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My Mazda3 TS2 1.6p (2006/55) has been remarkably reliable since I bought it essentially brand new from Motorpoint in early 2006, only having a reset done at service on a stuck (closed) rear electric window and some more recent wear-and-tear suspension work.
Like most older cars, you'll be lucky if there's not something that goes wrong over its ownership, and thus as has been said, make sure you keep some money back. I've found that the 1.6 petrol is a good engine, far better than the unreliable diesel. Make sure that the car has been regularly serviced and especially kept up on oil changes, given it has a chain-cam engine.
Personally-speaking, I would go for a well-kept higher mileage model, unless you can prove (mine being a good example) that a lower-mileage example wasn't just used for short trips to the shops which can cause problems. The TS model is a reasonable compromise model, given it has A/C. Not much difference between the 06 and 07 models as they are both the 'facelift' versions of my mk1, the main difference between mine and the (other than the age) being a slightly more forgiving suspension, barely different dash and lower front grille and re-mapped engine (the 06+ was slightly slower to 60mph but slightly better on mpg [2] and CO2 emissions [one group lower]).
Given my recent suspension repairs required (multi-links and bushes), give the car a good test drive over twisty and poorly-surfaced roads to see if (at the speed limit) any suspension issues arise (you may hear creaking if there's a problem), which could cost between £200 - £600 to fix. Don't let that put you off - it is a reliable car (mine is now 9.5 years old and going well) if you treat it well. Make sure the history of the car is full and includes any recall repairs (yours may have ESP [mine was a Euro import and didn't] and could've suffered the issue as described in the 'Good and Bad' section of HJ's review:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/mazda/3-2004/?sectio...d
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