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Hi Sean,

Certainly nothing we've heard of - Mazda generally has an enviable reputation for reliability and solidity so we'd be very surprised if a large number of 6s were being offloaded because of a fault. It's more likely to be the result of a major fleet or car hire deal. 

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Hi Mike,

The A6 is a cracking choice - reliable, frugal, stylish and hugely comfy, but it's not as sweet to drive as the 5 Series. That said, it is more spacious and if you can track down an Avant estate you'll have one of the best looking cars around. 

If you're concerned about driving on snow and ice there are two avenues you should explore, no matter which car you go for. One is to look into fitting either winter tyres (which you'll need to swap back over to normal tyres in the spring) or all-season tyres, such as the new 'CrossClimate' one from Michelin. Better again, go on a winter driving techniques course. BMW runs one at Rally School Ireland in Monaghan and the skills you'll learn there would get you through even the worst blizzard, no matter which set of your car's wheels are driven.

Further reading:

Audi A6 review

BMW 5 Series review

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Hi Conor,

Hmmm. Tough one. I'd always be tempted by the younger car, and if it's the 1.6-litre diesel Passat then there's a good chance you'll never have to refill the tank - I once did Galway-Dublin-Glasgow-Dublin-Galway-Dublin on a single tank of juice in one.

That said, the Audi would be hugely tempting and while there's really no fundamental difference between the too (you are paying extra for the badge and not much else really) there's no denying the extra feel good factor of the A6.

All things being equal then, and assuming both cars come with and equally full service history, I'd be minded to treat yourself and go for the Audi. 

Further reading:

First Irish drive of the new Volkswagen Passat

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Hi Willy,

An illuminated brake pad warning light will most likely fail the NCT. The manual has a provision for failing a car based on pads that need to be changed and while yours were changed the light suggests they're not right. Whoever changed the brakes either didn't attach the brake pad warning wiring or they used the wrong pads. It needs to be looked into.

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Hi Liam,

The official figures for that model were 34mpg or 8.2 litres per 100km on the combined cycle.

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Hi Gavin,

I'd have to say nope. It's not very big inside and it has needlessly heavy steering that makes manoeuvring in town a chore. 

Do you really need an SUV? Why not consider a nice estate? BMW's own 3 Series Touring is a belter. Or, for your budget, you could probably stretch to an Audi A6 Avant. Track down one with quattro four-wheel drive and leave all the front-drive SUVs standing when it snows. 

Or, if you're determined on the SUV front, consider one of the following: Honda CR-V, Volvo XC60, Hyundai Santa Fe or Mazda CX-5.

What do you think?

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Hi Mícheál,

This kind of thing is always difficult to analyse from afar so unless you're used to DIY on your car it's best you take it to a mechanic you trust. It sounds like the catch on either the lock on the door or the B-pillars themselves is not aligned properly. The lock may be damaged too of course.

Let us know how you get on.

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Hi Nelius,

Cracking car the original Mazda6. One of the best-to-drive saloons ever built and the good news is you're looking at mostly pros, and very few cons. The only real mechanical weak point is the clutch - we've heard of them failing at as little as 50,000km so check to make sure that the action is smooth and not too heavy and that the gear changes are crisp and quick. Any slipping or smell should set off alarm bells.

Other than that, there are a few recalls that you need to make sure were attended to (leaky fuel lines, dodgy fog lamps, brake warning light and oil seals) and it's worth checking to make sure that the suspension and steering are in good fettle and that there's a good set of high-quality tyres on the car; the better to enjoy that wonderful handling balance.

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Hi Michael,

Right, the base spec is going to be harder to sell on again, so you're better by far going for the S line as long as you can live with the firmer ride. 

In terms of the difference between the cars in mileage and warranty - it's down to condition and history. If the 80k car is in as good nick, and has a full service history, then there's nothing to worry about and you can always buy an aftermarket warranty to keep yourself covered.

Let us know which way you go

Expert answer

Hi Gerard,

Check the air conditioning to make sure it's working - that seems to be a perennial A6 weak point. Also make sure that the engine has had a regular top up of oil - they do get through a bit between services. Check everything electrical too especially if any of the warning lights on the dash are on. ECUs (Engine Control Units) are also a bit fragile so take a long test drive with lots of hard acceleration and check for any drops in power.

Hope that all helps