looking for recommendation on Mazda

[Zerv]

I've been driving a 91 Mazda MX6 LX for about 2 1/2 years now. I need to start looking for a new car now. I went to the Mazda dealer yesterday to check out a Mazda 3 and a Protege MP3 they have. I test drove both cars and do have to admit both cars drove nice. I especially enjoyed the handleing on the MP3 and the power on the Mazda 3. They are asking about $14k for the MP3 which is in great shape with close to 25k miles on it. The only thing that was annoying was the previouse owner decided to paint the dash around the guage cluster a light blue and did a real bad job with it as well (the blue doesn't make sense either as the MP3 is yellow). As for the Mazda 3 what I'd be looking for would cost about $17k. I don't know if I'd really be up for paying $17k for a car. I'm pretty sure that it'd be reasonable to get the price on the MP3 dropped down a little which would make it more tempting.

I was just wondering what your guys opinion on what would be a good deal out there right now for cars and if the Mazda MP3 would be the best way to go.

Also before really reading up on the MP3's I didn't realize how limited the car seems to be. Its kind of sad I checked out another MP3 in the area today and before the car got traded in the person put on bad 15" wheels, and you could tell the car had some good wear for only 26k and a few good scratches.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Dreeza]

hmm, i think 14k is a lot to ask for for an mp3...and the previous owner apparently did have color matching issues, lol

 

[Gbourdon]

That is way too much for the MP3. You could probably scoop up a used MSP for around that price if you looked.

 

[Zerv]

Yeah... the other dealer wanted 13k for the more beat up blue MP3 in my area. I thought that was kinda sad as well. I can't imagine it being to hard to talk the Mazda dealer down on the yellow MP3 especially with the blue paint job on the dash. It also looks like he tore something up a little that is in between the surrounding for the dash guage cluster and the steering wheel column. I was going to also try to use the other MP3 in the area at $13k to definatly help talk the guy down in price but my friend told him everything that was wrong with it already. Both cars are right around 25k miles.