Official 200 000km review thread**

[sol_searchin]

I figured it's about time that someone made this thread!

Solid car! ride's great, no squeaks or rattles!

04 Mazda sport - 176 000km (I know I know not 200k yet but VERY soon!)

Oil change's every 5000km (5/20 oil changes)

Repair's! NO repair's needed in 170k of driving!

Maintainance wise - Brake's/tire's/link's/fluid change's/tune up


-Wheel bearing's front only (first time, not really a repair) - 170 000km
-Engine mount - 175 000km
-Intake manifold noisey (runner's/actuator) - 176 000km


Fairly reliable car! I do most of the work myself so it saves some coin :headbang

[coriolis]

Mines is at 186,000, 04' Sport as well. Will probably hit 200,000km this summer.

I got a few squeaks, no rattles, nothing major came up so far, but the regular consumables(brake pads, etc.), the 3rd engine mount was replaced, thats pretty much it. I get wind leaks on both front windows, passenger and driver, it gets a bit annoying, and the engine is pretty loud, especially in the winter. I have a permanent CEL, but is not a big problem so it can be ignored lol.

Worst thing about the car? Rust -_-

[sol_searchin]

Ya i forgot I am getting a few rust spot's aswell, just starting though! I also have wind leak's only on the driver's side but it's very small and I only notice it on really cold day's so maybe the seal's freeze up?

[cklwilliam]

Worst thing about the car? Rust -_-

+1 , had the rust fixed in my 04 gt hatch quarter panel in may 2010, its back again, and close to the rear dooors bottom where the side skirts ends, catches lots of salt in winter and now its rusting.

[mido]

Worst thing about the car? Rust -_-

Could be worse.... (Honda) :)

[stevenma188]

My 05 is almost at 190k. I bought the car at 168k, and so far have had to replace 1 rear trailing arm bushing as well as both front lower control arms and one front tie rod end. Some minor rust on mine, but not too bad, although i have a feeling it will get worse since I recently rolled my fenders.

[DumpInfo]

Worst thing about the car? Rust -_-


Could be worse.... (Honda) :)

Actually my Honda doesn't have any rust and it's a 2000. Whereas my 2004 3 it has rust after being "repaired" at Mazda of Toronto...go figure!

[RedRaptor]

I have 160,000km on my 2004 Sport GT (1st and only owner). I've had numerous documented issues with it, it still drives as good as it did when I drove it off the dealership lot. One thing I've been impressed by is the engine is still solid and doesn't burn a drop of oil. Don't know if it has anything to do with the fact that its been Mobil1 synthetic since Day #2.

I'll need a complete brake job this year as I'm still on original brake pads and rotors. And my alternator seems to be on its last legs.

[mido]

Actually my Honda doesn't have any rust and it's a 2000. Whereas my 2004 3 it has rust after being "repaired" at Mazda of Toronto...go figure!

Lucky! Ive had pretty bad experience with hondas rusting especially the wheel wells. Although i think their more recent cars are less prone to rusting from what ive read and heard...( by recent i mean 2006 + )

[coriolis]

My family has a 1998 Corolla, aunt has a 97 Civic, uncle has a 99' Jetta and all of them have no rust at all. And thesecars have over 140+ km, never washed ever(honestly), and its in great condition besides the crappy driving asian people are known for haha. However, a cousin has a 00' Maxima and that is rusting around the wheel wells, but not as bad as my 3. Mines has been rust proofed from 04 to 08, then stopped until this year, 2010, and the rust is emerging at a rapid pace. Sadly my 3 was on of the first few batches on the road so the rust warranty is gone. Not sure what I'll do to the rear wheel well rust that is literally exploding inside out right now....

[bubba1983]

168xxxkm, original owner
2004 sedan

both front wheel bearings
engine mount
both belts, and tensioner
pads all around, still original rotors
water pump
rust warranty last june (all doors, rear quarters, 3rd brake light pocket)

all but water pump, bearings and rust i do myself, savin coin!

drives great, burns a lil oil....toss in a can of waynns now every oil change, beauty!

[mido]

Where exactly do these cars start to rust first ?!

Make sure i wash there more oftenn....

[DumpInfo]

Where exactly do these cars start to rust first ?!

Make sure i wash there more oftenn....

The 'Search' toolbar is your friend :)

[sol_searchin]

It's inevitable lol, 04-08 are all bad for rust, I think the 09+ are a little better, but I STILL see them rusting and there not even a year old.

