Here is the full story behind my Speed3.

I had been looking for a new fun toy for the last 2 years ever since the wife and I hit a deer while riding our Yamaha FJR 1300 and totaled the bike. I had been thinking of moving to something with four wheels even before the accident... I had been getting really funny looks when I would talk about strapping the car seat to the back of the bike for those times when I wanted to go out for a spin. I had a few prerequisites... 4-seater, under 30K new, and 30mpg (or close). I had been looking pretty hard at a Mini Cooper with a JCW package, but wanted something with a bit more room for those time when I was taking junior and his associated stuff to whatever event he happens to be involved in.

A MazdaSpeed3 seemed to be the best answer so I started looking casually, cuz a new MS3 with the nav was a bit more than I wanted spend with the various other things going on in my life.

Here is where I am taking a chance or two. In my search for a low priced, low mileage, used MS3 I came across a Autotrader ad for a 2007 Red GT with 24 miles for $18,250 (the ad is still there I think) In Salt Lake City, Utah. I figured it had to be a misprint or something. But clicking on the ad revealed the answer. This car and a bunch other Mazdas had been water damaged on a dealers lot in New Jersey. They told me the water level was only as high as the floor on the interior of the car. I happen to be in Salt Lake City a few weeks later and looked the car over really hard. They told me they replaced any sensors that were near the waterline. They also replaced the amp (with a after market one ) since it was under the drivers seat. The car didn't have the Nav. system, but for 6K off of regular sticker, I decided to go for it. Here is the chance I am taking. Besides the obvious concern of any potential missed water damage, the vehicle does NOT come with a factory warranty, so I am on my own if something major takes a puke within that normal warranty period. But for 6K off of sticker, I feel it is worth taking a chance. Looking the car over, I could not see ANY signs of a waterline (I even looked behind the door panels since I have removed a few of them in my day). I also declined their after market warranty due to price... $2000.00. I have been hosed on "warranty" issues before so I was leery of their offer of "it's just like a factory warranty" claim.

The vehicle is covered for factory recall issues however (I checked with Mazda). I will be probably bring it to Burt for that kind of stuff since you all talk so highly of them.

Now, I know I am taking a chance on a couple of levels. But the way I look at it, I am either going to come out smelling like a rose with very few warranty related issues and save a ton of money (the aforementioned 6k). Or be hatin' life with a gremlin filled car and having to deal with it on my own. I am betting on the first one.

Another semi-positive aspect is I can mod the car all I want from the git-go and not have to worry about voiding any factory warranty... But I will be working slowly in that direction rather than jumping in right away with both feet (mainly cuz of cost issues more than anything else).

Tell me, wadda ya think?

Apart from not having any kind of warranty, from what you say its a great deal! 18k for a GT with nav! Sounds like you got an awesome deal, i mean if there isnt any actual damage from the water that will come back to bite you in the but then you basically stole the car! Why is it that they wouldn’t give you the factory warranty? Is it because they sold it to you as "used" but then even used cars are still covered under warranty if they fall into the right parameters.

looks like you did some decent research with the vehicle and were able to oversee the extent of the damage, so it sounds like a good deal. Curious about the aftermarket amp, not a deal breaker, but wonder why they didn't just replace it with
and oem one. What kinda amp is it? Just wondering.

18k with NO Nav. But that's OK, for that kind of savings I can read a map. Or install my own GPS/Nav.

No factory warranty since it was a loss claimed by the dealer and paid out by the insurance company. (I think the dealer took the easy way out and did a insurance claim to not have to deal with ANY of the potential problems that could arise, and probably made a small amount (very small) overall when it was all said and done, just by flipping that inventory). I guess since it went to insurance, Mazda considered it no longer warrantyable (is that a word?).

They replaced the amp with a after-market brand to save money. There was a slight cost difference. It's a APX 4240, (I think). I wasn't too worried about it only because I am not much of a audiophile, and despite being a factory Bose system, no one was raving about it too much.

I think you got a killer deal and congrats

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SpeedRacer @ Dec 16 2007, 04:33 PM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=14413]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>

I think you got a killer deal and congrats [/b]

Thanks... And FWIW, I did consider yours. But part of the fun is figuring out what to mod next, and you'd already popped the cherry on pretty much every fun add-on out there.

I think you got a killer deal! All the sensors on the exterior of the car are designed to be water tight- driving at highway speeds during a down pour is probably nearly the equivalent to sitting underwater. And on the interior of the car- what sensors are there on the floor board anyway? As long as there is no smell from some soggy insulation (possible mold too- but that stuff is suppose to inhibit mold growth) you should be fine.

Good job!

I was just wondering if your amp was an upgrade or not....probably hard to compare tho...nice find.

Hah well thanks! Its sadly almost demodded now and just being driven till it sells bleh..

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SpeedRacer @ Dec 16 2007, 05:40 PM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=14422]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>

Hah well thanks! Its sadly almost demodded now and just being driven till it sells bleh..[/b]

so are you keeping it or getting rid of it....

That sounds like a great deal to me. I was the unfortunate (and unknown to me) purchaser of a flood damaged Yukon. The only thing that didn't go wrong on that truck was the block, and I'm pretty sure that was a ticking time bomb.

Sounds like an awesome deal!

It does sound like a great deal. At least you know where the car has been. If something happens in the future to the car a least you know why.

Awesome deal man! Me personally, I always end up voiding my warranties somehow, modding, taking it to the track ect, so if you're anything like me, I'm sure you won't miss it anyway

It's kind of funny, a long time ago on 6club someone started an interesting thread about them wishing they could buy a car with a "warranty delete" option lol. For those of us who will probably be denied warranty claims anyway, why not just knock a couple grand off the sticker for people who don't intent on using a warranty anyway. It seems like you found the car that fits the bill haha.

Good call on not picking up an extended warranty (service agreement), as most of the time they're useless anyway. Sometimes they're not, but then again, why add negative equity to your car & pay interest for something you may never use anyway? IMO, if someone is looking to get a service agreement, you can always pick one up AFTER you buy the vehicle, and if it's still under factory warranty, it's going to cost the same amount, but at least if you save the money and pay cash for it, it won't add to your loan or cause you to pay interest on it. That and most of the time, dealer "A" will sell you a service agreement for let's say $2000, while if you shop around, you might find that dealer "B" will sell you the same service agreement for $1200, with the same exact coverages. That's actually what my mom did with her current car, the dealer she bought the car from wanted $2400 for a service contract, she laughed, went to 2 more dealers after buying the car, one of which quoted her $1800 for the same coverage and the last quoted her $1200... since she wanted one, she bought the one that cost the least. No joke, true story, all 3 dealerships were the same kind of dealer (Kia) and were offering the EXACT SAME policy, just at a different price.

There's markup in service contracts... sometimes A LOT of it. Sometimes the policy a dealer is selling to you, for let's say $1500, they're buying from an outside company for $700... what does that mean? They just made $800 off of you, just for being the "middle man". Same thing with things like GAP.... When I worked at Burt, I think our GAP was reasonably priced around $399.... I bought my STI from GO Subaru, where they wanted $799 for a GAP policy lol, needless to say, I didn't buy a damn thing, finance guys don't make shit off of me.... anyway, shortly after buying my car, my creditor sent me a letter saying they would sell me a GAP policy for my car, for $300. I also got curious, called my insurance company, and they quoted me a whopping $3/month extra for GAP coverage... my advice to anyone buying a new car, don't buy shit in finance, if you want something like service contract, GAP, window tinting ect, just save your money and shop around, it can save you a good bit of money. Just my $.02

welcome nice to see someone in grand junction area