A couple of questions from a noob
 

LSS: I had an 06 WRX that was murdered during an oil change, went with an old Tacoma and bought a Ninja. After putting a crap ton of miles on my bike, she is gone and I am going to go car for speed/thrills and maybe get a cheap old cruiser. After much research I think I've decided on a MS3.

I used the search but had a few questions that I couldn't readily find answers to.

I really like the 07/10/and 12 models. I originally didnt intend to spend over $20k but after looking I havent found a MS3 with the miles that I want for less than that. I am very cautious about buying a used pocket rocket due to how people tend to drive them (present company excluded I'm sure). While looking at the depreciation, do you think that I should just pony up the few extra $ and buy new, or am I being overly cautious about buying used? I am thinking that I dont want to go over 30k miles on a used turbo.

Is the tech package worth the money? For those of you who have a 12 base model, do you wish you had gone ahead and spent the money? For those who did get it, are you glad you did? I dont really care anything but the HID's, pushbutton, and LED taillights.

WTF is up with the servers here. I'm having to load every page like 3 times to get it to pull up. Is this normal or just because of maintenance?



Right now the plan is to get a new 2012 sometime just after the 13's come out so I can get one on the cheap. I'm really impressed with the car and the community that you guys have built here. I have learned an absolute ton of info in the past few days lurking around the forums.

I got a black one with tech package about a month ago. I am not that crazy about the LED tails but I really like the Xenon HIDs. The rain sensing wipers are sort of cool but I could have certainly done without them. Blind spot monitoring is very nice IMO, it is nice to have some type of warning even if you do look carefully before changing lanes.

@CincySpeed3 where are you at in the nati?
http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/...z/IMG_0923.jpg

I was in the same position as you. I looked at a few used MS3's but honestly it was like 2k more to just go ahead and get a brand new one. There is something special about getting a new car, and you get to break it in anyway you like. For me, this was an easy decision...Definitely worth the couple grand. Also if you are financing you will save bigtime on % rates on a new one. Like you mentioned yourself, only certain people buy this car, and its not to drive it like a grandma.

Tech is preference, I chose to not get it because it already comes with a lot of cool options and everything in tech seemed extremely cool but also not 100% necessary.

Pretty sure it's your connection. Never had a problem with this forum loading.

Tech pkg isn't really necessary, HIDs are nice and I like the AFS. Crappy BOSE is definitely not worth it. Rain sensing is annoying, would rather just have intermittent selections.

Just go new if you can afford it - rates are much better and you'll know its history.

I have a '12 with tech. I like what it offers, but I wouldn't be disappointed without it. BSM is nice and the nav is good enough (so I don't have to use phone). I don't mind the small screen.

You can get aftermarket hid and led lights for cheap, but work up a deal on a tech package and when you think you have the best deal you can get do the reverse bait and switch on a non tech. That sceme worked for me got a great deal when I purchased mine.

Yup, I wanted a used one- a gen 1 since it's quicker to 60, 5.8 sec versus gen 2 at 6.1. Had the same concerns as you and I wanted one driven easy with no mods. Looked everywhere for a few months- the low mileage ones were gone before I could even look. CarMax had one- an 09 with low miles- 12K or so, just posted, drove there, it was sold before I got there---and they wanted 22K for it. Gave up, end up buying a new 2011 for 22K. Had to go to a dealer 100 miles away to get the deal I wanted.

Permanent address in Blue Ash. But I am going to school in Northern Kentucky and live down there at the moment.

Your car looks great by the way. What method did you use to darken the tails VHT? tint?

I my self could not justify the extra for the tech package either, and I was purchasing the car at cost plus rebates. All the extra stuff is just more stuff to keep up with and wondering when they will go out. I say save the money and get a regular speed 3 and use the saved money for your rmm, and other goodies.

Thanks for your quick answers. Seems like a new base is probably what I will wind up getting. Thats kind of how I was leaning in the first place. Love the idea about the reverse bate and switch but I'm pretty good at making sure I get a great deal (my dad runs a dealership although it isnt a mazda). Now I just have to make myself wait a couple of months until the 13s come out and the rebates go up. I've already got financing at my credit union for 1.99 @ 72 mo.

