What's with these used MS3s?

[Redlinez]

I have recently noticed a few used MS3's for sale, which I thought very odd as limited as I thought they were. I work at a Chrysler dealer and we got two and sold both of them in the same month, our local Mazda dealer has a 07 silver one with cloth, and I found another silver GT. I got rid of my MS6 for a number of reasons, a few I think could be attributed to the AWD inherent issues. Are there some recurring issues with the MS3? Forgive me as I haven't been frequenting any boards except ls1tech.com as I've had a 99 Trans Am for a while now. '

Then I saw what looked like a white MS3 rolling down the highway and found that they are making them in white! That got me excited as I love white cool cars.

 

[///M Compact]

The MS3 is a great car, but I've started to tire of mine. I thought I could deal with FWD but I'm beginning to think I was wrong. Couple that with a few issues with Mazda and and it means that mine will probably on the block before too long.

 

[Redlinez]

Yes, I understand, but in the price segment, there really isn't anything RWD to talk about. Heck, my Trans Am wheel hops with stock suspension, something I've never dealt with on any of my other 5 f-body's.

 

[SwampAss]

I haven't seen any used in my area. Then again, I haven't seen many new ones.

The honeymoon is over for a lot of people. I couldn't find a new car with a better $:HP ratio. I'm as excited as I was when I first drove it off the lot. (I keep adding s*** to it, so that probably accounts for something)

 

[///M Compact]

Yes, I understand, but in the price segment, there really isn't anything RWD to talk about. Heck, my Trans Am wheel hops with stock suspension, something I've never dealt with on any of my other 5 f-body's.

My plan is to move up the food chain and buy something I'm more familiar with, such as a CPO/used E46 330i ZHP or similar. That's what I was planning to buy in the first place, but I stupidly convinced myself that I should try something different...
At least I won't have to worry about losing warranty coverage and dying turbos. I really wanted to like the MS3 but I'm just sick and tired of it. I find myself preferring to drive my 1995 318ti Club Sport, even though it only has 145 hp.

 

[MS3077]

I haven't seen any used in my area. Then again, I haven't seen many new ones.

The honeymoon is over for a lot of people. I couldn't find a new car with a better $:HP ratio. I'm as excited as I was when I first drove it off the lot. (I keep adding s*** to it, so that probably accounts for something)

+1

 

[NCZ13]

its because people by the car initially thinking they can afford the payments, and after a couple 500+ a month payments they realize they cant afford it anymore.

 

[Mocoso]

My plan is to move up the food chain and buy something I'm more familiar with, such as a CPO/used E46 330i ZHP or similar. That's what I was planning to buy in the first place, but I stupidly convinced myself that I should try something different...
At least I won't have to worry about losing warranty coverage and dying turbos. I really wanted to like the MS3 but I'm just sick and tired of it. I find myself preferring to drive my 1995 318ti Club Sport, even though it only has 145 hp.

Each to his own.. I gave my E46 330i to my niece and got meself the MS3... I was sick and tired of $400 window regulators BMW refuses to acknowledge are a design flaw and of being the target of every driver's wrath thinking your like most of the aholes driving BMW's out here in So Cal...

Honeymoon is over... lifestyles change, leases are coming due, some got over their heads, others decide to upgrade... nothing you wouldnt see with any other car....

 

[kickniteasy]

I think it's a mix of a couple things:

1) This isn't a cheap car to own...between the lowered gas mileage of a turbo car, premium gas, insurance, and payments this car gets expensive quick. I think a lot of younger buyers saw the price tag and what the car had to offer, got a little too eager, and got themselves in a position they couldn't handle financially. There's been a few people on the forum that have downgraded, or at least talked about downgrading to a 3, for $ reasons.

2)I think a lot of people bought the car thinking they'd get the same feel as an Evo/Sti and didn't drive off the lot with what they wanted. This is an amazing car, but as far as looks and "street cred" go, unless you're into mazdas a lot of people have trouble distinguishing it from a regular Mazda 3. I think some people want that "look at me, look at me" factor in their cars that the 3 doesn't offer. This may sound like total B.S., but I've read this in a few threads.

