"High" mileage Mazda6 Estate - avoid?

[Landlord]

Hi,

So - looking for a new car and quite like the reviews, spec and appearance of the Mazda6 Estate.

So, the ones I've been looking at are "high" mileage. Circa 15,000-20,000 per year for cars between 5 and 7 years old. All have FSH.

Would the Mazda stand up to that kind of mileage. I'd be looking at putting circa 10,000 per year on the car over the next 5 years. Giving a total mileage of circa 150,000 for a 10-12 year old car.

What's the consensus/experience/opinions of you all?

Cheers,
Phil.

[The Hitman]

I take it you're looking at the diesels then? They tend 2 be the one with that high mileage at that age.

[edo]

What is your budget. I always work on the principle of buying the best, lowest mileage car I can for my budget.

[Landlord]

Hey chaps.

No, not diesels actually, petrol.

Budget is £3k-£5k with the lower-the-better. However, I'd really like leather seats (2 young kids = mess = easy clean).

[simba1]

Most, if not all modern petrol engines will easily manage 150K miles as long as the recommended services are carried out. Bits of the suspension and interior may need to be replaced but this will depend on how you treat them and how fussy you are.

[edo]

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/SKOD...



2003 53 Reg SKODA Octavia 1.8T RS

5 Doors, Manual, Estate, Petrol, 62,000 miles, Red, 2 Owners. ABS, Alloy wheels, Folding rear seats, Immobiliser, Passenger airbag, Roof rails, Radio/Cassette, Radio/CD Multichanger, Rear headrests, Traction control, 3x3 point rear seat belts, Drivers airbag, Electric door mirrors, Front electric windows, Front head restraints, Heated door mirrors, Height adjustable drivers seat, PAS, Rear wiper, Remote central locking, Solid Paint, Steering wheel rake adjustment, Trip computer, Partial leather seat trim, Rear electric windows, Driver airbag, Full Service History, Power assisted steering. Insurance Group:16, £4,994

[edo]

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/MERC...

2001 MERCEDES-BENZ E CLASS E240 V6 Elegance 5dr Tip Auto Estate
Price: £4,495
Features:
62,000 milesAutomaticSilverPetrolEstate2597 cc
Full Description:
Glossary of Terms
auto, estate, rare 7 seat model,silver with black leather,1 owner,only 62,000 miles, full mercedes sevice history,new mot,6 months tax, Cruise control,cd,pas,alloys, this car was £33000 when new and is totally original. £4,495.

[edo]

2003 HONDA ACCORD 2.4 I-VTEC Executive 5dr Auto [17 In Alloy] Tourer
Price: £4,995
Features:
65,540 milesAutomaticSilverPetrolEstate2354 cc
Full Description:
Glossary of Terms
Sat Nav Executive Automatic, specification which includes Satellite navigation, full Black leather trim, dual climate controlled air-con, cruise control, electric heated seats, electric glass sunroof, power tailgate, remote central locking alarm (2 keys), 4 electric windows, 17 inch alloy wheels, premium six stack CD audio system, front and rear fog lights, center arm rests and more. This car is in immaculate condition for year, has a full Honda dealer service history, last serviced 57,857 miles, taxed till end of July 2010. £4,995.

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/HOND...

[Superhoop]

Mazda6 with the petrol engine will go forever - Mileage isn't a worry.

You say in the OP that you're looking for the smallest petrol engine you get, but I'd say that the 2.0 is the one to go for, particularly as you're after an estate, as the 1.8 is a bit weedy.

Timing chains, so no cambelt to worry about, no common problems spring to mind with them, and i've yet to see one with so much as an oil leak, so no worries about reliability.

Servicing is dirt cheap - Even a major service is under 2 hours, so even dealer servicing is reasonable.

If you want leather, then you'll be looking at TS2, as it wasn't vailable as an option on the lesser models (it does tend to be quite rare though, as from memory, it was a £1500 option)

They handle well, ride well and are effortless to drive. When I had mine, I could get out after a three or four hour journey and not feel like I had just had a 3/4 hour journey.

TS2 will also have cruise, CC, sunroof, Bose ABS/DSC/EBA and EBD, 6 airbags etc.......

The only thing to worry about on high milers is alloy wheel corrosion and the rear tyres tend to feather on the outer edges (which start to sound like a wheel bearing has gone) although regularly swapping tyres front to rear helps prevent it.

All in all, a pretty good car, certainly better than the Mondeo offerings of the same age, more interesting to drive than the Accord, and certainly well spec'd.