Ask an expert

I am looking at buying a station wagon. I have around 12,000 that I am prepared to spend and want something 2002 or newer. I really like the Mazda 6/Atenza or Subaru Legacy's. I have been told to stay away from the Mazda 6's as they chew through the oil. Is this something you know of? I can't see how they can be so popular and win all these awards if this is something that should stop me from buying one. Do you have any other suggestions for me of good reliable cars like these?? What should I be looking for around k's, what is to high that you would stay away from?

We've never heard of a heavy oil usage problem with the Mazda6, however, that's not to say that they may not use a little oil between services, as can be the case with many cars.
In our experience, the Mazda6 is a great car and one we would highly recommend - it would probably be at the top of our list.
In the price range you are talking, the mileage is likely to be just over the 100,000km mark, which isn't an issue. Try to find one with under 120,000km if possible, and try to avoid very high mileage cars.