Mazdaspeed3 - now a $5k car

I was doing a bit of Craigslist surfing and was surprised to see a running and driving Mazdaspeed3 listed for $5k. It had a rebuilt title, and a turbo problem, though.

I was surprised that these are getting down into that price range. It's put a wrinkle in my brain for a fun toy car that I may have trouble ironing out.

(edit) I apparently concatenated two ads in my mind, sorry. It makes a bit more sense now.

I have noticed the same thing. I'm very interested in one of these.

Although in NC, I've also noticed the # of Rebuilt, Salvage, or Missing titles on Craigslist seems to be ridiculously high

Dammit...:searches craigslist:

Great car as long as you don't mind a ton of torque steer. (Says the smug jerk with AWD and zero torque steer )

I think a lot of them had turbo failures. Now they are probably into the range where depreciation has gotten so bad that the near-skint sixth owners don't find it worth replacing the turbo.

One thing that turned me off of old DISI cars is that there isn't any available replacement for injectors. They aren't Bosch.

jstein77 wrote: Great car as long as you don't mind a ton of torque steer. (Says the smug jerk with AWD and zero torque steer )

And a much more expensive car. No hate; if I could afford an RS, I might get one. But a $5k asking price for a Speed3, even if it needs a bit of work, seems like a lot of potential car for the money.

Great cars if you like minivan driving dynamics.

Mister Fister wrote: Great cars if you like minivan driving dynamics.

I consider that a testament to minivans, not a slight on the MS3.

I saw one the past week down around $3600, had 260k on it.

Mister Fister wrote: Great cars if you like minivan driving dynamics.

Are they worse than any other econoboxes? I haven't driven an Mazda 3 in >5 years, but I don't recall it being terrible for what it is.

I watched a speed3 lay down just under 400HP at a dyno day. It looked totally stock and was extremely quiet during the run. As it idled with the AC on as they were leaving, I couldn't help think what a great freeway car it might have been.

How is the ride and the seats in these? Comfy enough for 4 hour jaunts?

Mine is only worth about that. But it's been for a bit of a swim, and needs a turbo. Shame really. I paid 24k for that car.

Jumper K. Balls wrote: I watched a speed3 lay down just under 400HP at a dyno day. It looked totally stock and was extremely quiet during the run. As it idled with the AC on as they were leaving, I couldn't help think what a great freeway car it might have been. How is the ride and the seats in these? Comfy enough for 4 hour jaunts?

Super comfy, depending on the suspension. Some of the best seats ive ever owned. The let fit can be a bit awkward as the console is sorta wide, so if youre more of a lard ass like me (6' 270ish, 38" waist) and you have thick legs, it can bandy your knee about a bit. I've done far longer in far worse, and I wouldn't hesitate to drive a running one 16+ hours.

Knurled wrote: One thing that turned me off of old DISI cars is that there isn't any available replacement for injectors. They aren't Bosch.

AFAIK no one has hit 100% duty cycle on the injectors yet. No joke factory injectors making 700whp. The fueling, save the hpfp was a monster.

I owned 2 and loved them both (2008 & 2011). Never had any real issues with either, but both were new or nearly new whenI bought them and sold with 50K or so on them.

I wish they made a Mazdaspeed version of the new 3..

mndsm wrote:

Knurled wrote: One thing that turned me off of old DISI cars is that there isn't any available replacement for injectors. They aren't Bosch.

AFAIK no one has hit 100% duty cycle on the injectors yet. No joke factory injectors making 700whp. The fueling, save the hpfp was a monster.

So, if you break one, or one gets clogged or otherwise needs replacement... what do you do?

Knurled wrote:

mndsm wrote:

Knurled wrote: One thing that turned me off of old DISI cars is that there isn't any available replacement for injectors. They aren't Bosch.

AFAIK no one has hit 100% duty cycle on the injectors yet. No joke factory injectors making 700whp. The fueling, save the hpfp was a monster.

So, if you break one, or one gets clogged or otherwise needs replacement... what do you do?

Scavenge one of the 8 bazillion mazdaspeed 3s or 6s that have been balled up, or grab one out of a dead cx7. Once they're nla....I have no idea.

AFAIK they are already NLA.

Which sucks mightily.

Time to start hoarding injectors.

I've seen Mazdaspeed6s well down in that price range as well if you want AWD.

Hmm sure beats a Pontiac Vibe GT. I found a couple locally for $4k. Tempting.

In reply to Knurled:

MazdaMotorsports shows them as available, $90 each. Which seems like a deal, really.

What kind of BS is making fuel injectors NLA?

Brett_Murphy wrote: What kind of BS is making fuel injectors NLA?

Good question.