USED Mazda 626 Estate (97 - 02)

My car

My car is over 9 years old now, with 137,000 miles on the clock - and it has never let me down, even though I only get it thoroughly serviced once a year now (about every 33,000 miles) at a franchised dealer.

The rear wheel arches are badly blistered, despite very careful bodywork maintenance in the early years and the paintwork is generally a bit fragile and easily chipped.

The engine is as smooth as it was when I bought it, and still cannot be heard from inside at tickover, even with the heater switched off. Top gear can be used from around 35mph. Average mpg is probably mid 30s, although 40mpg+ is easily achievable on a gentle run.

The handbrake has always been poor and needs regular maintenance and the ABS needs little effort to activate it. Rear tyres last for ever and the last front ones lasted 33,000 miles. The original exhaust system needed replacement at 102,000 miles and I seem to have had a fair few droplinks replaced. Despite comments about his car being cheap to maintain, the last 2 services / repairs (including MOT) have cost over £2,000.

The velour upholstery is still excellent, despite my efforts to destroy it with loads of furniture, timber etc.

It's the longest I've ever kept a car, mainly because of it's reliability, but I'm holding my breath now in case something else major needs doing before I get a new car.