[rsquared]

I'm at 146K with my 2004 sport GS. Bought it used with about 37K back in Early 2006. Alternator had to be replaced recently. Other than that, no major repairs needed, just regular wear/tear items. I feel all of your pain regarding the rust though!


Sadly my 3 was on of the first few batches on the road so the rust warranty is gone. Not sure what I'll do to the rear wheel well rust that is literally exploding inside out right now....

I'm in the same boat. Originally got it repaired through warranty at MOT a few years back, but the rust has come back again, even with yearly rustproofing. Only found out about the extended rust warranty recently and tried pleading with MOT but they refused as I'm past the warranty date now. Not sure what to do with it as it's a lot of cash if I decided to do it the right way.

[5spokes]

I'm curious to know what you guys means when you say rustproofing?

I've just purchased my 04 Mazda Sport Auto about 3 weeks ago and had it rust checked inside all the interior panels etc.
Luckily the car is in pretty good condition with no rust except for the rockers a bit.

I'm at 218,000km - no oil burning.

I do find the car to be hard on gas as I get about 400km to about 47liters of gas.

I just changed the air filter, spark plugs, engine oil, transmission fluid, and cleaned the MAF.

[Kwokalobster]

04 Mazda3 GT @ 115k. :) no rust, still driving strong! think i will be needing to replace engine mount and spark plugs in the spring time.

[5spokes]

Well I plan on greasing up this old bird until she's dripping constantly; I'd rather have a greasy car than a rusty car!

[MAZDA Kitten]

I'm at 240,000 (first and only owner - picked it up with 4km on it)

Minor issues at first all fixed within warranty time frame (new clutch assembly, creaks/rattles, engine mount)

Agree with RedRaptor - engine is SOLID. I put in Mobil1 synthetic every 8,000 or so. Car runs amazingly well.
Last fall replaced the thermostat at around 220,000 which was the cause of my first check engine light. Replaced spark plugs at around 160,000 and two tranny oil changes and two complete brake jobs (rotors/pads).

[hwcoop]

Just picked up my 3, I'm at 44,000km, replaced engine. I'm going for 300,000km, regular maintenance and Rustcheck hope I make it :)

[Rob23]

my car is at 173 000km '04 mazda3gt sport

[coriolis]

It looks like I won't hit 200,000 km anytime soon, sitting at 192,000 km , I put in 30k last year but in the last 6 months I've put in 600km. My Chevy work car is fairly enjoyable, the only thing I miss in my Mazda3 was the great viewing angles from the drivers seat. With the Chevy, I feel like I'm driving a boat. If I could see 80% of the surroundings in my Mazda3 (so 360 view, minus the A, B and C pillars), my Chevy is a 40%. It is goddamn terribad. I reverse park 90% of the time in my Mazda, I still reverse 90% in the Chevy, but its a challenge every time.

[gabbygenier]

210000 original engine with no issues. second owner, got the car at 30k

replaced clutch at 40k (i think whoever the first owner was didnt know how to drive stick properly), thermostat at 140k, rear pads and rotors at 50k (car got towed with parking brake on) and at 180k. front pads at 180k, still stock rotors in front (need to be changed soon since they are warped), front bearings at 200k, rear bushings at 180k.

and soon to be replaced is the shocks also. they are on their way out

[sol_searchin]

^solid review, nothing out of the ordinary. I'm afraid to ask if it's rusted or rusting lol

[MPS]

:whoa gab you have that many clicks



210000 original engine with no issues. second owner, got the car at 30k

replaced clutch at 40k (i think whoever the first owner was didnt know how to drive stick properly), thermostat at 140k, rear pads and rotors at 50k (car got towed with parking brake on) and at 180k. front pads at 180k, still stock rotors in front (need to be changed soon since they are warped), front bearings at 200k, rear bushings at 180k.

and soon to be replaced is the shocks also. they are on their way out

[gabbygenier]

^solid review, nothing out of the ordinary. I'm afraid to ask if it's rusted or rusting lol

Well I have had a bit but the amount of accidents with my car. It's been repainted. Lol. My car has a sign that says hit me on it I swear


:whoa gab you have that many clicks

Yep. The ex put a lot for work on it

[krimsalt]

you want to know rust? Try a nissan! Holy hell i spent my entire year with that car chasing rust welding a strut together that just rerusted, changing the rear subframe which rusted in half in the first week i owned it, and finally the front subframe split as well as the the bottom half of the firewall and the passenger side floorpan was rusted away. Sitting in the back left seat, u can see outside the car from the door seams that rusted away
Nissans rust.