I'm looking to buy a used automatic 6s or 6i, and like the price tags on the 2003 models. Also 6s-es are harder to find, and there're more 2003s out there.

Consumer Reports gives a black mark for 2003 on the transmission, fuel system, and brakes, and half-black on cooling and AC. What problems came up, especially on transmission? Are they things that would be worked out already by 40k miles, or gotchas further down the road?

Also: there're tons of 6i-s that were rental cars, especially from Hertz and Thrifty. How sensitive is the 6i to being driven hard during break-in?

Thanks!

 

I would personally never buy a used rental car. Driven hard is an understatement, they get trashed

 

WoW, this sounds so familiar. Here's my story... I bought a 2003 Mazda 6S with 25000 miles about a year ago. It was all good at the beginning but then i noticed the engine would be getting way to hot(The temp gauge was perfect in the middle). It seemed like the engine wasn't getting the proper cooling it needed. The AC is another issue i have, When it's turned on to high... it feels like it's on low. What i'm basically saying is that it takes to long for the car to get cold. I recently just had a brand new tranny put into the car. Mazda stated that my original tranny had an internal failure(Improper line pressures). My brakes need changing as we speak(Keeps sqeeking) and lets not even get into fuel. I get only 19-20 mpg which is costing me way to much at the pump being i drive a lot. And so, here comes the auto issue of consumer reports which states everything u wrote. I'm saying to myself, if i would have known beforehand about this years problem... i'd prabably wouldn't be driving the car i have now. Don't get me wrong, I love Mazdas and they rock but i got a dud. Don't make the same mistake!!!

 

Thanks! And to answer my own question, I called a mechanic at a Mazda dealership. She said she sees the transmissions on a lot of 2003 automatics "take a dump" sometime after 60k miles. So yeah, 2003 is out.

I talked to another mechanic who didn't like the reliability on Mazdas period, recommended a Nissan Altima when I offered that as an alternative. Too bad Altimas look like bloated ***. [:-] Bloated *** with tinfoil pasties on the cheeks.

 

LOL!!!! I see to many Altimas all over the place. I get tired of looking at them but i have to admit the SE-R is a bad boy. Pretty fast for an Altima.

 

That mechanic doesn't know what he's talking about.

Mazda's are every bit as reliable as Nissans. I've got a guy I work with that has over 200,000 miles on his 626.

 

My '03, bought new, now has 49,000 miles on it. It's been a good car. Whether you go with a private seller, or a dealer there is one thing you need to be sure to do! Take the car that you are serious about buying to a shop/technician to check it over for you. You'll usually spend about $60-$80, but is is well worth it to find out just what kind of shape it is really in from someone you trust.