3) As far as the younger market goes....I mean, get this car right out of college as a fun, sporty upgrade from the college beater and in a couple years after you're making some more money that STI/EVO starts becoming more affordable. This happened with the mazdaspeed proteges as well. You'll notice a lot of people with "mazdaspeed protege: sold" in their sigs right next to a picture of their EVO VIII. =)

 

[Redlinez]

Makes sense to me. I too was drooling over a 330I ZHp package.

 

[SwampAss]

Each to his own.. I gave my E46 330i to my niece and got meself the MS3... I was sick and tired of $400 window regulators BMW refuses to acknowledge are a design flaw

$600 alternators! (eekdance)

 

[BluMicaR]

I haven't seen any used in my area. Then again, I haven't seen many new ones.

The honeymoon is over for a lot of people. I couldn't find a new car with a better $:HP ratio. I'm as excited as I was when I first drove it off the lot. (I keep adding s*** to it, so that probably accounts for something)

Seconded. My honeymoon will likely go on until... Well, s***, I really can't say at this point that I'll EVER want to get rid of my MS3, it seems impossible to even fathom at this point. Kind of like me being 31 this year, and trying to imagine living another 31 years. Just impossible. I know I will, but I have no idea how to envision that. Same deal with MS3; I love this car. I have a '94 TBird LX cherry with 75k miles on her, ground effects, sound-deadening, studio sound system, wheels, the whole deal. I'm selling it to my best friend this year to pay some bills and drop some mods into my MS3! I am also as elated every single time I drive my car as I was that fateful day 6 months after release I took my 2005 3s in for an oil change and said, "What the hell, I'll take an MS3 for a test drive." Jesus, 100ft out of the lot I wanted it before I was even in 2nd gear.

 

[Shiroi_ms3]

2)I think a lot of people bought the car thinking they'd get the same feel as an Evo/Sti and didn't drive off the lot with what they wanted. This is an amazing car, but as far as looks and "street cred" go, unless you're into mazdas a lot of people have trouble distinguishing it from a regular Mazda 3. I think some people want that "look at me, look at me" factor in their cars that the 3 doesn't offer. This may sound like total B.S., but I've read this in a few threads.

I agree with that, one of my buddies got a EVO X and one of the first things he said to me was how excited he was that he was getting all the "holy crap" looks from the other car drivers. I on the other hand want to be able to smoke you and not get the flashy attention.

 

[mckraut]

I'm as excited as I was when I first drove it off the lot. (I keep adding s*** to it, so that probably accounts for something)

+1 - My thoughts exactly.

I on the other hand want to be able to smoke you and not get the flashy attention.

+1 as well - Once I debadged it, I stopped getting attention at stoplights and on the highway. Life is so much better now.

 

[stephani3]

I picked mine up used, but barely. It had 1900 miles on it and the original owner was on M3F & I knew he babied it. He pm'ed me and gave me a heads up when he traded it (he bought it last November and traded it in February).

But I plan on keeping this car for a long time, I've never been happier

 

[squabbin]

I picked mine up used, but barely. It had 1900 miles on it and the original owner was on M3F & I knew he babied it. He pm'ed me and gave me a heads up when he traded it (he bought it last November and traded it in February).

But I plan on keeping this car for a long time, I've never been happier

Steph I too bought my 08' slightly used. It had approximately 5400 miles on the clock when i picked it up. Its a loaded GT w/Nav and I got an amazing deal i'de say. Car still smells new!

 

[stephani3]

high five!!!

mine still smells new too!!! I ticked over 10k last week though I drive a lot.

 

[serialtoon]

I bought my car brand new with 0 miles on the odometer. Now almost one year later im starting to think i wanna get rid of it as well. Im getting tired of the clutch and all the special attention i need to give it. I said i would keep this car till the end, but, i dont know anymore. Well see what happens i guess.

 

[///M Compact]

I just hope I can sell my MS3 for a decent amount of money; at least I paid cash for it...

 

[BlackCherry06]

If FWD and 270hp isn't all you'd hoped it would be, I'd 'suffer' with it until the Genesis coupe hits the dealerships. I'm not 100% sold on the body design, but even the base turbo 4 would have to be fun with RWD.