Mazda Problems

Most modern cars would be perfectly fine for your country commuting, that's not really an issue like it was in the past where it was felt you needed a six-cylinder car at least to handle the long distance, higher-speed cruising. Smaller cars like the Yaris or Mazda2 are perfect for city use; they're small, manoeuvrable, easy to park, safe and cheap to run. A larger car, like the Mazda3 would be a little more comfortable for a longer journey. It would also have better performance, but being larger is a little more difficult to park, and would cost more to run. For your money you could get a 2008/2009 Mazda3, which would also be a good buy. For mine, I would go for the smaller car, the Yaris or the Mazda2.

For your main requirements, I'd avoid all four of your shortlisted models and go for a Subaru Forester or Outback. They are more car-like but will still handle the rough roads.

If you genuinely have an unlimited budget, the best mid-sized prestige SUV is the Porsche Macan. If you're being more realistic, the Mazda CX-5 gets The Tick.

None of the above. It's the Volkswagen Polo, which recently had a significant price cut, that gets The Tick from me.

The Forester has been a top choice but these days I would rate it behind the Hyundai ix35 and Kia Sportage for class and value. And the best car in that class is now the Mazda CX-5.

The Mazda3 is a better car than the Corolla, simple as that. If you're not a sporty driver, the 2.0-litre engine will do you just fine.

The new HiLux and Triton will arrive in the first half of next year. If you're planning a five-year run for your new ute it would be worth waiting to see how the pecking order changes once they're in place.

Bite the bullet, use all your budget, and get a Mazda3. Corolla prices are inflated by the Toyota badge but the Mazda3 is a great little car in all ways.

Since you live in a regional area, I'd go for maximum safety and comfort, not the sports model. But it depends on your budget. As for gearbox, an auto will make life easier and improve resale.

Yours is the first report we've had directly from an owner, but we have heard of other instances of brake failure on the Mazda3. I would contact Mazda directly and put a case to them for at least part compensation for the repairs. You could possibly try getting the replacement part from overseas via the internet; it's generally much cheaper that way, even with genuine factory parts.