Help me please
 

I am in the process of possible purchasing this car. I am now realizing it is modified. I see an aftermarket intake and I dont see a top mount intercooler (assume its front mount now?). Can you guys help me out and see if there are any other changes from what you can see from the pics? I am doing most of the work over the phone because I am out of state for another week. I was real excited until I saw the mods. Dont want to buy a car thats been thrashed (would prefer to do that myself). Thanks in advance.

Matt Blatt Egg Harbor Twp | Egg Harbor Township Used Cars | Used Car Dealers in NJ

Realized I didnt leave a link. There it is

Link isn't right.

2006—Mazda—MAZDA6——-—NG6387PA

Here is the link to the actual car. I noticed, intake, front mount intercooler, BOV, new battery, some curb rash on the wheels. Looks clean to me. I don't know what they go for or what to look for though. Maybe some of the MS6 guys can chime in

Thanks theshocker. Should I be concerned about longevity with these mods? Stuff I was planning but I wish I knew it wasnt completely beat on.

I would be concerned with the longevity of any car that I bought used that had been modified, but that's just me. Who knows if he had any type of tuning that he removed when he sold it also. I would be very cautious in buying something like that. You may be able to get the seller's name and contact him and ask him questions about it. I doubt he would lie to you, it's not his car anymore.

That is exactly what I am doing (trying to get the owners info). I unfortunately dont know exactly what he has done. Hopefully the dealership will want to get a deal done and give me the info.

I would skip on it honestly, wait for a stocker. I just came off a nightmare car I bought used that was modified. So maybe I'm a little bias, but for what it's worth I don't wish it on any body.

everybody with speeds mods man I wouldn't be worried about it. I mean if theres something worng with the car I dont think its form the mods.

these cars aren't bulletproof, so i wouldn't recommend the purchase unless you are very reassured by talking to the previous owner.

FWIW i wouldn't buy a used MS3, even if it were stock. owners are prone to driving it hard, modifying it, etc., and, unless done carefully, bad things happen. engine problems from modifying/lack of maintenance, drivetrain problems from launching/beating/bad driving, etc.

i'd say you could have a mechanic look it over although the evidence that you'll snap a connecting rod due to the previous owner would be hard to find.

^ I have to disagree with the above post. Ive driven my car 54,000 hard modded miles and it still feel like new. These cars are very tough and ruggade. They can handle the track, abuse etc. Most people drive there speeds hard and most people don't have issues.

Yeah, I'd buy a used and modded STI but not a used speed product. Unless it was stock with a warranty. I got 70,000 miles left on my warranty and I bought mine used from a mazda dealer. (Basically stole it though)

I have that exact car .. and I can tell you its not a bad price .. considering it is a GT model .. keep in mind that if you planned on modding the car he has saved you about 1500.00 in parts looking at the pics .. not to mention the mods on there are breathing mods .. FMIC, intake, BOV and so on .. I am curious to see if there is a downpipe and race pipe on it .. if there is then thats reallly some mod cost saving .. dude may have also been easy on the car .. just because its modded doesnt mean it was beat on .. he may have not been happy with the crap stock intercooler and intake ... who knows .. call the guy if you can.

Yeah I figured the same thing with my old car except I dumped almost 3,000 into the thing to get it right and by then, I wanted nothing to do with it. Although had I had my lift installed it might have been a ton easier. I'm just saying be careful, I'm also a bit of a perfectionist. So heaven forbid something is discovered that has been done "half assed"

i'm sure that there are people like you, with cars that have successfully taken a beating. i'm also sure that others have not been so fortunate.

buying a used performance car involves taking a risk. even if the car is durable, they still need proper maintenance and to be responsibly driven. these aspects apply to any car BUT IMHO apply moreso to performance cars b/c of the driver. it's not hard to break shit if you don't know what you're doing. the 2.3DISI turbo is a solid engine but can also bend/break connecting rods.

i don't think the OP will benefit most from knowing what you've driven your car hard for 54k miles with mods. he needs to know what his car has the potential to be great but also has risk. the only godsend is that at least he knows that the car is modded, instead of a car that looks stock but recently had a GT35 bolted up to it... ha.

well played sir

You missed my whole point. The ponit is witch was clearly stated was MOST people drive there speeds hard and MOST are modded and MOST do not have any issues. That said the speed is a very durable and rugged car it is not easly abussed into worthleness.
Most engines that have blown (if not all) go on the highway under part throttle with high knock its not from abuse. That said the dude should probably get a dashhakw and do a 3rd gear run to see if its one the cars with that weird knock retard problem...

