Mazda – The Carmax Unicorn Blog

October 17, 2024October 16, 2024

Quick Hit – Zoom Zoom. Last Year Mazdaspeed3

“Mazdaspeed” started in 1967 as an independent racing team (per Wiki) and later ran a pair of Group C Junior cars in the 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing 12th and 18th overall. Surprisingly, I was there in 1983, and these photos of the 717C’s are mine. The Mazdas ran with the 13B Wankel rotary engine that was also in the first-generation RX-7. Another coincidence….my first grown-up car was a 1985 Mazda RX-7! It’s below, albeit with a 12A carbureted motor, not the 13B. A little-known fact is that when you’re young and buy your first two-seater sports car, your wife will become pregnant in months, and the car will be jettisoned for a sedan. Anyway, in 1991, Mazda won Le Mans overall. Wasn’t there for that.

What’s the point? Mazdaspeed was to Mazda what AMG is to Mercedes, and Alpina is to BMW, I guess. In 2003, the first retail Mazdaspeed Protege was offered, followed by the Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata in 2004, the Mazdaspeed6 in 2006, and finally, the Mazdaspeed3 in 2007. The Mazdaspeed3 continued in production until 2013. And that brings us to the unicorn below.

The first generation Mazda3 was introduced to the USA in 2004 as the successor to the Protege. The Mazdaspeed3 was imported from 2007 to 2013 with a 2.3-liter four-cylinder motor, turbocharged and intercooled. The second generation, launched in 2010, had bigger brakes and stabilizer bars and a number of engineering upgrades to the motor. And the hood scoop was legit, dissipating heat from the too-hot engine.

The Mazdaspeed3 also had a six-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential powering the front wheels. It zoom zooms to 60 mph in the low five-second range. The top speed is an impressive 155 mph.

The interior of this 2013 model is sparse, though. Bose sound, CD player, Bluetooth, a USB and aux port, and cruise control. CarMax rated it 2 out of 10 on features. Decent seats and a stick to row your own gears. A driver’s car, I guess.

The Mazdaspeed3 has a big old trunk and can haul some gear as a four-door hatchback.

The fun stuff is below a 2.3-liter, 263-horsepower motor with 280 ft-lbs of torque. Reviews suggest some torque steer, although it’s not horrible. It handles well. It’s a bit of a sleeper.

The 2013 Mazdaspeed3 sold for maybe $28,000 new. It’s only lost a third of its value in 12 years. My Mercedes GLE63 has lost a third of its value in the 16 months I’ve owned it! The 2013 Mazda 3 Mazdaspeed is here at the Dulles, Virginia store. Wait a minute! That’s my store! It looks like the car was sold by the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, CarMax and returned a few weeks and a hundred miles later? Wonder what that was about. I wouldn’t bother with MaxCare, really. Just drive.

Stock No: 25925209 VIN: JM1BL1L34D1824997

(By the way, if you’re into the Mazdaspeed3, take a look at this 2010 model I spotted in 2018. It was $19,998 and had only 10,000 miles on it!)

Care to see how the Mazda 3 Mazdaspeed stacked up against its rivals back in the day? Scroll down a bit.

March 13, 2022March 13, 2022

How High Will Gas Go? Unicorn Alternatives Until V-12’s Rule Again.

The world is going to hell in a handbasket. Because of the tragic Russian invasion of Ukraine, gas prices in the USA averaged $4.25 a gallon for regular and over $5.00 for diesel as I write. Fortunately my V-12 Mercedes S600 is in the shop for last minute repairs before I sell it. But we still gotta drive, right? Thought I’d put together a short list of cars I might be tempted to drive if I had to endure these prices long term. (Of course I say that as I prepare to pickup a 24 test drive of a BMW M3 V-8 this afternoon!) Unicorns? Only during these times.

