Friend trying to buy used car... HELP PLZ!

[ashtaron14]

Well... My friend is considering to buy a used car... He said he might get a Mazda MX-6... so I'm trying to find a used 2.5RS Coupe- year 98-01 to see if he'll be interested... anyone know somebody or selling car in the lower mainland area?

Thanks

Sunny

[Avenger]

If he is condering a MX-6 tell him to make sure to pull the spark plug wire off the spark plug side and check for oil or tell him to bring it into a shop to have the whole car checked out would be a better idea! If there is any trace of oil, it would be a big job that involves removing the intake manifold right off to fix!!

[inzomniak]

Auto or Manual?

[IBO]

From what I heard, second hand Mazdas often suffer problems from transmission, and it's already showing on my sister's Millenia(it's not second hand, but 7 years old). About 3 months ago, we had to spend 1000 some to fix it, they told us the clutch was burnt and some other stuff got burnt too, inside of the transmission... Also, the car haven't even reached 50K km yet...

[5 Zigen]

yes
MX-6 has lots of problems for oil leaking at the spark plug seals which involves r&i the intake manifold to r&i the rear valve cover....

i have also seen couple tranny screwed, caliper seized, oil leak at valve covers, etc....

my friend has a 94 MX-6 for sale if u want....haha....

has most of the problems i mentioned...:P

but she got body kit for the car, exhaust, stereo, etc....

[Ovaltine]

I know a Mazda mechanic and from what I hear, the 2.0L I4 is much more reliable than the 2.5L V6. I know two friends with Mazda 626s (same platform, just 4-doors) and my V6 friend has suffered through a lot of oil leaks among other things. The I4 guy doesn't have any problems, but the car is underpowered. The 626/MX6/Ford Probe family are pretty big cars and aren't light.

[5 Zigen]

haha
w/ the tranny problem my friend's V6 is slower than the I4...:P

7 years w/ less than 50k? sounds like u guys never service the tranny and probably didn't drive it properly....

[IBO]

Yeah, I guess so... The car was left alone in the garage for 2 years because my sister and I were studying in Vic, besides, I didn't know much about cars until I got into it 2 years ago from my roommate and Devo(he got me into Impreza).

Just to let you know how stupid I was or mindless about cars back then. My mom asked me to warm up the car, so I went to start the car, and just keep reving the engine, then I yell, "Mom, the car is hot to go!"

It's true!

[GS116]

IBO, 7 years old and not even 50K...?
Oh my..., I'm going into 10K next week and the MAIN concern is, it's only 44 months old!!

Back to topic, a friend of mine from Mazada dealership told me that if want a used car from Mazada, miata is the only one worth it.

Fred

[5 Zigen]

IBO: rev until it's hot? cool....never think about that....hehe....how high u rev?

after the car sitting in the garage for 2 years....pretty much as soon as u got ur car out u have to drain and replace all the fluids....

Fred: almost 10k again? geez....u coquitlam ppl put too many mileage onto the car man....

[IBO]

Yeah I know, but like I told you, I didn't know jack about car. I used to rev the engine around up to 3 or 4k rpm, and watched the enginer meter rise to normal driving temperature, then I think the car is warmed up.... I know, I was stupid.

Anyway, I would think Miata would be the best 2nd car to go for... I mean I don't know anything about MX-6, but from what I know about Miata, it's a pretty decent car. It's a rear wheel drive, and a 50/50 weight distribution is something pretty hard to find, unless you go for some European cars. Also, there are numbers of aftermarket parts for Miata as well, and it can be easily tuned up 200hp, if you put a Jackson Racing's supercharger.

[-S-]

yikes, and i'm not that far behind fred either. 2 months and almost 5k already...

yikes!

[Mirage]

Fred, thanks to u and Sunny, now I don't feel as bad! I'm about to hit 10k in the next week or so.. (approx. 250km).. and it's only been 5.5 months!

We all love to drive our cars so SO much.. don't we??

[Avenger]

A customer just told us today that Ford quoted her 1000 bux to do the leaky valve cover job that we did for much less!!

Sunny tell your friend to stay away from the MX-6 and anything with the same engine!

[5 Zigen]

avenger: don't forget the price diff between factory parts and aftermarket parts....also diff labor rate too....

[IBO]

Sunny: Why don't you get your friend get the zoom zoom?? Proteget5? I think it's a really nice car, or just get the new TS Wagon!

[ashtaron14]

Ok... here's the deal... my friend does want an Impreza... but the price is WAY to high for him... as he is only 19, and getting a loan himself... He can probably only afford 10-15K... He was all the goodies, such as leather seats and sunroof, must be coupe and standard...

So... any recommendations? Plus he wants something that's NOT too common... which is so hard... or I'd suggest a civic...

Laterz

Sunny

[5 Zigen]

for that money how about Integra?

i dunno how much would those GS model that came w/ Leather Seats used price will cost....

or an old Prelude SRV....

or Celica...

just not a Madza....

[IBO]

How about a Focus ZX3?

That was the car that my dad wanted me to get...

[5 Zigen]

i hate FORD....right avenger?

[Necromancer]

Last time I flew into Vancouver I rented a Focus sedan. That thing was fun as hell! Did handbrake turns around UBC in the rain, which toasted the 6" rear drums so bad that I could plow the car sideways just touching by the brake pedal.

Don't diss those crazy Euro Fords.

But for my money I'd take a used '93-'95 Impreza 2.2L (make sure to run it on premium), or a '92-'94 Sentra SE-R. Or flip the middle finger at the world and get a used Miata for $4K.

[youthanasia]

Run it on premium? A 2.2L? Would that really help? I guess if it's an older car, it would reduce the pinging. . .

[Avenger]

5 Zigen: Actually I don't hate nor do I like Ford but I do hate GM. They seem to always put stuff in stupid places, like Coil pack + module around the exhaust manifold!

[5 Zigen]

haha
but i believe Ford Windstar i think....

one of the 3 spark plugs at the back is so tough to replace....no one in our shop can replace the one on the far right (if u see from undernearth, back to front)....

finally one of the ex-worker (who just stopped by) hand is small enough to do that job....geez....

[Avenger]

Pull off the wiper and pull off the whole plastic piece around the wiper, it is just a few screws and bolt. After that whole piece is gone you have much more room! I think I got the right vehicle.