Mazda 3 2.2 150bhp

Casati

Thinking of a new Mazda 3 with the 2.2 engine. Anybody know is the reliability good on them- I've heard all the bad stories of the old model diesel Mazda 6 and also have heard of CX-5's giving trouble but Ive never heard anybody complain about the current model 3?

Budget is v tight to I will only (at best) we able to get into the SE model but Im happy with the spec overall, impressed with the performance but not sure about reliability

Am open to other options that I can get new in January for low 20k's but not many options out there

ba_barabus

Casati wrote: »

Thinking of a new Mazda 3 with the 2.2 engine. Anybody know is the reliability good on them- I've heard all the bad stories of the old model diesel Mazda 6 and also have heard of CX-5's giving trouble but Ive never heard anybody complain about the current model 3?

Budget is v tight to I will only (at best) we able to get into the SE model but Im happy with the spec overall, impressed with the performance but not sure about reliability

Am open to other options that I can get new in January for low 20k's but not many options out there

My brother has 141 reg one with 30k kms on it now and hasn't had any issue what-so-ever. He has serviced it on time etc but hasn't had any issue with rising oil levels or anything. Spec is great and within it's class and at it's price point I don't know of any comparable car with a decent size engine and power output. I really approve of them but you have to service them properly and keep an eye on the oil level (this should be done with all cars to be honest). They really aren't worth having however if you'll be doing regular short trips as you will most likely have issues.

I like them and would recommend one however some people here hate them based on the older engines alone. Others, ROW I think has practical experience of them and is reporting he is no longer confident in them but I think that was more down to the lead times on spare parts but some of these were required to rectify issues caused by the rising oil problems of the past.

They do have a new 1.5L diesel but I haven't tried it out yet.

Casati

ba_barabus wrote: »

My brother has 141 reg one with 30k kms on it now and hasn't had any issue what-so-ever. He has serviced it on time etc but hasn't had any issue with rising oil levels or anything. Spec is great and within it's class and at it's price point I don't know of any comparable car with a decent size engine and power output. I really approve of them but you have to service them properly and keep an eye on the oil level (this should be done with all cars to be honest). They really aren't worth having however if you'll be doing regular short trips as you will most likely have issues.

I like them and would recommend one however some people here hate them based on the older engines alone. Others, ROW I think has practical experience of them and is reporting he is no longer confident in them but I think that was more down to the lead times on spare parts but some of these were required to rectify issues caused by the rising oil problems of the past.

They do have a new 1.5L diesel but I haven't tried it out yet.

Thanks for the advise. Ive been onto dealers and the best cash discount Im getting is less than 1000 euro so I think they will be too expensive for me, also the base Exec is now gone to the 1.5 only so its basically 27k entry point for Exec SE

Astra with 136bhp might be next on my list

bazz26

Ford Focus is available with the 2.0 TDCi 150bhp engine in Zetec S trim. I think Ford are reducing the price of alot of their models now in order to regain market share in 2016. Might be worth getting a price.

Casati

bazz26 wrote: »

Ford Focus is available with the 2.0 TDCi 150bhp engine in Zetec S trim. I think Ford are reducing the price of alot of their models now in order to regain market share in 2016. Might be worth getting a price.

I had been also looking at the 120bhp Titanium Focus as the deals they are offering are attractive but didn't know they still had a 2.0 option as its not showing on the pricelist. I rang one of the dealers today and they said its 28k list but that it wouldn't qualify for any of the incentives they have on the other models so though the list is roughly a grand more than the Titanium, it would cost me maybe 4k more to buy it.

Dealers in general think Im mad asking for anything other than the basic engine - in the case of the Focus the 95bhp I am told is 'really powerful' and the Mazda dealers were really putting me off the 2.2 saying that now the 1.5 is available that its all the performance you'd need.

I looked at the new Astra but didn't drive it - again they were pushing the 110bhp over the 136bhp. Not a bad looking car - looks small outside but plenty of room bar the tiny boot

bazz26

Most of them will push what they can get their hands on easily for the masses. The only real brands you tend to be able to get stuff that goes against the grain is generally VAG cars. I'd imagine with the current VW controversy there may be some good deals to be got there.

Does it have to be brand new?

ba_barabus

Casati wrote: »

the Mazda dealers were really putting me off the 2.2 saying that now the 1.5 is available that its all the performance you'd need.

Most dealers will try and push the most common and smallest engine on you as they have a ready supply of them. They also know most Irish buyers are skinflint and penny smart, pound foolish. In other words they'll push a car with a lower list price and which is easily available. I recently was in a Mazdas dealership where the salesman refused to take a trade in of a 131 Skoda Yeti with a 1.2T engine because NOBODY wanted something like that. He told me i was off my rocker wanting another petrol car eveh after i pointed out the car only does short runs and civer 8k kms a year. The Skoda dealership we went to were falling over themselves to seal a deal for it as they had a number of customers who wanted something like it, they fully agreed we were getting the right car for our use and said a diesel was a waste of time and money.

Buy the car you'll be happy with, that isn't always what the dealer will try sell you.

Incidentally we bought another Yeti petrol as we were extremely happy with the first one.

Casati

Buy the car you'll be happy with, that isn't always what the dealer will try sell you.

Incidentally we bought another Yeti petrol as we were extremely happy with the first one.[/QUOTE]

Think you are completely right, and actually most dealers dont really know the difference. My father has a 1.2 Yeti and its a brilliant car- the dealer tells me he won't need to advertise it when he trades it as he has a waiting list for them

I test drove the 136ps Astra and thought it was a super drive, very nimble yet secure handling. Fairly good deals on them too

The car is going through a company so yeah needs to be new and needs to be diesel

moleyv

I regularly drive a 2.2 3 in exec se (whichever is second from top trim). Its a 141, never had any issues, but maybe too early to tell.

I drove a bout 7 hours total the other day though and my back was fairly sore that night. Could just be the seven hours though.

On motorway it will average 5.7 l/100km. The speedo is fairly accurate, 122kmph on cruise control is 120 on sat nav. And it has plenty of power, although can be a little slow going from first to second, would probably benefit from an auto. Maybe slow is the wrong word, but I guess for the power it has. I love the gearbox and overall feels quite sporty/direct.

Casati

So I ended up looking at the Astra and test drove the 1.6 136bhp SRI

Really surprised how much I liked it, especially the infotainment system with On Star linked to a really decent sat nav. The car had plenty of power and liked to be rev'd a lot more than most diesels, the power really seem to keep coming up to 4000 rev's. Was v close to buying

But went back to another Ford dealer and enquired again about the 2.0 Zetec-S. It doesn't have the best spec but looks great with factory body kit and the engine seems to be as powerful as the Mazda on paper. Ended up getting a great deal on one and placed the order for January