Buying Used 2004 Mazda 6.. Help Me Decide.

[qiang]

hi,

what a coincident.. i am deciding between a 2002 Legacy GT Limited and 2004 Mazda 6.
the thread "Question for people who were thinking about buying a Legacy GT.." is educational. my situation is bit different as i am buying a used one with different year.

we are a small family(6mon baby) and in need of a used mid-size sedan. here is the detail..

2004 mazda6 72,000 km, 1st owner. well maintained. come with 4 all-season and 4 winter tires. $12k

2002 Legacy GT Limited. 130 km, 2nd owner. well maintained. new brakes, new T-belt (tensioner, water pump, belt ) summer & winter tires. $10k.

which one is a better buy in term of operating cost, reliability, value?

thanks!

[grimlin]

sounds like the legacy has been in need of several much needed repairs to me... sounds like the M6 has less mileage... just my 2 cents but sounds like the m6 is a slightly better deal but if you really like one over the other go with what u like best

[qiang]

sounds like the legacy has been in need of several much needed repairs to me... sounds like the M6 has less mileage... just my 2 cents but sounds like the m6 is a slightly better deal but if you really like one over the other go with what u like best[/b]

thanks for the reply..

is there major repairs in the mazda that i should expect in the near future? things like timing belt etc..

[ILM05MAZDA]

Is it a V6 or I4?

[qiang]

Is it a V6 or I4?[/b]

4 cyl, 2.3L.

[koocct562]

Then it's WICKED over-priced. My buddy got a 2004 Mazda6, 5-speed MTX, V6, Bose sound, 30k miles, for $13500 last year. That price is outrageous for a 4-banger with 70k!

[qiang]

Then it's WICKED over-priced. My buddy got a 2004 Mazda6, 5-speed MTX, V6, Bose sound, 30k miles, for $13500 last year. That price is outrageous for a 4-banger with 70k![/b]

depends on where you are.. that's what i get from toronto, canada..

[sexy6s]

Then it's WICKED over-priced. My buddy got a 2004 Mazda6, 5-speed MTX, V6, Bose sound, 30k miles, for $13500 last year. That price is outrageous for a 4-banger with 70k![/b]

yeah you also have to take into account the currency is diffrent, and with canada being more than US i dont know what the world is coming to.

Even though i'm part of the Mazda6club, and i love the community, i'd have to say def. get the 6. Low mileage, and its a higher year. Any options with the car? leather, bose, etc.

Here's another good read to figure out what problems you come come across with the 6. I'd take it with a grain of salt though because it also depends on what kind of owner has had the cars. Mazda 6i owners might be like you, and just need a nice little zoom zoom family car, but those who get legacy gt's...well they might wanna thrash it around a bit. I had created a thread a while back titled "problems with your 6" or something or other...its quite long, but def. will give you an idea of the 6 and any issues that you might come across...

good luck!

[Six-wheeler]

Just by looking at the figures you posted, I'm more inclined towards the 6. I presume that the 130 km thingie is a typo. The 2.3 engine uses metal chains to run the camshafts instead of timing belts, so they pretty much run the lifetime of the car, so that's one less thing to worry about. My ATX now has 100,000 kilometers in its sights and I've never had anything that might be considered a major problem so far, and all my maintenance has been normal wear and tear (tires, brake pads, shocks, auxiliary belts and one pully, engine mount, ball joints, three cracked windshields... that's about it). Heck, I just had the original front brake disks replaced last week at 98,000 kilometers! Very reliable cars, and parts are pretty cheap, especially compared to the Subaru. And look where I live!!!
Like I said in the other thread about the Legacy, I've been looking at that too, and settled on another 6 instead. Here's a brief comparo of parts prices between the two cars:

Mazda 6:
Front brake pads: 180 riyals
Windshield: 1,000 riyals, mounted by the dealer
Basic maintenance: 150 riyals max, including motor oil
OE 17-inch wheel: 1,000 riyals

Legacy H6 3.0R:
Front brake pads: 300 riyals
Windshield: 3,500 riyals, part only, another 700 for mouting
Basic maintenance: 500, not EXCLUSING motor oil
OE 17-inch wheel: 2,400 riyals

[Ach3r0n]

Six-wheeler,

The difference in price for you in Saudi Arabia isn't going to exist here in North America for things like oil changes, etc.

giang,

The Mazda for sure. Lower mileage, newer, etc. You will also get better gas mileage on the 6 as the Subaru will be AWD. Though some buyers may look at all those recent replacements and think "wow, stuff I don't have to do for awhile" - the truth is that it's probably a sign that the owner has been slack with timely repairs. The fact that the owner is selling it right after making these repairs is surely a sign that he/she is fed up with the car. Go with the Mazda.