a week ago, my beloved Bright Yellow 2002 Mazda Protege5 found an 8inch wide semi wheel in the middle of the dark country highway at 65mph. With the slightly shorter stance, it was swallowed into my undercarriage, and I went for a ride...spun 360 like I was on a hockey puck and ended up doing some offroading. It managed to relocate my radiator about 8 inches toward the firewall and 6 inches toward the sky. Jamming it against the motor and the hood. Once I hit the grass, the wheel ejected out the side under the passenger rear door, tearing off my ground effects for good measure. I actually managed to limp it 8 miles without overheating, and finish the other 6 miles home the next day...but needless to say, carnage under the hood. I didn't even clamor under the car to see what else might be afoot, I just summarily decided that, though I wanted to wait until my M5 was paid off to get one, that it was Mazdaspeed 3 time. I'll probably resurrect the banana one day over the next six months for one of the kids to drive when they come of age (or maybe we'll get a nanny and it will be the nanny mobile).
This will be my first foray into "alternatively aspirated" ownership.
Here's what I am looking at buying; i've got financing taken care of already, so I am ready to purchase whenever the deal fits. I'm also not opposed to driving to one of the big three cities in Texas to buy what I want - I'm near Austin, so no more than 3 hours to most dealerships in SA, DFW and H-town.
Buying used, 2010-2013, under 40k miles. Prefer a mildly higher price at the 2013 MY, as my financing rate goes up markedly from 2013 to 12 and to 11/10 and beyond. I want out the door with less than $20k signed sealed and delivered, and there's a number of these out there in my 300 mile radius. There are some CPOs in range, and some really low mileage MS3s at non-Mazda stealerships.
This is where the good folks here at M247 come in:
When I am kicking the tires what are some things I should be thinking about and checking for that might not be immediately noticeable?
When I finally get to sitting down at the negotiation table, what kinds of comparisons should I be making to optimize reaching my lowest price out the door?
I've also got some bid action on an eBay motors listings at reputable dealers, anyone have experience buying cars through the great internet auctioneer?
Should I buy the undercarriage clear coat and the blinker fluid upgrades? (no)
What say you, good patrons of Mazdaspeed-dom? Send your advice, and I'll get what I paid for!
TIA
This will be my first foray into "alternatively aspirated" ownership.
Here's what I am looking at buying; i've got financing taken care of already, so I am ready to purchase whenever the deal fits. I'm also not opposed to driving to one of the big three cities in Texas to buy what I want - I'm near Austin, so no more than 3 hours to most dealerships in SA, DFW and H-town.
Buying used, 2010-2013, under 40k miles. Prefer a mildly higher price at the 2013 MY, as my financing rate goes up markedly from 2013 to 12 and to 11/10 and beyond. I want out the door with less than $20k signed sealed and delivered, and there's a number of these out there in my 300 mile radius. There are some CPOs in range, and some really low mileage MS3s at non-Mazda stealerships.
This is where the good folks here at M247 come in:
When I am kicking the tires what are some things I should be thinking about and checking for that might not be immediately noticeable?
When I finally get to sitting down at the negotiation table, what kinds of comparisons should I be making to optimize reaching my lowest price out the door?
I've also got some bid action on an eBay motors listings at reputable dealers, anyone have experience buying cars through the great internet auctioneer?
Should I buy the undercarriage clear coat and the blinker fluid upgrades? (no)
What say you, good patrons of Mazdaspeed-dom? Send your advice, and I'll get what I paid for!
TIA
