Pondering bailing out. Long post

[jred321]

Incorrect. Look at my join date for the forum and my handle.

then how did you not know the MS3 was going to get the same aftermarket support and run into the same issues of tunability of every other mazda (sans miata and rx7) ever built? a blind man could have seen that coming

 

[boostdog]

i say keep your car as it gets good gas mileage has the room you need, while it might not be everything you want and then buy a bike! you can buy a used 5-10 year old bike that will give you what you need for performace all day long!

 

[Wagonbacker9]

then how did you not know the MS3 was going to get the same aftermarket support and run into the same issues of tunability of every other mazda (sans miata and rx7) ever built? a blind man could have seen that coming

I don't think the issues is having been forewarned... I think the issue is putting up with that, along with the fit and finish problems leading to creaks and rattles of a brand new car, when he very well could just cut his losses and run to a completely different platform.

That said, I don't think you'll be happy with the magnum... to me, they're a factory lowered SUV and no matter which way you look at it, I see it as a step down from the MS3.

 

[badmotorfinger]

That dealer called back today. Didn't even think about applying vaseline. They offered a whopping 16k, and actually seems suprised at my indignation before I hung up. Major douchery going on there. I'll try to put the motor popping out of mind, install mounts and new plugs and re-evaluate.

 

[mckraut]

That does seem a bit low for trade-in value. I think KBB on my '07 with a little over 30k miles is something like $14,000.

 

[LazerBlueP5]

then how did you not know the MS3 was going to get the same aftermarket support and run into the same issues of tunability of every other mazda (sans miata and rx7) ever built? a blind man could have seen that coming

It was my first performance oriented Mazda. Consider it lessoned learned. Mazda hasn't been serious about performance since the RX-7.

 

[bgibb68]

i'll speak from some experiance....my sis bought a 98 dakota with the v6...my dad took it off her hands a few years lata and i now have it.....

i damn near did a rebuild.....replaced all the top end gaskets, cleaned it up, had to flush the motor, replace the oil pump, clean out ther pan(2 hand fulls of solids, this was done about 4 years ago) now the oil thing is about 50% of some flaws with the motor and 50% being cheap oil.....but the thing runs great now....

it's over 10 years old, the paint on it is orig and looks better than my p5 but that is a hit and miss with dodge(in case you have ever seen any dodges out there with no paint left on the hood or roof)

my parents also have a caravan, the rear hatch had to be rapainted, twice do to the paint thing but over all no issues with the van.

as always, it's a hit and miss....dodge motors are spectacular IMO but they need better upkeep than most....

 

[taylorex]

That dealer called back today. Didn't even think about applying vaseline. They offered a whopping 16k, and actually seems suprised at my indignation before I hung up. Major douchery going on there. I'll try to put the motor popping out of mind, install mounts and new plugs and re-evaluate.

I went down this patch also. I have a subby and the speed 3. I speed fits the budget and a few other things, but it does have some issues. We tried to trade it in and got offered 14K for it. So my girl and I decided to keep it and just fix the issues that will arrise as I add mods. If the wheel hop is killing you as it did me, get the Medieval motor mounts and traction bars. HUGE improvement. Right now I'm looking at buying a motor because the pop issue is in my head everytime I get on it.

 

[badmotorfinger]

Well I flashed with the AP and fuel/boost cut was solved. The car ran excellent. But I could not stop fretting about the motor popping with no conclusive evidence as to why. So, I bailed. Got ~$18k for trade on the MS3. The '07 SRT8 has 13k miles and every available option for $24k. Will be keeping this one stock. Will be posting my mods for sale after I get pics.

 

[Wagonbacker9]

quitter. lol

 

[240ka]

well with P3 and CP-E being the first to break the 400WHP(409whp to be exact) this weekend and still having much more to get out of the engine. are you sure you are ready to leave?

 

[Wagonbacker9]

apparently so... lol looks like he's already done.

 

[xpnsvxj]

I work for a dealership and I can tell you that you will get killed in the car if you trade it right now. Your only hope it that the SRT-8 has been sitting on the lot for a while and they really need to get rid of it but I can tell you they are still not going to load up on your trade. I just looked in black book which is what dealerships look at there is no book on an 09 so I looked up an 08. You would be luckly to get 17 for it right now. Mazda is doing some crazy things on new ones right now so no one is going to load up in a trade they can't move.

 

[Wagonbacker9]

I work for a dealership and I can tell you that you will get killed in the car if you trade it right now. Your only hope it that the SRT-8 has been sitting on the lot for a while and they really need to get rid of it but I can tell you they are still not going to load up on your trade. I just looked in black book which is what dealerships look at there is no book on an 09 so I looked up an 08. You would be luckly to get 17 for it right now. Mazda is doing some crazy things on new ones right now so no one is going to load up in a trade they can't move.

some people's kids I tell ya.... He GOT ~$18 for it....

 

[stdntDrvr]

they may have shown him 18, but could have given him less...dodges book incredibly well, for some reason...at trade-in, it could be work 16 (black book)...but NADA will retail/trade it for 20K/18K...it's retarded, but that's why you see so many broke asses driving them...they're easier to get financed due to the huge gap between actual value (black book) and nada (which is what banks use).

 

[Captain KRM P5]

well with P3 and CP-E being the first to break the 400WHP(409whp to be exact) this weekend and still having much more to get out of the engine. are you sure you are ready to leave?

they are not the first, simply the first in recent memory.

that being said, there are exciting things being worked on for the car.

 

[taylorex]

well with P3 and CP-E being the first to break the 400WHP(409whp to be exact) this weekend and still having much more to get out of the engine. are you sure you are ready to leave?

I read that as well. I will get my car back next week and might build a motor now.

 

[240ka]

they are not the first, simply the first in recent memory.

that being said, there are exciting things being worked on for the car.

for sure, good news for all of us...vendors and consumers

 

[badmotorfinger]

I'm really hopeful that the pieces to this car's puzzle start coming together for everyone soon. I'll be lurking here and on the other forum to keep up with developments. I have to say, when I removed all my mods (sans intake/inlet) for the trade-in, it was still a blast to drive...and much more civilized than I remembered.

 

[Pockets]

What about a 350Z or G35? About as fast as an MS3 stock, but with RWD and a decent amount of upgrade options. If it's speed your looking for, I would choose an '00-02 TransAm with RamAir or even a Pontiac GTO over the ugly magnum.
Anything with AWD and a turbo is going to have an easy upgrade path, but Subies usually need the tranny to be built up for even modest power gains.

Personally, I'm quite partial to the 90's Twin Turbo 6-Cylinders. Supras and 300ZXs are both hard to find and expensive, but the market for 3000GTs is fairly decent sized. I love my 3000GT VR-4, its the only of these twin turbo cars with AWD. BPU upgrades in total costing less than $1000 easily let a car like this gain an extra 100HP, and many turbo upgrade paths are available.. The engine internals can take up to ~600+ HP at the wheels, and the transmission is fine other than the necessary clutch upgrade. Only downside with one of these cars is that your going to be paying a lot for regular maintenance, and small things tend to break somewhat often. But it's worth the price of admission, and a VR-4 makes a great project car.