Mazda 3 1.4 buying advice

RedDeadMarshal

Looking to purchase a 2008/2009 Mazda 3 1.4 hatchback. There is not many reviews or threads being posted about this particular engine in this car so I thought I'd ask you guys for your experience with this particular engine in this motor. I generally treat every car the same when inspecting it and some folk do say that these are a reliable motor for the money. What are your thoughts and anything to look out for or ask the seller when buying it?

colm_mcm

Be aware that the ones registered after July 08 are €570 tax. They would be €385 if regged before .July 08.

RedDeadMarshal

colm_mcm wrote: »

Be aware that the ones registered after July 08 are €570 tax. They would be €385 if regged before .July 08.

Yes I am aware of that, I have a 2009 in my mind but TAX for me is not an issue.

colm_mcm

Why bother with the 1.4 then?

theteal

Similar to the Focus, Golf etc. of the same era, I would expect the 1.4 to be a bit gutless. I've a 07 1.6 saloon and it's a great car. Not especially quick though so I'd struggle to think how a 1.4 would fare.

RedDeadMarshal

colm_mcm wrote: »

Why bother with the 1.4 then?

It will be my first car. I have to keep it 1.4, I don't think I can stretch to a 1.6 and if it were to be 1.6 I would definitely be going diesel.

colm_mcm

The 1.6 diesel isn't a good engine, the 1.6 petrol is the sweet spot.
Now if it's insurance that's got you cautious then fair enough, but as 1.4 engines go, the one in the Mazda is a bit underpowered at 82bhp. You can get 97bhp in a Corolla/Auris and 108 in a Hyundai i30/Kia Ceed without a turbo.

RedDeadMarshal

colm_mcm wrote: »

The 1.6 diesel isn't a good engine, the 1.6 petrol is the sweet spot.
Now if it's insurance that's got you cautious then fair enough, but as 1.4 engines go, the one in the Mazda is a bit underpowered at 82bhp. You can get 97bhp in a Corolla/Auris and 108 in a Hyundai i30/Kia Ceed without a turbo.

Fair point but I haven't found any clean corollas for decent money. They're going for crazy money with crazy high mileage. I know it's a Toyota and everything, but people are overpricing it and I can't seem to come to a good cash deal with their sellers. I was also looking at MK5 golfs but they have aged so bad mostly in the interior with the radio and other controls wearing down and exposing the "white" plastic on them. Again VW are considered premium by some and prices are high even for the worn down models so that's out of my list. As for Hyundai, I'm not to keen on them and 108HP I think would put me off the insurance as a first time driver. Only car I considered other than the Mazda 3 was an Opel Corsa with the 1.3 CDTI engine, the more powerful 90HP version. I'd be looking into them if the Mazda 3 that I have yet to get in touch about doesn't work out. I'd prefer the Mazda as it's Japanese, whereas the Opel has the Fiat diesel unit which I am skeptical about.

colm_mcm

You do know the diesel in the Mazda is French

theteal

colm_mcm wrote: »

You do know the diesel in the Mazda is French

I was working on the assumption that the OP was talking about petrol.

Mazda diesel. . . :eek::(:confused:

colm_mcm

Oh, yeah, what I mean is buying a car that's based on the Ford Focus isn't exactly buying into Japanese reliability.
Not that the 3 is a particularly bad car or anything, just hard to see the appeal of a 1.4 when there are better cars in that class.

JohnBoy26

RedDeadMarshal wrote: »

Fair point but I haven't found any clean corollas for decent money. They're going for crazy money with crazy high mileage. I know it's a Toyota and everything, but people are overpricing it and I can't seem to come to a good cash deal with their sellers. I was also looking at MK5 golfs but they have aged so bad mostly in the interior with the radio and other controls wearing down and exposing the "white" plastic on them. Again VW are considered premium by some and prices are high even for the worn down models so that's out of my list. As for Hyundai, I'm not to keen on them and 108HP I think would put me off the insurance as a first time driver. Only car I considered other than the Mazda 3 was an Opel Corsa with the 1.3 CDTI engine, the more powerful 90HP version. I'd be looking into them if the Mazda 3 that I have yet to get in touch about doesn't work out. I'd prefer the Mazda as it's Japanese, whereas the Opel has the Fiat diesel unit which I am skeptical about.

I doubt if a few more bhp will make much if any difference to the insurance but if you do not like hyundai then that is fair enough.

The mazda 3 though is far from japanese. Yes it has a mazda engine in petrol form but essentially the rest of the car is a ford focus(which isn't a bad thing really) and the diesel engine is a psa unit which isn't great either in terms of reliability but still better than mazdas own unit.

Those 3's like to rust though, the underbody and the wheel arches are particularly prone. A corolla/auris will be better in the long run if you don't want to be welding patches in for the nct in the future.

I know you say they are expensive but they really aren't that expensive.

As for the corsa I would avoid one myself, they are not great tbh.

grogi

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

I doubt if a few more bhp will make much if any difference to the insurance but if you do not like hyundai then that is fair enough.

The mazda 3 though is far from japanese. Yes it has a mazda engine in petrol form but essentially the rest of the car is a ford focus(which isn't a bad thing really) and the diesel engine is a psa unit which isn't great either in terms of reliability but still better than mazdas own unit.

Those 3's like to rust though, the underbody and the wheel arches are particularly prone. A corolla/auris will be better in the long run if you don't want to be welding patches in for the nct in the future.

I know you say they are expensive but they really aren't that expensive.

As for the corsa I would avoid one myself, they are not great tbh.

There are some 1.6 Corsas that absolutely kick ass...

jopax

I don't know much about cars in general, but I do have a Mazda 3 1.4
I'm not a one for speeding or overtaking but I do find it very underpowered, it's very frustrating especially going up hill.

chicorytip

RedDeadMarshal wrote:

Looking to purchase a 2008/2009 Mazda 3 1.4 hatchback. There is not many reviews or threads being posted about this particular engine in this car so I thought I'd ask you guys for your experience with this particular engine in this motor. I generally treat every car the same when inspecting it and some folk do say that these are a reliable motor for the money. What are your thoughts and anything to look out for or ask the seller when buying it?

Very good car. Reliability and build quality are guaranteed. The 1.4 litre is the one to go for. It has 84 b.h.p., is smooth to drive and more economical than a Focus or Golf. They are pretty scarce, mind you.