Is the MS3 right for me?

C

captain_rage

Member
Hey everyone

I was recently involved in a car accident (other driver wasn't paying attention, ran red light), my car's totaled and I'm interested in buying a used MS3.

I've only found a reasonable 2007 MS3 still under warranty, but should I be looking for a 08.5 instead? My main concern is having to deal with TSB's which seem more frequent on the 07...

I'm really just looking for a fun car to drive that's reliable. I don't want to have to constantly deal with malfunctioning annoyances and repairs. With this in mind:

1) Is the MS3 generally a reliable car?
2) Is 2007 MS3 ok, or should I really look for 08 and above?
3) What typical problems should I check for when looking at the 2007 MS3? (ex. If ECU was Flashed)

Thanks
 
As with most any vehicle, as the MS3 aged, the little nagging problems were ironed out. So 08.5-09 models will have fewer annoyances than 07's.

That said, the MS3 is generally pretty reliable as long as you don't go crazy with power modifications.

I'm sure someone here will be able to list the TSB's you should check on with early models. As long as those TSB's are handled, I wouldn't shy away from an earlier MS3, as long as it hasn't been heavily modified, raced, etc.
 
+1 on the above quote...that said, I wouldn't shy away from an 07...good chance many of the TBS have already been addressed, and a quick dealer visit will tell ya for sure...go for it, you'll love it!!!
 
My 08.5 seems pretty indestructable. The only thing I worry about for other people driving it is the clutch. These cars come with basically a factory stage 2 clutch thats pretty much an on/off switch that grabs really hard. I let someone else drive it, and for some reason the third time they drove it they didn't even get 3 feet of distance and I could smell this awful burning stink that wasn't oil or or gas - it was clutch. They kept trying to go in third gear. Stupid. Never let anyone else drive it since - except my dad since he's driven big rigs before and has a good respect for vehicles.

So make sure the clutch has good grab still and there's no slippage. I'm pretty sure the engine can take care of itself if its in stock tune. If not...well a lot of people have funny ideas about how Mazda engineers are "wrong" and start playing with the tunes themselves. I'd be wary of how "just smart enough to be dangerous" these people are.
 
Thanks for all the responses and helpful advice.
I've been a fan of the MS3 for a long time so I'm going to take this opportunity and finally get one.
I'm leaning towards an 08 if I can find the right one.
Thanks again everyone.
 
I picked up my 07 back in July. I lucked out! It was previously owned by an older woman who took immaculate care of the car. It was pretty much brand new with really low mileage. I haven't had any trouble with it at all, and it was my first manual/turbo car. It took a little while getting use to the clutch and I stalled quite a bit within the first month, but it's no longer an issue. As LukeP stated, it grabs pretty hard. There's less of a "warning" period before it engages. No regrets!
 
Make sure you get a 2008.5 or 09, they have a different turbo with improved seals. Also, the interior is much nicer. Easy way to check is the glossy black dashboard trim.

Things to check for:

Failing motor mounts.

Any sign that the previous owner bolted on go-fast parts then removed them before selling it. A good mechanic can usually find signs of unprofessional modifications, like wrench marks on bolts and other traces of sloppy work, and mismatched dirt/wear patterns. A brand new looking turbo inlet pipe, downpipe, or intercooler in an otherwise normal looking (for the miles) engine bay is an obvious sign that somebody put the OEM parts back on before they offloaded the car.

On the lower left side of the dash is a cubby hole with the multipin diagnostics port. Look for traces left behind by velcro in that area, it means the previous owner probably had a Cobb AP mounted there, which tweaks the ECU and can be extremely hard on the engine if the wrong map is used.

Aftermarket gauges. Maybe the previous owner just liked the way they looked and wanted to show off. Or maybe he was a track or street racing junkie.

