Buying USED 2010--HELP WANTED
 

Hello there

I have a mazdaspeed Miata and a Mazda 5.

Local dealer has a 2010 Mazdaspeed 3, with 30K miles, asking 18K.

1) What are some issues I should be aware of (problems, etc) before looking at MS3 used?

2) Are there any particular MS3 problems I should be aware of?

3) Suggestion of what maybe a good price for this?

Just going to be using it as a DD with two kids.

Thanks!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

18 sounds good, as long as there appears to be no aftermarket parts you should be good to go. Take it for a test drive and let it idle for fifteen minutes. After that if you don't see any red flags car should be yours and enjoy. You'll know what I mean when I say red flags of it happens.

Thank you. Car is all original. However, east coast car (I will check to see if anything is rusting).

Dealer put new tires and new brakes. 1 owner car.

My apologies, I didn't see it.

I will read it now.

Spend the extra money and get the powertrain warranty if it doesn't have one. I purchased my 2010 speed3 a month ago and had to get it fixed cuz of a misfire, I paid nothing. If you don't plan on doing much to the car, it's worth the extra money

Its sold at a NON MAZDA dealer, so not sure if they will have a powertrain warranty, but I will ask.

Car looks all stock, and didn't have the noise on start up, and no turbo smoke.

I offered $16,500

Dealer Accepted 16,500, pending inspection.

Does the MS3 come standard with the rear Cargo cover??

yes they do. all the hatches do

That's a good price, especially from a dealer...

Tech package?

Thank you.

Our new Mazda 5 didn't come with rear cargo cover, we had to buy it.

In the pictures, it didn't show the cargo cover on the MS3 (they could have taken it off), so wanted to make sure with you guys before.

It DOES NOT have the tech package.

I hope it is as reliable as all our other Mazdas has been.

I am a little wary with the tranny problems/chain problems, people are reporting, but I am excited about the car.

Worst case, I walk away.

Car has 4 new tires, and new rear brakes

damn 16,500 sounds like a deal for only 30k miles and genpu

when I say hatch, I ment the 3's. They all come with cargo covers

inb4 bent rod found shortly after getting it home. That's a steal of a price for 30k miles at a dealership.

Bent Rod? :( I rather not spend cash money for a car I need to take my kids in daily. I really hope thats not the case.

Don't know what "genpu" means.

Thanks guys, hope to join your club.

I was shopping Honda Fit vs Insight vs Prius C, when this popped up.

genpu = second gen. mazdaspeed 3. Aka, new body style, AKA 2010- mazdaspeed 3s.

You made the right choice with the speed vs those 3 cars. Completely different ball park.

Fuck I paid 20k for my '10 (last spring) with the same miles.

you'll be fine

Thanks. Sorry not up to date on the terminology yet.

Yeah I had NA, NB, NC Miatas. We have the 5 for the wife. I was doing daddy day care with my miata, but with baby #2 , really need a 4 door.

Work gives me $3000 check towards hybrid, but couldn't stomach the pain of driving one. THus the reason getting used MS3 instead of new.


Never was a person to buy a used car like this, knowing owner #1 might have abused the crap out of it... so taking a risk.

Powertrain warranty remains 2 more years.

Uhh you got a whole year worth of driving :)



Thanks keeping my fingers crossed.

You will find ford fingerprints on some of the engineering compared to the Miatas and Mx5s but nothing too crazy. There are a few local 2010+ Mazdaspeed 3s which are mostly stock with 90+k on the clock and they are still in good shape so your speed should be good.

I recommend doing some searching on the forums for the preventative maintenance recommendations

-Derrick

^^^^
Thanks I will see if I can find the preventative stuff you are talkinf about.

UPdATE

Bought the car !!! Loved it on drive. Inspection came out great. Super excited.

Haven't read the owners manual just got home. It's 1130 pm here.

Couple of issues /thoughts

• you have to press a button to get key out? Never had in any Mazda. Annoying :'(
• Can I debadge the mazdaspeed script on left trunk ?
• car does not have cargo cover or floormats. Dealer knocked down $250 more as a result
• couldn't figure out the dual climate so need to read owners manual
• read lots of complaint about shifting and clutch, but this one is fine
• upon opening the hatch there is a clank noise. Looked few times couldn't figure out where. It's about 5 inches after you press button to open
• one of the keyless isn't working, its blinking very slight red on the fob. Dead battery? Easy to replace? Or need dealer?

Overall very happy with car and price. Will post pics from office ..after morning commute.

Loved my morning commute in it! I don't like the instant MPG guage...goes from like 11mpg to 68mpg, depending on how I am driving. I rather not know the MPG :D


My SON loved the car. He loved the miata, and we used to go top down. I thought he would really miss it. He is 2 years old.

This morning in the garage he kept saying "Daddy, coool car, daddy nice car, daddy cool car" all teh way to day care. So I didn't feel guilty getting rid of the miata.

I still have the Elise when I need a fun ride.


