Almost joined the ranks of MS3 owners

[MD1032]

I use bluetooth audio instead of USB or the 1/8" input on my 2012. Pair your phone, load it up with music, put the radio in bluetooth audio mode...works flawlessly. Steering wheel controls control everything and you can set up playlists within your phone ahead of time if desired.

Tech package is really a must with these cars. The Xenon headlights are awesome. I like the pushbutton ignition, too.

[livelyjay]

Ummmm .... I'm a fossil. I don't own a smartphone because I don't want to pay for the data plan. I work with computers all day every day so I kind of like the break from them. I could always find a bluetooth capable MP3 player, almost forgot about that one.

Also agree with the tech package necessity. I retrofitted the lights in my MSP and I don't think I could live without true HIDs and the adaptive is a nice bonus. The keyless entry + push button is a really nice feature. Hell I'm going to be ecstatic to just have friggen cruise control. Been driving an MSP for 10 years and no cruise. It sucks on those long drives. I have a Garmin so I could have done without Nav. The taillights are meh. On my latest test drive it was raining, I can see why no one likes the rain sensing wipers.

[MS3Shadow]

With my 2013 with tech, the AFS headlight are awesome and the Blind Spot Monitoring System are good as well.

Sent from my HTC M9

[livelyjay]

Wondering if there's anyone in that area that could check it out for me before I drive down on Friday.

[Raider]

Googled the vin, found carfax link to a car lot: http://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistory...BL1L4XC1550941

[livelyjay]

Yeah they had that directly linked from their web page. Looks like someone traded it in on a Benz and the dealership just sent it to wholesale auction. I put a deposit down on the car and will make the 5 hour round trip to pick it up Friday pending any hold ups with financing.

[Raider]

I would ask for an lots of engine bay pics. That's really important. Looks stock, but to get there and see it fully bolted, uh no.

[livelyjay]

Yeah I sent them an email this morning but I haven't heard anything. Haven't heard anything from the credit union either.

[livelyjay]

More pictures. I asked some more photos of the door panels because they looked scuffed in the online pictures, but he confirmed it was just a bad angle/reflection in the camera.

[Raider]

Looks clean

[MD1032]

Nice, that looks stock, just like mine when I bought it.

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

[livelyjay]

So I'm back from my trip to New Jersey, and I am NOT a MS3 owner. Dealership is shady as F. Everything on the car looks fine, except for the giant scrapes on the rear bumper, three bolt marks from a license plate, scrape on the back left fender (no indents, just paint transfer), and cracked clear coat on the fender lip. None of that damage shows up in the pictures, which were likely taken before the damage occurred. They wouldn't budge on price and said "cosmetically it is being sold as is". Nice waste of 11 hours of my time and money renting the car, the gas to get down there, etc. SO PISSED.

Also the dash leather, on the upper right side of the center console plastic, had a fringe sticking out. Not sure if that means anything. Still, I AM SO PISSED.

[livelyjay]

All right guys, a new one just came up for sale, but it looks to have been modded.

Used 2012 Mazda Mazdaspeed3 Mazdaspeed3 Touring 5dr HB Man For Sale in Columbus OH | Stock: TC1548226

It looks like it's lowered but I'm not sure. Intake and exhaust system jump out at me as well. Rims shouldn't be black, so they were either painted or traded with a 2013.

[Raider]

Originally Posted by livelyjay All right guys, a new one just came up for sale, but it looks to have been modded. Used 2012 Mazda Mazdaspeed3 Mazdaspeed3 Touring 5dr HB Man For Sale in Columbus OH | Stock: TC1548226 It looks like it's lowered but I'm not sure. Intake and exhaust system jump out at me as well. Rims shouldn't be black, so they were either painted or traded with a 2013.

Rear bumper seems a shade off. Not wrecks.

Print this too
http://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistory...BL1L3XC1548226


Get it inspected.

[livelyjay]

The dealership got back to me right away. He said it's a COBB intake and a Corksport turbo back exhaust system. It's also lowered on springs and not coilovers.

