Hi there,
My mother has a 1993 Japanese spec Mazda 121 "Funtop" also known as
a Mazda "Bubble" in Australia/NZ.

This is essentially the same car as the Ford Aspire from what I have
observed apart from the shape (sedan/saloon) and the Kia version
that the Aspire is derived from (..built by even!).

The question I have is - the Mazda 121 in question is an automatic
and only gets around 32 MPG (Imp) or 28 MPG (US).
From your experience of driving 1.3L Aspires what do you guys/girls
get to the gallon?
28 US seems very low for such a small car to me? - my Nissan 240SX
SE got 24-26 MPG overall and it has many more horses under the hood!

I'd be interested to know about tuning the 1.3L engine too - thats
assuming that it is the same power plant ;) The car is pretty nippy
up to 55/60MPH then seems to run out of power - it does not feel
like the claimed 75-80BHP in the least!

It is very hard to find info about the Mazda 121 "Bubble" so any
advice would be appreciated :)

>Mazda 121 "Bubble" 1.3L 16v vs Ford Aspire 1.3L 16v - Same?

For starters, I don not know the answer to that. But I can answer some of
your other questions.

>From your experience of driving 1.3L Aspires what do you guys/girls get to
>the gallon?

An automatic Aspire is not rated nearly as high in the MPG dept. as a
standard. Geared higher and no overdrive. The '96 Aspire automatic 2-door
of my gairlfriend's clocks in around 33 mpg (US). Although I've heard
others with 5 speed manuals getting around 42.

>28 US seems very low for such a small car to me? - my Nissan 240SX
SE got 24-26 MPG overall and it has many more horses under the hood!

Yeah, I was a little disappointed with the mileage also. I get 35 mpg with
my '91 Escort GT, 5 speed, 200,000 miles on. And it has just over TWICE the
HP of the Aspire.

>I'd be interested to know about tuning the 1.3L engine too - thats assuming
>that it is the same power plant ;)

I dunno. Someone else will have to answer that one.

>The car is pretty nippy up to 55/60MPH then seems to run out of power -

The Aspire mentioned above ran a best of 20.50 in the quarter mile @ 65.88
mph. With a 226 pound driver.

>it does not feel like the claimed 75-80BHP in the least!

Well now there's a difference right there. The American Aspire is rated at
a mere 63 HP.

Hope any of this is helpful,
Travis