Faults:

Never ever buy a Mazda. They are huge money pits, and built with very cheap parts. I assume that they still build them this way.

All I can say is that I basically have replaced everything on this car, then gave up realizing the whole car is turning into one unified piece of rust. I think they found the cheapest metal they could find, and made all Mazda Proteges with it.

I am writing this to warn others that the Mazda 3s look good, but if I learnt anything from owning this one, it's that it will be nothing but a money pit.

I don't know what you should buy, but I do know what you shouldn't buy, and that is a Mazda.

General Comments:

All Mazdas are pieces of garbage.

Faults:

O2 sensor at 140,000 miles.

Breather hose at 210,000 miles.

First set of spark plugs at 210,000 miles.

General Comments:

I bought this car new, and I have a 150 mile commute to work every day. I change the oil regularly - about every 10,000 to 15,000 miles, it's never been tuned up with the exception of replacing the spark plugs at 210,000 miles.

It had a slight miss, I thought it could be plugs, but it was the breather hose. It had dry rotted in the little convoluted areas where it bends and was sucking air.

I have people ask me all the time how can I go 10,000 to 15,000 on an oil change. I always use Napa Gold oil filters, and I never drive up the street and cut it off. I always let it warm up to normal operating temperature before I cut it off. Most of my driving is on the open road.

I've had mechanic wannabies tell me it's impossible, but they're wrong. I'm an ASE master tech, and I-CAR platinum tech. You can go for 10,000 to 15,000 on an oil change, as long as you always let the car warm up. And yes the dipstick, and oil cap have absolutely no sludge on them. I do replace the timing belt, water pump, and fan belts every 100,000 miles.

Faults:

My wheel is making a humming noise, I've gotten all new wheel bearings, and got two front new tires and the sound still continues to hum, and no dealer knows what it is.

General Comments:

I love the generality of the car. It seems to run fine, I have had it a little under a year, and the humming sound is my only frustration.

General Comments:

I have owned my car for 2.5 years. A Protege LX. I have put 150 000km in that time.

Here is what I do different in order to preserve the motor. I use supreme gas and use best synthetic oil available. I only change oil every 10 000kms because it is synthetic.

Motor runs great at 245 000kms. No gasket leaks or anything. It is bad on stabiliser link bushings, but that is cheap and easy fix. Well, cheap considering the car runs great.

I have never changed or did any maintenance on rear brakes or any wheel bearing. Front brakes I changed pads and rotors once.

Yes I replaced other wear and tear parts, but have I have 245 000kms.

So my recommendations are use synthetic oil and get a mechanic you can trust. Don't trust anybody that says, I can fix this the quick way.

Oh I forgot, of course I had problems with the EGR valve. All I can say is find someone who can plug the damn thing. There is no other fix for that one. I did it. Runs great!