Hi from Ottawa, Canada, eh! Looking for Purchase Advice

Kevindust

Kevindust

Greenie N00B Member
Hi, I currently have an '05 Mustang GT and a 2 year old daughter. While the infant seat was no problem, it's difficult to get my little girl in her rear facing child seat in the Mustang and I want to delay putting her forward facing as long as possible. (She's legally able to go forward facing now but it's 4 times safer to have her rear facing.) I haven't used the Mustang much the last couple of years and I've had it for 8 years so I'm ready for a change anyway. This is my third Mustang GT and while I prefer rear wheel drive, in the past I've had some great fwd cars including a '93 Probe GT and a '98 Integra GS-R. I'm hoping to get something of equal value to my Mustang ($10-12K CAD) that has 4 doors and is still fast and fun to drive. I figure I'll keep the next car for around 4 years and then I'll probably sell it and get a '15+ Mustang GT once my daughter is old enough to crawl in and out of the back seat herself.

The cars I'm considering are: 2010+ Mazdaspeed 3, 2009+ WRX, 2007+ GTI or 2008+ Civic Si Sedan. I'd prefer the power of the turbo cars but I'm worried about reliability, especially reliability of the VW. The Gen two MS3 is definitely my favourite, although I haven't driven a WRX yet. I like that the MS3 has great power, great handling and a hatch but also modern amenities like heated seats (at least the Canadian cars do), dual climate control and navigation (even if the screen is small). I feel the Honda is the slightly underpowered but most reliable choice. I'm only interested in an original stock car and I will be getting a pre-purchase inspection.

Obviously, the MS3 will be the most recommended option on this forum but I'd appreciate any advice, recommendations and unbiased comparisons if some of you have experience with the other three cars.

I'll link to a few of the cars currently for sale in my area and price range, feel free to comment on them as well. I test drove the white one listed below last night. It's the first MS3 that I've driven and I really liked the platform. I've driven a few Focus STs and the MS3 reminded me of the ST but with a better seating position.

2012 White tech pkg (ad says base but it has push button start, Bose sub, nav, etc...) with 116,900 KM for $12,995. It didn't appear to have any mods but I'm not fully trained (yet) to check if it's been stocked out. Winter tires (on steelies as seen in pics) are worn and the summer tires (on original wheels) are Chinese crap and almost worn. Dealer would likely need to install new tires to pass safety. Engine compartment is very clean and the heat shield on the firewall looks unblemished. Appears to have been smoked in and the shifter knob cap/cover came off during the test drive - not sure if that means someone had an aftermarket shift knob on it and put it back to stock or if just bad luck. Drivers seat wiggles a little bit. Lots of small rust coloured specs on top of the paint, it needs a good detailing, but I didn't see any rust. The cargo cover for the rear is missing. Looks like it still has the stock exhaust outlets. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pics. VIN: JM1BL1N36C1602165
2012 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 Base | used cars & trucks | Ottawa | Kijiji

Also considering (but have not seen yet):

2010 Red tech pkg with 98,000 KMs for $10,888
2010 Mazdaspeed3 Tech Pkg. Low kms. New brakes, tires, synth oil | used cars & trucks | Ottawa | Kijiji

Here's another one in the area (sort of): 2010 with tech, 143,000 KMs for $9750
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/o...ationFlag=true
Cheers!
 
Note that if you can find a 2013 it has a much larger nav screen because it's on the main radio screen rather than one of the two little screens above. Also it was supplied by TomTom rather than the previous Denso nav system.
 
Welcome to the forums Kevin , Glad to see you got my message from the other site.
 
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The safe choice is to buy the honda, they are as reliable as a lawnmower.

Of the rest the ms3 is the best choice.

It has a real limited slip dif so with snow tires pretty unstoppable in the snow

The vw will break all the time though the drivetrain should last a long time

The subaru interior is comprable to a k-car ie shit, the only reason people buy them is causeawdbrah
 
Hey Kevin,

On any used Mazdaspeed 3

Look for things like

1. Smoking turbo, let the car idle for about 20min and see if there any smoke

2. A clutch that vibrates when pressed, can indicate engine issues

3. Lose VVT, how to check for this I'm not actually really sure , maybe someone else can post how to check for it.

6. Check the VIN for accidents

7. Check to see if there any wear around the odbII port, could indicate someone has modded it in the past.

9. Look for body panels that look slightly off or fresh/slight different color. could indicate body work has be done.

10. Look in the fuse box for any modification

I'm sure there things i have forgot but a lot of this is standard things to do with any used car purchase.
 
