US 2011 Mazda3 owner here. Original and only owner, i bought mine clean off the lot in 2011 and still own and drive today in 2023. Basic maintenance has been key but the one hiccup i did not expect was a TCM failure. If you dont know what that is it is a small metal device that houses a computer chip that allows the engine to communicate to the tranny. Over years the heat warps and melts the TCM because of poor placement. I had to have my TCM shipped to a special shop in Atlanta to refurbish the part because brand new ones were unavailable due to "supply chain shortage". Anyhow, my 12 year old Mazda3 with 120000 miles is purring better than ever.
From experience, common issues for the BL Chassis Mazdas: - Belt tensioner tends to fail - Leaking boots (caused by deterioration of the rear taillight seals) - Eventually, the brake light switch will go - Engine mount as mentioned For maximum enjoyment? Lighter wheels and high-performance summer tyres.
The TCM will fail, as its mounted in the Auto transmission, ans will eventually due from the heat, along with ABS module failure on high mileage cars. You have to replace it according same ssrual/ model number, cant use one of a slightly newer series 2 model. Expensive to repair Get it reconditioned, dont go doen th oath of a used one, as it will fail again.
I have one from new but hatchback. Absolutely brilliant sexy looking machine. Never ever let me down in last 11 years of service, the only repair was a clutch at 115k (it’s manual) and no extra repairs other costs other than wear and tear, tyres and service. Love it
Ahh I had one of these throughout university. Great little car, really no major issues. One thing to note if you get one with the skyactiv engine - you are likely eventually going to have to deal with carbon buildup issues. I had mine cleaned at ~100k miles after the check engine light came on and it was like a brand new car after.
Mine is not skyactiv, but 111 KW Disi engine, still how did you get the carbon build up cleaned up? Sand blasting, or ? I don't think the HHO cleaning machines would work
@@yavorm.7503 From what I remember, they soaked the values in a cleaning solution overnight to soften the buildup then cleaned it off with brushes, etc. I've seen walnut blasting be used to 100% clean really stubborn buildup on valves, intake manifold, etc.
Yeah, I cleaned my intake at about 100k, it was VERY gunked up. I alternative between intake cleaner and some soapy solution (can't remember which), using compressed air and towels to blow and catch the gunk coming out. It was quite a job, but on the other hand it made it 100k miles, and the direct injection allows a lot of control over combustion for like custom tunes.
I bought my 2006 Mazda 3 Hatchback in 2017 with 42k miles. She's up to 110k miles as of June 2024 and running beautifully. I see tons of old Mazda 3s on the road. There must be a reason why... Great car!
Loving the extra jokes and information you’ve added into this one. Car reviews can be boring but this is funny but also informational. Perfect car review channel. Good job boys!
Another exceptionally researched, unbiased, and delivered review ReDriven! Loved my BL SP25 hatch as I was lucky enough to buy one as my first car. I’m sure the cheat sheets cover this, but ensure that the recalls have been completed on this vehicle (seat lifter link and rear boot struts). Another note is that in 2010 (I think) Mazda actually changed the service intervals to 12 months/10,000km as opposed to 6 months, and just be aware, if buying, that the cabin air filter and brake fluid are recommended to be replaced ever 40k kilometres or 2 years (whichever comes first), the engine air filter every 60k or 3 years, the spark plugs every 120k, the engine fuel filter (for the BL Series 1) every 120k (or 150k for the Series 2). The 120k service is the most expensive on the Series 1 (just under $1,000 due to everything being replaced, at the dealer), and the 150k service for the Series 2 is just over $1,500 (at the dealer) as the fuel filter is trickier to access and a more expensive part to buy. With regards to the sticky dashboard, Mazda did release a Technical Service Bulletin extending the warranty to 10 years (from the original warranty start date) with which they replace the dashboard free of charge (it also has to be within a certain VIN range). If your vehicle is exhibiting this sticky dash, and it’s outside of the extended warranty period/VIN range, a call to Mazda Customer Care is worth a try as Mazda Australia are normally quite accomodating if you present a compelling case. By far and away the most reliable, solid, and fun cars I’ve ever owned. Not to mention it’s cheap to buy, run, and maintain. I hope this helps someone, working in a Mazda dealership service department has its benefits when it comes to this information 😂
@@91Kay thanks! Sadly no, I was working at Wollongong Mazda and they’re very knowledgeable and efficient, even since leaving I trust them completely with my fleet of Mazdas. A bit of a drive from Sydney, but definitely worth it.
Great video guys! I have a 2013 SP25 hatch and it’s never missed a beat, it’s such a good car to drive. And from both personal experience of driving it every day and what others mention too, the transmissions in the manuals are fantastic!
These things sold like crazy for many years so fantastic to see they are holding up. I can only imagine all design/engineering deficiencies will have been exposed by now with many examples hitting 300,00+ km. We'll be seeing these on the road for many years to come. With examples getting to that price point now where these are becoming the second car/run-around/hack/station car. Care and servicing tends to be drop in priority, but sounds like these are likely to handle that well.
I have a 2013 BL series 2 neo sport With a the six speed manual & a spoiler on the back. This is hands down the best car I have ever owned. I have had it since new I have done 145,000kms it hasn’t missed a beat. It still has the original clutch. I haven’t done anything to it. Only normal stuff change the battery & a new set of tyres. I would buy one of these in heartbeat you would be foolish to ignore it.
My partner has a BK Mazda 3 with 270k on the clock, and you know what, it’s an awesome little car! It’s an auto sadly, but still a really good thing to drive, even after 18 years! Bloody well done Mazda!
We have the 2010 Maxx Sport and it's a great car, after 6 years of ownership nothing has gone wrong with it at all. Fun and easy to drive. To answer your question, there is no way to get into the boot without the key.
I'm a proud owner of a 2005 Mazda 3 sedan 2.0 ltr ex export car that needed some rust removal + welding and new front arms. Her motor runs smoothly and interior wise, she looks fab. I love driving her and she is such a fast lil car. Great first car to own that gives confidence in driving on your own. Everything is within reach and sitting behind the steeringwheel feels very comfortable. The suspension is stiff, which makes steering the corners a pleasure as she sticks to the road. I just love my Mazda 3.
