Mazda

Why r/BuyItForLife recommends Mazda

21 mentions from real owners

• #1Dec 27, 2025

  Teen Drivers Incoming!!

  The Mazda3 is the unsung hero. It’s more fun to drive than a Corolla but just as reliable, and the safety ratings are consistently top-tier

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• #2Dec 27, 2025

  Teen Drivers Incoming!!

  Just saw a post of a Toyota Corolla with 1 million miles. Other than that, I’ve had my Mazda 3 for over 10 years and it’s still works like new.

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• #3Dec 27, 2025

  Looking for a hatchback car that’s not an SUV. We have a rav4 and looking to replace my ‘10 corolla. We have 2 large dogs.

  Civic hatch has the best cargo capacity for its class. If that's not a big deal, get a Mazda3 hatch. I owned one and it was a great car. If you don't get the turbo, it's bulletproof.

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• #4Dec 27, 2025

  Looking for a hatchback car that’s not an SUV. We have a rav4 and looking to replace my ‘10 corolla. We have 2 large dogs.

  Mazda 3 (or CX-30) or the Subaru Crosstrek are solid options. Ford Focus, though not sure how BIFL it is.

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• #5Dec 26, 2025

  Looking for a hatchback car that’s not an SUV. We have a rav4 and looking to replace my ‘10 corolla. We have 2 large dogs.

  Mazda 3 hatchback would work for the dogs with the back seats down.

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• #6Dec 4, 2025

  Something you didn’t expect to be BIFL but outlasted your expectations?

  My 2008 Mazda 5 was bought when my first child was born. She’s 18 now and the car just won’t stop! It’s such a versatile car too. It’s compact but has three rows of seating. I really love it.

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• #7Dec 4, 2025

  What’s the BIFL item that you love but everyone around you thinks is ridiculous?

  I have a 16 year old mazda that will probably last me a long ass time. It had 140000km on the engine but I had to get the engine replaced. My mechanic found one with 35000km on it so I was stoked. Mechanic said at least 10 years which is good cause I'm never going to work again. It has to last.

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• #8Nov 1, 2025

  What is the equivalent of "Apple removed 3.5mm jack" of your favorite products ?

  My 2015 Mazda 3 has physical buttons and a circular dial right in between the gearbox and the center console. In other words, exactly where your hand is naturally hanging when you're resting your arm on the center console. It was one of the biggest selling points of the car for me. Whoever thought touch screens were appropriate in cars needs to be banished from the industry forever.

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• #9Nov 1, 2025

  What is the equivalent of "Apple removed 3.5mm jack" of your favorite products ?

  One of the reasons I bought a mazda CX50 over some other options was _because_ it had the most physical controls for things. 

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• #10May 8, 2025

  What did you wish you had at 21?

  Mazda RX-7. I WISH I had it at 21. But better late than never.

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• #11May 5, 2025

  Experience with VW reliability?

  More like Toyota/Honda/Mazda.

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• #12Apr 7, 2025

  Me with the Golden Taco the day I bought it vs 4 years later... Still ticking with 530,000 miles!

  Chevy Volt is a rare gem from GM. MK4 VWs with the 1.9TDI will outlive the earth, especially with the stick Mazda 3s seem to go for a long long time. Skip this one if cars rust in your area though. Hybrid Ford Fusions

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• #13Apr 4, 2025

  Closest to BIFL car I can purchase in Europe?

  Mazda 2. Very reliable. Cheap to run.

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• #14Mar 11, 2025

  BIFLers, what things do you not understand why people spend their money on?

  I think it is still the case. I have literally never owned a new car, bought 10-15 yr old ones with 125k miles. Get a Toyota or Honda or Acura or a Mazda. Something with a reliable engine. I mean I have bought a truck for $1500 bucks and 200k miles that went another 80k miles with only another $1500 put into it. That's a 03 f150. You will always have to do maintenance. It's worth it to buy a Prius that's even got a dead hybrid battery and paying 2k to replace because it's cheaper than a 30k Prius. Depreciation is so high on a new car purchase that you might as well buy two used cars and just assume one will die.

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• #15Feb 7, 2025

  In an age of things designed to be replaced, what currently-produced 1) trucks, and 2) cars come closest to BIFL?

  r/whatcarshouldibuy would have you believe that toyotas will last till the heat death of the universe... and some have proven themselves particularly resilient, surpassing the million mile mark, if you can believe it... I think honda and mazda are also pretty high up there... Any car can last a long time though, as long as you do the proper maintenance on time... Unless it's a kia/hyundai... those things are made of paper machet. Or a VW product... those are made so complicated that proper maintenance is nigh impossible... Or a christler product... see paper machet comment... but just for the transmission... ;p

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• #16Feb 6, 2025

  In an age of things designed to be replaced, what currently-produced 1) trucks, and 2) cars come closest to BIFL?

  No car is BIFL when not maintained. The majority of cars, if driven safely and carefully, serviced regularly (once per year for low mileage cars, 2x per year for high mileage cars) by a reliable mechanic, and cleaned regularly and carefully (including engine bay), will last significantly longer than 10 years. There are however some brands that will last longer than others even if the above is done. Brands I would personally be happy to own long term: Honda, Toyota, Ford (if they have a wet belt, stick to the replacement schedule or before), BMW, VW, Skoda, Mazda, Subaru. There will be other brands I haven't listed too, but that is off the top of my head. Some will also last longer due to simplicity, less electronics, availability of parts (popular car generally = more parts available), etc.

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• #17Feb 6, 2025

  In an age of things designed to be replaced, what currently-produced 1) trucks, and 2) cars come closest to BIFL?

  ND Miata.

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• #18Feb 6, 2025

  What brands do you trust to always deliver a high quality product?

  Mazda. Traded my last one at over 200k miles and it never needed anything other than regular maintenance. My current Mazda ditto at 23k miles. I’ve had Bosch dishwashers in 2 previous homes and they were the bomb. If this current DW ever needs replacement it will be a Bosch. My Miele canister vacuum has served me well for 20 years in my dog +cat home, and I bought it used.

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• #19Feb 3, 2025

  Does anything ever become BIFL?

  Mazda is the new Toyota. They do not buy into changing how the car looks every year but rather small improvements every few years like a Porsche

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• #20Feb 3, 2025

  Does anything ever become BIFL?

  Hyundai/KIA/Genesis. Like all car makers, they have their problems. Unlike all car makers, they are getting better as time goes on. This can not be said for nearly any other car maker, relative to their past reputations and/or relative quality. Huge shout out to Mazda as well.

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• #21Jan 1, 2025

  Honda vs. Subaru: which one is a BIFL?

  Yeah my 07 Mazda 3 beater is easy to work on with cheap parts. It was well maintained when I bought it and i replaced the transmission fluid. Got it cheap because an engine mount was gone and they thought the whole car was dying... $35 and it was fixed. I have ZERO desire to get into the over complicated bullshit of today but I'll have to at some point. At least they're still making Corollas I might be able to work on myself

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