Mazda2: month 4

Arrived: Dec 2007
List price (including options): £11,799
Average economy: 35.9mpg

The Mazda2 has been -

My weekend car. I've been away even more this month than ever; my carbon footprint through all the flying for work I've been doing lately must be monstrous. I think I'm going to have to join one of those carbon offset schemes. The 2's been relatively quiet during the week as a result, instead being pressed into weekend service. Although I had good intentions to take it up to Scotland at the end of last month's report, the weekend I was due to go up for a friend's wedding happened to coincide with a BMW M3 booking. I've managed to miss the BMW so far, so the wee 2 was left outside my house for the weekend as I played away. I should have taken the Mazda, as although its fuel consumption hasn't been brilliant to date, it would have been far, far cheaper than the heinously thirsty M3.

We're loving the -

Simple, easy to use controls and fascia. The 2 inexplicably wouldn't open on its remote key one morning this month, which I immediately thought meant something serious was wrong. I took the key to Roy Chapman Mazda in Berkhamsted and they had a look at it and found it to be working. So I phoned Mazda Assist to come and take a look. Flat battery. I didn't think to check, embarrassingly the 2 opening and turning over as soon as a jump battery was attached to it. Doh! When it was running I noticed I'd left an interior light on. Oops. Still, Mazda Assist were very swift in arriving, even texting me with updates as to how far away they were. Back to the point though: with no power to the radio, clock etc. everything needed re-programming. Setting all the radio presets is a cinch, as is resetting the clock. You wouldn't believe how complicated such simple tasks can be in some cars.

I also love the column stalks. I've been sat in a number of bitsa supercars in the past month or so, and not one has column stalks to match the simple, easy to use and nicely tactile items on the 2. If you're building the next 'Bugatti beater' in your garage, do yourself a favour and pinch some bits from Mazda's parts bin.

But not so impressed by -

It's the boot again. I've been chucking all sorts into it, and on occasion have had to drop the rear seats. Doing so leaves a step in the floor, and really reveals how cheap and nasty the floor covering is in the boot. My old man mentioned to me too that when he drove it he found the shiny air vent surrounds on the outermost part of the dash reflected in the side windows - catching your eye when you're looking at the rear-view mirrors. I hadn't noticed until he told me - now it's all I see. The mirrors themselves seem unusually prone to getting dirty - I'll need to pop some Rainx on them next time I get the sponge out. The driver's seat has started squeaking a fair bit too. It's the backrest, protesting noisily when taking right hand bends quickly - which around the roundabouts of Milton Keynes is rather frequently.

We're looking forward to -

Swapping the 2 for a 6. As much fun as the 2 has been we're expecting a 6 Estate soon, and as summer's almost here it'll be better for throwing things like bikes and the likes in the boot. In the meantime the 2 will be doing more of the same, which means delivering big grins whether it's on a short shopping trip, or a run to the airport.

Kyle Fortune