Mazda 3 (petrol) - £6.5K

[mhulks]

I really like the new shape Mazda 3 (2014) but with my budget I’m looking at one with 80-90k miles on the clock. What issues should I be aware of with a Mazda with these sort of miles?

Am I being daft - are there cars offering better value for money with my budget?

[dontlookdown]

I have one. 165 Sport, downsized from Mazda 6 estate last July.

Good car - decent drive, N/A, manual and simple mechanicals so little to go wrong hopefully. Nicer interior than the 6 and much better headlights. Seats not quite so comfy but fine. OK performance, not going to set your hair on fire though esp in 120bhp form. 42mpg.

Service and new brakes only since purchase, and I knew about them before I bought.

The infotainment can be glitchy, touch screens can fail. Not much else I know about. Not the most exciting vehicle but more fun than you might expect and v easy to live with. As good bet at 90k miles as any 8 yr old car, and better than some.

[ZX10R NIN]

You're not being daft if you like a car then you like a car, there really aren't any issues but there are some good alternatives with lower miles that are just as reliable.

Astra Elite very good cars that re reliable well spec'd & a decent steer:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201241...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201201...

Later shape SRI Nav but you'll have to haggle to get one on budget:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202102...

308 Allure:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202172...

Focus Titanium Navigator

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202142...

[georgeyboy12345]

mhulks said:

I really like the new shape Mazda 3 (2014) but with my budget I’m looking at one with 80-90k miles on the clock. What issues should I be aware of with a Mazda with these sort of miles?

Am I being daft - are there cars offering better value for money with my budget?

The petrols are much better than the diesels, but can suffer from a few niggles around those mileages, the most common one being carbon build up, caused by lots of short journeys and not using enough of the engine rev range. Symptoms are high fuel consumption, high oil consumption, low power, rough idle, misfires. In some rare cases, you can get low oil pressure problems caused by a failing oil pump that is £1000 to replace. It'll throw a check engine light in that case.

[georgeyboy12345]

I think the Mazda 3 is a good buy though and I'd recommend one. Have you been looking at these two?

Hatchback
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202142...

Saloon
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202032...


Here are some alternatives

Kia Ceed 1.6 GDi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202042...


Vauxhall Astra 1.6i 16v
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201071...


Renault Megane 1.2 TCe
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201040...


Seat Toledo 1.2 TSI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202042...


Nissan Pulsar 1.2 DiG-T
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201081...