Great lowdown as always guys! :) Totally agree with most of the points in this after owning a 2010 Mazda 3 (2L) and 2007 Mazda Atenza (2.3L Sport) for 5+ years each. We had just about all the same stuff with interior and driving etc. I think we were a bit unlucky on our 2010 Mazda 3 as it came up with an airbag warning lighting, which fails a WOF, and it would have cost $3000 to replace from the dealership and $2000 from our local friendly garage. Cheaper but still a big ouch. The other thing we noticed, and this seems to be common around NZ is the paint systems are failing. Maybe it's our super harsh UV bleaching sunlight that's the issue, but I see many clear coats peeling off now from these years. Something to check, if you see tiny bumpy lines on say the roof... avoid. I'd also say along these lines that the Mazda's that come over from Japan (imports), like the Atenza seem to have a better paint system. My 2007 Mazda Atenza said it had a "gold standard" paint system, whatever that was. But, it's paint was in better nick than the 2010 Mazda 3, so maybe there's something in it. The lights all leak. They did for years. The inlaws had a 2012 Mazda 3 and an older mazda than before the 2007 and the water just makes its way in. No biggy though as it makes it's way out again, but just odd they didn't seal them better. Another thing to mention is the lights will fog on the outside after a few years. This will eventually fail a WOF, as happened to us. But this is easily fixed with some light buffing compound you can get from Repco etc. A bit of elbow grease and they came up mint, and they cast a much cleaner light beam after as well. So check that out if have the same with yours. The steering and precision on the road is super nice on these cars. I'd say the 2010 Mazda 3 had a step up in steering feel from the 2007 Mazda Atenza. The Atenza was slightly more dead and heavy and the 3 was just more nimble and better feel. Well done Mazda on this, because that's rare! Not that many people notice, but if you do, you'll love these. The Mazda 3 2L I thought was only just powerful enough, for me, but it'll overtake on our open roads no worries. I prefered the 2.3L Atenza, it was just the right power I thought. Obviously super linear power curve (naturally aspirated) rather than my current turboed Skoda Octavia which has that kick later on. The down side of these engines though, is they are thirsty. Going up and down NZ hills was killer for us and one of the reasons for letting them go in exchange for the way leaner Skoda and VW equivalents. Can't beat the EA888 engines for a nice mix of performance and economy. But yea, they were super solid cars for us. We found the pre-2011 Mazdas had a good lot of power, but post-2011 they were trying too hard to save fuel, I assume to pass regulations. So they went from their old "zoom, zoom, zoom" marketing to like "meh, meh, meh" for use. Haven't bought a more recent one yet, but we'll see. ;) Cheers guys!! :)
Arrived late to the party on this video. Here in the US I have a 2010 Mazda 3 2.5L Grand Touring. So far in 14 years and 140K miles its given me zero issues. I had 2 recalls that were for a new dash to replace the "sticky" one. And one HID headlamp that collected moisture. Otherwise not a single blip of trouble. Will drive it till it dies. I'll go before it will.
Almost at 100,000 subwoofers, your channel is gunna snowball, so much quality content to fall back on already once you reach a big audience. Go guys! 😁
I bought a 2013 sedan 5 speed a few months ago after someone rear ended and totaled my 4 month old Kia Niro. No more new cars for me, New Jersey drivers are awful ! This is my 3rd Mazda and despite 96K miles it rides like a dream. I did replace the tires because the tires it came with were old and noisy. My only dislike about this car is the 5 speed. I presume it was a cost cutting measure but it really needs a 6th gear for highway driving. Your video is great and informative !
Great review and it is SPOT ON!! I currently own this exact car 2010 Mazda 3 S 2.5 (black color as well & sunroof). Bought a few years ago for $4500 with 79k miles. No problems yet at 100k miles now. Everything said is so true - sticky dash, normal wear & tear spots, space between front seats, road noise, drive performance great, and blind spots! Love this car!!
ABS Modules can fail, and you will a ABS /ESP failurr warning light appear. These are model specific, so you need to your one reconditioned or buy a used one that has done much less miles than yours, with the same , identical model number on the ABS module.
The 2013-2016 BM/2016-2019 BN are much better than the 2008-2013 BL. The exterior and interior appearance of the 2013 and 2016 cars are more contemporary and pleasing. The BL is very much a late 2000s car.
Well your commenting on that one particular car. Wear and tear is particular to the person that owned the vehicle. Some people are harder on things than others. Some people maintain things and respect their property, others don’t give a crap. I have a 2010 Mazda 3, and it’s immaculate, it goes like stink, ( ie, peppy and fast, almost sports car like). It’s “Solid” and just all around well put together. It puts other cars of that year to shame, it’s a million times better than a similar Honda, Nissan or Toyota . They really don’t even come close.
We had one of these until 330,000km late last year. Certainly one of the most reliable cars I've ever had. Only thing that went wrong in my 160,000km ownership was the automatic transmission went at 240k and the control arms and bushes around 310k. I'm sure it would last for many more years but I made the jump to an Audi SQ5. Miss the Mazda though - very zippy and easy to drive.
I’ve got one with 275,000 km. Still on its original engine and auto gearbox, both of which are still very healthy. Bought it with 214,000, and only had minor issues so far. It is starting to have some more issues lately, but they’re only minor too
My wife has a first generation Mazda 3 MPS. It’s about to tick over 300,000km, still on its original engine, turbo, clutch and gearbox. It’s been an incredibly reliable car!
I just picked up a 2011 Mazda CX-7 base model which was designed on the same platform as BL 3. It has 160,000 kms and I have put on nearly 10,000 kms in the last 4 months and everything works and it’s as tight as a drum. Love it as it’s more comfortable than the Mazda 3 hatchback I had before.
Great car, on my current count there have been 13 Mazda 3’s owned amongst the extended family ranging from a 2004 maxx auto hatch that my grandmother currently owned to a brand new g25 gt Auto hatch, my first car was a 2006 sp23 manual sedan, Not one has had any mechanical failures apart from normal maintenance. And yes the boot realease on the bl sedan didn’t have a release on the actual boot, even though the hatch did, my 2006 sp23 sedan had a physical key slot on the boot, which they must have removed on the bl, Btw keep up the great work your channel is excellent 👍
That driver side top engine mount is possibly the easiest mount I've ever done. Didn't buy genuine Mazda because they wanted like $600 for it which is a hard no. Aftermarket was so much cheaper. Great car and the manual gearbox is fantastic.
What was sign and symptom of the engine mount? Did it make any noises you can describe? I got a busted engine mount aswell, but I’m not sure if the noise is coming due to the gearbox or the mount
@@TN1984 the sound was just like a metal clang, but very subtle. Easiest way to reproduce was to drive downhill press the clutch fully down to disengage the gearbox and then release it quick while still in gear, In this way you shake the engine and the noise can be heard
@@TN1984 nothing too significant like NVH to give it away. The massive rust coloured fluid stain all over the engine bay however was a pretty clear indication that the fluid mount has gave way.
My mom has the 1.6l petrol hatchback version from 2009 in a metallic gray paint with slightly over 300k km’s on it and the car’s just fantastic… It still looks good, it drives really well (MUCH better than my 2011 1.33 Auris to be honest) and it’s reliable. The car had multiple accidents with wildlife and it wasn’t serviced on time most of the time, but it still never left my mom hanging. It’s also not showing any signs of rust (unlike the Mazda 3 2004 model I had before, which was literally starting to fall apart after 15 years).
My mum had a 2010 neo that she later passed onto me and it was the best car I've ever had. It did over 270000kms and never needed anything done beyond servicing. Absolutely brilliant car and I still regret to this day getting rid of it.
the only costly thing that goes arong with these early BL series is the ABS module. You cannot simply visit a wrecket/ breakers yard and get a slightly newer one from a series 2 model. You have to get a replacement one with tbe same specific serial / model number of ABS module. Wreckers know this, and thats why a module is very expensive to buy used. A reconditioned oneis the best way to go, since it comes with 12 months warranty . But just the reconditioned part alone is $1600-$1800.. Its more common on high mileagw cares beyond 250K klm. It happened to mine at 322K klm. Other than that engine has been very relaible , just following the manufacturer's service intervals & recommended parts replacements.
