Mazda 3 Problems

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.

THE mileage is very low, which throws the value out somewhat. A Tacuma with average kilometres on it will get about $12,000, but you may get $500 more because of the very low odometer reading.

THE editor rates the Mazda3 as the best in its class, but says the VW Golf is a tick behind on value and generally ahead. My experience of the Mazda3 is similar -- a well-built, well-equipped car that performs well. As for your Galant, the trade will value it at about $6000, but you might get $2000 more selling privately.

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.

ROAD noise is more likely to be a problem in the hatch. If you're concerned, drive the car for an extended time on different road surfaces and judge for yourself.

I THINK you might be referring to the issue of noise that appears to come from the rear wheels. Some owners think it excessive and are unhappy with it, but others don't appear concerned. There is nothing wrong with the front wheels, so don't be concerned. The Mazda3 is a good car.

ROAD noise is a regular complaint from Mazda3 owners and I can recall thinking noise was probably the one complaint I had about the car when I drove it at the launch. Noise is often a problem with front-wheel-drive cars because manufacturers strive to reduce vehicle weight and, in the process, reduce the amount of sound-deadening. If that's the case, the noise would have been there from new and there's not much you can do about it. If it has developed the more you've driven the car, it could be the barber-pole effect, which plagues similar front-wheel-drive cars. It results from the odd wear pattern on the rear tyres that resemble a barber's pole. This can cause drumming in the car. The root cause of the problem seems to be the way the rear springs and shocks are configured, which again means there's not much you can do about it. Relief is available by rotating your tyres front to back to minimise the development of the pattern that causes the noise.

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.

This problem might affect other light, front-wheel-drive cars, but the Astra is renowned for it. While I previously suggested the Mazda3 might also suffer from the problem, there is no real evidence from the trade to suggest it does. I believe the problem is just road noise being amplified by the body cavity, and Mazda does not want to spend the money to reduce it.

UNFORTUNATELY Daewoo's image is on the nose, rightly or wrongly, and you'll have trouble getting a decent trade-in value on it, particularly given the present state of the used car market. The Daewoo badge sends shivers down the spines of used car dealers -- even a Daewoo as good as your seems to be. I would think you would get about $10,000 trading in on the Mazda.