Daily Driver Bingo: A unique "What Car" Thread

You may have seen my recent thread about my Mazda 3's transmission noise. After diagnosis, I determined that it's something inside the trans, probably a balance shaft or output shaft bearing. That requires the case to be opened and stuff to be rebuilt, and since we're in there, the clutch and flywheel would get replaced along with a crusty slave cylinder hydraulic line. Not cheap, and around here, that's a Mazda dealer job. Used and remanufactured 6-speed G66M-R transmissions for the 2.5L MZR seem to be unobtanium; I am having trouble finding one anywhere locally, and there aren't many out there at all. Tons of them up in Canada, but they aren't shipping to the US at all right now. The rest of the car is doing fine and it runs/looks great, so this really sucks.

My two other fleet vehicles are not good daily driver replacements for the Mazda: a 41-year old never ending restoration project that's not on the road, and a 41-year old pickup that runs mostly well but gets 8mpg and hates the highway.

The rest of my situation is of note. I used to drive A LOT for my commute. In current (and post) pandemic times, things will be much different. My job is 100% work from home until "sometime next year". Once things open back up, I will be working from home mostly with some visits to the office. That office is either a train ride or a 35mi drive away, so I will need something to get around regardless. This opens up options beyond econoboxes.

So, I have a few options/scenarios on the table:

Option 1: Fix the Mazda.
If I could find a used trans for a reasonable price, this would likely be happening. I've seen exactly two for around $700 + shipping (another $200-300), and in unknown condition. Figure $900, plus another $400-500 for clutch, flywheel, slave cylinder line, fluids, and beer for using my buddy's lift. Even then, I'm still in a car with 185k miles, even though it's still in great shape otherwise and runs like new.

Option 2: Brand New Car.
I really like not having a car payment, but paying for repairs every month on an older beater is basically that. I've narrowed the field to 3 frontrunners in the mid-$20k range: New Mazda 3 with a stick, Civic Si, or VW GTI. The dealer we bought my wife's CX-5 from has a manual 2020 3 that's gray with a RED interior (Sexxxay!!!) but I have a hard time spending what they cost now, and I'm not the biggest fan of the exterior styling. There aren't many Civic Si's left around here, and the ones left are getting marked UP due to no 2021 Si's and there are zero deals. That leaves the GTI. I like them on paper and love the looks, but the ownership experience with my 2002 Jetta I used to have still haunts my dreams. They do have the most robust aftermarket and I know they are better than they used to be. Mazda gets traded in and disappears. I've considered a few others as well (Elantra GT with a stick, Mustang Ecoboost, Camaro with the turbo 4, etc). 

Option 3: Slightly Used Car.
If I go used, and I'm making payments on it, it has to be no older than a 2015 for various reasons (modern tech, insurance/finance rates, etc). I've forever said that I want a newish Charger or Challenger R/T. I love them both, but I still have a rager for a 2015+ Challenger R/T. After driving a few of them, I really like them. I fit great in there, I love how they drive and look, and I'd probably keep it forever if I got the right one. Now's the time, right? Problem is, I'm having trouble finding a deal on one. Pre-COVID, I was finding them for as low as $20k, sometimes less. Now they are all in the high $20k+ range used. Lame-o. Waiting for one might be an option. Also considering off-lease, CPO semi-luxury stuff like the Infiniti Q50. Again, Mazda gets traded in.

Option 4: Save a little and get something "interesting" for under $5k.
The "What older car would you daily drive" thread had me thinking: What if I could find something slightly older and cool with enough tech to be a dependable daily driver? I'm thinking something like a 1987-88 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, 4th Gen Camaro Z28/Firebird Trans Am, something weird and Japanese, etc. It has to be highway capable and dependable in all weather. I've even considered the 90's-early 2000's small SUV's like a Blazer ZR2, Xterra, etc. One of them might be fun. Figure around $5k with a little more up front for maintenance. That leaves me with having to sell my broken Mazda on my own. Also, since there's a pandemic, fly-and-drives are out of the question, and out of state stuff even nearby might be hard to register here in MA. I do have a friend with a truck and trailer for New England retrieval.

Am I forgetting anything? Am I nuts? Have a 2010-13 6-speed Mazda 3 trans you are tripping over that you want to sell? How 'bout a clean 4th Gen F-Body?  All comments/insight appreciated! 


 

I had the same issue at 206,000 in my MZ5. I ended up getting a MZ3 trans from a 2010 which has different gearing and swapping it in with new clutch and whatnot. Found at a junkyard in Pittsburgh for $350. It worked fine, since yours IS a 3 they are out there out of wrecks. Also, I did mine on the floor of my garage in the winter and it cost about 350 in extras, although beyond that I replaced all the mounts, axles, lcas etc while it was out.

I'd probably do option 4 . When I wanted something fun and interesting to drive I went with a zx2. Turns out with studs it's great in winter too.

They aren't as cheap as they used to be if you want a manual but they are fun and about challenge budget

Civic Si or Charger/Challenger gets my vote.  
 

Given your other vehicles are 41 years old, having a reliable, yet fun transportation that will last a long time is important imho. 
 

drive  something fun. Life is too short 

if you can't find "deals" where you are, buy out of state and have it shipped for a few bucks, if you don't want to do a fly and drive 

good luck 

In reply to Tony Sestito :

Would a 6 speed from a '10-'12 Ford Fusion w/ 2.5L work?  Car-part.com says these guys in NH have a 126k miles version asking $550

Near Brooklyn, NYC these guys have 33k mile unit from 2013 Mazda3 asking $700

In reply to chandler :

There are no less than FOUR manual transmissions that they put into the 2012 Mazda 3:

-5-speed for the 2.0L MZR
-6-speed for the 2.5L MZR (mine)
-6-speed for the 2.3L Mazdaspeed
-6-speed for the 2.0L Skyactiv

Apparently mine is the scarcest of all those choices. None of the local yards have any. I wish the MS3 trans fit, because they are all over the place for cheap. They physically bolt in, but you have to use different CV shafts, clutch master cylinder, spindles, wheel bearings, brakes, and more. Plus, the gearing is different. It would be easier to do a full MS3 swap!

