£25k for a Mazda 3, it must be brand new? Reject it
Don't assume that - their new prices have gone up considerably since the gen-3 car was in production, even for like-for-like Skyactiv-G models.
Given what the OP paid, it's likely to be a higher spec model Skyactiv-X engined car and/or (far less likely) a top spec version SA-G (diesle haven't been sold new since 2021). Lots of electronic gadgets to go wrong, like most modern cars.
The problem as I see it as a long-term Mazda car owner from our own forum is the high variability in quality of Mazda dealers (especially the post-sales experience) and, still, sadly, a reluctance on the part of Mazda UK to look after customers when the dealer doesn't.
It really does pay for the potential Mazda car owner to do their homework really thoroughly about local dealerships before deciding to buy and which dealership to use for maintenance, plus it's always good to ask the sales person whether a not-that-old car has had any technical faults that needed to be fixed prior to the sale.
Sadly this sort of thing is more common across many makes of car these days, given the ever-increasing amount of complex electronics on board and seemingly less R&D (especially testing before release to the market) of new tech - particularly where such systems interract with one another.
It's one of the reasons why as far as possible I'd stick to the lowest spec car I need - the essentials of gadgetry only, plus it keeps the cost down to buy and run.
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