What a great channel. Found you through reddit recommendations. While searching "model, year, australia" nothing came up in google results from you. Such a shame as your info is far more relevant than the big sites getting promoted. Good work mate.
I owned Mazda 3 1.6 diesel hatchback, bought it new in 2013. Drove it for 5 years, covered 120k without a caugh.. Moved on to 2016 Mazda 6 wagon, then 2019 BMW 5 Touring. But ever since I always remember Mazda 3 with the smile on my face. I'm now considering to buy petrol 1.6 as a second/city car
I paid $10k cash to a private seller for a 2013 Mazda 3 Neo sedan with 5 speed auto 2.0 petrol engine in Canberra in Aug 2020 with 117,000 km. It was in good mechanical condition, but the body was extensively hail damaged. The tyres lasted about another 5000 km. Similar models were selling through dealers for around $12k, without hail damage. I thought I could remove the hail damage with a PDR kit, but the YT videos looked much easier and showed better results than I was able to achieve - very disappointing. The dash pad also lifted away from the centre dash display. I should have paid more like $8k. 12 months later my mechanic replaced an engine mount, hoping this might stop a rattling vibration somewhere under the car, sounding like a loose exhaust pipe mount. The annoying buzzing rattle is still most noticeable when the engine accelerates at low speed. Then the faulty oxygen sensor was replaced after it set off the engine warning light. On the plus side, 33,000 km later, the engine is still strong at 150,000km (after servicing every 6 months), travels very comfortably at 110 km/h on the freeway, with plenty of extra power for overtaking, handles well at any speed, all the electrics still work, blue tooth connection with my iPhone 12 works well, rear vision is poor without reversing camera, fuel economy averages 9 L/100km.
This Mazda was the one that made people fall in love with the brand in South Africa. Everyone I know, who owned a 3 (myself incuded), upgraded to a CX-5
IMO... 1st gen was the best. I was the 2nd driver to my sister's sedan variance. It was reliable and zero issues compared to the newer update. You here owners complain about rust down the years along the wheel arches.... those owners just don't wash and clean it like the rest of the body panels. Great on gas mileage. Interior wear, depends how well you take care of it ;)
Rust is usually an issue listed by Americans driving it through road salt. Mazda paint has never been particularly thick either so they’re the first to rust.
My 2011 mazda 3 is still going strong, great little car. In America I have bluetooth and sunroof, the sound system jams with the 10" sub in the trunk, stock i might ad, very cool for mazda to add in such a little car. my gfs 2016 mazda 6 sound system stinks compared to my 2011 system, its crazy. also dont forget the manual mode, very fun especially on a 2011
Coming from the UK, I enjoy the alternative delivery of your videos, Always worth a comparison to the videos by High Peak(Alright guy's how's it going?)Autos. I can't recommend his videos enough.
In the driveway we have a Mazda 3 2011 Tamura, 2015 Mazda 6 2.0 estate, 2008 RX8 and the 2018 MX 5. We like Mazda just not the RX7. The Mazda 3 is my absolute favourite when I want to feel like a teenage rally driver in a boy racer. Here in the UK it is important to have a nippy car that handles corners because the longest straight road you get here is about a mile. The roads are cramped, narrow, rough and twisty. The 3 is simply a superb hot hatch. All of our Mazda cars have a purpose from family to weekend rag top down cruising but the 3 is the one everyone rushes to take for the daily. It is fun, well equipped, drives nice and feels amazing. I have never driven an automatic so I wouldn't know about them.
Our daughter owns a Mazda 3 she hasn't had any problems with it has it serviced regualy and goes very well l drove it once in Newcastle l to busy concetrating on driving and bean instructed were to go but it was good to drive they are a very good car
I have 19 of this generation Mazda 3 and I list them on Turo. This is by far my best performing car model on Turo and outperforms Mercedes C300 and Chevy Suburban. The highest miles I have on one of them is 230k miles and still going.
Mine is still working at 112k KM , I bought it at 89k KM, so I was nervous at the beginning, mechanic said the same as this review, dont be afraid, it will be good, and it is!!!
i have a mazda3 2010 and this video is quite a good representation of the issues the car can develop, there is another comment about leaking boots due to tail light seals and Engine mounts, this is accurate as well, but the only one thing missing is the infamous TCM issues, if you have a Mazda 3 2010-2012 ask your technician to move the module from the top of the transmission to the break lines, the TCM tends to get cooked by the transmission heat after 50k to 70k miles of service, don't ask me how I know that.
I got my drivers license in 2019 and at the time a Mazda 3 1.6 Center-Line (EU-Spec) was our only car...nothing ultra-fancy but I loved every inch of it. Drove this car for 3 years without any major problems and decided to upgrade past January to the same car, but as the MPS model (or Speed3 as it is known in the US). Lovely cars.
If you have the hatchback you can get in without the key, there will be a button near the place where you grab to open the trunk, and if the car is unlocked, pressing that button opens the trunk.
2010 Mazda 3 Maxx owner here. 2 litre petrol.6 speed manual.600kms from a tank.A great second car to have. Ps. A front wheel drive car with a timing chain rather than a belt.
So my first car was a 2009 BL SP25 hatchback and it was simply amazing, now belongs to my mum and nearly hit 200k on the odometer. Never had any major issues with the car to this day. Highly recommend one
I bought my 2012 GT Hatchback back in 2021 and I absolutely love it!! I bought a new android-based stereo (with a touch screen, apps, and all that good stuff) and although it wasn’t necessary, it was the perfect addition to the car 👌🏽 for any of you who may be looking into it, make sure you find one compatible with the sound system in your car though! I had to make sure the one I got would connect to all of the speakers in my car, and there were options I was considering before I realized that they were not fully compatible with my car. Also, not a necessity, but if you’re the outdoors type you should get a rack on top!
I've been driving my 2013 Mazda 3 skyactiv 2.0L since 2015. Regular oil changes and transmission fluid changes every 60-70k, alternator and drive belt tensioner replaced and still drives like new with almost 150k miles.
I have a 2011 mazda 3 hatchback. Here are some cons... - thin paint - door ajar issue - weak dashboard (recalled) - tcm (bad placement) - battery cable melted
@@paulsz6194 I'm guessing there could be a ground contact in the actuator. But I couldn't access it due to the screws (loctite) of the side door. So I just stuck a pin in the connector to trick the door of being shut.
@@MartinJones123 Any variation was good.Europeans in this class are really basic.If all you need is automatic and alarm then the Mazda is the way to go.I find even with the Mercedes and BMW equivalents in the class all one is paying for is the badge,I mean unless you are in a profession that requires a fancy pants Euro status symbol do not buy one.
