Mazda 6

galson

We're looking at getting a cheap second car as our son goes to preschool in September and my wife works in the morning, finishing long after the preschool starts and she needs the car to get to work, no carpooling or bus possible there from our place. I've been looking at Mazda 6 cars lately and been wondering why do they come so cheap? You can get 2007-08 one for under €1K, any particular reason for it? Do they break easily? They really look like nice cars.

Also, never owned two cars before, how does it look with the insurance? Many thanks in advance.

User1998

The diesel engine is notoriously unreliable

bazz26

Are they petrol or diesel? The diesels are a disaster and best avoided. The 1.8 petrol can burn a fair bit of oil too. They are 13/14 year old cars at this stage that tend to have above average motor tax and soft engines so the prices reflect that. Any engine problems will tend to make them end of life so don't spend too much on one if you must.

MadYaker

They're cheap because they're almost 15 years old, probably have 5+ owners and spaceship mileage. Insurance will be more expensive on cars that old.

galson

Yeah, looking more for petrol than diesel since diesel doesn't make much sense for us with the mileage we do. Unfortunately our budget is around €2K so not much choice there.

MadYaker

My parents had an 08 petrol back around that time and it was super reliable, I think they put around 100,000kms on it, no idea what they'd be like with twice that mileage, probably not a bad bet though. You can get a 2010 for around 2k, if it me was id probably go for it if that's the budget.

bazz26

Does she actually need a car the size of a Mazda 6 if it's only being used for driving to work and dropping/collecting one child to/from school?

These hatchbacks might do the same thing:
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/kia-ceed-1-4-ex-nct-11-21-tax-08-21-138km/28135767
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2007-honda-civic-ivtec/28283559

I'd be insisting the seller of the Civic to NCT it though for that sort of money.

galson

bazz26 wrote: »

Does she actually need a car the size of a Mazda 6 if it's only being used for driving to work and dropping/collecting one child to/from school?

These hatchbacks might do the same thing:
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/kia-ceed-1-4-ex-nct-11-21-tax-08-21-138km/28135767
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2007-honda-civic-ivtec/28283559

I'd be insisting the seller of the Civic to NCT it though for that sort of money.

She likes bigger cars, and likes Mazda 6 a lot. Women Yes, I was looking at that Civic too, but they either come out of the budget or have ridiculous 300K+ km on them and we need a car that drives, not a project. Still some time till September, Mazda 3 doesn't look too bad either, just dunno how 1.6 petrol engine holds up.

Barr

We had a Mazda 6 estate a few years back . Think it was a 2010.

I found it a great car , we went for 1.8 petrol as the diesel are supposed to be a disaster .

Track9

Recently I had a Garage Car for two weeks. Was surprised at the comfort & handling of a car with 200 k miles .
It was a Seat ( part of VW I think? )
They fine cars, loads of push & reasonably priced parts.

bcklschaps

My tuppence worth. When you are buying a 10+ yro car, you buy based on its condition and stuff like service history, number of owners etc. I actually wouldn't put that much emphasis on the specific Mileage, specific number plate year etc.

I read great advice once upon a time with regard to going on holidays.

"Bring twice as much money and half the cloths than you originally planned" well I'm going to transpose that advice to buying a car.

"Spend twice as much money and buy half a size smaller car than you originally planned"

PS. Mazda6 diesel have a poor reputation for reliability .. that reputation might have unjustly spread to the petrol versions too...and is effecting used prices. The Internet is your friend for doing research.

Splish Splash

I bought a Mazda 5 or 6 a few years ago (the one with the sliding doors in the back). It was an ex demo model, so only a few months old when I got it.

Almost straight away pieces starting breaking off within the cabin, minor problems with the engine meant it went back to the dealer 2 or 3 times and I came to hate it with a passion. I changed it within 6 months of getting it.

Now every time I see a Mazda I think 'stoopid plastic piece of crap'. I really wouldn't recommend Mazda at all.

Grueller

Are the newer 2014 - models any more reliable in diesel.

Grueller

Grueller wrote: »

Are the newer 2014 - models any more reliable in diesel.

Yes, significantly so - although not according to people on here.


I'd have one in a heartbeat if I was looking for a diesel in that price range, though I'd save a little extra and get a Spring 2015-onwards facelift which reduces NVH at motorway speeds, makes the suspension softer and improves an already nice interior.

murphyebass

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Yes, significantly so - although not according to people on here.


I'd have one in a heartbeat if I was looking for a diesel in that price range, though I'd save a little extra and get a Spring 2015-onwards facelift which reduces NVH at motorway speeds, makes the suspension softer and improves an already nice interior.

Yeah they get serious amount of hate on here.

I will say they need to be driven to reduce the chance of dpf issues but the same could be said more any diesel. In my experience, and I’ve owned 3 of them, Mazda 6’s that is, they’re nowhere near as bad as people on here make them out to be.

I would definitely buy another one. Unfortunately I had to move to a people carrier so now drive a Ford Galaxy. Booourns

theteal

I've a 07 Mazda 3 and love it. I've had it 6 years and it's cost me nothing but tyres.
OP, avoid diesel and check for rust.

galson

My friends from Austria and Netherlands are baffled how cheap cars here are, cars for €1.5K here are €5K there it seems.

xhomelezz

galson wrote: »

My friends from Austria and Netherlands are baffled how cheap cars here are, cars for €1.5K here are €5K there it seems.

Well I doubt they pay the same level of insurance and road tax. Road tax is a bit just UK and Ireland thing isn't it? Not sure. Same at home, cars more expensive, but cheaper to keep them on the road.