Hey Kevin! Welcome to the forums! Those all sound like good options, but if pressed on my opinion, a civic Si is gauche, the GTI is on the small side and impractical, and the WRX is feature poor but cost heavy. Plus with the mazda you get to hang out with the best community! I feel like it's a no brainer.
 
Chemmedic said:
Hey Kevin! Welcome to the forums! Those all sound like good options, but if pressed on my opinion, a civic Si is gauche, the GTI is on the small side and impractical, and the WRX is feature poor but cost heavy. Plus with the mazda you get to hang out with the best community! I feel like it's a no brainer.
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I agree with you as well, but I will add that GTI interior is best of the bunch. Civics are for your grandparents or stupid kid with fart cannon. After testing driving a GTI, Abarth, mini cooper works, civic si. The mazdaspeed was the most fun to drive and most comfortable.
 
I've been off the grid for a bit, so sorry for the late WELCOME!
 
Gizmo said:
I agree with you as well, but I will add that GTI interior is best of the bunch. Civics are for your grandparents or stupid kid with fart cannon. After testing driving a GTI, Abarth, mini cooper works, civic si. The mazdaspeed was the most fun to drive and most comfortable.
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Hi, I saw your message but I don't know how to respond privately. I am about to buy this: https://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks...cl/1294686798?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

VIN: JM1BL1H32A1283999

Thoughts?
 
Kevindust said:
Hi, I saw your message but I don't know how to respond privately. I am about to buy this: https://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks...cl/1294686798?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

VIN: JM1BL1H32A1283999

Thoughts?
Click to expand...


Love that colour. At that millage i would recommend getting compression test and leak down test before buying. Just for piece of mind. It's got aftermarket stereo same unit as I have which is not a bad thing, just means your Bluetooth steering wheel controls don't work. But the stereo is awesome and don't let that ruin it for you. Make sure you check to see if its previously modded, look at the odbc see if its all scratched up from someone plugging in accessport

Also make sure the turbo is not smoking.

Not sure of your budget, but here is another decent looking one with lower millage
http://www.autotrader.ca/a/Mazda/Ma...0131108153300363/?showcpo=ShowCPO&orup=3_15_9
 
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Gizmo said:
Love that colour. At that millage i would recommend getting compression test and leak down test before buying. Just for piece of mind. It's got aftermarket stereo same unit as I have which is not a bad thing, just means your Bluetooth steering wheel controls don't work. But the stereo is awesome and don't let that ruin it for you. Make sure you check to see if its previously modded, look at the odbc see if its all scratched up from someone plugging in accessport

Also make sure the turbo is not smoking.

Not sure of your budget, but here is another decent looking one with lower millage
http://www.autotrader.ca/a/Mazda/Ma...0131108153300363/?showcpo=ShowCPO&orup=3_15_9
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Is the stereo in the blue car aftermarket or is it the OEM stereo out of a 2013 Mazda 3/ MS3? The original stereo is also with the car.

I'd seen the ad for the grey car but it's out of my budget and it doesn't have the tech pack. The blue one has many stone chips and a small ding in the lower bumper but based on the CarProof it's a local one owner car that's been dealer serviced it's entire life (every 7500 kms or so.) For the price, I'll live with it. I'm getting a pre-purchase inspection done at Elite Mazda. No smoke out of the turbo after 20 minutes of idling, no timing chain rattle upon cold start, under hood area has all original covers and bolts. I will double check the obd port. Thanks!
 
Kevindust said:
Is the stereo in the blue car aftermarket or is it the OEM stereo out of a 2013 Mazda 3/ MS3? The original stereo is also with the car.

I'd seen the ad for the grey car but it's out of my budget and it doesn't have the tech pack. The blue one has many stone chips and a small ding in the lower bumper but based on the CarProof it's a local one owner car that's been dealer serviced it's entire life (every 7500 kms or so.) For the price, I'll live with it. I'm getting a pre-purchase inspection done at Elite Mazda. No smoke out of the turbo after 20 minutes of idling, no timing chain rattle upon cold start, under hood area has all original covers and bolts. I will double check the obd port. Thanks!
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The stereo in the blue car maybe a Mazda 3 stereo, but it looks awful like older gen version of https://www.eonon.com/Android-Car-GPS/Vehicle-Specific-GPS/GA7163.html?Catype=1

easy way to find out if its eonon, is the stereo will be using android as operating system.

tech package brings only gimmicky things like push start and gps.. which if there high priority item for you then that's a good thing. But when i comes to everything else its the same as the base.
 