If the dealership will offer a warranty on the car I would say go for it. But, make sure you have them agree to warranty with the mods that are already on the car, and have it documented on something you and them can sign so you don't get screwed. That is a killer price on a 6, plus like others said he saved you a few bucks on the mods. Get a dash hawk and monitor for anything screwy, and if it does happen to blow then you have a warranty to fix it.

However, if they will not offer a warranty, then do you have $5000ish to rebuild your motor if it blows?

I would be wary of buying a modded car because you dont know if the driver was some boy racer who beat the hell out of the car, realized something was going wrong, then ditched it. On the other hand, it might have been owned by someone in to cars that took care of it but cried when he couldnt put down 400awhp with bolt ons, then dropped it.

Thanks for all the opinions. I have been searching for this car and I am trying to get the guys info that had it before. That way he can give me an honest opinion. What seems to be the biggest things I should be looking for when I test drive this car?

I've heard of that location before and seem to be a decent dealer
I just dont agree with that price, for the year and mileage

I just got mine new - about 30 mins from there - with almost zero miles aside from test drives and came close to that number as is.

For that reason only I say do some more searching... it does LOOK good though

Hamilton Mazda had 2 speed 3s last week and maple shade mazda is known for getting them to a potential buyer

hope that helps

If you wouldnt mind letting me know what dealer you bought yours from and how much I would greatly appreciate it. I would love to find one new for close to that price.

no way in hell i would buy that car.....unless i talked to the previous owner, and then i probably still wouldn't buy it....I do believe a much better choice would be to try to find a leftover 2008=2010 Speed3 NEW or almost new....i have seen them $18.5 grand new lately for a gt leftover.....leftover cars from Honda to Subaru to to Mitsu are going 4 grand off list plus for a new one and Mazda's 2009 Touring Speed3 at me dealer is 3 grand off...1 white one left ..a much better choice IMO...i just priced out a new 09 Si,,,,,,list 22750...this month they offered to sell it to me for $18.5. I am not buying anything ATM as i am keepining my Speed3 till it dies...but am looking for another car soon, for my CRV.. and will see. My son wants me to get a Shelby and re-finace my house LOL....they start at 46grand..

If you refinance the house for a shelby I am officially up for adoption .. I do windows as well

LOL.....

my boy has a good argument on this one....i have been thinking 135 Tii for my next car...but with the American auto industry ready to fold(except Ford) have been re-thinking Muscle Car again as I LOVE the V8 growl...also with the industry faiing and gas becoming a issue again soon it may be time to go in this direction....while it's still available.....but $46 grand is alot of money for a car...but as my boy mentions " The SHELBY WILL HOLD ITS VALUE" and not loost to much like some of the other platforms...and in reality he is correct and mighteven make some in the long run....but again it's expensive....we have the new 2010 model on out computer screen so it's looking at us daily.......drool drool.....will see.

oh i did look at the Camaro SS and the Challenger SRT as well.....but the Shelby is the nicest and the Camaro SS is my next choice and in reality a very good deal for what you get....

IMHO buying a car as an "investment" is not justified. only in very rare circumstances do cars gain value, and, in those circumstances, sometimes you have to hold onto the car for a long time to turn a 'profit'. the only car i can recall keeping or gaining in value in the past years is the MK4 VW R32, which is prolly exaggerated a bit b/c the new r32 sucks so bad they've canceled production. beyond that, it's basically vintage sportscars like the AC cobra.

if you want the shelby to have a fast car and can spend the money on it, then go for it. but come on, doing it for the potential of great depreciation? i pay $2.44 in interest each day for my MS3. i'd still be over $700 in the hole after year one if i sold it for the same amount i paid.

i agree...cars are not investments... you almost alway's loose money.....but a Shelby has a very low production and is in quite demand and folks pay well over list in most cases....In the end most likely i will not get it....but who know's....maybe a Honda Fit LOL..