Advice For Buying A Used Mazda

Mazda produce some of the most reliable machines in the world, and according to WhatCar, the Mazda MX-5 is the most reliable sports car you can buy. In fact, it’s the fourth most reliable car you can buy full stop. When it comes to buying a used Mazda, the general rule of thumb is that you can’t go wrong, so long as you ensure that everything about the car is in order before purchasing it…

…Of course, it’s all well and good saying that – the same can be said of any car. Whilst that’s true, here’s some advice for buying a used Mazda that’s going to last you a few years and not leave you at the side of the road.
1. Check the car for ANY damage
Used cars are bound to have been in a scrape or a bump at some point in their lives – dodgy repairs and botched jobs get worse with age, and so it’s important to ensure that the vehicle you’re buying does not have any damage that’s going to affect its road worthiness; for all we know, the Mazda you’re looking at is a category C or D.
2. Check the vehicles log book and service history
A lot of used car buyers like their vehicles to have a full service history, and even better so if that service history is 100% from the cars manufacturer. The highest priced Mazda’s will have a full Mazda service history, followed by a full non-Mazda service history, and then partial service history. Together with checking for damage, you can get a pretty good idea of how well your potential car has been looked after by checking its service and log books. A used Mazda 3 available at Bristol Street Motors has a full service history, and therefore commands a higher price than other Mazda 3′s.
3. Test drive it
This goes without saying, but unless you test drive the car for yourself, you’re not going to pick up on the little things drivers notice – steering wobble, tightness in the gears, a weak clutch, rattles… all of these things could potentially cost you a lot of money. The last thing you want is a lemon. So, together with checking the car for any damage and reviewing its service history, you should test drive it – being taken out in it by the current owner is not good enough.
4. Remember that a high mileage does not mean ‘thrashed’
Around 50% of high mileage cars on the road that are under 5 years old have racked up their numbers on the motorway – motorways are smooth, mainly straight pieces of road that require one gear for the majority of journeys. Simply, they don’t test a cars abilities, nor do they work the chassis, suspension, or transmission anywhere near as hard as town driving. Remember to find out how your potential Mazda racked up its mileage prior to buying.