Is there any easy way to tell if the fuel pump has been upgraded?

[Raider]

Yes. Take FP out and look at the internals.

[livelyjay]

Ha. Not sure a dealership would be willing to do that. I'm going to stay away from this one because with that amount of mods, it's likely been beaten on. Also it's a 6+ hour drive away, and if I'm driving that far I'll just continue on to Dayton and buy the CPO '13 they have with only 12k on the clock.

[livelyjay]

Well at least this dealership isn't trying to screw me over. He confirmed with the tech that it's a cat-back exhaust and the fuel pump has not been upgraded per the word of the customer who traded it in. Customer said he wasn't going to go for a big build or anything. He says the rear bumper has been replaced or resprayed as it does indeed not match 100%.

[Popclutch]

Originally Posted by livelyjay I nearly joined the ranks of MS3 owners today, but the dealership thought that I was a moron, didn't want to sell me the car, or just thought that since I make a decent salary I'd be ok with paying too much. I didn't like the 2nd gen the first time I drove it, but I like it more now. I also LOVE the Velocity Red Mica color. Alas the search continues. Seriously, they quoted me black book value for a 2013 with 14k miles and no tech package as $27-$29k. I humored them for a bit but eventually just walked out.

I spent $18k on a 2013 MS3 with 4,300 miles on it in Dallas, TX a couple months ago. Sounds like a plane ticket could save you a good bit!

[Raider]

Originally Posted by sh4d0w Hey man check this post out.. (links to some dude breaking all the FS rules)

How about not? Guy was breaking all the FS rules possible just about.

[sh4d0w]

Originally Posted by Raider How about not? Guy was breaking all the FS rules possible just about.

Sorry man.. My bad.

[livelyjay]

Is there any way to tell from the VIN if the car has the Technology Package?

[MS3Shadow]

Originally Posted by livelyjay Is there any way to tell from the VIN if the car has the Technology Package?

If it has Nav, it should have the tech package.

Sent from my HTC M9

[BlackFlag]

I dunno but are there little rubber black buttons on the door handles?

[livelyjay]

I was just curious because sometimes the dealers aren't putting up pictures of the real cars right away. I'd rather not deal with contacting them if the car doesn't have the technology package.

How well is this generation Mazda3/Mazdaspeed3 holding up to corrosion and rust? I'll be driving it daily including winter and I can't stand rust. My Protege and the first gen Mazda3 don't appear to be holding up very well to corrosion and I'm concerned about that with the second generation as well. There's a local 135i that is in my price range with low miles and I'm considering that over the MS3 because BMWs tend to hold up to corrosion better.

[Raider]

Everything rusts. Worried? Then get it preppy and coated to help.

[livelyjay]

Yeah but some cars are more susceptible to it than others.

[Raider]

Well there is prep of materials, cleaning frequently, too.

I've seen 40 year old VWs that were rust free. Had undercoating and were cleaned all the time. Re-coated when it started to wear off. Then I saw 5 year old VWs blown out from rot. Untreated and uncleaned.

Common sense is helpful. BMW I would suspect, has some rust resistant coatings.

[livelyjay]

So I'm passing on the 135i solely because I favor utility over pure fun. That car is definitely useless for the long run, for me at least. I went to AuctionDirect and I'm going to see if they can find me the GenPu I want.

[livelyjay]

*** bump ***

Anyone live in the Harrisburgh area that could check out this car for me?
Used 2011 Mazda Mazda3 For Sale in Mechanicsburg PA | JM1BL1K35B1443030 | Serving Harrisburg, York PA and Hanover PA
There's a front left collision on the AutoCheck. Dealership is going to get me some additional pictures and information, but I'd like someone to check it in person before I commit to the 3 hour drive.

[tec_41]

Curious how bad the collision was...That's a great price

[livelyjay]

I've been talking with the guys on the NATOR PA forum about it. Unfortunately someone already committed to buy it, but the deal could still fall through. Any ways, now I'm back to paying attention to the MS3s because the 2012s and 2013s are starting to come off leases and the prices appear to be dropping into what I'm looking to spend.

