Advice on a possible 2010 purchase
 

So I've been considering picking up a Speed3 for a while and came across something interesting on CL. It's a stock 2010 with 40k miles.

It's a rebuilt salvage title so the price is super attractive. I understand the risks with salvage vehicles and would obviously have it looked over carefully by a good mechanic. The damage was only rear end stuff (assuming seller is being truthful). I've read the "what to look for" thread too. I'm able to walk away if anything bad shows up in the inspection, I've got a perfectly good car so no big motivation to buy other than fun.

My main question is that while I know I want a 2nd gen, I'm not sure on the model year differences. I would most likely swap the head unit no matter what was in there. I don't care about nav, backup camera, or most of the features they're cramming in cars these days. Keyless start is standard from what I understand. Is there anything that might make a later year more desirable?

This would be for daily driver use. No plans to wrench on it.

Any advice appreciated.

Keyless start is not standard, only on tech package, which has nav etc.

I have a 2012 with tech package, wish i got a 2013 with the same. Painted wheels and accents, bigger nav screen otherwise the same. None come with a back up camera. I think the years before the 2012 the interior had slightly different colored accents and shift knob.

If you can get if for dirt cheap and it checks out mechanically screw it why not.

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Mazda introduced LED tails and bi-xenon head lights with the tech packages in 2011. You can easily swap LED tails onto a 2010, I did. However, the fancier headlights aren't cost effective to move to a 2010. I replaced my halogen bulbs with HID lights. Happy hunting.

Ask the seller if you can bring it to a mechanic, or maybe a local nator member can come with you and give it a good look over.

I would have liked the LED tails from the '11+ year, and the headunit on the 2013 models. But other than that, tech on a 2010 is great. Get a nice hid kit for your headlights, makes night driving infinitely better.

Thanks guys, that's what I was looking for. Will report back if I end up going thru with it.

What's a dead giveaway that it has the tech package? Something easy to spot in the dash or exterior?

Three buttons on the left side next to the steering wheel. Color lcd screen on the high part of the dash

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Buttons will be for traction control, auti focus lense, and blind spot monitoring. Also push button to start

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For a 2010, push button start.

11+ LED tails

Power adjustment on the driver's seat, push start, keyless entry. As to watch out for you already read the what to look out for thread, its all in there

Are you sure about power adjustable seats? I don't think that's right

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Canadian MS3s have power seats.

It's that only Canadians that have them? Neat

Canadians and their fancy power seats.

And big washer fluid tanks for meth

and your fancy heated seats.

Yeah they're pretty wonderful especially in -30C just wish they came with heated steering wheel