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THE 1988 MAZDA 929 is so proper in pose, it seems more fitting totake it to tea than on the road.

It’s a sedate sedan, a model of vanilla elegance, possessed of analoofness often associated with breeding and wealth.

But underneath its pristine hood is a scandal in the making: a big3-liter, 18-valve, 6-cylinder engine that is, well, mechanically active.

This car is fast. It likes to run. Potential buyers should knowthis, because it could cause them embarrassment.

Consider the possibility:

You are an upstanding citizen, a pillar of your community and allthat. People regard you as sensible. And they nod in approbation whenyou drive home in your new, sensible-looking 929.

Later, you take this thing out on the highway, feeling all stiff andrighteous and everything, and maybe even a little bit holy. Then, you doit. You press that gas pedal just a tad harder than usual, and whoa!

Goodbye, reputation!

“Hello, officer. Officers? Oh, my, my. I didn’t mean to do it. Imean, it wasn’t me. I mean, hey, please, can some of you leave? Can youat least turn off those lights?”

Complaints: The test model, equipped with a 4-speed automatictransmission, was grouchy under 40 mph. The gears would shift up, thendown, up, down, like a baby trying to jump out of a playpen or a tigertrying to get out of a cage. The gear tantrums disappeared on thehighway.

Also: Mazda oughtta relocate the 929’s horn buttons. The things arenear the bottom of the steering wheel, way too low in the minds ofseveral drivers, including me.

Praise: Stunning craftsmanship! Everybody who examined the 929walked away marveling over how well the car is made. Most priced therear-wheel-drive sedan several thousand dollars above its base stickerprice of $18,950.

They also gave Mazda points for the 929’s many small but thoughtfultouches, such as the vent fins that can be set to automatically moveback and forth (like an oscillating fan) when the heater or airconditioner is on.

The car seats five people comfortably.

Head-turning quotient: As impressive as British royalty, stiff uppergrille and all that.

Ride, acceleration, braking, handling: The 929, with itsautomatically adjustable suspension, has an all-around excellent ride.Acceleration is okay in urban traffic, superior on the open road. Thecar’s 3-liter engine is rated at 158 hp at 5,500 rpm.

Both braking and handling are terrific, especially for what’ssupposed to be a family sedan.

The test model has an anti-lock braking system, which, along withthe adjustable suspension, is offered as a $1,650 “high- performanceoption package.”

Sound system: Six-speaker AM/FM stereo radio and cassette withgraphic equalizer, by Pioneer. Excellent.

Mileage: About 21 to the gallon (estimated 380-mile range on usablevolume), combined city-highway, running with mixed loads (one to fiveoccupants).

Price: $22,860, including $3,675 in options and a $235 destinationc harge (East Coast; central U.S. and West Coast prices are slightlyhigher). Base price is $18,950. Dealer’s invoice price on base model,$15,729.

Purse-strings note: I recommend the $1,650 anti-lock braking andautomatic-suspension option package. The sunroof and leather seats arepure fluff.