One other question, how much would the dealer charge to put on a RMM? Is that something that I could do w/ no mechanical training?

If you have any sort of mechanical inclination whatsoever, you can do it.

Its literally two bolts. 20 minute install. Most of that time is getting the car on stands.

I think the tech package adds more luxury to the car. Not why I bought the MS3 but definitely nice to have. Love the push button start.

I think your decision to go new is probably smart you never know what a used speed has gone through lol. A rear motor mount takes like 20 mins to install and anyone can do t with a jack and socket set.

There is not.going to be any changes in the speed 3 for the 2013 models from what I have heard from Mazda and from training classes the next new car training is going to be for the new 6 and to be honest I doubt they will offer much rebates on the speed cars. But there are other discounts like military etc u can get and as far as a rmm I did jbr rmm today on a cust car in 10 min but I got air tools FTW :)

Sent from my Android using Forum Runner

I used three coats of vht but I also have the leds oh and one coat of clear. Im from price hill originally. Thanks for the compliment.

I am much happier with my base 2010 than one with a tech package. I want to control the car, not the other way around. I want to control my wipers, I actually turn my key, and I don't want my car beeping at me because it thinks I don't see the car beside me when I turn on my blinker. Also, I put tools underneath the trunk floor and I don't want a crappy sub taking up my storage.

Basically the tech package is more stuff to break and tick you off when it doesn't do what you want it to.

Dude I love the tech package! If you don't want to push a button on the door to get in ,bam you still have a key. You want to turn a key to start the car instead of pushing the button ,bam you still have a key. Don't want the wipers to come on to what ever speed you want automatically ,bam you have a off setting. You don't want your head lights to focus and turn in the direction your tuning on its own ,bam you have a off switch. If you can afford the extra 2k get the tech it's do under priced for everything you get.

I love the tech package too. I never have to fumble around with keys in my pocket to unlock or start the car. House keys are not attached to the car fob. It's great. The bose does suck mostly, but it's nice to have a lil extra bass.

I got my 2011 when there were very few left on the lot in my area last year (July 2011). Found the color I wanted, went in about 1.5 hrs before closing, test drove and went back and forth until an hour after closing. They wanted to sell me the car, but also wanted to go home. Walked out with the tech package at 23,500 OTD @ 0% financing.

I personally would like the BSM of the 2012's though. I do a lot of dense highway driving...

9 months later, I was fully bolted and never intended to go beyond stock... I wouldn't have wanted to buy a used one after knowing what I've(and others) put this car through. And I'm really not that hard on it... compared to other members. @voltron

Buy with tech if you could. nothing to be disappointed in, personal preference is key here

I personally love the tech package. you get the crap Bose stereo either way, so like everyone else has told you, it's all about personal preference. A couple people mentioned to you about the lack of any changes whatsoever for 2013. I'd say that's a great thing for buying a 2012 left-over in Oct., but if you do your research, find out the particular local dealers' invoice costs, add a like 4% profit for them and eventually someone will be willing to bite. I got mine, freshy-fresh for under $23,000. With tax & tags just over $26,000 o.t.d. (yeah we have really high sales tax in Cali, esp. in L.A.
As far as all the features of the tech pack, I love them. People pay a lot of money for those Axeala tail lights, blind spot mon. system rules, push button start on a $20,000 car? Insanity! You girl will be happy she can check her make-up in the lighted mirror visor too.
But, ya know, preference. Most importantly, brand new car=nobody fucked with it + factory warranty. You decide.

I would never sell my car to anyone on this forum, or anyone I know. My car is a 2012, and yes, as @jeoje mentioned, I beat the shit out of this car on a daily basis. If I were to stock it out today and trade it in, warranty or no warranty, the next guy is fucked.
But to answer your original question about the tech package, IMO, I don't think it's worth the extra money. Yeah sure the push start is convenient, and dual hids that turn with the car are nice, but the navigation screen is way too small, and the bsm would drive me nuts flashing every time a car was near. Bose is standard now, hids can be had cheap, turn your head when changing lanes, and turn the key old school and you'll save monies for mods.

