Yeah, but even my teenage daughter can discern normal vs “metal spoons in a food processor”.:D

When my F150 spun a crank bearing I opted for a Jasper rebuilt short block engine from FLAPS. Not much more than a junk yard and you have at least some warranty. Do they still offer them?

Valve broke. Damaged piston. How the hell does stuff like this happen on a modern engine and no timing belt? Its a chain

Inferior metallurgy. Cutting corners everywhere they can.

We don't know, the valve broke right at the base of the stem, the stem was even still in the valve guide with the spring, retainers and collets in place! Never seen one fail like that!

FOLKS- When I (LEAKYSEALS ALMIGHTY ) speaks on behalf of yoda, and states OP needs to bring it to his garage to tear it down, and I say of such...

This is nothing less than a TABS o' licious point of faith.

In such garage, one can figure out what actually happened. No conjecture. No hyperbole. Only internal combustion facts.

BEHOLD!!!! The truth awaits. Anything more is false presumption!

"For whom the valve bends..."

Ride your horse up the beach with your hot aphasic hottie and find your blasted statues you fallen humans!

True story. I once was walking down the street and a younger woman was standing in front of an engine rattling and knocking with the hood open. I offered to help but she definitely knew what she was doing. "I only add oil when it gets low ok?". Can't argue with that. Walked on.

Was it an intake valve that broke?

Is this a thing with Mazda? My aunt has had, iirc, two Mazdas that died very young. Don't recall specifics but it's enough to cause me to wonder.

My wife’s siblings have taken three Mazda3 and two Mazda6 to well over 100k with minimal maintenance, they have all been great cars. Three are still in the family and being driven. We’re talking cars being driven by women who don’t exactly baby them, so it’s a good measure of reliability.

I have personally owned an MPV, Protege5, RX7, and three RX8s, all great cars. I consider Mazda as a sort of Porsche on a budget, they tend to put a higher priority on driving experience than most other automakers.