Buying Mazda 3 2.2 diesel for low annual mileage
Buying Mazda 3 2.2 diesel for low annual mileage
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Discussion

ReilN

Original Poster:

7 posts

95 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
quotequote all
Hello, after my 2.0tsi scirocco appears to have killed itself (timing chain tensioner failure) I'm in the market for a new car. I'm looking for something slightly more sensible but still enjoyable to drive.

The mazda 3 has caught my eye however all the reviews seem to rate the 2.2 diesel engine by the far the highest (I've only owned petrol in the past). I don't commute by car so tend to have a relatively low annual mileage, say, around 8k miles. However my driving tends to be made up of one very short weekly drive to the shops but other than that it's mostly longer journeys on A roads/motorways as we live in Kent and most people we visit are in other parts of the country.

Based on this is it worth me considering the diesel? I'm mainly concerned about dreaded DPF issues, could this be a concern with the driving I do?

Thanks.

Francy555

258 posts

215 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
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You'll be going from bad to worse.. mazda 2.2d has to be the one of the worst dpf equipped diesel engines ever designed.

Sumps fill with unburnt diesel from the regeneration process and if not checked regularly the engine doesn't like being run on diluted engine oil and promptly breaks down.

Run a mile..

ReilN

Original Poster:

7 posts

95 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
quotequote all
Thank you for the input. Is this the case even with the latest gen ones? Is the petrol worth a look?

Francy555

258 posts

215 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
quotequote all
Petrol ones will be ok.

I'd a lucky escape back in 2012, had my heart set on a mazda 6 2.2d 163 bhp(or something like that) as the new family car, took one for a test drive and disliked it immediately, couldnt live with the shiney silver interior. Bought an accord 2.2cdti instead and never regretted it! On our third one now, had a saloon, then bought an estate, crashed it and replaced it with an identical estate. The ad used to say "isn't it great when things just work" sums the car up perfectly..

ReilN

Original Poster:

7 posts

95 months

Wednesday 28th February 2018
quotequote all
Regarding the other aspect of my question - should I be considering diesels at all?