Downsview Auto Experience... 2 years later

[Strawberri]

Hi All..

I am new to TM3 and wanted to post my experience with Downsview Auto and the issues I have had with my vehicle purchased there.

I will keep things short as I know reading long posts can be exhaustive :)

in July of 2011 I purchase the most expensive car on their lot - 2008 AT Mazda 3 GT @ 14,500 + HST + their joke of an extended warranty for an additional $499 with 76,000KMs (presently my vehicle has 128,000kms)

All vehicles at this dealership are from Quebec
A few weeks ago I went to the Mazda dealership (Etobicoke) as the AT light turned on and they advised I would need to pay $6000 for a new transmission. As I was skeptical of their diagnosis since I did not feel anything wrong with my car, I waited a few weeks and yesterday I went to my mechanic as the AT light has turned on again and apparently I do need a new transmission. As I drove away from the mechanic my battery light came on, thus marking the SECOND time in 1.5 years I have had to replace the alternator. The suspension is also horrible and requires repair.
I have been advised by my mechanic that he has never seen so many issues with such low KMs and he is 100% convinced the kms have been rolled back on this vehicle.

At first I was not SO upset by the transmission as I thought that I had been smart to purchase their extended warranty which I was advised would COVER the cost of any issues with the trans axle, transmission or engine.... HOWEVER when I look into the fine print this warranty covers $1000 per claim after a $100 deductable, $50 activation fee and $499 cost for the warranty.

I am trading in this car on the weekend to get this lemon off of my hands at a huge financial loss to myself. I highly advise avoiding Downsview Auto... there is a reason why their vehicles are much cheaper then the Mazda dealer.. I have learned a very expensive lesson!!!

Hope this helps someone!!

[omalak]

Nothing new here. I would never buy a car from Downsview, let alone spend 15,000. at that price you could have gone to a reputable Mazda dealership.

Either way, at least you are getting something for tit through a trade. Lesson learned although an expensive one.

What will you be trading for?

[trulankan]

Wow thats pricey for a n 08gt...I paid 12000 +tax+ext warranty for mine with 80k on it last year. I was very close to going to downsview but im glad i didnt after reading all the reviews

[hex]

I too was looking at going to Downsview, but i did my research and found out that a lot of their vehicles are from Quebec, where they have different rules and regulations pertaining to vehicle collisions. I opted not to go to their dealership no matter how cheap the vehicles were.

I ended up going to markham mazda, where i picked up an '07 GT for $13k on the dot. It was just a little less than 69k on it.

[krimsalt]

I too had received a lemon Mazda3 and thus didn't have a great time with mine. Yet I hope this doesn't turn you off to Mazda3, it is a great car (even though I didn't end up with another 3). They are awesome cars. As a rule of thumb, it's always cheaper in the long run to purchase a new car than a 4-5 year old car.

[MickiWasHere]

I went to Downsview Auto to get my Nav System installed. While I was waiting for it to be installed, I thought of browsing trough the 3's that they were selling. And most of it is junk, i tried looking inside each cars and it's a total mess. You wouldn't even bother anymore. But one caught my attention. I do believe it was a 2010 mazda 3 sedan with mazdaspeed3 like hood.

[escaboi]

Thanks for the heads up, I'm currently looking for a cheap Mazda 3 for my gf and was considering them.