In reply to Tony Sestito :

what about the 2.5L Skyactiv 6 speed? I had that in my mazda 6:

https://www.copart.com/lot/43811370/2017-mazda-6-touring-mi-flint

is that a different gearbox than the MZR? 

In reply to John Welsh (Moderate Supporter) :

Not sure how much different a Ford MZR trans is, especially in the Fusion chassis. I don't think the 6 trans fits in there due to the mounts, but I could be wrong. I did know about that other one, and it's an option, but getting it here is the issue. I'd have to go to Brooklyn to get it.

In reply to fidelity101 (Forum Supporter) :

Yeah, the Skyactiv 6-speed is completely different. Not sure it even bolts up.

Used car prices have risen at the moment. 

I'd probably try to slap the Mazda back together and ride it out until prices come back down. 

Tony Sestito said:

It would be easier to do a full MS3 swap!

Well, being that this is GRM this is OBVIOUSLY the correct answer for a dying transmission.

I searched on car-part.com also for 2010 Ford Escape which offered a 2.5l and fwd only 6 speed.  The site returned many in MA, VT, CT.

$200 to $400

z31maniac said:

Tony Sestito said:

It would be easier to do a full MS3 swap!

Well, being that this is GRM this is OBVIOUSLY the correct answer for a dying transmission.

It HAS crossed my mind.

There's a whole 2008 MS3 with a 2011 engine/drivetrain a couple towns away for $2k/bo. If it wasn't rotting in half, it would already be in my driveway.

Another option: the 5 speed from earlier Mazda3/5 will bolt right in and is more readily available.  I know because I did the reverse swap, I put a 6 speed from a 2011 2.5 into a 2007.  Axle inner diameters and splines are the same, shift cables mount the same way, the mount bracket is comparable so just use your stock mount bracket.  The clutch input shaft size is also the same. The only things to watch for are that the very early cars had a different speed sensor I think so stick to 2006+ cars, and that your shift knob will be wrong and there will be no reserve lockout any more.   Top gear is only a little bit shorter on the 5 speed than 6 speed. 

John Welsh (Moderate Supporter) said:

I searched on car-part.com also for 2010 Ford Escape which offered a 2.5l and fwd only 6 speed.  The site returned many in MA, VT, CT.

$200 to $400

 

Again, interesting. But will it fit?

In reply to Sonic :

I'd really like to stick with a 6-speed, especially for resale value. If I do fix it and want to sell later, that would help.

The MS3 swap is almost an option. I need a clutch and flywheel anyway, so that's a wash. The CV's and hubs are definitely different. I think the wheel bearing and the spindles are different as well, but I could be wrong.

Tony Sestito said:

In reply to Sonic :

I'd really like to stick with a 6-speed, especially for resale value. If I do fix it and want to sell later, that would help.

The MS3 swap is almost an option. I need a clutch and flywheel anyway, so that's a wash. The CV's and hubs are definitely different. I think the wheel bearing and the spindles are different as well, but I could be wrong.

Can you get those off the car rusting to the ground? Or are those parts messed up. 

Build thread plz!

I've recently checked part numbers between speed3 and non as I'm considering the speed3 trans swap into our car, it has 249k miles and is being retired to Lemons next year so that seems the cheapest way to get a limited slip.  The knuckles and wheel bearings are the same part between the ms3 and mz3.  

In reply to Sonic :

Very, very interesting. I can find those all day, so this might be an option. Wonder how different the gearing is? Do those have LSD's?

Yup, all Speed3s have limited slip.  Gear ratios are pretty close from what I recall. 

In reply to Sonic :

Well, crap. I might be doing this! I see a couple of them available CHEAP semi-locally.

The other question is if the shifter, the slave cylinder, and the electronic doodads are all the same and will not make my ECU freak out.

EDIT: Looks like the shifter assembly and cables is different. Slave cylinder is the same. Flywheel is a dual mass, and I'm afraid it might cause misfire codes with the stock ECU. People have done this swap in the early cars with success, so there is some hope. Gear ratios are pretty close:

There is probably an aftermarket single mass flywheel available to solve that problem 

As much as I think the MS3 swap would be awesome it seems like more trouble than it's worth for a DD. 
Not to be rude but it seems silly to be worried about resale on a 200k mile care because it has the wrong transmission. I mean resale on a swapped MZ3 isn't going to be any better, especially since MS3s are so affordable. 
I say easy button this, throw in a 5 speed for cheap and reapproach when the market settles. Once things become "normal" again people are going to be dumping toys and you might find that challenger you want for cheap. 
 

Edit: I had a 08 MS3. I got 22mpg on premium. If I was annoyingly careful I could touch 30 on the highway but anything faster than 70 and it would plummet.

In the cheap $5k class since you mentioned smaller SUVs, I nominate a manual transmission Element. Yes soft road, but amazing utility and the best roadtrip vehicle ever. 

In reply to spandak :

I don't want to drive it with a 5-speed. It's just as much work to do that swap. If I'm going to swap it, it's either stock or the MS3 swap and if that happens, I'm hanging onto it for a bit longer. There's nothing else wrong with the car; it's in great shape otherwise.