2007 MS3 74,000 kms.... any potential issues to look out for?

[Sean80]

Hi everyone!

Finally in a position to purchase a MS3! I'm going to check out an '07 with 74,000 kms. Are there any potential issues I should look for? Are the MS3's capable of putting some miles on them? I'm hoping to hang on to this car for a while.... I just hope it drives the same as if it was new. Do you current owners find your car still drives the same?

Thanks!

[SKYMP3]

My 07 MS3 has 45000km now and have no issue. How much you paynng yours?

[Sean80]

I'm just more or less wondering if there is a tell-tale way to check if the car has simply been abused or not.

[Unoriginalusername]

there are a few guys looking to sell their 07/08's with less km's on here. I would go the route of knowing who owned it, how it was driven before talking in generalities. how much is the car? is a dealer or private?

[SKYMP3]

I'm just more or less wondering if there is a tell-tale way to check if the car has simply been abused or not.

Depends how you mean abused....if a owner of a Mazdaspeed3 didn't play much with the car, he made a good decision to sell it, the car is not for him......

[Sean80]

The car is a lease return from a dealer and by abused I mean I don't want to buy a car that was heavily modified at one time and then parted out. Is there a way you can tell if it was loaded with parts?

[SpeedBaby]

do you have a link to that car?

[Sean80]

Yep... Look familiar anyone?? Not a big fan of the gas cap, but that's easy enough to change.

http://www.autotrader.ca/used_cars_Cars_details/EAST+YORK_Ontario_2007_MAZDA_MAZDASPEED+3+Sport+Ha tchback+4D_3682285.html?srcid=7048581&source=27&pgno=1&srt=70&CompanyID=ON20071022110342327&r=ontario&ad-attributes=photos,,priority

[-cj-]

I wouldn't worry too much about mods on a ms3... They're mostly bolt ons. Provided the car passes a compression test and has good vehicle history, it should be safe. That car you linked looks familiar for some reason...

[horto]

my 07 has 97k km on it and runs like a dream. just a tip, watch out for the sales d-bags at gyro... i freakin' hate those guys.

[mleblond]

ecu cover is missing from the engine bay, doesn't mean much but its the only thing I noticed.

[BlK98Cx]

car looks mint from the pic......but don't forget the basics!!!!!! feel out the brakes,clutch, and leaks!!!!! make sure check all the major maintenance was done 24k etch to keep the power train warranty.... don't just concentrate on the motor coz the stuff is not cheap also!!!! good luck

[Sean80]

Car was in mint shape. Drove just like the 2009 I drove last week and all maintenance has been done on it. Deal is signed, I pick it up on Tuesday. I'm kind of sad about getting rid of my 3, but I'm getting a pretty wicked ride in it's place. Car is already booked for tints. Time to start looking for parts lol!

[FLIPDADY]

Congrats on the purchase! Just paint the fuel door body color it will look sweet.

[laksman91]

Congrats! Enjoy the ride

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

Congrats on the MS3 Sean. You are really going to enjoy it...

[iGOzoom]

Congrats on the new ride!

[spd frk]

Congrats on the purchase. I bought my 08.5 mS3 new and have put on 72,000km so far. It was heavily modded, and has seen lots of 1/4mile action as well as track days. It runs like a champ still. As long as you kep up with maintenance things should be fine.

[optiklenz13]

Congrats on the purchase!!!

[Sean80]

The business manager is now putting some pressure on me to purchase a 3 year, 60,000km bumper to bumper coverage from coverageone.ca at a cost of $2000.00. I do plan on putting some parts in this car which will void this warranty most likely. The car also has the remainder of the factory warranty still on it. It's at 75,000km right now, but I drive maybe 10,000kms a year. I'm thinking I'll just stick to the factory warranty, but I would like to hear the input of others. I mean, the guy is pouring on the pressure so they can make some money right?!?!

Thanks,

Sean

[spd frk]

Skip that additional warranty. You do so littel driving no major issues should come up. They also tend to have a ton of "outs" built into them so that they don't ahve to cover your warranty repair. I would read the coverage document very closely in the fine print if you decide to go for it.

[Unoriginalusername]

The business manager is now putting some pressure on me to purchase a 3 year, 60,000km bumper to bumper coverage from coverageone.ca at a cost of $2000.00. I do plan on putting some parts in this car which will void this warranty most likely. The car also has the remainder of the factory warranty still on it. It's at 75,000km right now, but I drive maybe 10,000kms a year. I'm thinking I'll just stick to the factory warranty, but I would like to hear the input of others. I mean, the guy is pouring on the pressure so they can make some money right?!?!

Thanks,

Sean

Gotta love dealerships. The sales people sell you on a car that is best in class reliability and dependability that represents a good use of your hard earned cash, and the business office tries to tell you that you have just purcahsed a unreliable heap of parts destined to fail or rust at any given moment and that you should spend 10% of the purchase price in your case on a warranty lol.

[Sean80]

Haha that's what I was thinking too!

[SpeedBaby]

i would strongly recommend avoiding third-party warranty. as much as you might possibly save on the cost of parts in an even of a major break down, these warranties don't cover labour which is often the more expensive component of the total price.

[standsideways]

i would strongly recommend avoiding third-party warranty. as much as you might possibly save on the cost of parts in an even of a major break down, these warranties don't cover labour which is often the more expensive component of the total price.

X2

[alhope34]

My '08 has 82,500 kms on it now, I bought it brand new (I also got the 6 year 160,000km bumper to bumper MAP for $1850 and very glad I did). Not TOO many problems. If it has the stock rear motor mount get that looked at right away. Mine was ripped at only 32,000kms with only an intake. The rear shocks also like to go out on these cars, had my right rear replaced in '08. I've also had a wierd clunking from the front over bumps and when i swerved back and forth really fast. Mazda couldn't find the problem at first, so they replaced my steering rack, motor mount, and end links before they found the actual problem was the sway bar bushings. Also, I have a clicking noise I know a few others have too. When shifting hard or when loading the clutch in reverse then forward then reverse again (like parking it) there's a clicking from the front left part of the car. I've had both half shafts and main centre drive shaft replaced and it didn't fix the problem. Mazda now says the noise is "normal".

Have fun with your new car! Mine still puts a smile on my face every day I drive it, even after 82,000 kms.

[Sean80]

Thanks for the input everyone! I didn't go for the warranty, since it is still on the bumper to bumper for a little while longer and the powertrain warranty is still good for a couple years. I'm loving the car so far and just got 15% tint all around. Looks pretty sick now! Need to sort out the gas cap though, I hate the way it looks with the stainless steel. I also want to remove the door mouldings. I did that on my 06 and it looks so much better. As for parts down the road... I'd like to get the CP-E TBE, mazdaspeed intake, forge BPV, and probably the access port to keep it breathing right. Again... thanks for the help everyone!