Loving the MS3. Debadging the rear at lunch in the office :) Probably the most excited I have ever been for such a cheap car.

Congrats on the purchase.
- agreed
- yes just use a heat gun or blow dryer and some fishing line easy peasy
- that's bs but at least they knocked the price down
- not sure what you couldn't figure out.?
- some do some don't, fomoco fluid is heaven in a bottle, a quick search will bring up a lot of reviews for ya
- 5 inches? Seconds? More than likely its the latch resetting, nothing to worry about
- probably a dead battery I would take it back to them and ask them to replace the battery for you.
Enjoy the car! A lot of good info in this place.

See if you can get a powertrain warranty on it (should have 30k left on factory). I've had ~$10k worth of work done (one new transmission, then the new one rebuilt) and I didn't pay a penny.

There are quite a few members with 2nd gear issues on here.

Well, it won't out-handle the Elise but they are pretty sweet handling little cars. You'll get decent fuel economy out of them. Already got the badges off....time to start the power mods.

Gratz on the purchase!

-Derrick

Thank you. Yeah they knocked the price down, so I need to find a cargo cover, and see how much that is.

Got the climate control figured out. :)

I use the Ford Synchro mesh in my miata, which was a god send. This car the tranny/clutch is fine, but probably in a few months, I will do a base line on all my fluids.

Yes latch resetting, thanks.

I already emailed about the battery on the fob.

How would I get a powertrain warranty? From the selling dealer, or from Mazda?

I gotta start reading about the 2nd gear issues :(

Hehe power mods. Got baby #2 coming in end of March (reason to get this car). Doing the Lotus challenge and Spec Miata last few years, haven't had any time.

Maybe I am getting old, wanting to enjoy a stock MS3 for a bit :)

Thanks Derrick!!

Cargo Cover is actually called the Package Tray Trim (according to online mazda parts at least)...Here it is:
2010 MAZDA 3 Parts - Online Mazda Parts

In before fully bolted in 12 months.

Go VIP and you can probably grab a set of floormats for around $60 on here. The guys up north go all weather mats and sell theirs quite often.

Thanks. I will look at th VIP thing you mentioned.

Package tray around 230$ is what I expected, so the $250 dealer gave me will get used for that, unless I can find a used one.

Says 180$ here, but I don't even know how many speakers I got. During test drive, and driving this morning, forgot to turn on stereo. Not sure if it even works LOL
http://www.mazdapartswholesale.com/m...ge-tray-30969/


Fully Bolted :D -hey don't give me any ideas. I am trying to play a grown up in real life :D


*must not mod*
*must not mod*
*must not mod*
Its commuter car, for the kiddies, *must not mod*

The diagram you link to looks like its for the spare tire cover. Not sure why the speakers would matter for the cargo cover but for the spare cover it would. On the tech package, there is a subwoofer mounted in the spare. If that wasn't there, the spare cover would have to be shaped differently. You said no tech so you don't have the bose audio (10 speaker) on a 2010.

Also, this makes me think that maybe my link is bad although the image I'm looking at clearly shows the cargo cover. A confirmatory phone call is likely in order before purchasing.

just wait until the mod bug bites
congrats

Welcome to the forum @90210;

You will find this place a little more harsh than that of CR or the like, but there is a wealth of information at your disposal.

Plus, our region is very active, knowledgeable, & helpful.

@90210;
i almost forgot.
Donate so u can have access to forsale section!
once again congrats

Thanks, no worries. Will give a call. I don't need to have the cargo cover today, so not in a super rush. Will look around, again thanks for your help. :)

Thanks. Man you guys are not helping with the mod stuff ;) :D

Thank you kindly. Well I used to be a member of Viper Alley a long time ago, so I don't think any forum can be harsher than that.

Would be nice to meet some locals. I will check out the local section.


Will do, sir! Though I shouldn't buy anything in the forsale section so soon.:bigok:

Welcome to the dark side... resistance to modding is futile!

... so let me guess, you live in Beverly Hills? lol.. what dealer did you buy the car from?

I live about 1 mile from "tourist BH" ;)

Local Volvo dealer.

Found info about the last owner. 57 years old. Director at a large company. Sent him an email asking about if he has the cargo cover etc :)

Welcome to the club. Yeah mine started as a commuter too, that didn't last long. After 114k miles in 3 years this thing gets something new every month it seems. Good luck fighting the bug.


Yes. 114k miles in 3 years. Treat em right and they'll last forever.

Great to hear of some high mileage ones!

Debadged it. TOok about one hour. The mazdaspeed was easy, the "3" was difficult. My Mazda5 and MSM were so easy, then again they were new, this has been outside a while, used.

Car looks stock everywhere, no mods that I could find. Looked around a good bit

Only on the outer plastic of the intercooler where the trim of the hood meets, seems like there is some "scratches/rubbing" not sure if this is normal?

Wonder if the thread title can be changed?

Some pics

Wow, it had a 5 on there? I think they lied to you about it being a speed...:silly:

Finger faster than brain..fixed it :dance: