Mazda 6 2007 petrol as a daily.

[Jewel25]

Having owned one previously until around 4 years ago , I'm thinking of sacking off my 2015 i20 and getting a proper 2.0 litre barge. Spotted on one on Autotrader , 2 owner 75,000 miles. My i20 is similar mileage but isn't really very enjoyable to drive. 

If it isn't rotten , it could give many years of service perhaps?

[Jazoli]

Yes, it'll probably be great if it isn't rotten, but who knows, any 18 year old car is a potential moneypit.

[Missy Charm]

Doooo it!  

I've got a Focus with the same engine, albeit a year older, and that's still going strong.  No qualms about it, either, as has never* broken down in my ten-odd year ownership.

Have heard that Mazdas are a bit rubbish, rust-wise, though.  Why don't you look at the Mk3 Mondeo as well?  Same thing, but better.  

*I lie; have had a puncture and a battery go, both of which left me unable to proceed, but nothing actually wrong with the actual car.

[Split_Pin]

I know nothing about Mazdas (other than the rot issue) but I did read/hear something about Sky Active engines somewhere, might be worth checking that out just to be sure.

[Jazoli]

8 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

I know nothing about Mazdas (other than the rot issue) but I did read/hear something about Sky Active engines somewhere, might be worth checking that out just to be sure.

Skyactive are much later.

[sierraman]

It’ll last forever, I’d be surprised if it wasn’t handed down generations. 

[Jewel25]

Are they a Ford or Mazda engine ?- I've always assumed it's a Mazda unit. 

[Missy Charm]

51 minutes ago, Jewel25 said:

Are they a Ford or Mazda engine ?- I've always assumed it's a Mazda unit. 

If it's the normal 2.0, then it's a 'joint-venture' engine, which is more Mazda than Ford.  Check that it's not affected by the swirl-flaps issue, but don't think there's much to watch out for beyond that.  They're quite basic engines, by modern standards.  

[Schaefft]

I remember a very similar thread recently. The answer is the same, they rot like crazy. I like them but why not just get a Lexus for the same money? A pre-April '06 GS300 is a much better car with similar running costs.

[Spiny Norman]

Even if is rotten it'll still be a great drive. My mate has had a succession of Mazdas and none of them have given him any bother at all. 

[Snipes]

Thing with Mazdas is they can throw out the odd very large bill, especially anything suspension or steering related. 

[myglaren]

17 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

I know nothing about Mazdas (other than the rot issue) but I did read/hear something about Sky Active engines somewhere, might be worth checking that out just to be sure.

I bought a Skyactive recently, following the demise of the 2L petrol.

The reputation they have is for having cheese camshafts.

I did ask when I saw the Skyactive badge and he confirmed it.  He had bought it as a non-runner, had the engine out (I saw it on his workshop floor) and stripped it, fitted new camshafts and bearings and a new timing chain and various other bits.

He said the problem was with the oil, which must be checked weekly and before and after a long run and be kept topped up.

I agreed to that and said that I would have the oil and filters changed at six month intervals to be on the safe side.

Then, reading the handbook, it did say that half yearly oil changes were recommended.

I haven't driven it much, my son is the primary user but it seems OK so far and he seems happy with it and he is far more critical than I am.