Mazda MX-3 1.8i

Mine is coming up to 16 years old now and still going strong after doing 140k miles. This was a bargain buy off ebay 6 years ago and was only supposed to last a year or two. I treated this car very badly (thrashed it around like a 17 year old for 6 years and never once had it serviced except the odd oil and filter change done by me when i had the money) yet it refused to die.

A real fun car to drive with an easy close ratio gearbox, a nice free revving v6, and good handling (though not really a match for an mx5).

It seems very nippy in the low gears yet dosn't really have loads of torque. Surprisingly practical for a coupe and used for many holidays with plenty room for suitcases ect in the boot.

The car does look a little different from todays multitude of golf clones, and is all the better for it.

It needed a few replacement cv joints over the years and a new exhaust but nothing else has ever gone wrong with it. All of the electrics still work perfectly after 16 years unlike my newer BMW and many other cars I have been in.

This car has driven the length and breadth of the UK and seems almost indestructable. It really is a credit to Mazda reliability and willingness to innovate, with the cars futuristic looks and tiny 1.8l v6, It's a bit bonkers but in a good way.

Bye bye mx3.

I wonder if my BMW will be as cheap to maintain and reliable as this was?