Mazda 5 buying advice

I have never bought a car from a dealer and have been helping a friend shop. We found an '06 Mazda 5 with 5 speed for $15k, nearly as much as several others on the lot with autos, less on the odo, and newer model year. Are the sticks really that desirable? She really digs the car, and i was also impressed.

The car has been on the lot for 30 days; does that suggest they're struggling to sell it?

I read here that there are minor issues with bushings and shocks; any other gotchas? I thought I could get some info from a service writer but that was a rookie move: no one would say anything bad about them, and the only way I could get them to say anything about the suspension was by telling them I already knew...

Thanks for any advice on these cars.

$15K seems incredibly high for an 06, unless it is absolutely perfect with only 20K miles. We're looking at a 06 manual for around $7K here in Atlanta. It has 131K miles and a few minor cosmetic issues, but seems otherwise solid (we'll see once I get a pre-purchase inspection).

I paid about $10k out the door for an 06 5-speed with about 60k miles. I thought I might have overpaid a bit.

$15k is very near what these went for new. The manual transmission is very UNdesirable for a dealership, they can stick around on lots for a while.

the rear shocks leak (take 10 min to replace)

I paid 17200 for my 2012 with a 6spd with 0miles. 15k is insane, 10k is more the right speed from my looking.

you can buy a brand new one for a few thousand more. I was car shopping last month and the 5 was on the list. I ended up getting a bigger car (traverse) but I could have bought 2012 Mazda 5 5 speed for a little under 19k.

When we bought our '10 w/auto, new, the number of $17,500 all in comes to mind. We bought the '10 in Feb of '11as a late model and the newer ones were already on the lot.
This '06 is too expensive.

My 06 stick was only $9K and change out the door in Jan 2011. The sticks are worth less. WAY too expensive!!

4g63t wrote: the rear shocks leak (take 10 min to replace)

That seems to be a common problem across the board with that platform and its mates. My ms3 shocks were toast at 50k.

chandlerGTi wrote: I paid 17200 for my 2012 with a 6spd with 0miles. 15k is insane, 10k is more the right speed from my looking.

I should point out that I just saw the twin of my car with 36000 miles for sale for 18500, so maybe the manuals do command a premium. Before I bought mine every manual first gen would be sold as soon as it was listed or priced way to high.

Just a follow-up: my friend is hiring a broker to find her a 5 w/stick. After his fees and shipping, it's looking like she'll be in one with ~80k for low to mid- $8K (she's still shopping).

BTW, I don't know how common brokers are, but this guy -- who has a legitimate car-finder business -- just searches wholesale sales sites, buys/ships on your behalf, and takes a modest ($500) fee. If the car arrives and needs up to $500 in work, you have it done and bill the seller; if more than $500 you can send the car back at seller's expense. Obviously you can't drive the car beforehand, but for an appliance, it seems like a good way to go.

Got a link to this guy's site/business? That sounds like a business id be vaguely interested in running..

Vigo wrote: Got a link to this guy's site/business? That sounds like a business id be vaguely interested in running..

I've been seeing this more and more. There a couple buy here pay here type places around here that are specializing in finding what you want. I think it's an awesome idea.