- Red Mazda3 bought in 2015.
- About 213 500 km covered in 11 years.
- Still the owner’s daily car.
- Owner’s Mazda history began in 2008.
- CX-60 named as a future choice.
Ben Mlaza, a motorist from Secunda, has covered approximately 213 500 km in the red Mazda3 he bought in 2015. Eleven years on, it remains his daily drive and he has no plans to replace it.
The car carries him through everyday life in Mpumalanga and on family trips to the Eastern Cape. “It’s still going like it’s new, and it’s comfortable,” says Mlaza. “I’m sticking with it.”
How the Mazda3 story began
Mlaza, who works in quality control at Sasol, bought his first Mazda3 2.0 in 2008. After that car was written off in an accident, he briefly drove another brand before returning to Mazda.
He had considered a different vehicle when he visited the dealership, but the Mazda3 caught his attention, and seeing it in red settled the decision. “I wasn’t a stranger to the brand, and I don’t like drama in my life, so I went for it,” he says.
Fuel economy and features he values
Economy on fuel remains his favourite feature. He also recalls the appeal of the steering-wheel radio and phone controls when the car was new, saying they made it look like he had a “fancy-fancy car”. Bluetooth, a sound system he still enjoys and a sunroof add to the experience behind the wheel.
Keeping the hatch clean and in the family
Only Mlaza and his wife, who has also liked Mazda for many years, drive the car. Eating inside it is not allowed, so on family trips, including a road trip to East London, they stop to eat rather than bring food into the cabin.
That care has drawn attention. In Johannesburg, a stranger once approached him to ask what he was driving and to look inside. His cousin in East London also owns a Mazda3.
What comes next for the owner
Given the budget for a new car, Mlaza says he would choose the CX-60, though for now he is content with the hatch he knows. His advice to other buyers is simple: “Buy what you can afford.” The Mazda range and dealer locations are listed at www.mazda.co.za.
Supplied by MotorPress (Kaelin Dreyer, Marketing administrator, Mazda Southern Africa)
This story is based on aggregated news, press release(s) or other sources and was prepared with the help of AI tools, which can make mistakes. Prices, specifications, general information and availability may change, so confirm the details with the manufacturer, other news sources or a dealer.