Prospective '12 MS3 buyer - UPDATE: PICS of CWP page 1
 

Hello all. A quick intro about me - I'm in Sacramento, California, and recently test drove a '12 ms3 w/tech package and instantly fell in love with it (I guess that's the trouble with going to the dealership when you're bored - not to mention the low-end torque). Over the past 3 days I've been doing a lot of research and also trolling this forum in hopes of getting advice from some of you.

I am currently looking at a '12 crystal white pearl w/tech package the dealership will be receiving in two days. I've been using Truecar dot com to help me get a better idea of what price to pay. I was offered $25,300 + TTL. I'm preparing a counter-offer but I'd like to know first what most of you think of that price. According to Truecar, anything less than $25.6k is a great deal.

Unfortunately, there are currently no financing incentives for the MS3, or so the dealership tells me. I've been verbally offered a 2.9%, 60-month financing through Mazda. My alternative would be to finance with my credit union which currently has 2.9% that I am qualified for.


As a side note, I found on Craigs list a used '08 silver MS3 w/tech package. ~34k miles, one owner, just over $16.5k. I have a meeting with the seller this evening.



UPDATE: I picked up a brand new '12 MS3 in cwp with tech package a couple of days ago. My first mod was to have 3M/Ventureshield clear bra installed and 15% tints for the rear. Check it out! Thanks for the handy advice I've been getting here so far!

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/e...e/PC216729.jpg

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/e...e/PC216729.jpg

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/e...e/PC216734.jpg

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/e...e/PC216735.jpg

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/e...e/PC216736.jpg

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/e...e/PC216739.jpg



Your thoughts and opinion will be greatly appreciated!!!


PS Sorry for the long first post!

I would buy a lightly used ms3. You never know what that owner did to it.

Search around, 4000 threads just Lille this one.

I'd buy new honestly, unless the payments are way better on the used one. My CU currently offers 3.5% for 60 months on used cars, which is what I got for my MS6, so you'd be paying much less in that case. Price not being an issue, it's always better to start from the beginning and have a full warranty to fall back on. The cars are basically the same, gen 1 a little lighter, gen 2 a little better put together, but not much difference.

There are rarely incentives on MS3s because they don't have much trouble selling them, especially not right at the beginning of the 2012 MY.

Wow thanks for the quick response, peeps! Travis, just to clarify, you're saying that you "would" buy a lightly used MS3?

I've bought my previous car used, through CL, actually, and so far so good. My only concern is that with the '08 MS3 being a turbo, I wonder what kind of problems/issues would be arising at 30k+ miles, and what kind of maintenance the owner has done to it. I'm still considering the used one if the new '12 MS3 deal falls through.

I just got another dealership involved via text messaging. I'd testing to see if they can beat the initial offer of $25.3k.

PS - I did use the search function and found a plethora of threads with the same issue, but none are California-based, as far as I recall.

Well I wouldn't justify paying 16 for a 4 year old vehicle. 2010 or 2011 with 5 to 10k on it would be great. I bought my 2011 new. All I'm saying is after being in the community for awhile, a lot can happen in 4 years to these cars.

Go in with new offer and financing all ready sorted out with credit union... All of my experiences are better when you are not left in the dark to the negotiating of you credit terms. Good Luck with your purchase.

23,500 for a white 2012 w tech? I'd be all over that like white on rice. Plus it's white. I hate you.

My experience is if you can afford it, buy new, you get to be the first guy to beat on it, and the warranty.

Ha! I wish it was $23k.

Now I'm thinking of just holding off on getting one until spring. By then, the 2012s won't be "new" anymore and dealerships will have an incentive to lower their price.

Ooops my bad I'm dyslexic haha I thought it said 23,500 not 25,300.

Anyways, from what I've seen so far when I shopped around, speeds r hard to come by, and the white? Shit they don't last on the lots. But hey to each his own, I got my speed without the tech for 23,500, and I hopped on it right away.

Find one with a 2011 on the lot. No big dif between the two really.

I'm definitely torn. I guess I need to sit on this a little bit more and not just jump on it instantly.

Besides, I haven't completely convinced the misses!!!

Thanks for the input guys. At least I know I'll have a baseline to refer to when I come back to the dealership.

Haha do what I did, tell the old lady it's got 5 doors, great for groceries, easy access to a carseat for future kids, and don't tell her it's turbo until after you buy it.

Lol. That's a great suggestion! After all, she's been complaining about the measly combined 20 avg mpg she's been getting on our '07 Mitsu Outlander.

Mileage ain't gonna b much better

Get with your credit union and tell them you want a loan for the amount they offered you. Get pre-approved and then go to the dealership and low ball them. Make sure you tell them you already have the money.

Tell them you will pay 23k out the door (that includes TTL). What's the worst that can happen? Them saying no and counter offering? It's all a game and you have to remember, they want your money! Be firm and keep low balling their counter offers.

