I had a feeling that's what it was and started shopping used cars on Sunday evening. It's not like you can save an engine once it has rod knock, if you can hear it, the crank likely needs work as well. No point in continuing to drive it and have it ventilate the block.

It's a '18 Mazda 3 Touring, only 33k miles. So I'll be an adult for a bit, pay some stuff off. I was planning on trading in the BMW next summer, now I'll just wait until spring 2021.

 

I don't think I've posted but I guess this is an appropriate time. Just paid off my daily so that's pretty cool. It was my first big purchase in life that required financing. Also you guys getting crazy deals on the nice optioned '18 hatchbacks, I'm jealous. My little sister just got one with all the bells and whistles for only like 1500 more than I paid in 2014 and it has the 2.5l. I got 500 off via a referral and that was it. I think it was like 22k out the door and they would not budge because it was the first year of the Gen 3 and they were selling like crazy.

Mine is a pearl white 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatch, cheapest config you can get (other than the "premium" paint color) with a 6 speed manual and the 2.0l Skyactiv. I put some 17x8" RPF1's on it that I had laying in the garage and that's it.

Currently has 115k miles (50k of that was in the first year, I was a private courier). It still gets about 35mpg for my normal commute to work and I've had no major issues.

Have just done oil changes with 0w-40 M1 Synthetic and Wix filters every 5 to 8 thousand miles, other normal maintenance, spark plugs and Redline MT90 trans fluid at 100k. Crazy thing is that the brakes are still original and still have like 20% life left, and the clutch is original as well and hasn't showed any signs of needing to be replaced.

Only things that have annoyed me is that the horn is too quiet, people can't hear it, and the center console lid pivot point kind of broke but it still works fine. Probably an easy fix just haven't bothered. Also the road noise is a little on the loud side compared to some other cars but doesn't really bother me, and of course it's pretty slow but still enjoyable to drive compared to most other econoboxes on the road.

Hoping it will last out to 300k without needing to replace the engine or trans.

 

I added a second horn to my Mazdaspeed3 for this same reason. I put in a low tone to compliment the really puny high tone horn that Mazda put in. Significant difference for just a few bucks.

 

I also ditched an N55 135i daily for something a little more economical. This little thing is a blast and gets a solid 30-32 mpgs all day.

 

I really like the way it looks, the silver looks really sharp. I'll take a few pictures of it once I can wash it (their wheel guy was their that day fixing a bit curb rash on one of the wheels and asked me to wait a couple days to wash the car). I admit, I already looked up lowering springs and wheels. Also having them tint the window, apparently, their bullshit doc fee includes that **** and they wont' budge on it. But I'm not going to do that. The other half has already said that she wants it once I get something else and we will ditch her '16 Honda Fit.

I need to play around with it a bit, which I haven't really had a chance yet, the stock stereo in the 3 isn't nearly as big of a downgrade from the HK in the 135 as I thought it was going to be.

Pro Tip: I thought I'd be good buying a 5 year old, 1 owner BMW with only 27k miles. It was my fourth BMW, unless somehow in my career I start making Joe P money, that will be the last BMW I've ever owned. The good looks, comfort and speed, were absolutely now worth the PITA it took.

 

**** really? That's odd for such a low mileage n55 to have rod knock. Those motors are pretty stout. Either way, glad you got out of that mess before it got worse.

 

Good looking car and lol @ 3 of us owning 135i's and dumping them.

 

My mechanic told me the N55s are more reliable in basically every way, except they are more prone to bearing issues than the N54. He said it wasn't the first time he's seen a stock N55 eat itself with such low mileage.

 

No kidding, i didn't know that. Mine had about 90k and the motor was perfectly fine. The DCT transmission however...

 

He said it still isn't common, but he has seen it multiple times over the years. A buddy who owns an Indy shop in Nashville, and another in (crap now I can't remember) said on average they do 1 engine replacement per week on N55s because of rod bearings.

The 3 will go to the girlfriend next fall, then I will own my third Miata.

 

After a lovely 12 years with my suzuki sx4 its become painfully clear that it probably won't fit 3 car seats in it... My twins are going to start daycare in the next month or two so I'm in the market for a soccer dad vehicle.
@curly , @18psi , @dleavitt , do you guys have a dad tank? Recommendations?

I'm looking at sedans.... the huge ones... Its frightening to think things like chevy impalas and the ford taurus are appealing to me. Have any mazda6 owners fit a rear facing car seat on here?
My commute is 35 miles roundtrip, all highway, and this will be a daily. A soccer dad truck would probably work, but they're realllllly expensive and have beds that are smaller than my mini-truck's... I still haul lumber and 10' metal sticks so the 5' bed is a pretty big turn off.

Edit: My driveway has some challenges associated with it, so awd doesn't hurt:

 

Holden Commodore

 

Go check out the 6, they are absolutely fantastic cars, with plenty of room that knock down excellent mpg

 

Would make an awesome kid hauler. Unfortunately, unless you're into the whole "it's kinda rare and somewhat collectible" there are far better options that are cheaper. G8 perhaps, though those are getting kind of old and getting the stupid "collectible" tax for a low mileage nice GT.
Not to mention the whole having to drive one in the MN winter.

 

Chevrolet SS

 

we got a 17 toyota sienna for a family hauler. LOVE IT
and it lets me keep my toy cars

 

Love our odyssey, not made to the same caliber as my bmw however. On my phone so I won’t get into that right now. Sienna has AWD I believe, and now has apple car play/android auto. That and magic sliding seats made me get a Honda, but we put three seats in the 2nd row, so we can’t slide them anyways. Deviett has a odyssey too.

 

We had an '07 Odyssey (sold it to Fae!), it was easily the most reliable car I've ever owned. 100K miles and the only mechanical repair it needed was a transmission park/neutral switch at 90K. Zero warranty claims.

I've driven a few Siennas -- the ergonomics suck, they're very uncomfortable to drive.

--Ian

 

Wife has a '04 Highlander with 240k and zero repairs aside from replacing the A/C condenser due to catching a rock on the highway. Still rides tightly and has fantastic interior materials quality and durability. Available with v6 and 4wd, although ours is the 2.4 4cyl. Plenty of room for adults in back seat and large payload volume. Rear doors are slightly longer than some others which aids ingress. Back seats fold down with enough length to sleep if camping in it. Has roof rack for oversized/extra items. My wife takes good care of vehicles and will likely drive it well past 350k because Toyota. Will likely cross shop the newer RAV4 next go-round because they have grown larger.

 

Coming from the country where they're the default option.
They aren't actually that good.

They are good value, in that here in 'straya you can grab them for pretty cheap in general.
And they're the cheapest way to buy a V8 anything.

But unless you're buying an SS, Clubsport, or GTS, you're getting something that handles like a boat and has an interior filled with cheap feeling plastic.


The Ford equivalent (Falcon) has a slightly nicer interior quality, but seems to feel nicer in the corners (still not great though)

The bargain pick is probably the Falcon XR6 turbo.
4.0 straight six turbo, with 360hp factory.
But stupid strong bottom ends, to the point there are shops offering drive in drive out 670hp packages without touching the internals.