We have a 2007 2.0L model. We love ours no probs at all since new. Only issue we have had with ours is our A/C has gone noisy and no longer works properly which was a surprise to us as it let go at around about 90k. We still have the CAE now but we're not impressed that the A/C had only lasted till then. We now have 110k on the clock and still have no real issues with it.
I have a 2014, the generation after this and I love it, especially in a top trim spec. I feel this 2nd gen is my least favourite. The messy interior and weird exterior both look all over the shop. The 1st gen looked good for its time, same with my 3rd gen and the new 4th gen (minus the egg-like hatch). But I can’t seem to like this one. The interior in particular feels cluttered and asymmetrical like the Civic 8th/9th gen. It proves how good the 1st gen Mazda3 interior was in comparison.
In Hong Kong, Japan and Sri Lanka, there is a variant the Axela 1.5S, with a 1.5 VVT engine, CVT box with seven simulated steps if set to manual/sport mode. Quite a thing to drive Co it’s nippy in city and returns great mileage per Litre. It isn’t slow either. As to the gearbox, it lasts quite well with no major complaint. On mine, it is serviced DIY with 5W/30 engine oil at 8000km intervals and Nissan NS-3 CVT fluid just done under 49000 kms.
Love the part of the Airplane crew guys! Creative and easy to digest. I think the previous generation of Mazda 3 has Automatic Gearbox failures in 120k kms or more also rust could be a big problem. I still love the 323 more. Its still solid and an impressive machine.
Still driving my 2010 Hatch 2.5. Other than normal wear and tear issues, rear strut mounts, brake components, and wheel bearings seem to be the items that come up more frequently than I'd expect. One thing that annoys me about the hatchback is that you can't open the hatch unless the car is turned off, in the manual transmission variant anyway. Also, if you have a newer phone, can no longer connect to Bluetooth. This is the only car I've ever had the dash just randomly crack in half as well. But great DD!
I drove a few of these recently when looking for a car for my wife. I didn't like it, I thought the interior was ugly the car didn't drive anywhere near as good as the competition. I settled on a i30 and love the thing.
Our BM SP25GT is an awesome piece of kit. Got enough poke in a straight line and is at its best around corners. The only other car I’ve owned that’s been better around corners was my series 3 RX7. Don’t think you can go wrong with Mazdas. Great units.
I have the model before this which was amongst the last of the BK's.the first original owner must have bought it as a run out model given the BL only came out in early 09 or placed the order in late 08.This was the third Mazda in our home the others being my late fathers series 5 89 RX7,My 99 121 Metro and then a 02 323 Astina.I defected to Nissan and one Korean Holden for 15 years after that.Enough power to escape in an emergency and what have you.How did I end up in a used 3.It was just after my Holden Spark was written off by a truck beyond repair and deemed a total loss I was sent to look for replacements.I started thinking new Fiat 500's or Mazda 2's or even Mg3's while driving around in some accident replacement vehicle restarting with a new loan from Macquarie leasing but then I thought using insurance payout money there must be things much safer than those tiny tots.
Got an optioned out hatchback as my first car, it's great! The big diesel engine in it is lovely, nearly 200 hp, heaps of torque, and 50 (imperial) mpg! Some info on said 2.2 diesel; Timing chain's known to wear out (you can get the wear measured at a dealer and the DPF light will illuminate if it's worn out), and fuel injector washers should be replaced as the originals can be bad and leak
I’ve had an auto and now a manual, even in neo its a great car! Great handling, great stezza, ps its really easy to replace the head unit for an aftermarket one with carplay.
Hi, thanks for this review! I enjoy your channel and also happen to own a 2012 Mazda 3 2.0 Individual here in South Africa (not sure what the matching spec is in Australia) and your review was very accurate!😀 I would like to add that the interior review segment was specifically use case applicable as it's really down to the maintenance of each vehicle. The boot with a smart key has a black button at the back for easy access on some specs such as my own, then again mine doesn't have a handsfree system. it's clear to see they are really a lot of Mazda 3 2009-2013 variants that were pushed out to the market. To end I would like to say that it is a really good vehicle to start off with and would recommend it to any first-time buyer!
In europe i have the 3rd brake light button embedded in it. It works only if the hand brake is on though. So no one can open the trunk at a traffic light
If not the Mazda 3, what car would you pick in the small car category?
It'd have to be a Chery J3 for sure yeah?
@Jake Clinton first time on the internet?
@Jake Clinton it was an attempt at sarcasm but obviously my skills need some polishing.
Cx30 is my pick over the Mazda 3 hatch I initially wanted.
@@jackpowell8155 remind me, what price is the CX30 at? :))
US 2011 Mazda3 owner here. Original and only owner, i bought mine clean off the lot in 2011 and still own and drive today in 2023. Basic maintenance has been key but the one hiccup i did not expect was a TCM failure. If you dont know what that is it is a small metal device that houses a computer chip that allows the engine to communicate to the tranny. Over years the heat warps and melts the TCM because of poor placement. I had to have my TCM shipped to a special shop in Atlanta to refurbish the part because brand new ones were unavailable due to "supply chain shortage". Anyhow, my 12 year old Mazda3 with 120000 miles is purring better than ever.
There was a video on YT here, showing how to make a bracket behind the battery box & relocating the TCM module ,in order to prevent future failures.
I have a Mazda 3. It's a 2009. It was made in Japan. I have had zero problems in all that time.
No rust?
what about your dashboard ?
From experience, common issues for the BL Chassis Mazdas:
- Belt tensioner tends to fail
- Leaking boots (caused by deterioration of the rear taillight seals)
- Eventually, the brake light switch will go
- Engine mount as mentioned
For maximum enjoyment? Lighter wheels and high-performance summer tyres.
The TCM will fail, as its mounted in the Auto transmission, ans will eventually due from the heat, along with ABS module failure on high mileage cars. You have to replace it according same ssrual/ model number, cant use one of a slightly newer series 2 model. Expensive to repair Get it reconditioned, dont go doen th oath of a used one, as it will fail again.
the big goofy smile is what i'd buy mazda for. sad we don't have it anymore
I have one from new but hatchback. Absolutely brilliant sexy looking machine. Never ever let me down in last 11 years of service, the only repair was a clutch at 115k (it’s manual) and no extra repairs other costs other than wear and tear, tyres and service. Love it
Ahh I had one of these throughout university. Great little car, really no major issues. One thing to note if you get one with the skyactiv engine - you are likely eventually going to have to deal with carbon buildup issues. I had mine cleaned at ~100k miles after the check engine light came on and it was like a brand new car after.
Mine is not skyactiv, but 111 KW Disi engine, still how did you get the carbon build up cleaned up? Sand blasting, or ? I don't think the HHO cleaning machines would work
@@yavorm.7503 From what I remember, they soaked the values in a cleaning solution overnight to soften the buildup then cleaned it off with brushes, etc. I've seen walnut blasting be used to 100% clean really stubborn buildup on valves, intake manifold, etc.
Yeah, I cleaned my intake at about 100k, it was VERY gunked up. I alternative between intake cleaner and some soapy solution (can't remember which), using compressed air and towels to blow and catch the gunk coming out. It was quite a job, but on the other hand it made it 100k miles, and the direct injection allows a lot of control over combustion for like custom tunes.