That's what I did and I live in California and I got mine out the door for 23k! I did buy my car in the spring though. :147:

Edit: Screw Truecar btw...go to Edmunds and get the real pricing averages

Edmunds really?

I based my purchase on TrueCar and it was $2,000 less than Edmunds.

I got the TrueCar price.

This


-Jake

I would buy new. You really never know what the owner really did with the car. Also since the car is turbo charged the mantinace is even more important and when they did the oil changes how often and with what oil. My brother is a mechanic and tells me all the stupid crap people do to their car.

I bought a 2010 with 44k miles for $17k. The only reason I did is that's its a Certified Pre Owned with 100k or 7 year warranty. It also came with a 12 month bumper to bumper warranty. 3.9% financing through the dealership.

Just got mine last week. After using truecar and calling around Northern Va and Maryland, best OTD price was $25812 and all the dealers price matched.

What dealer did you end up going with?

Malloy in woodbridge.

Buy mine, only 25k miles

Which dealer in Sac are you buying from? Elk Grove Mazda? If so don't forget that they throw in a 10yr 100K powertrain warranty so factor the value of that into the price before comparing with other dealerships. Unless you don't care about the warranty...to me it was worth it.

[php][/php]yup elk grove Mazda. How much did you get yours and who did you deal with?

I dealt with Anthony and Omar, Anthony is their internet/fleet guy if I am not mistaken. I bought the base model and I think it was $23.3K + ttl so your price seems fair for the tech + white paint (an extra cost color). They really don't bs there, I walked out the first time and they didn't try to stop me...even showed me their invoice for the car which matched what I found online. I think they make like $500-$750 on each car after dealer hold back which seems fair to me.

Being that there are no incentives right now on 2012s I doubt you'll find a much lower price locally plus they give you the extended warranty. Maybe you can find a 2011 for a better deal? Personally, I like the 2012 interior better but it’s not $1000s better by any means. Anyway, I don't know if it’s worth driving all over hell and dealing with a bunch of PITA sales people to save a few bucks if even possible...I think the next closest Mazdaspeed dealer is in Tracy. Good luck on your purchase and let us know how it goes.

I just found a '10 with tech pkg in red, 21k miles for $19k+taxa. Why do you all think of price?? I am 90% ready to oil it up today. TIa.

If You can get that Blanco MS3 Tek for anywhere near 24K new. Pull the trigger!

I paid more( I know...boo-hoo). And I am a tool for this car. I probably still would have paid more:tongue::439:

No more NA engines. After this car (with only 400 miles on it) now I'm looking at other Mazdaspeeds!

I have a problem! Good Luck with your dealing!

I wish I cud get the new one for close to 24k, but this red one for 19k seems more a viable option for me. I shudve mentioned that I picked up an 08 speed3 gt in cwp with 55k miles for only $17.5k. I still have 5 days to return it hassle-free (carmax). Rly thinking bout pullin the trigger on the '10. I'd only b missing out on the '08's OEm hids. Iust need some convincing lol.

1) Independant mechanic inspection.
2) Independant mechanic inspection.
3) Independant mechanic inspection.
4) Carfax
5) Independant mechanic inspection.
6) Independant mechanic inspection.

Lots of newly traded in abused and about to blow up. Don't let it be your pile of shit.

If HIDs are your real concern, DDM makes a kit thats real cheap with a lifetime warranty.

Go new, lurk around here and read a bit and you will see why you don't want a used MS3. We beat the dogshit out of these things, throw giant turbos on and then put them back to stock before selling them like it never happened.

The '10 red MS3 looked like it was heavily abused even though it only showed ~22k miles. I stuck with the '08.5 crystal white pearl MS3 GT I found for $17.5k :) :) Couldn't be happier! Looks like I'll be lurking the Gen1 forum from now. I love it so much that I'm thinking of getting another one, lol.

Ok so the local dealership called me about the '12 ms3 cwp w/tech package. they are now offering it to me at $24,900 + ttl. I can get 2.9% @ 60 months or 3.9% @ 72 months. What do you all think of the price?!?!?! I only have 'til 4 PM pacific time to decide!!!

I spent about two weeks reading this forum and decided there was no fucking way I was buying a used speed to only save about 3500$

Why? Does it turn into a pumpkin or something after that?

If you want the car buy it. But don't do it because some jackass in the sales department told you the deal was only good if you do it now.

I'd do it. I told ya awhile back, if you can afford a new one do so. We all know that we beat these cars up and the last thing you want is the last guys headaches. Plus, IT'S WHITE. Btw I hate u in advance for getting it in white.

Dealership closes at 5 PM and it takes me a while to get there. I think I may just go for it. You guys are right; no matter how good looking a used MS3 is, if you don't know who the seller is, odds are it's been "worked" before. Will report back shortly...

pull the trigger... from reading your posts it sounds like you will regret it if you pass it up.

plus CWP!!!!