USED Mazda 6 Estate (02 - 07)

My car

I have driven Mondeo estates for the past 12 years. They have been petrol, diesel and turbo diesels models. They were never chosen through my own choice but nevertheless I have driven most of them.

They have been very reliable and good workhorses. I have a young family who enjoy frequent trips in the UK. I've recently had the chance to choose a car that would both be 'what I would like' and what is practical for those heavily laden trips south west.

I've had my eye on the Mazda 6 for a while as it looks stylish and sexy - the key elements that, for me, a Mondeo does not have.

I test drove and immeditely bought a 6 TS 2.0 petrol estate and picked it up last week. Boy am I happy - not only does it have sex appeal but it drives really well. It has responsive steering, it's quick when you need it to be but also powerful enough when you want to drive it lazily.

I used to cruise around with the windows open all the time but with this car it feels odd, because the climate control is so good. There isn't much I can fault.

Perhaps the change between 1st and 2nd gear could be a little smoother but that's about all.

No, I haven't had it for long, but I know what I have been used to - and this just blows it away.

My car

THIS IS A UPDATE FROM MY LAST REVIEW ,MY 6 TS2 ESTATE WILL BE THREE YEARS OLD IN OCTOBER AND HAS DONE JUST OVER 43,000 MILES I AM STILL PLEASED WITH THE CAR ALL THOUGH IT HAS TAKEN MY DEALER THREE ATTEMPS TO SORT OUT MY AIR CON AS THIS STOPPED WORKING, PLUS ANOTHER TWO NEW SETS OF ALLOY WHEELS .I STILL RATE THIS CAR HIGHLY AND WOULD REPLACE IT WITH EITHER A MAZDA 5 OR THE NEW 6 WHEN IT APPEARS.I WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO USE DONALDS IN IPSWICH DUE TO THE SERVICE I WAS GIVEN WHILST THE AIR CON PROBLEM WAS SORTED

My car

Oh Dear.

This is going to sound remarkably similar to Ted Hancock's review. I bought my Mazda 6 TS2 diesel estate in May 04. I was very happy with it (despite the rather loud road noise) until the clutch went at 28,000 miles. The flywheel had gone as well and the whole thing cost me £1600. The dealer referred me to Mazda themselves, who said they had looked at pictures of the clutch that was taken out and that it was 'worn' - i.e. my driving - and that the clutch was only covered until 12,000 miles and that there was nothing they could do to reimburse me.

Similar to Ted I have NEVER had a clutch issue despite driving a Mazda MX-5 vigorously for five years and other trouble-free motoring for 19 years. Despite several letters pointing this out Mazda have been completrely unbending and stated, 'We have no concerns about the clutch'.

Having read other reviews here that seems just amazing.

I'm not sure I can summon the energy to go to the small claims court and would be very interested in Ted's experience. I too have now flogged it and despite a large loss am immensely relieved.

My car

Our family has grown up, but we do long motoring holidays, so we moved down from a Renault Espace that had done many years of good service. We wanted a car that was practical, stylish and fun, so we did the research an out came the Mazda 6 TS2 diesel estate.

Two years and 35,000 miles later I've not got much idea what the dealer's like - I never have to go there other than services.

If the niggles like the trip computer (do they ever work accurately anyway?) are all I have to worry about, that'll do me fine. This is a seriously good driver's car with a quality build. It's as much at home on Highland single track roads as it is on the autobahn. Even fully laden it still performs well.

And unlike many estate cars it doesn't look like a van with side windows!