MS3 was made through 2013.
Why the hesitation with an older model? If you find a well-cared-for example you can save a lot of money and have a perfectly reliable vehicle.
IMO - Speed3 are garbage. Fun cars? Yes. Fast Cars? Yes. Something you want to keep for a long time....nope. Along with old MazdaSpeed6's, they are best left to the tuner and "Once you replace X part and mod bro" crowd. Might as well get the GTI.
Everyone misses their Speed3 but over the years, but I don't know too many people who held on to them over long haul. As a bystander there seems to be a "use by date " on them before headaches begin.
all of the ones that I am seeing within 50 miles of me, quick search, bottom out at 86k, but most are ~115k and up to 150k miles. Seriously: no thanks. And again, they are old gen Mazda interior styling. I already have that. Since you actually live inside the car when operating it, and not driving from the roof or the hood like in Mad Max, it's kind of important. Also, the 2 or 3 low mileage ones (80k-90k) report accident/frame damage for each. eh....Yeah, it would be a huge savings to go that rout, but when I'm swapping out to a car that puts 30%+ the mileage of what I already have, and a repaired(?) frame, for something that "feels a bit more fun" to drive, and nothing else...it seems like a worse decision than my already terrible decision making that lead to this thread in the first place.
Yes--Mazda Speed would be in my consideration, but like I mentioned earlier, the GTI actually ticks off
all the boxes (cliche: that's the point). It may be beaten in raw performance by a solid number of cars in this class by now, though the Mk 7 and 7.5 are actually being tested at 230-240hp, stock, despite VW's claim of 220 and 228 (the 2018 7.0 and 2019 7.5)--so they are actually sandbagging it seems, which is weird. Anyway, that isn't the point. The one consistent single point among all the reviewers for the Golf, the WRX, the Type R or Civic Sport, Hyundia(s), and whatever others, is that the ride is noticeably better and the interior is actual quality in the Golf--most argue that it is basically luxury class interior. Also, it still seems to drive and handle a wee bit better than the others, so despite lacking in raw hp or torque, it can still outperform most others, depending on the test. the DSG sprints better than competitors while being heavier and lacking 30 or 40 more hp, too (The Grand Tour showed this with the polo, but again, that could actually be more of an issue of VW actually sandbagging on the power, but most likely a bit of both)
If Mazda made Speed3 or 6 with their current styling, it would be different...also price-wise of course because I don't think those would be selling new at about $6-9k off MSRP, like the GTI
I will say though...that Veloster N looks really fricking intriguing. The performance + kinda damages the price, but it looks like a crazy fun car. Interior is sad, though, supposedly back-crushing ride....and 3 doors? I don't know--maybe I could like that, but it still seems a bit too small for what I want. It is distracting though...but it is also new only, for now. They fart a lot. I'm not sure if that's what I want? Yes, it sounds more fun, but I feel like I should act my (relative) age, no?
The Veloster Turbos or whatever they are called seem OK, but are only 2 door? Yes, I know that is kind of the point with this class--but not what I want.
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