Mazda 3 2004 Problems

The tyres have probably scalloped, which is a problem on the Mazda 3 and would explain why the noise has got worse. You could try the Michelin Pilot Sport 3, PS3, which is regarded as a quiet tyre.

It is unusual to have a belt fail in such a short time. I would suggest you look into the way the belt has failed, i.e. is it the webbing that has worn or torn, or is it the retractor that has gone. From there you might be able to determine if it’s a quality problem from the factory that Mazda should help fix.

It could be a build-up of dust. Try cleaning them, blowing out any dust build-up.

START by reading the terms and conditions of the extended warranty and see what is and isn't covered. My view is Mazda should cover the cost of repairing the car if it's a defect. But there is plenty of wriggle room in warranties that could easily give them an out.

YOU have two issues with your car: its age and its mileage. In terms of depreciation, you've already suffered the largest chunk of it: the first year of ownership. The rate of depreciation will continue at a relatively high rate for the next two to three years before it starts to level out. The main problem is your high mileage, which is about twice the average. I would keep it for a shorter time than a car that's doing 15,000-20,000km a year. Passing 100,000km does affect value, and reaching that milestone in a short time has an even worse effect, even though it doesn't mean much in terms of wear and tear.

THAT would be a big step. Before you do it, ask your Mazda dealer for corrective action, or at least ask a tyre specialist if another tyre might help. Hyundai's latest models are clearly their best and appear to get better every time a new model is released. I still rate Mazda's refinement and build quality better, but in terms of engineering and equipment, Hyundai is closing in.

ALTHOUGH it is there to save space in the boot, Mazda actually describes the spare as temporary and that's the way you should think about it. It's there to get you to a tyre repairer to fix the punctured tyre and is not intended for extended use. There's no reason for concern about going down your bush tracks, but if you are concerned, perhaps you should consider buying another normal wheel and tyre and carrying that when you're going bush.