Mazda 3 2005

Mazda 3 2005 Q&As

Check out real-world situations relating to the Mazda 3 2005 here, particularly what our experts have to say about them.

• What's a a good family ute for $12,000?

  With your budget you’re looking at quite an old model, particularly if you want a 4WD dual-cab ute. You’d be looking at something around 2007-2008, but my concern with vehicles that old is that they will have done quite a lot of kilometres. If you want a dual-cab ute, and it sounds like the best option given your needs, go for a Toyota Hilux diesel. The alternative is an SUV, such as a Nissan Pathfinder, Toyota Prado, but again you’ll be looking at older models.

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• Luxury replacement for a Mazda 3

  Your choices both get The Tick, but the Benz A250 might be too sporty for a retirement car and the A3 is an upscale Volkswagen Golf. A good mate has just bought an Accord Euro and, even though it goes out of production soon, he loves it. You should test-drive all three.

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• Three of a kind

  ASSUMING you drive normally and don't crash over speed humps and into roundabouts and kerbs, there is nothing that could explain a broken engine mount except inferior design. Let's hear from other owners of Mazda3s and see what their experience is.

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• Bang to rights

  I ASSUME you bought the car new, not used; if you did buy it used the damage could have been caused before you bought it. If you have owned it from new and haven't hit anything as you claim, I do think it's unfair you had to pay. Mazda has given you the standard deal for a car that's out of warranty, so they've come to the party by covering half the cost of repairs, but I agree that in this case it isn't enough. No one should have to pay even part of the repair cost for something that shouldn't happen in the first place.

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