Mazda Problems

I would not bother with all-wheel drive unless you hit bush tracks. The Mazda CX-5 is our first choice in that class, beating the Honda fairly easily in most areas.

That seems like a lot of money to replace the seat mechanism, perhaps you could try an independent Mazda mechanic and replace it with used parts. That would save you some money. As for the extended warranty, you should read it and understand what is covered and what is not. The warranty is generally not from the carmaker directly, but from an insurance company and sold through the dealer. If it is correct that the failure was due to faulty welding, as you say it was suggested, then it's a problem for Mazda itself to fix.

The Impreza is a good choice with all-wheel drive safety and a raft of airbags, so too is the Corolla, but you could also consider the Mazda3. It's best to stick with the recognized Japanese brands, European brands can be appealing, but they tend to be more troublesome and more expensive to service.

Servicing, particularly changing oil and filters, is the key to long engine life. My thinking is that 12 months/10,000km is about right for a service interval. If you’re doing 20,000km per year you’ll be servicing it every six months anyway, but if you’re not doing a lot of kays then annual servicing it probably enough. To go to two years and 24,000km is a step too far in my view.

I would not recommend a Captiva. At the moment, the CX-5 is best in class but the Tucson also gets The Tick.

The car world has changed a lot since your Pulsar Q was a top-drawer choice and these days I would recommend the Mazda2, which gets The Tick and should be similar money but slightly easier to handle.

A Mazda CX-5 would be the best bet, and gets The Tick, but also look at a Subaru Forester which is more car-like and will be better around town when you're not towing.

The Mazda6 is the best choice but could stretch your dollars. The i30 wagon also gets The Tick, so choose the one that works best for your budget.

I'd go for the Mazda6, which has a combination of class and comfort, and not the Falcon unless you're a sporty driver. The Liberty in that age was a bit 'off' by Subaru standards because of the Global Financial Crisis, and the 3.6 is no real improvement over the 2.5 unless you tow.

There will be no damage. Using the correct gear is about ensuring you have the engine operating efficiently, even in top, and your fuel figures show you did a good job.