New user. looking for my first car

[Zuluwun]

hey tm3 members, I've got my eye on an 05 mazda3 gt that a mitsubishi dealership has on their used car lot. I've heard good things about the car other than their tendency to rust. is there anything in particular I should watch out for with this car?

[Default User]

Rust in the usual spots. check the struts/shocks as I found they go quicker than others. Rear brakes also as OEM brakes squeal like a stuck pig. If it's auto, look for "shift shock". Check the rear motor mount as they are pretty bad. Hope for a different set of tires as the stock RSA's are pretty shitty.

Also, you have to insist on getting BOTH sets of keys and FOB transmitters as they are fricken expensive!!!

[kjmckenz]

Paint chipping, Engine failures, weird fuel economy, and just about everything else in this forum. =)

[Default User]

Paint chipping, Engine failures, weird fuel economy, and just about everything else in this forum. =)

One of the problems is that a dealership would have cleared all CEL's so engine failure is difficult to spot during a 10min test drive, as is bad fuel economy. Unfortunately neither can be found out the easy way

But yeah...search around the posted link there. A lot of it is REALLY good info when it comes to real consumer experiences.

[Zuluwun]

thanks for prompt replies. sorry for the coming noobiness but are there symptoms of struts/shocks at the end of their life? can you post a pic of the engine mounts? I should be lookin for the black hydraulic fluid, right? what are the most common areas for rust and/or paint chips? I think I read rear quarter panels somewhere for rust....

RSA's on it but the tread depth looks good. any (quantitative) way of gauging clutch wear or do I have to feel it out?

I know there's not much I can do abot engine failures or fuel economy, I'm planning to ask for a service history and buy a carproof to cross check.

[stevenma188]

Signs of worn shocks/struts: Excessive wheel hop; Bouncy ride; if you can bounce the car on the strut like a ball

Test the clutch: When the car is moving slowly (Maybe less than ~30KM) put the car in 3rd gear, then push on the accelerator hard. If the RPM increases without the car accelerating proportionally = bad clutch. It's hard to tell how much wear is on a clutch though as each car feels different, and the car's hydraulic system will account for varying clutch thickness.

[blankets3]

You should look at the for sale threads on these forums, i hear there's an awesome mazda3 for sale SUPER cheap 2, i thnk he was letting it go for 7k? with everything! i heard theres about 9k in work on that car so it's pretty much fully modded and runs like a dream; i can even vouch for it i seen it at some mazda meets! i think the users name was like blankets3 or something, im not 100% sure tho, you should check it out for sure tho

[Default User]

LOL !!! Shameless!
You couldve at least posted the link

[Zuluwun]

lmao, no lie, that was pretty shameless. your car looks amazing, but I'm worried about two things, insurance and kms. besides, I'm new to modding; haven't done more than change a brake light. personally I don't wanna be rollin around in a tricked out car not knowing what half the parts on the car do

[RECREATIONAL_ANXIETY]

You should look at the for sale threads on these forums, i hear there's an awesome mazda3 for sale SUPER cheap 2, i thnk he was letting it go for 7k? with everything! i heard theres about 9k in work on that car so it's pretty much fully modded and runs like a dream; i can even vouch for it i seen it at some mazda meets! i think the users name was like blankets3 or something, im not 100% sure tho, you should check it out for sure tho

LOL