I am currently looking for another car and the MazdaSpeed3 (07-09) seems to be everything I want in my next car. Powerful, handles nice, practical, and cheap ... but there's a couple things that I'm concerned with ..

I was looking on the MazdaSpeed forums and it seems a lot of them are having problems with the oilflow to the turbo which causes it to smoke at idle ..

How widespread is this problem? Have any of you experienced this yet?

From what it looks like, all there is now are bandaid fixes like thicker oil, new PCV valve, new turbo .. etc

After hearing the dealership stories, I'm not sure if I want to drop $18,000 on a car that's going to smoke and have a ruined turbo.

Any thoughts?

 

https://acurazine.com/forums/car-talk-5/javascript-ms3s-2010-mazdaspeed3-updates-still-4x4-754043/

 

If you properly drive, maintain, and mod your car, you won't have any problems.

I don't like getting these type of cars used though because you never know how abusive the previous owner was..

 

I agree with JS. These kinds of cars i would never touch due to the fact that you have no idea how the drove that car before. Stis and Evos are the same way, most people would say stay away since people buy them to beat the hell out of them. you should just get a fast N/A car like a g coupe used. You can pick up a nice one around that price range.

 

or just get 2010 and do this





Some people got their brand new ones for $23k OTD these days.

 

I wish I could of found them that cheap in November.

I got quoted around $26k and most dealers only had the MS3s with Tech Package which I didn't want.

 

I would only take the 2010 MS3 in black, the front grill just makes me smile haha.

Thanks for the input guys, I see a lot of 07-09 MS3s for about $19,000 with just about 14,000 miles on the clock.

It's either a MS3 or 6MT TL, we'll see which one comes up first.

 

TL vs MS3, it's apples and oranges

I had both. :wink:

 

Jinu, this is your favorite thread.

 

Focus on the 08.5 and 09's. I have an 09 with 13k miles on it now and no issues at all.

I highly recommend this car, tons of fun, handles great, and with the design is very utilitarian. Not a fan of the 10 looks myself.

That low of miles on it I would not be as concerned with how it was treated, you have tons of warranty left on it.

 

Just an update, I test drove a 2008 Mazda MS3 (24,000 miles) and I had a lot of fun with it.

Despite having an extra 400 pounds in the car, this thing flys once you get past 2500-3000rpm. The torque is fantastic .

He offered it to me for $20,000 out the door @ $375 a month .. I respectfully declined because I want a bigger downpayment so my monthly payments as low as possible.

I think I am sold.

 

Nice.

I think he's trying to rip you off on the price though lol

and I think +08.5 models have good alcantara seats and craps.

you should come to http://www.mazdaspeedforums.org/forum/ and check out its 1st gen ms3 threads.

 

damn so many TL owners converting the the mazda 3

 

I really wanted to get something from honda or acura when i was shopping for a new car, but there just wasn't any car that appeal to me..

 

It would be $20,000 after taxes and everything, but I can probably haggle him on the price.

I agree, nothing from Honda / Acura appeals to me .. I need something fast, practical, and turbocharged .

Honestly, I will probably keep this car relatively stock except for exterior .. the car feels plenty fast.

 

^ you will mod it. i can guarantee that.

you can literally gain about 30whp/30wtq by spending less than 400 bucks on this car. who wouldn't get that? lol

 

You're probably right

How much horsepower are you putting down?

 

didn't dyno my car yet, so don't know exactly. but i can tell you that its whole lot faster than the stock one now.. intake and testpipe really opened it up. i don't really care about straightline performance.. so next mods will be koni yellows and sway bars probably.