I bought my '12 with tech 5 months ago and haven't regretted it. I was looking for a slightly used '11 or '10 but I saw that these cars hold their value really well so I decided to just buy new because the hit I was taking driving off the lot was minimal.

I love the tech package. The key fob thing is awesome! Saved me so much hassle already. I think the Nav is ok...plus I hate having aftermarket Nav's with the cords hanging and the stupid suction cup mount.

HIDs, power seats my nav has been useful recently. All and all, I'd buy it as its been more use to me then not.

I got super lucky when I got my 2010, I had been cruising the websites last summer when I found the car at a dealer, Mazda pre-certified mica velocity red with 6700 miles on it. It was bought by a guy in Virginia who then drove to Texas, San Antonio he was in the Army, so a lot of the miles were highway miles. Anyways he didn't like the boy racer so he traded it in on a CX-9, I found it in the AM hours so after a couple frantic emails begging don't sell it I hauled ass to the dealer as they were unlocking the doors the next morning, about an hour later I drove it home. Loving my car, couple mods and an AP it's a beast, hope you have as much fun with this car as I am. It came with the tech package already which i enjoy daily, its just a matter of preference, I cant imagine my car without it. Zoom-Zoom!!

I have a 2011 w/the tech package. If you can afford it, get the tech package. The nav sucks (so I use an external one) but the rest definitely adds to the enjoyment I get from the car.

And I *really* enjoy this car. After over a year I still go out for a drives to nowhere just so I can get that feeling this car gives me. And at a price that is dirt-cheap (relatively speaking). And in a car that can haul shit around in the back. And that doesn't make highway patrol pay close attention.

There are faster, better-handling, better-looking cars. My plan, back when I got this car, was to drive it for 3 years (until alimony payments end) and then sell it and get either a used 911 turbo or new Cayman. But now I'm thinking that even after I get one of those I don't see myself parting with this car so soon.

I think I am going to go for the base and spend the tech $$ on a Cobb AB, K&N CAI, a set of HIDs and a case of good beer to install them with. That sounds way better than keyless and a nav map. If everything goes to plan I will be back on here around the end of Aug looking for tuning tips.

Blind Spot Monitoring is worth the cost of the tech package, let alone the awesome push button start and AFS lights. The other tech package features are meh

Cars with properly adjusted sideview mirrors don't have blind spots, and therefore have no need for blind spot monitoring systems.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...ts?redirect=no

Learn to drive, and don't expect the car to do it for you.


Tapadatass

Just so you know, If you negotiate it well you can get the tech pack for the base price. I got my tech with 9miles on it (from me test driving) for 24.5. Good luck with it OP either way your going to love this car like zombies like homeless peoples' faces!

LOL I got the same exact deal...I just had to drive about 1 hour away but it was worth it.

What power seats?

We've had this discussion before.

Side mirrors are adjusted the fuck out, can't see the side of my car. No blind spot in a straight line. Try joining a highway from a curving on ramp or curving off ramp and you'll quickly see how inadequate this is. Also try driving in the rain, at night, or during a snow storm at night - mirrors don't have anything on sonar sensors.

I don't rely on the car to drive for me. Automatic computer controlled safety systems are a very powerful safety net that is independent of weather conditions and human error.

Me personally, I guess because I ride motorcycles also, I've gotten used to turning my head whenever I change lanes or merge. I've driven next to cars that have this bms, and imo, by the time it blinks cause my car is in its blind spot, if they were to quickly change lanes, I'd be hit. Technology is useful, but I don't believe it should be depended on. Too many consumers become dependent on these types of things. Just my .02

I vote '13 without tech....Not really worth the extra $$ IMHO, it's a sports car not a Lincoln. My 2 pennies worth.

My 2010 has power driver's seat. US tech packages don't?

Sent from my Atrix

Hand power lol.

I was bummed when the 2010 came out and there was no HID headlight options. We chose to get a tech package anyways and I think it would be worth it more now with the LED tails and HID headlights.

-Derrick

Yeah, because I've never driven a car on an interstate in the rain at night.

Learn to drive.


Tapadatass

Lol not mine!

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