Mazda 3 2013 Problems

I wouldn’t recommend the Cruze, there have been too many problems with them. The Toyota Corolla, Mazda3 and Hyundai Elantra are all good, reliable cars with plenty of performance for the class. Any one of them would be a good choice.

I agree that Mazda's response is unsatisfactory. It remains Mazda's responsibility to carry out repairs on your car. I can only suggest you persist to the extent the dealer and Mazda know that you won't go away until they give you a satisfactory response.

You've chosen a good brand in Mazda, and good models in the 2 and 3. Both are good cars and give little trouble, so you can't go far wrong with either one. There are other brands as well, but I would recommend that you stick with Japanese brands and not be tempted by European cars, which can be expensive to service and repair. Look for a car in good condition and well presented both inside and out, a car that drives smoothly, and doesn't have any odd noises or vibrations. Don't take any notice of the salesmen trying to sell you a car; they're just trying to relieve you of your money and some will tell you anything to make that happen. If you can't take a trusted friend along to help you assess a car, consider getting the NRMA to check it for you.

We’re hearing you and that’s why we now list the service intervals in all road tests and preview drives. Nissan, this week, begins an overdue switch to 12-month intervals.

Most cars today have a firmish ride and there's not a lot you can do about it. You could perhaps ask your dealer if you could drive another Mazda3 to compare with yours and make sure yours is representative of the model. Assuming it is you could ask about different tyres, even different shock absorbers. You could also consult a suspension specialist, such as Pedders, for their advice on what you might do.