I bought my 2006 Mazda 3 Hatchback in 2017 with 42k miles. She's up to 110k miles as of June 2024 and running beautifully. I see tons of old Mazda 3s on the road. There must be a reason why... Great car!
Loving the extra jokes and information you’ve added into this one. Car reviews can be boring but this is funny but also informational. Perfect car review channel. Good job boys!
Another exceptionally researched, unbiased, and delivered review ReDriven! Loved my BL SP25 hatch as I was lucky enough to buy one as my first car. I’m sure the cheat sheets cover this, but ensure that the recalls have been completed on this vehicle (seat lifter link and rear boot struts). Another note is that in 2010 (I think) Mazda actually changed the service intervals to 12 months/10,000km as opposed to 6 months, and just be aware, if buying, that the cabin air filter and brake fluid are recommended to be replaced ever 40k kilometres or 2 years (whichever comes first), the engine air filter every 60k or 3 years, the spark plugs every 120k, the engine fuel filter (for the BL Series 1) every 120k (or 150k for the Series 2). The 120k service is the most expensive on the Series 1 (just under $1,000 due to everything being replaced, at the dealer), and the 150k service for the Series 2 is just over $1,500 (at the dealer) as the fuel filter is trickier to access and a more expensive part to buy. With regards to the sticky dashboard, Mazda did release a Technical Service Bulletin extending the warranty to 10 years (from the original warranty start date) with which they replace the dashboard free of charge (it also has to be within a certain VIN range). If your vehicle is exhibiting this sticky dash, and it’s outside of the extended warranty period/VIN range, a call to Mazda Customer Care is worth a try as Mazda Australia are normally quite accomodating if you present a compelling case. By far and away the most reliable, solid, and fun cars I’ve ever owned. Not to mention it’s cheap to buy, run, and maintain. I hope this helps someone, working in a Mazda dealership service department has its benefits when it comes to this information 😂
Thanks for the info! Do lots of the staff in your department drive Mazdas too? :)
@@wilydimayuga1505 - they sure do! As do most of the people around me in general, knowledge is an excellent negotiator 😉
Awesome info mate any chance your working at a sydney mazda? You can take my money..
@@91Kay thanks! Sadly no, I was working at Wollongong Mazda and they’re very knowledgeable and efficient, even since leaving I trust them completely with my fleet of Mazdas. A bit of a drive from Sydney, but definitely worth it.
Great video guys!
I have a 2013 SP25 hatch and it’s never missed a beat, it’s such a good car to drive. And from both personal experience of driving it every day and what others mention too, the transmissions in the manuals are fantastic!
I own a 2012 5 door model. I’ve had no issues so far - not even a flat tire. Fun to drive.
These things sold like crazy for many years so fantastic to see they are holding up. I can only imagine all design/engineering deficiencies will have been exposed by now with many examples hitting 300,00+ km. We'll be seeing these on the road for many years to come.
With examples getting to that price point now where these are becoming the second car/run-around/hack/station car. Care and servicing tends to be drop in priority, but sounds like these are likely to handle that well.
I have a 2013 BL series 2 neo sport
With a the six speed manual & a spoiler on the back. This is hands down the best car I have ever owned. I have had it since new I have done 145,000kms it hasn’t missed a beat. It still has the original clutch. I haven’t done anything to it. Only normal stuff change the battery & a new set of tyres.
I would buy one of these in heartbeat you would be foolish to ignore it.
My partner has a BK Mazda 3 with 270k on the clock, and you know what, it’s an awesome little car!
It’s an auto sadly, but still a really good thing to drive, even after 18 years!
Bloody well done Mazda!
Ahhh I have this car. It's so reliable and I have had no problems at all
I like that you got dressed up to do the interior review of the car, while keeping a more casual outdoorsy look for the exterior filming.
I guess a reason why these weren't loved like the first gen was the looks. They don't look bad, but the first gen had arguably better looks.
Actually that's not true. This was the model that dethroned Commodore as Australia's top selling car.
The 2013 version also had blind spot monitoring with the tech package and it's been a very reliable system for the past 6 years.
We have the 2010 Maxx Sport and it's a great car, after 6 years of ownership nothing has gone wrong with it at all. Fun and easy to drive.
To answer your question, there is no way to get into the boot without the key.
I'm a proud owner of a 2005 Mazda 3 sedan 2.0 ltr ex export car that needed some rust removal + welding and new front arms. Her motor runs smoothly and interior wise, she looks fab. I love driving her and she is such a fast lil car. Great first car to own that gives confidence in driving on your own. Everything is within reach and sitting behind the steeringwheel feels very comfortable. The suspension is stiff, which makes steering the corners a pleasure as she sticks to the road. I just love my Mazda 3.
Great lowdown as always guys! :)
Totally agree with most of the points in this after owning a 2010 Mazda 3 (2L) and 2007 Mazda Atenza (2.3L Sport) for 5+ years each. We had just about all the same stuff with interior and driving etc.
I think we were a bit unlucky on our 2010 Mazda 3 as it came up with an airbag warning lighting, which fails a WOF, and it would have cost $3000 to replace from the dealership and $2000 from our local friendly garage. Cheaper but still a big ouch. The other thing we noticed, and this seems to be common around NZ is the paint systems are failing. Maybe it's our super harsh UV bleaching sunlight that's the issue, but I see many clear coats peeling off now from these years. Something to check, if you see tiny bumpy lines on say the roof... avoid.
I'd also say along these lines that the Mazda's that come over from Japan (imports), like the Atenza seem to have a better paint system. My 2007 Mazda Atenza said it had a "gold standard" paint system, whatever that was. But, it's paint was in better nick than the 2010 Mazda 3, so maybe there's something in it.
The lights all leak. They did for years. The inlaws had a 2012 Mazda 3 and an older mazda than before the 2007 and the water just makes its way in. No biggy though as it makes it's way out again, but just odd they didn't seal them better. Another thing to mention is the lights will fog on the outside after a few years. This will eventually fail a WOF, as happened to us. But this is easily fixed with some light buffing compound you can get from Repco etc. A bit of elbow grease and they came up mint, and they cast a much cleaner light beam after as well. So check that out if have the same with yours.
The steering and precision on the road is super nice on these cars. I'd say the 2010 Mazda 3 had a step up in steering feel from the 2007 Mazda Atenza. The Atenza was slightly more dead and heavy and the 3 was just more nimble and better feel. Well done Mazda on this, because that's rare! Not that many people notice, but if you do, you'll love these.
The Mazda 3 2L I thought was only just powerful enough, for me, but it'll overtake on our open roads no worries. I prefered the 2.3L Atenza, it was just the right power I thought. Obviously super linear power curve (naturally aspirated) rather than my current turboed Skoda Octavia which has that kick later on. The down side of these engines though, is they are thirsty. Going up and down NZ hills was killer for us and one of the reasons for letting them go in exchange for the way leaner Skoda and VW equivalents. Can't beat the EA888 engines for a nice mix of performance and economy.
