Link to Autotrader
2007 Mazda3 Sedan with a 5-speed manual. I'm getting tired of constant tinkering of $1500 and $2000 cars. Spend a ton of time and money to still have a loud car with clunks and rattles. I'm thinking about upgrading to something that can haul the babies and still head to the track on the weekends.
How are these in terms of suspension goodness? I already love love love the 2.3 engine because we had the same one in our Mazda3 hatch auto that was traded in for the family truckster.
Is this a capable car for fun/DD duties? Is this one overpriced?
Sonic
SuperDork
11/18/14 10:02 a.m.
They are great cars. We have had an 07 2.3 5spd hatch since new, now 158k. It has been great. Only real "repair" was the a/c compressor under warranty. Everything else has been maintenance or normal wear/tear, but the car is easy on all consumables except tires. Brakes at 100k, clutch at 115k, axles and balljoints and a few bushings at 150k. Gets 27-32 mpg regularly, fun to drive, easy to work on, it's a great car. We have Koni FSD shocks with eibach springs which helps a bit, but stock is still very good.
Thanks. I think the car I listed is too damn high, but I'd still like to get something similar.
My brother had one. It ate suspension parts, especially strut mounts. I'm not sure if there's a fix (like a better aftermarket part), but he traded it (for a '14 Mazda3 so he obviously liked it) the 3rd or 4th time. Other than that and thin paint it was good.
You're in PA, so check for rust. Not sure if they had fixed that by then (or yet, quite frankly).
That price seems way high though. A new one starts at like $16k.
NGTD
SuperDork
11/18/14 2:24 p.m.
Personally I would avoid 1st Gen Mazda 3's - rust!!!
I haven't noticed quite so much on the 2nd gen but they are also newer, so maybe its a matter of time.
That one does look pretty clean though.
I will likely head down south to pick one up.
mndsm
MegaDork
11/18/14 2:30 p.m.
Rear motor mount is prone to early failure, shocks wear early, and the whole rust thing. Suspension can be upgraded any number of ways. A rear sway is mandatory in these cars, Hotchkiss makes a 32mm solid. Its a monster. Pcv is a bear to deal with, unless you buy the ford focus 2.3 duratc pcv tool. Then its cake. Brakes are good, gas mileage is a little below par for the category but it makes up for it by being the nest handling fwd vanilla car out there IMO. I think he's about 1000$ hot on the price, but who knows.
I had a base model loaner for a couple of days a few years ago, and was amazed at how that car turned in.
That car was fun - no power, auto transmission, which meant that I could go everywhere at WOT and never really break traffic laws. I'd imagine the 2.3 with a manual would be a hoot to drive.
There's a sedan in my neighborhood with the SP2.3 package that looks really good. No idea on what years that package was available, but it might be worth looking for.
mndsm
MegaDork
11/18/14 3:41 p.m.
Ahhh the sp23. I had one. A hatchback. Only available in 2005. Only in carbon gray metallic with polished wheels. Stock Bose, hids, heated leather, power all the things. I miss that car. Even better with the saddle interior, whereas most.opted for black.
I really can't get that grey one out of my head. I'm sure I could do some hagglin'.
The car you are looking at looks decent.
Pros:
-No timing belt to service, and maintenance is cheap
-Fun to drive and handle great!
-Interior is a cross between a VW and a similar vintage Subaru, which is not a bad thing.
Cons:
-Engine mounts will need to be replaced at some point. The rear is super easy and cheap for a stock replacement, or $100+ for a solid one. The other two are not as cheap ($100+)
-Gas mileage isn't as good as some of its peers (makes up for it in low maintenance costs though)
-Rust! Look around the wheel wells in the rear quarters
If you could beat them up on the price a bit, it wouldn't be a bad deal. That's about asking price for similar cars around here in that condition.
Duke
UltimaDork
11/18/14 4:11 p.m.
NGTD wrote:
Personally I would avoid 1st Gen Mazda 3's - rust!!!
But they are so much the best looking generation.
NGTD
SuperDork
11/18/14 4:23 p.m.
In reply to Duke:
I agree with you. When I sold my WRX my plan was to get a 3, but I did not find a SINGLE one that did not have significant rust issues around the rear quarters.
That is why I am driving a Golf.
I made the same step. I went from a 1990 Jetta GLi 16v to a Mazda 3. The Jetta had broken cruise control, broken a/c, a sagging headliner, and a number of other pesky problems. Rather than fix the Jetta I found a used, high-miles Mazda 3 hatch. It was such a great transition. Cruise, a/c, quiet, steering wheel stereo controls, HIDs... I thought I was a minimalist until I experienced some of those finer things in life.
In reply to Duke: I agree, I like the 1st gen styling the best and I like the interior layout much better than the 2nd gen Mazda 3.
IMO, the only FWD car that's more fun than a Mazda 3 is a Jetta TDI.
Vigo
PowerDork
11/18/14 9:25 p.m.
The styling on the later 1st gens is definitely the best of all so far, even including the current one.
I actually grew to prefer the sedan over the hatch as well after seeing them properly lowered.
SWMBO had an 04 when we met which we put another 60+k on and sold at ~130k with no real issues because she stopped driving it in favor of our Dodge Magnum. I loved the car as far as design and driving it. The one we had was a horrible color combo and beat up so it was easy to let it go, but if it had been one of the nicer ones we would probably still have it. It was a great car!