Mazda Problems

Mazda doesn’t recommend E10 for your vehicle.

You should always go to the max on safety and auto emergency braking is a big breakthrough that's worth the extra on its own. Sell the Corolla privately to make better than $250.

We haven’t had any other reports of problems with the material. The wear is probably happening because you rub against it as you get in and out of the seat. One way of reducing that is to slide the seat back before you leave the car, that will reduce the rubbing, and you then reset the seat after you get back in. Another way to reduce it is to fit a seat cover.

I don't have any argument with preventing the driver from using the system while the car is in motion, but also preventing the passenger from using it does seem over the top. Talk to your dealer about how you might have the system changed.

Note that touchscreen inputs in the Mazda 3 are bypassed once the car sets off. This is a safety feature.

You should drive and compare the CX-5, the long-term leader in its class, and the new Tucson. Don’t go for seven seats unless you really need them because of the extra price and ongoing penalty in running costs.

I’m surprised that you were offered an exchange or your money back; I’m even more amazed that you got your money back. That does say something about the paint quality of the Mazda2, and it should serve as a warning to other intending buyers to take the time to inspect the paint of any car they buy - and preferably before they drive it away from the dealership.

Of those you have been looking at I would rule out the Cruze on the basis of its transmission troubles. The Focus and the Hyundai are good cars and would do what you want nicely. Others to consider would be the Mazda3 and the Kia Rio.

You shouldn’t need to be draining water out of the system every couple of weeks; that says there is something wrong. Your mechanic is right; the dealer should have flushed the fuel system out to make sure there was no water in the system when you drove the car away. I would go back to the dealer and talk to him about some sort of compensation. They haven’t been as diligent as they should have been.

It's not as good as the previous model, which easily scored The Tick. These days I'd go first for a Mazda6.

Glad you're going to wet the tinnie. Ford after-sales people Stephen Kruk and Linda Minardo helped speed things up. And if you need advice on BT-50 crank angle sensors, Pete's your man.