[.Slug]

If its got damage, just pass on it.

I read through the thread and you may be too picky, although patient. If you buy from a Mazda dealer, just make sure its a certified used one and don't worry so much about how it was treated prior (I would avoid any with accident/damage though). The certified MS3 come with a 7 year certified used car extended warranty.

Also, any Mazda dealer willing to make a deal should do a dealer trade and bring the damn car TO YOU. You shouldn't be driving hours and hours to buy from a dealer. Just find a mazda dealer in your area you like working with and have them do a dealer trade or something. If they want a sale, they'll do it.

No matter how picky you are, your newly purchased used MS3 may still have issues. So I would just stop over thinking it.

I just picked up a 2013 MS3 on Friday from a dealer here in SoCal. I tried to make sure to buy a "unmolested" MS3 and 3 days later after picking up from dealership, I'll be dropping it back off today for multiple failing parts and new strut mounts. But no charges to me due to the certified extended warranty, so no worries.

Besides looking for damage, just grab a certified one from the dealer with a warranty and enjoy an MS3! It feels like to me that you are making this much too difficult on yourself.

Good luck!

[livelyjay]

I'm definitely picky, but I can be because I don't NEED a car. My MSP is running fine, I'm just bored. I've never heard of a dealer trade with a used car and adding the certified used on top of my requirements narrows the field even more. It would be piece of mind for when the VVT problems occur.

[.Slug]

My wife is a business manager for a dealership, they've done it before. But, you're right, some dealers may be unwilling because they either don't need sales or they are lazy and don't go the extra mile for the customer. Never hurts to try by calling one up though. The best thing that could happen is they say yes and you've saved yourself some hassle.

I just remembered too that you mentioned concern about corrosion/rust. Mazda has a lifetime corrosion/rust warranty. Confirm, but I don't think this should be a factor either as Mazda should cover it.

I hope you find one soon! These cars are soo much fun!

[livelyjay]

Interesting on both points. I found a certified one in Portsmouth, NH. It's black and not a 2012, so two strikes against it, but it looks unmolested. I have family outside Cambridge I could visit on the trip too.

2012 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 Touring Portsmouth NH 12017114

That being said, found a red one in MD but it's been modded. Is there a way to tell if the HPFP has been upgraded? This one has an exhaust, intake, and shift knob at least. I'm going to ask the dealership for more information and my friend who lives in Gambrills (30 min away) might be able to check it out for me.

Used 2013 Mazda Mazdaspeed3 for sale in Baltimore | Used Auto Dealer Baltimore

[dannybot]

If you're interested in a 2012 MS3 tech package, hit me up. In Texas, no snow, no salt, 26900mi. I bought it the week it came off the truck, stays garaged at home and work.

[livelyjay]

Texas is a LONG way from me. There are some decent options that are much closer than Texas. Also tougher to finance a vehicle and make the transaction through private party. I'd do it, but doing it long distance would be difficult.

I also think I have the list of what I want in an MS3.

2013 tech package, red, white, or black in that order.
2012 tech package, has to be red.
Less than 40k miles.
$20k or less.
Prefer zero intake/exhaust mods unless the seller is on here and has a reputation of being honest about what's been done, when, and how hard the car has been driven. Never driven one with an exhaust so I don't know how loud they get, but I'm not in my 20s anymore so I don't want the noise.

I basically don't know diddly about these cars except the VVT parts are likely to go bad and if you do any engine mods you need the HPFP internals to be safe and there's no way to know if that's done unless you pull it apart.

[livelyjay]

Appreciate it, but I don't like silver. My first MSP was silver and it rotted out thanks to terrible Mazda paint. I'd already have a MS3 if I liked silver because CarMax had a good one on their local lot and it was actually a good price/mileage. Test drove it and everything. Just don't like silver anymore.

[livelyjay]

Well guys, thanks for the help, information, etc. Unfortunately I'm going to be leaving the Mazda community after 12 years. I'll be picking up my 2014 Focus ST on Saturday. It's a great deal, local, and I couldn't really pass it up.