Mazda 3 Problems

The signs of bigger things to come were there early in 2008 when the Mazda 3 knocked Holden's Commodore off its long held lofty perch atop the local car market.What had been unimaginable only a few years earlier when Mazda was struggling against a tide of disinterest and adverse exchange rates to sell its cars had come to be.The Ford off-shoot was top of the pops. Some dismissed it as a one-off never to be repeated, but here we are a couple of years later and Mazda can boast it had the most popular car of 2011.Mazda's success reflects the seismic shift in the market away from large cars to smaller ones. It's reasonable to think that shift will be reflected in the used car market, and the Mazda3 could well reflect is new car success in the used car arena.The BL arrived in 2009 with much of the job done by its predecessor; it only had to build on what had been done and that's what it did. It wasn't revolutionary; rather it was an evolution of the BK model it followed.A new body, improved cabin, together with worthwhile engine, transmission and suspension tweaks added to its appeal. If you compared the BL with the old BK you would notice the bigger smile on the front of the new model, but apart from that recognisable difference it was pretty much the same as the older car in the looks department.Two body styles were offered; a sedan for oldies and a hatch for youngies. The sedan's main criticism was its boot, which was on the small side with a highish loading lip; the downside to the hatch was the level of road noise. Inside, the dash was revised; A new display screen and audio controls on the steering wheel, again tweaks to improve on what was already a success.Like it was with the previous model, Mazda's engine range was made up of two petrol engines and a diesel. The base engine was a 2.0-litre four in the Neo and Maxx models; there was a larger, sportier 2.5- litre four in the SP25, and there was the choice of a 2.2-litre turbo- diesel.UNDER THE BONNETthe petrol engines boasted a little more power and torque, and better fuel economy. On the road the chassis was agile and responsive and fun to drive. The ride was on the firm side, but not to the point of being uncomfortable.IN THE SHOPThe Mazda3 has been a solid performer since its introduction and the BL seems to be following the pattern. A lack of complaints at CarsGuide HQ suggests the top-selling small car is doing the business. Check for a service record to make sure nothing has been neglected, and inspect bodywork for repairs that indicate a previous crash repair.UNDER THE PUMPThe base engine is quite a thrifty little unit delivering decent economy at under 8 L/100 km in manual form; the auto is a little thirstier, but still an economical choice. Clearly the SP25, with its sporty bent and larger 2.5-litre engine uses more fuel, but even then the Mazda claim is a quite reasonable 8.6 L/10 km, which was borne out when tested by CarsGuide. The most economical engine choice is the diesel, which it is claimed will deliver 5.7 L/100 km.IN A CRASHThe BL Mazda3 won a five-star tick from ANCAP, that's as good as it can get under the current regime. With front, side and head airbags, ABS brakes with emergency brake assist, traction and stability control it's got the lot when it comes to safety.AT A GLANCEPrice new: $21,990 to $30,690Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol; 2.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol; 2.2- litre 4-cylinder turbo-dieselTransmission: 5-speed auto, 6-speed manual, front-wheel driveEconomy: 7.9 L/100 km (2.0P), 8.6 L/100 km (2.5P), 5.7 L/100 km (2.2TD)Body: 5-door hatch, 4-door sedanVariants: Neo, Maxx, Maxx Sport, SP25, MZR-CDSafety: 5-star ANCAP.VERDICTSubtle rework of an already good car makes a good used buy 4 stars