But yea, they were super solid cars for us. We found the pre-2011 Mazdas had a good lot of power, but post-2011 they were trying too hard to save fuel, I assume to pass regulations. So they went from their old "zoom, zoom, zoom" marketing to like "meh, meh, meh" for use. Haven't bought a more recent one yet, but we'll see. ;)
Cheers guys!! :)
Arrived late to the party on this video. Here in the US I have a 2010 Mazda 3 2.5L Grand Touring. So far in 14 years and 140K miles its given me zero issues. I had 2 recalls that were for a new dash to replace the "sticky" one. And one HID headlamp that collected moisture. Otherwise not a single blip of trouble. Will drive it till it dies. I'll go before it will.
Almost at 100,000 subwoofers, your channel is gunna snowball, so much quality content to fall back on already once you reach a big audience.
Go guys! 😁
Thanks so much mate!
I bought a 2013 sedan 5 speed a few months ago after someone rear ended and totaled my 4 month old Kia Niro. No more new cars for me, New Jersey drivers are awful ! This is my 3rd Mazda and despite 96K miles it rides like a dream. I did replace the tires because the tires it came with were old and noisy. My only dislike about this car is the 5 speed. I presume it was a cost cutting measure but it really needs a 6th gear for highway driving. Your video is great and informative !
Great review and it is SPOT ON!! I currently own this exact car 2010 Mazda 3 S 2.5 (black color as well & sunroof). Bought a few years ago for $4500 with 79k miles. No problems yet at 100k miles now. Everything said is so true - sticky dash, normal wear & tear spots, space between front seats, road noise, drive performance great, and blind spots! Love this car!!
ABS Modules can fail, and you will a ABS /ESP failurr warning light appear. These are model specific, so you need to your one reconditioned or buy a used one that has done much less miles than yours, with the same , identical model number on the ABS module.
Bought a used 2015 Mazda 3 a couple weeks ago with 93k km on it for 13k
So far I really love driving with it!
The 2013-2016 BM/2016-2019 BN are much better than the 2008-2013 BL. The exterior and interior appearance of the 2013 and 2016 cars are more contemporary and pleasing. The BL is very much a late 2000s car.
Well your commenting on that one particular car. Wear and tear is particular to the person that owned the vehicle. Some people are harder on things than others. Some people maintain things and respect their property, others don’t give a crap.
I have a 2010 Mazda 3, and it’s immaculate, it goes like stink, ( ie, peppy and fast, almost sports car like). It’s “Solid” and just all around well put together. It puts other cars of that year to shame, it’s a million times better than a similar Honda, Nissan or Toyota .
They really don’t even come close.
We had one of these until 330,000km late last year. Certainly one of the most reliable cars I've ever had. Only thing that went wrong in my 160,000km ownership was the automatic transmission went at 240k and the control arms and bushes around 310k. I'm sure it would last for many more years but I made the jump to an Audi SQ5. Miss the Mazda though - very zippy and easy to drive.
I’ve got one with 275,000 km. Still on its original engine and auto gearbox, both of which are still very healthy. Bought it with 214,000, and only had minor issues so far. It is starting to have some more issues lately, but they’re only minor too
My wife has a first generation Mazda 3 MPS. It’s about to tick over 300,000km, still on its original engine, turbo, clutch and gearbox. It’s been an incredibly reliable car!
I just picked up a 2011 Mazda CX-7 base model which was designed on the same platform as BL 3. It has 160,000 kms and I have put on nearly 10,000 kms in the last 4 months and everything works and it’s as tight as a drum. Love it as it’s more comfortable than the Mazda 3 hatchback I had before.
How is it doing now?
Great car, on my current count there have been 13 Mazda 3’s owned amongst the extended family ranging from a 2004 maxx auto hatch that my grandmother currently owned to a brand new g25 gt Auto hatch, my first car was a 2006 sp23 manual sedan, Not one has had any mechanical failures apart from normal maintenance. And yes the boot realease on the bl sedan didn’t have a release on the actual boot, even though the hatch did, my 2006 sp23 sedan had a physical key slot on the boot, which they must have removed on the bl,
Btw keep up the great work your channel is excellent 👍
That driver side top engine mount is possibly the easiest mount I've ever done. Didn't buy genuine Mazda because they wanted like $600 for it which is a hard no. Aftermarket was so much cheaper. Great car and the manual gearbox is fantastic.
Yes mine was replaced once by warranty at 37 000 km for a clicking noise. Then at 75 i heard the same and bought afttermarket one.
What was sign and symptom of the engine mount? Did it make any noises you can describe?
I got a busted engine mount aswell, but I’m not sure if the noise is coming due to the gearbox or the mount
@@TN1984 the sound was just like a metal clang, but very subtle. Easiest way to reproduce was to drive downhill press the clutch fully down to disengage the gearbox and then release it quick while still in gear, In this way you shake the engine and the noise can be heard
@@TN1984 nothing too significant like NVH to give it away. The massive rust coloured fluid stain all over the engine bay however was a pretty clear indication that the fluid mount has gave way.
My Mazda 6 2010 has also a lot of noise in the cabin. I fixed it by putting a lot of isolation in the wheel house and doors. Now it’s near perfect
My mom has the 1.6l petrol hatchback version from 2009 in a metallic gray paint with slightly over 300k km’s on it and the car’s just fantastic… It still looks good, it drives really well (MUCH better than my 2011 1.33 Auris to be honest) and it’s reliable. The car had multiple accidents with wildlife and it wasn’t serviced on time most of the time, but it still never left my mom hanging. It’s also not showing any signs of rust (unlike the Mazda 3 2004 model I had before, which was literally starting to fall apart after 15 years).
My mum had a 2010 neo that she later passed onto me and it was the best car I've ever had. It did over 270000kms and never needed anything done beyond servicing. Absolutely brilliant car and I still regret to this day getting rid of it.
I own one from new and I approve your comment 😊
This little machine never broke down. Absolutely brilliant car and really nice looking 🤩
the only costly thing that goes arong with these early BL series is the ABS module. You cannot simply visit a wrecket/ breakers yard and get a slightly newer one from a series 2 model. You have to get a replacement one with tbe same specific serial / model number of ABS module. Wreckers know this, and thats why a module is very expensive to buy used. A reconditioned oneis the best way to go, since it comes with 12 months warranty . But just the reconditioned part alone is $1600-$1800.. Its more common on high mileagw cares beyond 250K klm. It happened to mine at 322K klm. Other than that engine has been very relaible , just following the manufacturer's service intervals & recommended parts replacements.
What a great channel. Found you through reddit recommendations. While searching "model, year, australia" nothing came up in google results from you. Such a shame as your info is far more relevant than the big sites getting promoted. Good work mate.
