USED Mazda 6 Estate (02 - 07)

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.

My car

I need van-like carrying capacity for work and like a safe, spirited drive when unloaded. The 6 estate has fulfilled all of these brilliantly. The load capacity is massive (noticeably bigger than my business partners Laguna estate) and the back seat release catch is used frequently when I come out of the DIY with my hands full. Above all it still puts a smile on my face driving through the country lanes.

The 2 litre petrol isn't the most frugal and needs to be worked hard, but pulls well with sufficient power for safe overtakes and ease of joining motorways. The ride is firm but the pay-off is great handling. The centre console looks like a cheap Japanese hi-fi, but externally it's a great looking car. But you can't have your cake and eat it at this price point: pound for pound it is great value.

After 3 years, 50,000 miles running costs have been sensible and the only issue has been the usual corroding Mazda alloy wheels. They started to tarnish around the centre as the 3rd year approached. I didn’t see this as too much of a problem: I now have a completely new pristine set of wheels replaced under warranty which don’t have 3 years of the wife scuffing them and stone chips. Another couple of years and it will have been traded-in…

The dealer is generally rude and unhelpful, but the car is great and the new 6 is definitely amongst the candidates when I replace.