$1500 MS3 with a spun bearing

NMNA

This seems cheap if you are willing to do a little engine work.

https://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/d/raleigh-mazdaspeed-3/7012372021.html

I would take that on in a heartbeat if it were any where close to me.

It doesn’t sound like the epitome of reliability.  

There is a guy down in Sanford that works on Mazdaspeed3s and posts parts on Facebook marketplace. This has got me wondering how much it would cost to put this back together.

 

"Very flexible on price"  Sounds like he's pretty motivated to get it gone.  I have enough projects but that seems like a pretty decent deal.

In reply to spitfirebill :

They consume more oil than you'd think, even in good running condition, especially the 1st gen ones with the less than stellar K04 turbo. Owner probably wasn't checking the oil often enough and round and round the bearing went.

Looks like it's about 600-700 for a used long block these days. I bet someone could get it running in stock condition again for under challenge money.

The0retical said:

Looks like it's about 600-700 for a used long block these days. I bet someone could get it running in stock condition again for under challenge money.

You're not helping. It is literally just down the street from me. I've messaged him.

Shouldn't it have the inter cooler scoop on the hood? Wrecked previously?

wheelsmithy said:

Shouldn't it have the inter cooler scoop on the hood? Wrecked previously?

 

First gen. No hood scoop. 

If any GRM member buys this car, I'm about an hour away from Raleigh and have room to store it if picking it up is an issue for an out of state member. If Brett Murphy doesn't buy it, I'm sure he would be happy to put eyes on it for somebody.

In reply to The0retical :

At what miles are you saying they consume oil? Mine is all stock, 0 oil consumption over any oil changes including many, many track days.

In reply to accordionfolder :

First gen cars, and early second gen cars, had an issue with the K04's CHRA sealing less than stellar. It presented as the turbo smoking when it got really bad but they'd regularly consume oil. The "fix" was to switch to 5w40 which basically just slowed it down.

There's a couple other places like the PCV system which can clog and cause high oil consumption. The stock PCV system also doesn't cope well with higher levels of blow-by. So if you crank things up to 11 oil consumption can become an issue. You won't notice it much if you're changing the oil at 5000 miles but it's pretty obvious if you start stretching that interval.

Brett_Murphy said:

The0retical said:

Looks like it's about 600-700 for a used long block these days. I bet someone could get it running in stock condition again for under challenge money.

You're not helping. It is literally just down the street from me. I've messaged him.

I was thinking more like pop open the motor, throw some new bearings in it and send it.

ProDarwin said:

Brett_Murphy said:

The0retical said:

Looks like it's about 600-700 for a used long block these days. I bet someone could get it running in stock condition again for under challenge money.

You're not helping. It is literally just down the street from me. I've messaged him.

I was thinking more like pop open the motor, throw some new bearings in it and send it.

Even better.

There was a 2.3L block on eBay the other night for the price I listed. All the ones up there now seem to have accessories and higher asking prices.

In reply to The0retical :

Roger - mine's a late gen2.

It's gone. I never even got to see it.

Sorry to hear that/congrats on not purchasing a broken car