USED Mazda 6 Estate (02 - 07)

My car

I drove an MX-5 until our daughter arrived and our other car (Mazda 3) wasn't quite big enough. I needed a big estate with the feel of the MX-5. Bought a 3 year old TS2 diesel estate with around 58000 on the clock. Three years later and 60k more miles on the clock and the car is still as much fun to drive as the day I bought it.

Speedy acceleration and responsive steering makes every drive fun. Driving position is very comfortable with good visibility all round. The car never feels big and is as good on narrow country roads as the motorway. The boot is great - big flat floor with a couple of useful cubbyholes underneath and lots of anchorage points. There is a very useful luggage net built into the tonneau cover meaning you can load it up to the roof without any danger of stuff falling forwards.

Have had a couple of problems - a valve failed in the fuel pump causing the EMS to shut the engine down occasionally, wheel bearings worn on the front and a hole in the aircon compressor (probably from a stone). The sunroof helps with this in the summer, but in the winter the windscreen fogs up easily and doesn't clear well without the a/c. Some rattles have developed in the cabin too.

Fuel economy is reasonable: around 40mpg on a mix of motorway, city and country driving.

I'm now looking for another car because it's starting to feel its age, though I'm sure there's another 80k miles in it.

My car

My Clutch/DMF went within the warranty period. Mazda refused to pay the £1400 bill for replacement parts. I offered to meet half the costs, but they didn't budge. After arranging for a County Court hearing, Mazda have relented and paid half the bill. Apart for that, and the main beam bulbs blowing more that usual, it's a fine car.

My car

owned since new in 2005, bulletproof - no problems - what an amazing car. Looks good, drives good, is economical-35 in town 45 on a run. only use it now for long runs as we have a second car for town.

My car

Value, value, value.

Bought the car when it was 15 months old (53 plate - sep 03). It had 18k on the clock (1 owner). 4 years on the car has now done 70k and in that time it's never missed a beat or had anything at all go wrong with it. The boot is massive and provides very easy access. Bought it because of new twins and it has taken all our stuff and more on many occasions. Leg room great (6'4" and still reasonable leg room behind me).

Comments regarding cabin noise, high tax and questionable fuel economy all true but outweighed by practicality - nothing more than brilliant!! So good infact I'm off to buy 52 plate hatch version as our second car because I reckon it's bulletproof.