Decision on Mazda3

[mjcxp]

Here are my two choices I can get for the same price, which would you get??

2005 Mazda3 I(Nordic Green) - New, Automatic, Air Conditioning, and Power Option with wheels.

2004 Mazda3 S(Rally White) - Used - 18,000 miles, Everything except Leather, Xenon Lights, and Navigation. She said that she knew who drove this car and said they didnt take good care of it.

So which one do you think is the better deal?? I can get them both for around $16,000

 

[zooomin]

thats a tough one...

What exactly does "didn't take good care of it" mean?? no oil changes? hit every possible pot hole? accidents? redlined it every chance they had? ...offroading?

Are there problems with the S model right now? or any visible signs that there will be problems soon?

I think I would chose the S model, but that all depends on how beat up it is.

 

[BC3I]

is the warranty transferable?? if so i would go used!

 

[tsunami]

yeah if you can get the warranty and you test drive the car and find no faults, i would take it to an independant mechanic (not associated with the dealeship) to check things over if you have questions, but i would think a loaded s albeit a year older would nicer then the i model... unless of course you want the gas milleage and don't care bout the xenon, nav, bigger engine etc etc...

EDIT**** whoa... i think i read your post wrong the S doesn't have xenon or nav it just has the 6 disc and moonroof with abs and side airbags then. gotcha... i would think still 16 isn't a bad price but you may be able to go a bit lower...

 

[mjcxp]

The salesman and Mazda Business Manager both knew who owned the 2004 Mazda3 Used Car, they said she had kids and was a the girlfriend of one of the salesman. They said they would not buy it because of that but would not explain why, it was really weird.

 

[tsunami]

sounds like they just want you to buy new as opposed to used... car sales men/women are shady mofos.... if you are interested in the S i would take it to an independant mechanic... to have them check it over, this usually doesn't cost very much and if the warranty is transfering over it would deffin add peace of mind to the transaction

 

[Gambino]

sounds like they just want you to buy new as opposed to used...

I doubt that. I bought my car from my family friend, owner of several car dealerships, and by the way, bought my new 2005 3s from him for about the prices you mention! The reason I doubt it is that he says he makes way more money selling used cars than his new cars.

 

[solid_snake]

i would take the car to a mechanic as tsunami said, The S is way nicer than an i

 

[Jadore3]

Yeah I would def try to get info on the phrase "didn't take good care of it"
I bought an Mazda3s last Thursday and I love it....the leather seats are very comfortable....just my 2cents...good luck

thats a tough one...

What exactly does "didn't take good care of it" mean?? no oil changes? hit every possible pot hole? accidents? redlined it every chance they had? ...offroading?

Are there problems with the S model right now? or any visible signs that there will be problems soon?

I think I would chose the S model, but that all depends on how beat up it is.

 

[ZoomVT]

it is kinda sketchy that the dealer said that, and its tough to believe them because they are shady bastards. On the other hand, dealers do make more money selling used cars but being a newer car they cant make the profit they would like so why bother. Take it to a mechanic and see what they say, if its good and the warranty will transfer i would go with the S, there is no comparison with the I.

 

[mjcxp]

Does the I handle and steer as well as the S series? Also, how fast can you take the Mazda 3 in third gear of the automatic?

 

[zooomin]

Does the I handle and steer as well as the S series? Also, how fast can you take the Mazda 3 in third gear of the automatic?

I own a Canadian verison of the 'I', and I'll tell ya, it didn't handle all that great, mostly due to the 195/65/15 tires. Now that I have switched rims and tires to 215/45/17... oh baby.. (cabpatch) its a night-and-day difference.

I have test driven the 'S' model, and I would say that the S model is definitly the 'sportier' version of the Mazda 3 line up. It handles great, has more power and is just overall more.. zoom zoom..ahah

As for the third gear question.. I have no idea.. maybe someone else knows that one.

I'd take tsunami's advice on this, take it to an independent mechanic, and if there is nothing significantly wrong with the S, take it... if there is something wrong.. go with the I,......you don't wanna buy the S and be in the dealership every week with a broken this and a worn out that.

 

[MortMan]

I believe the 3 goes up to somewhere around 90mph in 3rd gear (automatic). I'm not too sure considering I don't drive highway often, and the city roads are too curvy and short to go that fast. That would be the speed with manumatic, but it's probably the same for regular 'ol automatic mode.

 

[BC3I]

I doubt that. I bought my car from my family friend, owner of several car dealerships, and by the way, bought my new 2005 3s from him for about the prices you mention! The reason I doubt it is that he says he makes way more money selling used cars than his new cars.

No trust me he is right....i am a Sales Manager at a Spa store and trust me they said it cause they want the comission.

 

[BC3I]

i will try to see how fast it goes in 3rd for ya tomorrow night

 

[shibaman]

Here are my two choices I can get for the same price, which would you get??

2005 Mazda3 I(Nordic Green) - New, Automatic, Air Conditioning, and Power Option with wheels.

2004 Mazda3 S(Rally White) - Used - 18,000 miles, Everything except Leather, Xenon Lights, and Navigation. She said that she knew who drove this car and said they didnt take good care of it.

So which one do you think is the better deal?? I can get them both for around $16,000

Why not check what is available on sites like cars.com. Maybe you could have more choises.

 

[mjcxp]

OK, I test drove the 2004 Mazda3 S. I love it. The only thing I noticed is that when driving in the manumatic mode where you change gears the car jerked alot when changing gears either up or down, is that normal. In the regular automatic mode it did not do this.

 

[MortMan]

Mine doesn't jerk unless I let off the gas, shift, then immediately punch the gas. If you keep your foot on the gas when up shifting in manumatic it shouldn't jerk. When downshifting it nose-dives unless you put a little gas into it.

 

[BC3I]

well i got up to 106 in 3rd w/ the auto while i was on the freeway

 

[mjcxp]

I just found out that the car doesn't have ABS/SAB/SAC is that a big deal? I can't believe ABS is not standard!

Thanks for checking the 3rd gear for me!