Hello I just joined the forum. I am getting ready to buy a 2000 Mazda 626 2.5L v6 off of my girlfriends father. It needs a new radiator and a new timing belt. He said that when you start it up there is no noise, but after warming up for 5-10 minutes it starts ticking. He believes that is the timing belt or a tensioner pulley. I was just hoping for some confirmation on that or any other ideas. I am not farmillair with Mazdas in the least. So anything I should pay attention to when test driving it and looking it over would be helpful. Thank you.

 

Go to "carsurvey.org" and look what people say about your future model. But keep in mind that a lot of people simply vent their steam on sites like this.
I would in particular pay attention to the automatic transmission. Jerky shifting under slight load would worry me. Simply ask him when he had the last tranny service done or if he noticed any tranny issues.
I can't comment on the noise without hearing it myself.