I owned Mazda 3 1.6 diesel hatchback, bought it new in 2013. Drove it for 5 years, covered 120k without a caugh.. Moved on to 2016 Mazda 6 wagon, then 2019 BMW 5 Touring. But ever since I always remember Mazda 3 with the smile on my face. I'm now considering to buy petrol 1.6 as a second/city car
I paid $10k cash to a private seller for a 2013 Mazda 3 Neo sedan with 5 speed auto 2.0 petrol engine in Canberra in Aug 2020 with 117,000 km. It was in good mechanical condition, but the body was extensively hail damaged. The tyres lasted about another 5000 km. Similar models were selling through dealers for around $12k, without hail damage. I thought I could remove the hail damage with a PDR kit, but the YT videos looked much easier and showed better results than I was able to achieve - very disappointing. The dash pad also lifted away from the centre dash display. I should have paid more like $8k. 12 months later my mechanic replaced an engine mount, hoping this might stop a rattling vibration somewhere under the car, sounding like a loose exhaust pipe mount. The annoying buzzing rattle is still most noticeable when the engine accelerates at low speed. Then the faulty oxygen sensor was replaced after it set off the engine warning light. On the plus side, 33,000 km later, the engine is still strong at 150,000km (after servicing every 6 months), travels very comfortably at 110 km/h on the freeway, with plenty of extra power for overtaking, handles well at any speed, all the electrics still work, blue tooth connection with my iPhone 12 works well, rear vision is poor without reversing camera, fuel economy averages 9 L/100km.
I try to tell em. 1st and 2nd gens are the way to go
This Mazda was the one that made people fall in love with the brand in South Africa. Everyone I know, who owned a 3 (myself incuded), upgraded to a CX-5
IMO... 1st gen was the best. I was the 2nd driver to my sister's sedan variance. It was reliable and zero issues compared to the newer update. You here owners complain about rust down the years along the wheel arches.... those owners just don't wash and clean it like the rest of the body panels. Great on gas mileage. Interior wear, depends how well you take care of it ;)
Rust is usually an issue listed by Americans driving it through road salt. Mazda paint has never been particularly thick either so they’re the first to rust.
@@User-cb4jm yeah even today it's the same lol 😂 must have some thick primer though lmao have a bunch of chips in my hood
I have a 2l from 2012. I can not fault it. Not going anywhere, to me it drives better than a brand new one.
I have a 2012 mazdaspeed3 2.3l turbo, completely upgraded, built motor, bigger turbo. So much fun to drive :)
My 2011 mazda 3 is still going strong, great little car. In America I have bluetooth and sunroof, the sound system jams with the 10" sub in the trunk, stock i might ad, very cool for mazda to add in such a little car. my gfs 2016 mazda 6 sound system stinks compared to my 2011 system, its crazy. also dont forget the manual mode, very fun especially on a 2011
Woohoo, replacing my defunct 2003 Accord with a 2012 Mazda 3. So happy it has a timing chain.
The Toyota Camry is the same, the only way to open the boot is the lever next to the driver's seat & the key.
Coming from the UK, I enjoy the alternative delivery of your videos, Always worth a comparison to the videos by High Peak(Alright guy's how's it going?)Autos.
I can't recommend his videos enough.
The High Peak director and presenter tells it how it is. I would buy from High Peak.
In the driveway we have a Mazda 3 2011 Tamura, 2015 Mazda 6 2.0 estate, 2008 RX8 and the 2018 MX 5. We like Mazda just not the RX7. The Mazda 3 is my absolute favourite when I want to feel like a teenage rally driver in a boy racer. Here in the UK it is important to have a nippy car that handles corners because the longest straight road you get here is about a mile. The roads are cramped, narrow, rough and twisty.
The 3 is simply a superb hot hatch. All of our Mazda cars have a purpose from family to weekend rag top down cruising but the 3 is the one everyone rushes to take for the daily. It is fun, well equipped, drives nice and feels amazing. I have never driven an automatic so I wouldn't know about them.
Our daughter owns a Mazda 3 she hasn't had any problems with it has it serviced regualy and goes very well l drove it once in Newcastle l to busy concetrating on driving and bean instructed were to go but it was good to drive they are a very good car
Evil Empire would certainly NOT be a good example of Second Album Syndrome, I'm glad you mentioned it as an example of legendary second albums!
can any one help me, I found a 2012 mazda 3 with 280k KM, it's in a good shape, is it good to buy it with 280k KM ??
2011 2.5 hatch 6 speed with 215k and running strong! Great car 👍👍
I will never buy anything but a truck. They feel safe, the have max utility, and they last long even when you buy them used.
Okay
Still drive my 2010 mazda 3 and its a great car
I have 19 of this generation Mazda 3 and I list them on Turo. This is by far my best performing car model on Turo and outperforms Mercedes C300 and Chevy Suburban. The highest miles I have on one of them is 230k miles and still going.
Mine is still working at 112k KM , I bought it at 89k KM, so I was nervous at the beginning, mechanic said the same as this review, dont be afraid, it will be good, and it is!!!
i have a mazda3 2010 and this video is quite a good representation of the issues the car can develop, there is another comment about leaking boots due to tail light seals and Engine mounts, this is accurate as well, but the only one thing missing is the infamous TCM issues, if you have a Mazda 3 2010-2012 ask your technician to move the module from the top of the transmission to the break lines, the TCM tends to get cooked by the transmission heat after 50k to 70k miles of service, don't ask me how I know that.
I got my drivers license in 2019 and at the time a Mazda 3 1.6 Center-Line (EU-Spec) was our only car...nothing ultra-fancy but I loved every inch of it. Drove this car for 3 years without any major problems and decided to upgrade past January to the same car, but as the MPS model (or Speed3 as it is known in the US). Lovely cars.
If you have the hatchback you can get in without the key, there will be a button near the place where you grab to open the trunk, and if the car is unlocked, pressing that button opens the trunk.
2010 Mazda 3 Maxx owner here. 2 litre petrol.6 speed manual.600kms from a tank.A great second car to have.
Ps. A front wheel drive car with a timing chain rather than a belt.
I have and drove this car for 7 years no issues.
So my first car was a 2009 BL SP25 hatchback and it was simply amazing, now belongs to my mum and nearly hit 200k on the odometer.
Never had any major issues with the car to this day.
Highly recommend one
Upgraded the stereo system and added a reverse camera. Completely new car and love it. ❤️
I own one I don't regret, one I enjoy driving much. Though the ground clearance for the off-road is a thing but this car is just lovely
I bought my 2012 GT Hatchback back in 2021 and I absolutely love it!! I bought a new android-based stereo (with a touch screen, apps, and all that good stuff) and although it wasn’t necessary, it was the perfect addition to the car 👌🏽 for any of you who may be looking into it, make sure you find one compatible with the sound system in your car though! I had to make sure the one I got would connect to all of the speakers in my car, and there were options I was considering before I realized that they were not fully compatible with my car. Also, not a necessity, but if you’re the outdoors type you should get a rack on top!
I've been driving my 2013 Mazda 3 skyactiv 2.0L since 2015. Regular oil changes and transmission fluid changes every 60-70k, alternator and drive belt tensioner replaced and still drives like new with almost 150k miles.
I have a 2011 mazda 3 hatchback. Here are some cons...
