Tomorrow, I may be driving to pick up a new to me 2006 Mazda 3 S Touring Hatchback (5dr) with the 3pedel millennial theft deterrent.
127K miles, the part of the interior visible in the picture looks very clean, and the rest is supposed to be. Same for exterior. The silver paint may be faded (poor pictures) but it ain't beat up
Supposedly has a brake fluid leak (he thinks it the master cyl) but we are going to ad fluid and bleed the brakes, before the test ride.AC/control panel was replaced with an auto control one, instead of the factory manual control, and now has a mind of its own! I figure a manual switch panel and a load shedding resistor should fix that
My main concern... he claims it's on coilovers and lowered.
I can't take a lowered car the places I go! If it's lowered more than 3/4 to 1", I'll have to raise it
Most likely, it's just lowered springs, so taller (maybe a bit stiffer than stock, and progressive /better quality) springs and an alignment may do it
If it is quality coilivers done correctly, what would I be facing?
I've never worked on any cars with aftermarket coilovers!
EDIT:
I got my ads confused. It was a Buick with the 127K miles. This is 236K, but obviously cared for.
Only Mazda I owned through all the years, was in 86... bought a 2-3 year old 626 cheap, with a blown head gasket. Pulled the head; head was perfect, bottom end was as well, so slapped the cheapest gaskets I could get on her, and it it back in the road!
Had 80K miles (that was still considered a lot in them days!) but the cyl. walls still looked like the factory crosshatching was just done yesterday! Very impressed
Just got that to flip, as I wouldn't drive 4 dr cars then! Has some cool stuff along the way. Now, I prefer them!
All depends exactly what suspension. Rears are separate springs / dampers, so it could be lowered springs, or lowered springs with an adjustable lower spring seat, but they aren't "coilovers". Whichever, as far as I've seen, all lowered springs will see you lower than 3/4" below standard, and 3's aren't high to begin with.
If it's just springs, Moog aftermarket replacements on Rockauto are cheap and easy. If you need more height, Mazda 5 fronts are almost the same rate, and 0.5" higher fitted. Mazda 5 rears are a huge rate increase, and longer, need cutting. As I recall, hatch is slightly heavier at the back than the sedan, so the affect is less.
Watch out for rust..
BTW, fluid reservoir is common for brake and clutch, so if fluid level is dropping, it may not be brakes..
If it's lowered without corrective arms on the rear, the rear tires will gradually be destroyed at the inner shoulder. This will manifest as unpleasant, wheel-bearing-going-out-style NVH. If you can't lay eyes/hands on the tires, try to drive it for at least a few minutes at a sustained 40mph or higher. (Source: I had an 07 MS3 that was lowered on stock arms, bought used, and experienced this firsthand.)
In reply to paul_s0 :
Thanks. Supposedly new tires, so might not be showing wear, yet.
I did read (very brief google last night) that the rear has some negative camber stock, so lowering increases that, unless an "adjustable camber kit" is installed.
Haven't looked into what the kit does. Or, rather how it does it! (Obviously, it make the camber adjustable!) Hopefully, can adjust back to normal, or easily reversible.
Car is good enough deal that, as long as it makes it throw test drive, I'll probably be getting it anyway.
Thanks for the heads up on the brake/clutch.
In reply to DancesWithCurves :
At the price I'm getting, and why I'm able to, I would guess it was not done correctly! Prolly they just slapped the lowest, cheapest, springs they could find in it, and thought they were cool!
It was already done before he got it, but getting a feel from texts with this guy, I doubt the PO was a top notch guy!
I did mention part of the "cash on hand, so you can pay your rent (and probably your dealer)" offer I'm making is contingent on a proper test drive - and we gotta bleed the brakes to do that.
He is being quite friendly, and helpful, but I'm getting ready to head to one of the back woods getto parks in the southern L. A. (Lower Alabam')
Of course "yea, tho I walk... I shall fear no evil. For I AM the baddest SOB in the valley!"
I grew up 'bout like them - I just worked hard to do better! Don't make much money, but I also don't waste it on cigs, beer, drugs, etc ! 
I do look just like I fit right in! Although I do have almost all of my teeth!
Anyway, hopefully stock height springs, and an alignment will fix it right!
Thanks.
Good luck! Good point on rear camber, I slapped the cheapest adjustable arms ($30 each) from Rockauto on it, and they have coped fine even with Peru's finest roads, although they were only on for around 20k kms before I sold it.
Other stuff, plastic header/expansion tanks fail (that may be more common here for the heat though), strut top mounts fail, engine mounts (especially passenger side) fail. Nothing major/difficult
I've nearly bought one twice, and did a lot of research. They are solid with everything Paul said to watch for. Rust is their biggest issue.
They drive great in my opinion.
Got the brakes, bled enough to take for quarter-mile test drive, enough to take the chance at the price.
Black leather interior looks fantastic except for all the, what look like rust or blood splatter on the gray headliner! Green monster sports drink exploded when the previous owner tried to open it!
