Used Mazda 2 , i30 or other Japanese ?

[smallzoo]

After some great advice from a previous post I think I may have to put my sensible hat on and look for Japanese reliable motor for my daughter and I.

She is a carer and on call sometimes for severely disabled adults so car has to be reliable but hopefully not too boring

As before, 5k miles max a year, insurance/tax not a problem, budget ideally under £2500. We do both like a little bit of Ooomph so nothing to slow.

Came across Mazda2 and I30. Both I would guess are ultra reliable but dont know about the engines and petrol vs diesel

Happy to consider any other jap motors that might fit the bill

Thanks

[scoey1001]

My father in law has got a 2008 i30 with the diesel engine and it has been very reliable for 3 years/30k miles of almost all short journeys. Think it's on about 140k now. Also has heated leather.

[smallzoo]

scoey1001 said:

My father in law has got a 2008 i30 with the diesel engine and it has been very reliable for 3 years/30k miles of almost all short journeys. Think it's on about 140k now. Also has heated leather.

Great so none of the dreaded DPF problems I keep hearing about..

[Fuzzarr]

The 1.5 Sport version of the Mazda 2 is an entertaining car.

Suzuki Swift pretty good too.

I've had a 2012 Mitsubishi Colt 1.3 for the past three years and it's been a good cheap runaround, fairly roomy inside (smallish boot though), and light weight, 94bhp, feels perky above 3,500rpm. No cambelt to think about, either.

Honda Jazz, Toyota Yaris also worth a look.

[Fuzzarr]

Also at 5k/year I'd go petrol if it's mostly shortish local trips.

[rjfp1962]

My sister ran a Mazda 2 1.5 Sport for a few years - She really liked it and had no issues.
She bought it from the main dealer where I was working at that time, and the Mazda 2 generally was a popular and reliable little car - Probably one reason I have an MX-5ND now..!

[VR99]

smallzoo said:

scoey1001 said:

My father in law has got a 2008 i30 with the diesel engine and it has been very reliable for 3 years/30k miles of almost all short journeys. Think it's on about 140k now. Also has heated leather.

Great so none of the dreaded DPF problems I keep hearing about..

The dpf issues seem to be a lottery, some people get them some don't but I wouldn't assume that doing 5k per year it won't happen to you. I have friends who ignored this advice and paid for it heavily when their dpf's got clogged up. I also would prefer the torque of a diesel but the potential bills and headache with dpf's are just not worth it IMO.

[smallzoo]

Not a fan of the Suzuki swift or toyota yaris so people would recommend the Mazda2 1.5 sport or i30 1.6 petrol ?

[rjfp1962]

I can only vouch for the Mazda 2 1.5 Sport... As well as my sister having one once, an ex-colleague has owned hers for over 12 years now - And she used to like changing her car quite regularly. Just check the wheels aren't too badly corroded because that was an issue, though an easy refurb...

Edited by rjfp1962 on Wednesday 9th December 22:50

[imck]

I had a 2008 Kia Ceed Diesel. Pretty much the same as the i30
Great Commuter, drives pretty well and was confident enough in it to pass on to a Colleague with 130K on.
Nearing 200K now and very little has gone wrong.
No DPF or DMF. DPF came in around 2010 I think

Had a 1.4 i30 Petrol as a hire in Spain and that was very lifeless.
1.6 Petrol might be OK.

[ZX10R NIN]

The Mazda2 is a good choice Fiesta chassis with that peppy 1.5 & due to it not being a Fiesta you can get nice ones for sensible money:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011126...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011246...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010245...

Other reliable options to the Mazda are:

Grande Punto Sporting

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011095...

DS3 DStyle

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011216...

Clio GT

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202003068...

1.4 Corsa SRI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011306...

Other options to the i30 are:

Astra 1.6T SE as reliable as anything listed & a little bit more go too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012026...

Civic Type S GT

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012076...

Type S

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011085...

2.0T Megane Coupe Dynamique 180

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011206...

[smallzoo]

Thanks..will take a look..

[Justin Case]

We know someone with a Mazda 2, Definitely the best of the bunch. Mazda 3 is a good alternative if the 2 is too small, but quite a jump in size

[Jellybeans2016]

We’ve had a Mazda 2 2009 in the household for 7 years and 65k - incredibly reliable, fun around town and so cheap to run (including purchase price has worked out at £91 per month, not including fuel). Serviced regularly and only issue was alloys corroding but a refurb sorted them out.