for Simon Dijker, that certainly rings true.
The 25-year-old IT technician from Aberdeen has long been a fan of Mazda 323fs, but getting his ideal model has taken some time.
“I’ve owned three models, but the Lantis Type-R 2.0 V6 was always the one I wanted,” said Simon.
The Mazda 323f was launched in 1994, marketed in Japan as the Mazda Lantis and in Australia as the Mazda Astina. The fastback body shape was designed by former Porsche designers who had created the 928, 924 and 944.
It was sold with 1.5 and 1.8-litre engine choices, with a host of special editions launched during its relatively short production run from 1994 until 1998. The pinnacle of that range was the two-litre V6 engine shared with the Eunos 500 convertible.
It was this engine that Simon pined for, but the Lantis is a deceptively rare car. The car was never particularly popular in its home market of Japan, with just 30,044 models sold. Worldwide, 217,362 were sold over four years, and although it is still easy enough to pick up a 1.5 or 1.8 model, the elusive two-litre Zxi, known as a Lantis Type-R in Japan, is harder to score. In the UK Zxi version, it came with 150bhp, but the Japanese Lantis Type-R packed an extra 20bhp.
“I’d owned two 1.5-litre models previously. I got my first, a deep red 323f, in 2006, but that came to an untimely end. My second one, an Aquarius Blue model, failed its MoT last year and I decided to look for a Type-R rather than put more money into the 1.5.
“I think I was looking for a Lantis Type-R for about six months. I knew I was in for quite a lengthy search as they’re all imported from Japan. I was even looking at importing one myself before my one came up.
“I initially bought one because it was affordable. I think they look really good, but the main attraction for me is the general quality. Japanese cars in general have a reputation for being very durable, and in my experience, the 323f is no different. It’s an excellent car to own.”
It was through contacts Simon had made at the 323f owners’ club that he heard about this car.
“I found out about it on our website, where the members knew that I had been looking for a while,” he said.
“The seller listed the car for sale on the site and one of my friends from the site, Jason, sent me a text letting me know a Type-R had come up for sale.
“I contacted the seller and it all started from there. I had to fly down to London to pick the car up, but I knew I’d have to be willing to travel if I wanted a Type-R.
“The car went online before Christmas and I finally picked the car up at the end of January, so I spent all that time familiarising myself as much as I could. I knew what the differences were between the Japanese-spec and UK-spec models
“The seller was a nightmare to deal with and if I hadn’t wanted the car so much I’d have left it well alone. But with hindsight, I’m glad I persevered. Over the past five or six weeks, I’ve been tidying it up to my standard.”
Although the Type-R was a top-of-the-range model and so came with extras which standard models lacked, Simon has already begun to tinker with it. The Club323f forum certainly doesn’t help, with an active “For Sale” section where members offer their wares.
“I specifically said I wouldn’t modify it, but that didn’t last long,” he said.
“I do as much work as I can myself because I don’t like paying garages and would rather learn how to do the work myself. Having the right tools is usually the hardest bit.
“When I bought the Lantis, it had some slight accident damage, which I’ve now repaired. I changed the front bumper, a front wing and the bonnet. I’ve done one or two minor aesthetic modifications, but the car is largely factory spec.”
Aside from aesthetic differences, the most notable change for Simon is the engine. Porsche assisted Mazda in the development of the V6 engines for the 323f – as it did for a variety of other manufacturers during this period. The car was also tested at the infamous Nurburgring, with the chassis developed to give a sporty ride.
“The difference is huge. The extra power is obvious from the go,” Simon said.
“The handling, in general, is great. The Lantis has front and rear strut braces which increase the rigidity of the ride, meaning it corners really well.”
Simon has recently had the chance to find out just how well the car handles. As one of the many meets and rallies it organises, the Club323f Scottish contingent recently had a day at a track, where Simon was able to stretch the Lantis’s legs.
“I’ve only attended one meet with the club so far, and it was fantastic,” he said.
“It was on February 28 at Crail drag strip, and it was a really good day, but it was so cold waiting around for your turn. It was great to get the Lantis down the strip and see how it performed against other members’ cars.”
Now that he has finally got his ideal model, Simon plans on honing his mechanical skills by keeping it running as well as it is now.
“I’ve got one or two further modifications to do, just minor ones, but mainly my aim is to maintain it,” he said.
“I think money is better spent on maintenance at this stage in the car’s life and I plan on keeping it for as long as I possibly can.”