- thin paint
- door ajar issue
- weak dashboard (recalled)
- tcm (bad placement)
- battery cable melted
Hi there, what fixed your door ajar issue? im getting it now on the front passenger side. 🤨
@@paulsz6194 I'm guessing there could be a ground contact in the actuator. But I couldn't access it due to the screws (loctite) of the side door. So I just stuck a pin in the connector to trick the door of being shut.
Take another look at the glove box, its massive. Can fit me whole arm in there....
I was hoping they’d notice😂
The glovebox is absolutely massive
🤣 I was driving my 2013 Neo for 18 months before I realised there’s heaps more glove box space behind the glove box.
As good as they are, not many around my area. Can't wait to watch the MS3 review!
I had one - brilliant cars. Luxury version was much, much better than the BMW in that class, in fact.
Do you mean the 1 Series? The base model 1 Series were very underwhelming
@@MartinJones123 Any variation was good.Europeans in this class are really basic.If all you need is automatic and alarm then the Mazda is the way to go.I find even with the Mercedes and BMW equivalents in the class all one is paying for is the badge,I mean unless you are in a profession that requires a fancy pants Euro status symbol do not buy one.
@@franzchong5889 Agreed... The more basic 1 Series, A Class models are very underwhelming and people only buy them for the badge...
Love the in depth review, it has cemented my love for my sp25 daily ❤️
We have a 2007 2.0L model. We love ours no probs at all since new. Only issue we have had with ours is our A/C has gone noisy and no longer works properly which was a surprise to us as it let go at around about 90k. We still have the CAE now but we're not impressed that the A/C had only lasted till then. We now have 110k on the clock and still have no real issues with it.
Hey man, just a South Asian in the UK, your content is gold. Gotta do Lexus RX450 (2009-2014)
KEEEN FOR A MPS VIDEO!!
Just got the same car a week ago, saw this vid today im never more grateful to hear this!!
Everyone I know that has one loves them and have no major issues with them.
Please do an MPS video! :)
with this car i think their dashboard because of the heat of the weather has a major problem so be careful if you are living in hot areas
Not pretty, not ugly, not fast, not slow, not expensive. Good A to B car.
(MPS is a true sleeper)
Had one and golf r blows it away.
@@Gamgam4843n So it should. A 7.5 R is 10 years newer and costs three times more.
Comparing apples with oranges there Nick.
@@Gamgam4843n the MPS might only be compared to the GTI tho
play loud music you wont hear the road noise
Had one. Sorry that I sold it. Great little car, bullet proof. $18000? Seriously sorry that I sold it.
I have a 2014, the generation after this and I love it, especially in a top trim spec. I feel this 2nd gen is my least favourite. The messy interior and weird exterior both look all over the shop. The 1st gen looked good for its time, same with my 3rd gen and the new 4th gen (minus the egg-like hatch). But I can’t seem to like this one. The interior in particular feels cluttered and asymmetrical like the Civic 8th/9th gen. It proves how good the 1st gen Mazda3 interior was in comparison.
The 2008 BL is too old. 2008 was a long time ago, at 14 years. The BL is too old for most drivers, as the BL is 2 generations behind the times.
In Hong Kong, Japan and Sri Lanka, there is a variant the Axela 1.5S, with a 1.5 VVT engine, CVT box with seven simulated steps if set to manual/sport mode. Quite a thing to drive Co it’s nippy in city and returns great mileage per Litre. It isn’t slow either.
As to the gearbox, it lasts quite well with no major complaint. On mine, it is serviced DIY with 5W/30 engine oil at 8000km intervals and Nissan NS-3 CVT fluid just done under 49000 kms.
Love a good ReDriven video on friday. Really hoping you do a Toyota Crown Royal Saloon
my brother in law had this, sold it last year for a CX5. Very goood car
Love the part of the Airplane crew guys! Creative and easy to digest.
I think the previous generation of Mazda 3 has Automatic Gearbox failures in 120k kms or more also rust could be a big problem.
I still love the 323 more. Its still solid and an impressive machine.
Still driving my 2010 Hatch 2.5. Other than normal wear and tear issues, rear strut mounts, brake components, and wheel bearings seem to be the items that come up more frequently than I'd expect. One thing that annoys me about the hatchback is that you can't open the hatch unless the car is turned off, in the manual transmission variant anyway. Also, if you have a newer phone, can no longer connect to Bluetooth. This is the only car I've ever had the dash just randomly crack in half as well. But great DD!
I drove a few of these recently when looking for a car for my wife. I didn't like it, I thought the interior was ugly the car didn't drive anywhere near as good as the competition. I settled on a i30 and love the thing.
Engine mount failure. Happened in my 2009 maxx sport.
Very common.
Our BM SP25GT is an awesome piece of kit. Got enough poke in a straight line and is at its best around corners. The only other car I’ve owned that’s been better around corners was my series 3 RX7.
Don’t think you can go wrong with Mazdas. Great units.
I have the model before this which was amongst the last of the BK's.the first original owner must have bought it as a run out model given the BL only came out in early 09 or placed the order in late 08.This was the third Mazda in our home the others being my late fathers series 5 89 RX7,My 99 121 Metro and then a 02 323 Astina.I defected to Nissan and one Korean Holden for 15 years after that.Enough power to escape in an emergency and what have you.How did I end up in a used 3.It was just after my Holden Spark was written off by a truck beyond repair and deemed a total loss I was sent to look for replacements.I started thinking new Fiat 500's or Mazda 2's or even Mg3's while driving around in some accident replacement vehicle restarting with a new loan from Macquarie leasing but then I thought using insurance payout money there must be things much safer than those tiny tots.
My 2012 mazda3 had a trunk release on the keyfob
Got an optioned out hatchback as my first car, it's great! The big diesel engine in it is lovely, nearly 200 hp, heaps of torque, and 50 (imperial) mpg!
Some info on said 2.2 diesel; Timing chain's known to wear out (you can get the wear measured at a dealer and the DPF light will illuminate if it's worn out), and fuel injector washers should be replaced as the originals can be bad and leak
I prefer the model SP23 before it just looked so much better
Keep up the good work guys
I’ve had an auto and now a manual, even in neo its a great car! Great handling, great stezza, ps its really easy to replace the head unit for an aftermarket one with carplay.
Please do a review of the second generation Mazda 6
I love my mazda!
2012 6 speed manual
It is so fun to drive!!
Hi, thanks for this review! I enjoy your channel and also happen to own a 2012 Mazda 3 2.0 Individual here in South Africa (not sure what the matching spec is in Australia) and your review was very accurate!😀 I would like to add that the interior review segment was specifically use case applicable as it's really down to the maintenance of each vehicle. The boot with a smart key has a black button at the back for easy access on some specs such as my own, then again mine doesn't have a handsfree system. it's clear to see they are really a lot of Mazda 3 2009-2013 variants that were pushed out to the market. To end I would like to say that it is a really good vehicle to start off with and would recommend it to any first-time buyer!
In europe i have the 3rd brake light button embedded in it. It works only if the hand brake is on though. So no one can open the trunk at a traffic light
Btw, warranty has increased on new Mazda’s delivered after August 2018….5 years/unlimited Km.
Further, scheduled services are 12 months/ 10,000km.