Mazda 6 - good hack?

[Legend83]

Further to my unsuccessful thread on combining a family hack with a weekend toy, I note that these can now be had for around the £3k mark....

Any things to watch out for? Look like you can get a good model with lots of toys for very little:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MAZDA-6-SPORT-2002-52-REG-FU...

Other contenders are:

- Nissan Primera
- Vectra
- Mondeo
- Avensis

Thoughts?

[Teebs]

If you check my profile I ran one for nearly 25,000 miles.

Had no issues in that time and only cost the company servicing and tyres.

[-crookedtail-]

I have one of these albeit a diseasal one. No major issues since Ive had mine in Feb and as you say lots of toys for the price.

A couple of minor things with mine,

- HIDs dont always seem to auto level (most of the time it is fine, sometimes they seem a bit high and get flashed . If they do break the control units are expensive so check them out)

- Airbag light (Whenever anyone sits in the passenger seat it comes on, fine when its just me in the car, but otherwise an annoyance)

Other than that a good work hack for not much money.

Edited by -crookedtail- on Thursday 2nd September 17:41

[GreigM]

I've got one as well - a 2.0 diesel estate. Use it for family duties as well as a tow car for taking the westfield to the track - the back is cavernous. Great drive too for what it is. Cruise, air con, decent midrange poke, cheap to insure, not cost me a penny in the last year. Absolutely no complaints. Mine has 100K miles and drives like a car with 1/4 that mileage on it. Highly recommended.

[Daveyraveygravey]

I am seriously considering one too (think I may have suggested in your other post) but for me might be a bit too big.

Of the other four, I think the Avensis would probably be as exciting as a washing machine, and the Vectra just horrible. The Primera should be a good drive, and quite reliable, but that is all I know about them.

Would love to know how much in common the Mazda has with the Mondeo.

I would like a hot estate in the size down; something like a Focus ST estate or Golf GTI estate, but I don't think anyone makes something like that. The Octavia VRS is nice, but I think a bit too big, whilst the Fabia estate VRS might be too small.

[winshent]

I have test driven both the new shape and the old shape cars in 2.0 diesel form..

Both cars suffered from a pulsating clutch pedal.. which i later found out relates to Thrust Bearing failure.. read this for more info..

As a car, they both handled quite well for what they are..

I'm undecided on whether to buy and old duffer myself or to bite the bullet and get a brand new car on finance.. the mazda 6 2.2d estate or an Octavia vRS tdi estate..

[T84]

There's always the MPS

[rm89]

Daveyraveygravey said:

I would like a hot estate in the size down; something like a Focus ST estate or Golf GTI estate, but I don't think anyone makes something like that. The Octavia VRS is nice, but I think a bit too big, whilst the Fabia estate VRS might be too small.

There was a 1st gen Focus ST170 estate made... However there are a grand total of 4 for sale on Autotrader and 1 on Pistonheads! There was also a 2.0 Turbo SRI of the last-gen Astra in estate guise (think it made 200hp), but there are 2 of those on Autotrader. So there is hope if you're willing to scour and travel to find one.

OP: 6's are great cars. Our neighbours have had one from new, a 2.0 Ts2 hatch, taken it to 85,000 miles over 6 years with no reliability issues at all. Plus they look really good as family cars go.

Edited by rm89 on Thursday 2nd September 23:30

[winshent]

Daveyraveygravey said:

I would like a hot estate in the size down; something like a Focus ST estate or Golf GTI estate, but I don't think anyone makes something like that. The Octavia VRS is nice, but I think a bit too big, whilst the Fabia estate VRS might be too small.

How about a Volvo V50 T5... essentially a focus estate with the 2.5 ST engine.. 226hp and 0- 60mph in 6.7 seconds..

[bassanclan]

I've got a 56 reg 1.8 hatch but wished I'd gone for te 2.0 147BHP.

Its more spacious (interior wise) than the nissan or toyota ( didn't look into the vectra or mondeo) especially in the back can accomodate 3 adults, mainly becasue the seats are very flat with nothing cutting into the shoulder or hip space.


Avoid Euro4 diesels with the DPF.