Teach me about the Mazda 3

1st gen, specifically.

-How reliable are these? Pretty simple 300k+ car? Would you hesitate to buy one with 180k+ on it? What's going to need to be addressed immediately on a 10yr old example with high mileage?

-What about the automatics? For a wife-mobile I may consider one of these.

-Rust? The Proteges rusted crazy bad. Like fenders rotting out in the south east. Does the 3 have this problem?

-Any particular big improvements in certain years?

-How hard are they to work on? I've only done a front swaybar swap on one. It was not fun.

My wife had an 04, one of the first ones off the lot when they started selling them. We only put 50k miles or so on it before we had to get something bigger (kids), but it was issue-free during that time (unlike her similar-miles Jetta prior, which sucked).

As to tranny.....I wouldn't, but then again my wife drives stick so it wasn't a concern. If you go auto, definitely get the 2.3 ("S") model. It's reasonably quick with a stick and would be tolerable with an auto. I can't imagine that the 2.0 would be enjoyable with an auto.

I think the "big improvement" was in maybe '06 when the 2.3 was replaced with a 2.5 in the S models.

We didn't do much work on it (no mods, just brake pads, etc) but I don't recall it being difficult. It has a cartridge-style oil filter (on the 2.3), but if you prefer spin-on the filter housing from the 2.3 Mazda6 of the same year bolts right on (we did that swap) and can be bought at the dealer for like 50 bucks (well, 10 years ago...)

No input on the high-mileage aspect or rust, but I see tons of the 1st-gen Mazda3 during my morning commute, and they're all 10 years old or so and probably high miles as commuters, and I've never noticed any visible rust or peeling paint or other issues.

I can comment on the rust. As a Wisconsin resident, I can say that they are much better then the Protégés (ALL of them are rusty up here) but they still have some issues (it's about a 50/50 split between rusty ones and non-rusty ones). They do seem to be more impervious to rust the newer they get; the pre-facelift models would appear to be much more susceptible to it than the '06-up facelift cars.

I was looking at them before I ended up with my Focus last fall, I found many nearing 200k and running strong so that's a good sign. Timing chain FTW! Have heard rumblings of possible chain tensioner failure on cars with poor oil service history but I don't know a lot about it.

I'm not great at google right now but I know later first gens were available with a 5-speed automatic, I just can't figure out which year.

In reply to lnlds:

possibly 07 or 08? the 5's got them in 08.

I was pretty close, per wikipedia: "Since the 2006 model year, a five-speed automatic is optional on models with the 2.3 L engine."

Ack. No tow rating?

How reliable is the auto? I'm looking for an appliance here. Reliability, utility, and operating costs are my primary concerns. I'd also like a manual option... that way both the wife and I can have what is very close to the same car, only mine would be more fun.

In reply to ProDarwin: What are you going to tow with a Mazda 3? Auto-x tires?

I test drove a first and second generation 3. The second gen car had too sensitive throttle mapping for me. It's probably for a more sporty feel. I like the interior design on the first gen much better and nicer than the second gen car. I also think that the seats were nicer on the first gen car. I would personally only get a manual trans to take to 300k miles unless I didn't have a choice with a specific car. I've done and seen enough auto trans rebuilds to just stick with the manual. I also find that the sportier version with the bigger engine get around average mpgs (according to EPA), which is disappointing.

A couple of people I know said that they're reliable.

Some people may think the rust less than the Protege's but not me. Up here they all look like they have rust installed at the factory.

I would look at a fly and drive if I was going to get one. And undercoat the E36 M3 out of it!

Mr_Clutch42 wrote: In reply to ProDarwin: What are you going to tow with a Mazda 3? Auto-x tires?

Utility trailer for yard work stuff, trips to home depot, etc. Basically anything I get that won't fit inside the car. It would be replacing a Saturn.

I would imagine that every car could safely tow 500 lbs., but that might not be official.

We've had two, still have one. Both were 2.3, 5 speeds. Both were driven year long in PA so plenty of salt. Neither had significant rust issues at all, just some surface stuff underneath, though the 06 that hadn't been cared for very well before I got it had significantly more than the 07 we've had since new and have taken good care of. Neither gave any problems of any real significance. Since new and 165k, the 07 has needed brakes once at 100k, clutch at 116k, plugs twice, shocks at 75k, one coil pack, trailing arm bushings, axles (torn boots), and one coil pack (because I pressure washed the engine and got water down that plug hole). The 06 was pretty much the same thing, it lived most of its life on oil and brake pad changes, until I did some fixing up to sell it last fall, with the only "repairs" being a thermostat and EVAP leak detection pump.

All of that seems like basically normal maintenance for cars of that mileage. In return, we get a really practical hatch/wagon thing, that is fun to drive, gets 30 MPG regularly, is easy to work on, and has held up very well overall through a not exactly gentle life. The 07 is currently in the garage getting a 2.5 swap from a Fusion and a 6 speed from a 2nd gen 3, just because we wanted to upgrade, all for less than $1200.

For towing, I've seen people tow normal utility trailers and whatnot with them, and see no reason why they wouldn't be able to do it. Here are hitches rated at 2k lbs. http://www.etrailer.com/hitch-2007_Mazda_3.htm

Here's the 07 on RX8 wheels with Koni FSDs and Eibach springs

SWMBO took an 04 mazda3 to 130k (i was there for exactly half of it) before we sold it with no issues other than an injector failure early in the warranty period. It needed a motor mount when we sold it. I put brake pads on it ONCE.

Good little car!