The first lesson for first-car buyers is to forget power and performance - go for safety, reliability and low running costs. Today's car choices are far wider and considerably less basic that Peter Brock's first car, a stripped-down 750cc Austin Seven. But the exercise of buying your car demands patience and - if possible - expert consideration.Compared with buying new, you will save money purchasing a used car. But be aware that a used car may require expensive repair costs, may be less fuel efficient and that its safety standards are likely to be lower than a new car. The basic safety gear you want are two airbags and ABS brakes.Every car is different because each has been treated differently during its life. Be cognisant that cheap new cars are bought on a budget and the penny-pinching owners may skimp on regular servicing and repairs. Steer away from hotted-up cars - you want reliable, easy-to-fix transport here, not a temperamental, ground-hugging runt that sounds like it's lost its exhaust pipe.There are a few quality used car models that have lasted the distance. These have retained a solid reputation for quality and reliability, have a strong spare parts back-up, simple service schedule and are renown for just being easy to live with.The only downside is they won't be the newest car on your block and they're unlikely to be the most rewarding ride of your life. But you have to start somewhere. Just like Peter Brock.CHOICESThese are some used cars, not in any particular order, that should be reliable first-time cars. But each car is different. Ensure your car is professionally checked before buying and that all the car's service papers are accurate, regular and preferably stamped by a competent service centre.NISSAN TIIDAThis model is the evolution of the Pulsar and, I admit, isn't the prettiest car on the road. Fellas, perhaps stay away from this one. But the model is enduring because of its simplicity and low running costs. It has a decent amount of metal around the passenger cell to minimise intrusion in case of a collision, a neat and functional interior with comfortable seats, big boot in the sedan model (and more than adequate in the hatchback version), and four doors so your friends won't have to squeeze past you on the way to access the rear seat.2006 TIIDA TI SEDANCost: $9200 with 79,000kmEngine: 93kW/174Nm 1.8-litre autoFuel economy: 7.8 L/100kmSafety features: ABS brakes, 4 airbags, brake assist Crash rating: 4-starMAZDA3Two of my daughters drive these and love them for their comfort and features. Later models are preferable because of the electronic stability control, but earlier versions had at least four airbags and ABS brakes plus a four-star crash rating. Because everyone loves these, they're going to cost a bit more than some rival cars. But Mazda's quality name should extend to the day you sell it allowing it to retain a high resale value.2006 MAZDA3 MAXXCost: $11,500 with 75,000kmEngine: 108kW/182Nm 2.0-litre autoFuel economy: 8.2 L/100kmSafety features: ABS brakes, 6 airbags, brake assistCrash rating: 4-star.MITSUBISHI LANCERThese have been made for decades yet nearly all carry a name for reliability. One model, bought with 247,000km on the clock, stayed trouble-free in my household for four years before finding yet another owner. That's not uncommon with Lancers. They're very simple cars but early models fall down badly in safety equipment, so look at 2003 and younger if possible. The 2007-plus models have a five-star crash rating. It doesn't really matter which model you buy but you may have better resale in the future with an automatic with four or five doors that will appeal to a wider audience.2006 LANCER LS SEDANCost: $10,000 with 70,000kmEngine: 115kW/220Nm 2.4-litre autoFuel economy: 8.5 L/100kmSafety features: ABS brakes, 2 airbagsCrash rating: 3-star.TOYOTA COROLLAThis is a stablemate of suburban living with the distinction of being a member of practically every Australian household since the 1970s. It's always been a simple and reliable car without any major hiccups, though the Toyota badge means there's a premium - justified or otherwise - on the price. Paying the extra on the Corolla name alone may not be worth it - look closely at each car before purchase. Toyota was one of the last major carmakers to introduce extra features - such as additional airbags and stability control - on base versions. Better models started from 2000 and the more upmarket versions (Levin and Ultima, for example) are preferred.2006 COROLLA CONQUEST SEDANCost: $10,500 with 75,000kmEngine: 93kW/161Nm 1.8-litre autoFuel economy: 7.4 L/100kmSafety features: ABS brakes, 2 airbagsCrash rating: 4-star.MITSUBISHI MAGNAThis is something a bit bigger and yet is generally priced about the same as the smaller cars. Mitsubishi made these in Australia and progressive years honed the product to excellent reliability while ho-hum styling and performance slashed resale. That makes this big family car good buying today. Magnas ended their run in 2005 and today these are the pick of the bunch, even though the powerplant was a 3.5-litre V6 with a four-speed auto. These cars were common in government and rental fleets but don't be put off - that means they've been regularly se rviced and repaired.2005 MAGNA ES SEDANCost: $5000 with 120,000kmEngine: 155kW/316Nm 3.5-litre V6 autoFuel economy: 11.5 L/100kmSafety features: ABS brakes, 4 airbags, traction controlCrash rating: 3-star.SUBARU LIBERTYAnother biggish car that offered high safety standards for its era. The later Libertys are also attractive, well equipped - in their day they weren't a cheap car - and roomy. The downside may be lacklustre performance, so-so fuel economy and some high-priced spare parts but we're primarily chasing a reliable and safe car choice here. The Libertys are all-wheel drive sedans and wagons which aids safety on wet roads rather than giving them any off-road ability (for that, look at the Subaru Outback).2006 LIBERTY 2.5i SEDANCost: $11,500 with 75,000kmEngine: 121kW/226Nm 2.5-litre autoFuel economy: 9.5 L/100kmSafety features: ABS brakes, 6 airbags, traction controlCrash rating: 5-star.

Mazda 3’s ongoing success on the new car market has resulted in a surge in interest in the small-medium model as a used car.