If it has more than 15K on the clock, and still has the OEM Bridgestone tires, and the tires look to be in good shape (check the shoulder area for excess wear and cupping of the tread blocks), chances are it wasn't driven like, uh, my car is. New tires are OK, as long as they're GOOD tires. Most used car dealers install cheap all season tires if the OEM tires were shot when they got it. These cars NEED high quality summer tires to manage the power and maximise handling potential.

Oil seepage from the rear dampers or front struts, and cracked bump stops. The 07-09 cars came with terrible dampers and struts that should be changed anyway with something better, but if it's a low miles car and there's already problems with the OEM parts, it tells you a lot about how the previous owner treated the car.

Discoloration of the front brake calipers. Again, another sign the previous owner drove it really hard. Also, if it only has like 15-20K on the clock, but has brand new brake pads and tires, you can be sure the previous owner drove the hell out of the car.

One last thing, if you buy it from a Mazda dealer, their service dept. computers aren't networked - they only have data for cars that were serviced by that particular dealer. So if the selling dealer has no service history, it's not a deal breaker, but ask if the previous owner provided receipts for oil changes, etc. Most used car dealers, even if it's a Mazda shop, just throw them out anyway, but if you buy it from a private party and the owner didn't keep receipts, beware.

One last thing, make sure the underside of the hood and driver's side door jambs have all the factory stickers. If they don't, it means the car was wrecked pretty badly.
 
kwsmithphoto said:
Make sure you get a 2008.5 or 09, they have a different turbo with improved seals. Also, the interior is much nicer. Easy way to check is the glossy black dashboard trim.
Click to expand...

There is no problem with the seals on the turbo, the problem is with the amount of vacuum within the motor, 09 turbos will still smoke. Nicer interior is opinion.
 
I have an early car, made in 12/06 and have had only one warranty issue with it... a leaking rear shock. I also took it in for the two recalls... a reflash and a motor mount bolt replacement. No big problems other than that.

Just do yourself a favor and look for one that didn't spend alot of time sitting undriven outdoors. That kills cars with rust. I've seen an 06 MZ3 with a rusted out subframe from spending alot of time sitting in a dirt driveway. It was an old ladys car and she only used it every few weeks. This really applies to any car, not just mazdas.
 
My car is an '08 built in August of '07, and has never been to the dealer for any warranty work and has never had any issues aside from a few interior squeaks. I bought it almost a full 2 years ago and the car currently has ~27K miles on it.
 
I love my '09. You really won't know if it's the right car for you until you drive one, the first time I took one for a spin I just thought "oh, well, that's an easy decision."

It's got a good reliability rating from consumer reports, go ahead and pull the trigger! If you take good care of it you'll be fine. Cobb Tuning has an '07 that i'm sure they regularly thrash on that's still running fine last I checked, and dominates the events they race it in.
 
Just wanted to say thanks again for the additional advice members have put in. Very useful and valuable information. I definitely feel more confident about what to look for in a good MS3.

Thanks!
 
Nliiitend1 said:
My car is an '08 built in August of '07, and has never been to the dealer for any warranty work and has never had any issues aside from a few interior squeaks. I bought it almost a full 2 years ago and the car currently has ~27K miles on it.
Click to expand...

Mines an 08 built Nov 07 20K miles, only the axle replaced under warranty, but you would have to drive your car........... well lets just say it shouldnt happen to you.
Everyone says they prefer the 08.5-09 interior, but personally I had the choice and I went out of my way to get a 08, because I cant stand the piano black, and although the Alcantera felt nice, I dint like the dusty look I had read many reports that it didnt wear well.
JMHO

The main thing is, if buying used be very careful hasnt been beat on. I would be hesitant buying one unless I knew exactly who was driving, and how it was or was not abused.
 
Last edited:
I loves my Alcantara seat and door panel inserts. The glossy black trim pieces dust up real fast and are easy to scratch, but I prefer the look.

Alcantara makes a very good product though. If it's good enough for BMW and Bentley, it's good enough for my little Mazda! They grip your body better than full leather seats, which is why you find the same product in the same application in a new M3. Much more durable than suede or cloth.
 
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