Mazda 3/Focus/Megane/Fluence - split those hairs

CiaranMT

Hey all, looking to make my first purchase soon enough. Have a fair idea of price (3-4k), year (10-12), engine (1.4-1.6 diesel). The cars in thread title are what are returned most often when searching. My preference would be for the Mazda but these are harder to come by, while I got my licence in a Focus and the parents have had them for years, so I'm familiar enough with the Mk2 model.

I am looking for advice about known mechanical issues among these cars from around that era. For example I'm aware that injector seals are known as an issue on the Mazda 3. The Megane had recalls for airbag and power steering issues. Any wisdom/major issues or red flags/past experience that the forum has on these cars would be much appreciated!

colm_mcm

Fluence by a mile, the 1.6 HDI in the Mazda and Ford is a gamble at best.

hurleronditch

colm_mcm wrote: »

Fluence by a mile, the 1.6 HDI in the Mazda and Ford is a gamble at best.

I had one for years, and now have a megane estate. Very solid and the engines are fairly well foolproof at this stage once they’re serviced some way to time.

In that vintage just make sure you get dynamique minimum, you get a few decent creature comforts for the price range like cruise, Bluetooth and reverse sensors

CiaranMT

Cheers lads, have spotted a few Fluences and a Megane estate. The Megane looks great but I really don't need all that space!

Out of interest and for future reference, when (if ever) were the engine issues on later Mazdas resolved? And are Ford/Mazda still using the same engine in the last 5 years?

colm_mcm

CiaranMT wrote: »

Cheers lads, have spotted a few Fluences and a Megane estate. The Megane looks great but I really don't need all that space!

The Megane estate is a whole 6cm longer than a Fluence! Don’t rule it out.

CiaranMT wrote: »

Out of interest and for future reference, when (if ever) were the engine issues on later Mazdas resolved? And are Ford/Mazda still using the same engine in the last 5 years?

Sort of, Mazda launched. 1.5 litre engine around 5 years ago and it’s apparently grand. They’re still having problems with the 2.0 and 2.2 though.

Ford also launched a 1.5 engine as well, initially in the Fiesta, but eventually it replaced the 1.6 in the Focus and Mondeo some time around 2016, and eventually everything else.

CiaranMT

I'd seen the dimensions alright but I don't think I'm at that life stage for an estate just yet! No golf, no kids etc

Rrrrrr2

Renault will be more reliable and probably cheaper too. Get a nice spec Megane (GT line) abs it’ll be a very nice place to be for competitive money.
They’re good news secondhand and surprisingly sought after due to good reputation

pandabat

If I'm reading your question correctly then you're solely looking way back at 2010-2012 cars. If that's the case then it's the PSA HDI 1.6l diesel engine that would have been in both the Mazda 3 and the Focus. The Focus only had the 90PS version at the time in this country whereas the Mazda had the 110PS version available and that, along with the styling, was the reason that I went for a 2010 Mazda 3. The handing on both of those was pretty good if that's important to you. I drove a 2010/2011 Fluence and it was like driving by proxy - grand car in terms of features and comfort and seemed to have been reliable enough but very disconnected driving experience compared to the Mazda. I had the Mazda for 8 years and had no bother with it. My brother (and then father) had another one of same era between them for 9 years. Again no bother with it. The Sport version came with bigger alloys which have more road noise and a harder ride but they did look better/cooler so depends on your priorities. For me, it was a great looking driver's car and I still wonder if I should have kept it for another few years. If I was back in 2010 then I would buy the Mazda 3 all over again.

CiaranMT

Just to update on this, getting an '11 Fluence 1.5 dCi tomorrow. Tried a few out, as you say pandabat they felt a bit wooly - however these were 5-speeds, whereas the one I've found is a 6-speed. Not sure why (i'm no mechanic) but the 6-speed box felt much better. Car itself is in great nick overall with only a few minor marks, full service history and some nice extras I wasn't really expecting for the vintage. Thanks for the guidance lads!

CIP4

CiaranMT wrote: »

Just to update on this, getting an '11 Fluence 1.5 dCi tomorrow. Tried a few out, as you say pandabat they felt a bit wooly - however these were 5-speeds, whereas the one I've found is a 6-speed. Not sure why (i'm no mechanic) but the 6-speed box felt much better. Car itself is in great nick overall with only a few minor marks, full service history and some nice extras I wasn't really expecting for the vintage. Thanks for the guidance lads!

The 6 speed would be a higher engine power output 110bhp vs. 90bhp so that would make the car feel better to drive.

Dravokivich

pandabat wrote: »

If I'm reading your question correctly then you're solely looking way back at 2010-2012 cars. If that's the case then it's the PSA HDI 1.6l diesel engine that would have been in both the Mazda 3 and the Focus. The Focus only had the 90PS version at the time in this country whereas the Mazda had the 110PS version available and that, along with the styling, was the reason that I went for a 2010 Mazda 3. The handing on both of those was pretty good if that's important to you. I drove a 2010/2011 Fluence and it was like driving by proxy - grand car in terms of features and comfort and seemed to have been reliable enough but very disconnected driving experience compared to the Mazda. I had the Mazda for 8 years and had no bother with it. My brother (and then father) had another one of same era between them for 9 years. Again no bother with it. The Sport version came with bigger alloys which have more road noise and a harder ride but they did look better/cooler so depends on your priorities. For me, it was a great looking driver's car and I still wonder if I should have kept it for another few years. If I was back in 2010 then I would buy the Mazda 3 all over again.

Can't be right? I've a 2012 Focus with the 1.6 TDCI and it's 105PS.

pandabat

Only 90PS was available in 2010, when I bought my Mazda. Ford brought out a new model Focus in 2011 and this probably had uprated engine. Those engines went on to be available in perhaps 116PS versions also. I stopped keeping tabs after my own purchase tbh

pandabat

Good news CiaranMT - well wear, as they say!

Henry Ford III

Dravokivich wrote: »

Can't be right? I've a 2012 Focus with the 1.6 TDCI and it's 105PS.

Being pedantic but think the higher output versions (bigger turbo and injectors) were 110 and latterly 115bhp

Dravokivich

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Being pedantic but think the higher output versions (bigger turbo and injectors) were 110 and latterly 115bhp

Pandabat was was referencing PS not BHP.

colm_mcm

Dravokivich wrote: »

Pandabat was was referencing PS not BHP.

Didn’t Ford use PS as the unit of measurement anyway?

FrankC21

Fluence, hands down 1.5 dci 110bhp, most economical i have driven so far.

colm_mcm

FrankC21 wrote: »

Fluence, hands down 1.5 dci 110bhp, most economical i have driven so far.

But yiuve only driven that and the Fiesta you said