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  May 20, 2010 9:55 a.m. PHeller Dork

  A buddy of mine picked up a 5-Spd, 113,000 mile Sport model for $6,500.

  I think it was a fair deal, but nothing too crazy.

  He wants some background on what it might need over the next couple of years.

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  May 20, 2010 10:00 a.m. Wonkothesane Reader

  So far ours has needed oil... it's a 2005 w/ 105k on it.

  Oh! and spark plugs!

  Well, true, i guess it doesn't need them in the fact that it doesn't run well or anything, more in the "I feel that spark plugs should be changed" way.

  I'm going to get real crazy and flush the coolant and brake fluid one of these days....

  Seriously, the only weak point I know of on these things is the engine mounts are pretty soft and can be ripped (probably are). I'd recommend upgrading to a aftermarket one for better throttle and shifter response.

  1 Mazda == Good. 4 Mazdas == More Gooder.

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  May 20, 2010 10:17 a.m. bravenrace Dork

  In reply to PHeller:

  Well it's a good thing he got the manual, b'cuz the auto sucks dead donkey ticks.

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  May 20, 2010 10:22 a.m. Strizzo SuperDork

  in my mazdaspeed3, i put a set of corksport inserts in the stock rear mount, which made the transmission much more precise, and nearly eliminated wheelhop. the regular mazda3 rear mount actually results in a little stiffer mount with the inserts because it has more open space to be filled with the poly insert, so if your buddy is really worried about vibrations, tell him to swap someone for their mazdaspeed3 mount and put inserts in it.

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  May 20, 2010 10:30 a.m. Wonkothesane Reader

  bravenrace wrote: In reply to PHeller: Well it's a good thing he got the manual, b'cuz the auto sucks dead donkey ticks.

  Ours is an auto (it's the wifes'), and it's not horrible. It's definitely one of the better autos I've driven.
  

  Obviously, I don't own any auto cars, but I think Mazda did a pretty good job on theirs.

  1 Mazda == Good. 4 Mazdas == More Gooder.

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  May 20, 2010 10:37 a.m. nocones Reader

  His right knee will be very very annoyed if he's over 5'10" tall..

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  May 20, 2010 10:38 a.m. PHeller Dork

  He's 5'9".

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  May 20, 2010 11:16 a.m. bravenrace Dork

  In reply to Wonkothesane:

  All I meant is that it takes the fun out of driving it compared to the manual, not that it sucks in comparison to other autos. I probably didn't state that very well, but it does sap quite a bit of power out of it, and the car is good enough to deserve a manual.

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  May 20, 2010 11:35 a.m. JtspellS New Reader

  Just take care of it as needed and it will last you through damn near anything. Motor mounts (as stated before) in the MS3 or the MZ3 are the only weak points seen so far. Have fun with it!

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  May 20, 2010 11:55 a.m. Wonkothesane Reader

  bravenrace wrote: In reply to Wonkothesane: All I meant is that it takes the fun out of driving it compared to the manual, not that it sucks in comparison to other autos. I probably didn't state that very well, but it does sap quite a bit of power out of it, and the car is good enough to deserve a manual.

  Oh yeah, I'd agree with that... But about any car compared to manual :)
  

  I just thought I'd stick up for their auto compared to any other cars' auto, it's surprisingly not bad.

  1 Mazda == Good. 4 Mazdas == More Gooder.

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  May 20, 2010 2:06 p.m. minimac SuperDork

  He'll want to add cruise if it doesn't have it. In 1 1/2 years, all I've had to do was oil changes and rotate tires.

  "If you can make a girl laugh, you can make her do anything" Marilyn Monroe

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  May 20, 2010 10:51 p.m. Vigo Reader

  Wonkothesane wrote: So far ours has needed oil... it's a 2005 w/ 105k on it. Oh! and spark plugs! Well, true, i guess it doesn't need them in the fact that it doesn't run well or anything, more in the "I feel that spark plugs should be changed" way. I'm going to get real crazy and flush the coolant and brake fluid one of these days.... Seriously, the only weak point I know of on these things is the engine mounts are pretty soft and can be ripped (probably are). I'd recommend upgrading to a aftermarket one for better throttle and shifter response.

  Damn, thats just about the only response you need. Well done!!

  I just sold our 2004 3 sedan, but i have NOTHING bad to say about the car. In fact, if ours had been a 5spd, or in better condition when i met my fiancee, i would have kept it. They're great cars.

  His right knee will be very very annoyed if he's over 5'10" tall..

  Im 6'0" and had no complaints.

  In fact, i have far more complaints in that area about my dad's Diamante and my Magnum, both of which are far larger cars.

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  May 20, 2010 11:13 p.m. JohnGalt Reader

  I saw one last time i went auto-crossing, Gray with gunmetal RPF1's, it was lowered slightly and composed enough that i think it had the Mazdaspeed shock spring package. Seriously good sounding car as well, had some exhaust on it. I was very impressed with how it looked around the course.

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