@Kevindust, now that you join the darkside and picked/picking up a ms3. Do you have any plans to go the modification route?
 
Gizmo said:
tech package brings only gimmicky things like push start and gps.. which if there high priority item for you then that's a good thing. But when i comes to everything else its the same as the base.
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Tech package adds blind spot monitoring, which I really like having in this car. Also the steery headlamps are super nice to have. And I find keyless vehicle so useful I'd put it way beyond "gimmicky". But of course it's a fine car with or without.
 
Gizmo said:
@Kevindust, now that you join the darkside and picked/picking up a ms3. Do you have any plans to go the modification route?
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I haven't picked up the car yet but I'm hoping to have it this afternoon. The PPI did reveal a trans fluid leak but after seeing the car again and doing some research online, I've found out that it's the $8.51 pivot shaft seal that I can change myself at home (I'll also do the bearing and breather while I'm in there.) I double checked that there are no marks around the OBD port. I decided to move ahead with the deal since I also got the full service history from two local Mazda dealerships. In addition to all of the regular oil changes and periodic services, the car had a $1800 brake, spark plug and serpentine belt service done in Feb 2017 and a wheel alignment in July 2017. It needed a LF wheel bearing and sway bar bushings for the safety.

I plan to replace the trans fluid with the Ford unicorn juice and to get some 225/45/17 winter tires that I am hoping to use on the Mustang Bullitt wheels that I already have (17x8 +45, 5x114.3, 70.3 center bore). I also need to find a set of summer floor mats, the car only has a set of Husky WeatherBeaters in it.

As for mods - possibly a short throw shifter and maybe motor mounts but that's it. I just want a fun reliable daily driver. Plus, I really think stock cars hold their value better so long term it's better for me to stay as close to stock as possible.
 
Kevindust said:
I plan to replace the trans fluid with the Ford unicorn juice
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It's widely agreed that unicorn juice is the best choice for a gen1, but you said you were looking at a gen2 where Redline MTL is generally agreed to be the thing.
 
John said:
Tech package adds blind spot monitoring, which I really like having in this car. Also the steery headlamps are super nice to have. And I find keyless vehicle so useful I'd put it way beyond "gimmicky". But of course it's a fine car with or without.
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I think BSM only started on the 2012 models in Canada, the 2010 doesn't have it. Still, the tech pack was mandatory for me. More adjustability with the power seats (separate height adjust front and back), HID lights, small NAV is better than no NAV, better stereo, the luxury of keyless entry and keyless start...I love all of it.
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John said:
It's widely agreed that unicorn juice is the best choice for a gen1, but you said you were looking at a gen2 where Redline MTL is generally agreed to be the thing.
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I did not know that, I'll do more research before I swap the fluid. Thank you!
 
Yeah I never knew until a day ago the CAD version has power driver seat. My 2013 US model doesn't have power driver seat even. But the '13 has big nav, it's in the radio unit not one of the two small displays up by the windscreen.
 
Sounds like you got a plan, id recommend getting rmm for sure. it helps a bit with the shiftier and stops the motor from banging the firewall on hard accelerations. there many good rmm brands, but the go to seems to be Diamond Motorsports. If you want a smoother power curve I would highly recommend an accessport and get a tune from a pro but that's a big investment $500ish(used ap + tune). But it was one of most noticeable changes I've done and i use my as daily driver year round. With the limited slip dif and set of half decent snows tires there great in winter
 
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I've had the car for a week and a half now, it's really a great dd and so convenient for hauling a small family around! I'm getting about 9.2 l/100km in mixed driving. I got my hands dirty this weekend, I used a heat gun to remove the original dealer sticker from the rear hatch and to repair a small dent in the lower front bumper. Then I replaced the pivot shaft seal, bearing and breather (parts were $53 tax included from Kanata Mazda) and topped off the trans fluid. I'm going to drive it a week or two and then swap out the trans fluid, hopefully I can find some Redline MTL here in town. I also noticed that Rotella T6 is on sale at Canadian Tire this week so I picked up 10L of that to prepare for the first oil change.

One thing that isn't working is the stereo. The dealer where I bought the car has agreed to fix it but I believe it's the BOSE amp that isn't working and not so sure the dealer will pony up the $1300 for a new amp. I'm going to have to work out a solution...sucks not having tunes in the car. Anyone tried: Hi-Tronics Repair & Restoration 250 City Centre Ave. Bay 236 Upper Level Ottawa, Ontario for car audio repair?
 
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