Looks like pull the headliner, clean or replace,
Looks like pull the headliner, clean or replace, Replace broken line at master cylinder and maybe master cylinder, stock height, springs and an alignment and I'll have me a gas sipping fun car. Hopefully dependable for road jobs.
That did pretty good, for talk to text. Especially for a hillbilly like me!
Half hour on I 10., And a half hour back roads, and I'll be home . No pictures loading.; was a pain since it was too low to get on the tow dolly even with it tilted finally got it loaded strapped down good towing great!
Will stop for the obligatory gas station pick When I fill up near the house to get an accurate check on my fuel mileage with this V10 😱. First constant state trip I've taken it on since fixing all its little issues. I'm hoping to beat 10. But we'll see.
Nice find! I'm actively looking for one for a daily.
FYI, full strut assemblies on rockauto are $60 each. New springs and rear shocks all in would be $200ish (guessing on the spring cost honestly).
In reply to spandak :
Just ordered 3 Bills in minor maint. parts. The Financial Manager (she used her play money she made setting with one of our elderly, since I've had no income since early November!) wants me to fix all the little stuff, and drive it a bit (and I'll be working again in three weeks) before we ut that another $200, on a credit card I can't pay off till next month!
I'll survive the low stance, and stiff ride, even with S FLs poorly maintained it holes! I mostly need a bit taller sidewall, to survive Homestead roads!!!
My car with 215/55R16s, had 3 sidewall blow outs in the fall, in a two week period, driving to work in Homestead / Miami!
I REALLY think I am not gonna like these stock 205/50R17s! I know it's a huge sidewall for the modern "in" crowd, but rubber bands are not my style!
Maybe some 5 on 4.5 16" times I have will fit over the stock brakes!
That might fit without having to raise it; put rubber bands on it for the challenge!
I'll be over half budget, but well under 2grand!
In reply to CyberEric :
Fortunately, despite 8 previous owners (if I'd have had it for years, the interior would definitely not be as nice as this!) it seems to have never been in the rust belt of the salty white north, or the coastal salt life!
getting it high enough to bleed the brakes, (didn't really help, MC on order) , and the front even higher to get it on the dolly, I saw zero rust! The paper thin fenders did surprise me... I now have a hand size dent in dr ft fender! Guess they gotta save weight where they can.
should be able to get it about 80% better, pretty easy.
Im pretty excited to have gotten into this this cheap!
And, great news! 12.6 mpg, over 200 miles; half I 10, half country roads. I'm very happy to see that from a V10.
interior leather is in great shape.
Someone backed into it in a parking lot, an owner ago, right before he shipped out for the sand box. He cashed the insurance, and gave this guy a great deal on it!
Now, I'll get to fix that, and my own minor dint. One day.
In reply to DancesWithCurves :
The front upper strut mounts look thicker than I would think stock would be. I imagine stock is a stamping, like all I've done. These are a round, 3/8 (likely 10mm, but y'all get the point) cadmium (yellow) plate. So I would guess aftermarket. Just a 10 second glance, but looked nice.
Didn't look at the rears, other than finding the bleeder screws, but the tires on the rear are new, and he said the ones he replaced were evenly worn. So i guess adjustable... I just hope it has enough to adjust back to what stock height will need, if I ever get that far.
Big thank you to all for the good advice!
Looks pretty great! Congrats!
I hear you on the tyres! If it's the 2.0, I believe 16" rims fit, but I think the 2.3 had bigger brakes, you'd need to double check fitment.
Here's a bad photo of the strut assembly/top hat. As stock they also have a reinforcement plate on top of the tower.
If you get bored, there's all sorts of rubbish in my thread.. https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/daily-drivers-in-peru-mazda-3-and-discovery-3-lr3/134498/page1/
In reply to paul_s0 :
Started reading a bit of that last night. Although at 3am, my reading comprehension was not at its best!
The mounts on "mine" are definitely a bit fancier than that. I'll get some pictures after breakfast (well brunch, at this point!)
BTW, I have Forscan for my Merc, although I'm not up to speed on all that it will do!
Since Ford and Mazda built this and the ford badged version jointly, will Forscan communicate? Or will it balk at it having Mazda badges (and vin number)?
if it turn into the keeper I'm hoping for, Forscan would be a HUGE benefit!
Thanks!
don't really look stock, to me, but don't really look very special, either?
im not liking where the center strut bolt is siting?
drivers side location "looks" better.
horrible control arm picture, but everything under it looks stock, and despite a bit of surface rust on suspension parts, not a speck of rust on body/unibody structure! Yay!
other than the red spring, and "maybe" what might be an adjustable spring height upper seat, looks stock and totally non adjustable, to me.
But I know ZERO about aftermarket suspension mods! Or proper suspension setup, for that matter!
it is , um, a bit low!
Had a job loading;un-loading was a bit easier.
Now, I gotta clear a spot, to get it in the air far enough to find the leak, probably replace MC (I assume from under it) and bleed the brakes.
couple of underside pictures from the back, and the front, while I was getting it level enough to unload.
worst cheap phone camera! Y'all young'uns have a name for that, but I don't recall!
