New Car (Not a Volvo...)

[STALLED]

Well, the platform is also shared with the S40...

That said, I still own the 406, but have purchased a new Mazda3. For the driving I do and the age of the car, thought it would be good to relegate the 406 to "hobby" status - It needs a bit of work and the reality is, for the 7 years and 120,000km of service it has given me - it was time for a new car given the outlay required to keep it in tip top shape! For the coin, they are exceptional value - including sat nav, climate control etc. Take delivery on Wednesday.

Had a look at a couple of other cars - including the Focus (horrid interior) and an Opel Astra (which was expensive for the level of kit)...

Do I get a Mazda sub forum?

[Ares]

Well,to have a mazda subforum,you have to post a picture first,than you have to have a lot of misfortune and questions about how to repair this or that

Good luck with new vehicle,give us some pics,i bet it looks nice

[Welly]

Ooo, well the Mazda shares a lot of stuff with my car so I'd be interested in your review once you get used to it.

Don't forget; pics are mandatory.

I used an admiring glance at a Mazda 6 recently, as you say you get a lot for your money!

[steve_earwig]

Sorry, but for some reason I seem to have gone right off of Japanese cars

Eventually we'll all be driving the same cars, just with different badges

[DaiRees]

I was never "on" Japanese cars, always considered them to be soulless boxes on wheels. Also having spent years working in and with companies that supply bits for them I can confirm that they use the cheapest, crappest materials they can get their hands on, particularly for interior parts. That said, Mazda is probably the least offensive of the lot, probably due to the Ford influence.

Sorry Joel, enjoy the new car!

Dai "I'll never buy a Japanese car but love Japanese 4X4s" Rees

[jasper5]

Sorry, but for some reason I seem to have gone right off of Japanese cars

Eventually we'll all be driving the same cars, just with different badges

Not too far away from that, Steve....sadly

[KozmoNaut]

Congratulations on the new car! The 3 is a wonderful car to drive, very pleasing engines and the gearbox is one of the very best FWD 'boxes around.

However, be aware that japanese cars still like to rust, unlike our trusty 406es. If you intend to keep it for years, I would suggest a waxoyl (or similar) treatment now and every 2-3 years. It's the best way to avoid rust in the panel joins etc.

[Doggy]

Looks like Joel's had a 'lightbulb moment', , (well, somebody had to).

Hope the new car's as good to you as the 406 has been.

My daughter's had a 53 reg 6 saloon for ages and it's been virtually trouble free.
The Mazda 6 was one of the alternatives I looked at before getting the first 406, but I didn't think their 2.2 diesel was as good as the pug engine, but what is?

[steve_earwig]

I was thinking more http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahura_Mazda

[STALLED]

Yep. Awesome gearbox. Anything from the MX5/RX8 to the Mazda 2 - they seem to shift really well!

As for the rust - we don't salt our roads here. So if you live next to a beach (I don't) or live in the alpine area of NSW, you'll be fine!

If someone asked me if I would buy a Japanese car 1 year ago, I'd say no - but after looking at the competition, and driving the Mazda it was the right choice. It is the Number 1 selling car in Australia...I couldn't bring myself to get a Golf. They are boring.

[KozmoNaut]

Yep. Awesome gearbox. Anything from the MX5/RX8 to the Mazda 2 - they seem to shift really well!

As for the rust - we don't salt our roads here. So if you live next to a beach (I don't) or live in the alpine area of NSW, you'll be fine!

If someone asked me if I would buy a Japanese car 1 year ago, I'd say no - but after looking at the competition, and driving the Mazda it was the right choice. It is the Number 1 selling car in Australia...I couldn't bring myself to get a Golf. They are boring.

Whoops, didn't see you were from down under. Disregard everything about waxoyl, then! :-)

In that case, you'll be able to enjoy your new car and that amazing gearbox even longer without having to worry about rust. Mazda seems to have really cornered the market for affordable well-handling cars. Not that Ford, Peugeot, Alfa Romeo etc. aren't giving them a fair bit of competition, but with the 3 and 6 and their new Skyactive engines, Mazda seems to have really hit their stride lately.

I'm definitely with you on the Golf (actually German cars in general), it's just too dull to even consider.

[kevtherev]

i haven't been around for a while since getting rid of the pug
chopped it in for a Mazda 6

I was never "on" Japanese cars, always considered them to be soulless boxes on wheels.

quite agree, i just can't seem to take to it. it's got toys i 've never had, better sound system yadda yadda but it just doesn't seem to have a personality somehow, also it seems underpowered (the 1.8 petrol) but i think that's just down to the gear ratio's , needs thrashing if ya want to accelerate quickly.
positives - erm chain driven cam so no cam belt to change/snap, excellent gearbox,looks good too which first attracted me to it really. cheaper to insure than the 406

My daughter's had a 53 reg 6 saloon for ages and it's been virtually trouble free.
The Mazda 6 was one of the alternatives I looked at before getting the first 406, but I didn't think their 2.2 diesel was as good as the pug engine, but what is?

no end of DPF problems on them especially the earlier 2.0 diesels. think the 2.2 has improved a little from what ive read.

However, be aware that japanese cars still like to rust, unlike our trusty 406es. If you intend to keep it for years, I would suggest a waxoyl (or similar) treatment now and every 2-3 years. It's the best way to avoid rust in the panel joins etc.

yep , mines goin around the inside of the rear arches, and underneath the car too as my MOT advisory tells me so

Do I get a Mazda sub forum?

thats 2 votes for the subforum

[rwb]

A few of my colleagues have had Mazdas recently and they seem very happy with them and haven't had any trouble.

Very noticeably not so with the 5 Toyotas.