A&PwitMS6 wrote:How bad are the motor problems with a stock engine... I realy dont plan on doing much more than intake, cat-back/just mufflers, and maby that turbo inlet pipe that Street Unit has. Also, the mounts I already knew about, and planned on swapping quickly once i got the car.
It will all depend on how the car was treated before you bought it. A stock MS6 that has always been stock and wasn't abused won't be a threat to blow the motor unless you hyrdrolock it or do something stupid. The problem is finding out how it was treated before. If it was heavily modded and sold, it may be because the previous owner had reason to believe zoom-zoom boom was on the horizon. That's with ANY performance car, not just this one. SO when you are looking at a specific MS6 (or MS3), there are several things you can do.
1. Look for signs of mods. Missing heat shields, a BOV (don't run VTA...it's gay and the car isn't tuned for it...). Other aftermarket stuff.
2. Drive the car. If you feel a pulsating in the clutch, RUN. Not a buzzing--I have had that for years and it's just shitty motor mounts--but a rattling/throbbing/pulsating feel. One person whose motor blew described it to me as a wa-wa-wa feeling.
3. Have a compression test done. If there's ANY inconsistency, have a mechanic actually measure the pistons and make sure there isn't a bent rod in there.
If all that checks out, ask around on msf.org, here, and maybe on Mazdas247.com and see if anyone recognizes the car. THey might be able to hook you up with the original owner or at least tell you how the car was treated.