Let’s start with an electric vehicle (EV), the controversial 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E SELECT. I’ve seen them on the road and the design doesn’t offend me, I just wish Ford hadn’t contaminated the Mustang brand on this EV. But since I drove a pitiful (borrowed) 1978 Mustang II with the 84 hp four-cylinder to my high school prom I guess I have little credibility here. Is is an SUV? A crossover? A car? Who cares. It’s electric! (Boogie, woogie, woogie)

The Mustang Mach-E Select has 266 hp and will do 0-60 mph in less than five seconds – not bad – and go maybe 270 miles on a charge. Middle of the pack EV performance. It’s fairly well equipped with auto cruise control and Apple Carplay. Car and Driver liked it so much they gave it an “Editors’ Choice” award. The car sold for maybe $50,000 new, and is now selling at a disappointing premium of $53,998 here in Potomac Mills, Virginia.

Stock # 22328427 VIN # 3FMTK1RM6MMA10386

Next we have what I thought was the gold standard for EV’s, but don’t hold me to that – a 2018 Model 3 Long Range. CarMax today has 253 Teslas on the lots, ranging from $41,998 for a Standard Range model to $156,998 for a Model S Plaid rocket ship. I chose the 2018 below for no other reason than it was “reasonably” priced and a long range model. It’s similar in performance to the Mustang, albeit with a little less range (200 miles?!). Same with features.

The 2018 Tesla Model S Long Range rolled out to mixed reviews. Car and Driver noted the highs as “satisfying handling, impressive tech integration, looks and feels like the future.” The lows were “Not the price we were promised, not the range we were hoping for, the questionable build quality we’ve learned to expect.” This was probably a $56,000 car new, and is now $43,998 here in Kearny Mesa, California.

Stock # 21960104 VIN # 5YJ3E1EA4JF008630

July 5, 2019

Quick Hit – 2010 Mazda 3 Mazdaspeed Manny – $19k – 10,000 Miles

Mazda3 side Zoom zoom. Found this Mazda unicorn today, and thinking it’s a wee bit special because of the low miles, one owner, 263hp four-banger, six speed manual transmission, and because Mazda doesn’t make this car anymore. Mazda 3 int side It’s a second generation Mazda 3 Mazdaspeed, good for a 5.2 second 0-60mph and crazy 155mph top speed! It’s a bit high priced, since it sold for just under $30,000 new (with the optional Bose system and other goodies) but it looks extremely clean and fun – except for the terrible torque steer noted in more than one review.

You could spring for the Maxcare warranty if you plan to run it hard and blow it up, but I wouldn’t bother. Driven just over 1,000 miles a year I’m thinking it has plenty of trouble free road time ahead. Find it here in Chicago…..if the link is dead it’s sold, on hold, or being transferred. 2010 Mazda 3 Mazdaspeed $18,998 10k Chicago

May 4, 2018June 7, 2018

Another Mazda! 2009 Mazda 3 Mazdaspeed Manny Tranny Cheap

2009 Mazda3 Mazdaspeed If you read this blog you know I prefer at least 8 cylinders*, perhaps 10, and I rue the 12 cylinder I passed on. What you don’t know is I have an affection for hot hatchbacks after owning not one but two 70’s era Ford Fiestas (the German ones, not Korean) before the first gen VW GTI made it to our shores. Since then I’ve tracked hot hatches, but I have to admit I missed this one. Stumbled on this 263hp 4 cylinder beast, with 280 ft-lbs of torque, and a 6 speed manual transmission. Embarrassed I thought “Mazdaspeed” was just a marketing thing. But with a sub-six second 0-60 I guess it’s the real deal. It’s a WRX and Golf R challenger for half the price. Usually my targets are all about leveraging the MaxCare warranty, but I’m not sure that’s even needed for this street racer. Find this one in Houston here. If the link is dead, the car is sold, on hold or being transferred. BTW….over to you engine experts….does this 2.3l turbo have any ancestral relationship to the 2.3l turbo Pinto motor that was in my 1986 Merkur Xr4tii? 2009 Mazda3 Mazdaspeed - $16,998 46k

April 21, 2018June 7, 2018

10 Years Old-Driven 900 Miles a Year – Bargain 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Mazda MX5 Mazda Miatas are beloved by real auto enthusiasts and car magazines as one of the great balanced roadsters of all time, and ridiculed by manly men as effeminate. Nothing I can do about that. This one is an automatic, though, for the ladies*. If I could fit in one I might own one. Here’s a 10 year old one with stupid low miles at a budget price. Throw in the MaxCare warranty if you really want to never have a repair bill, but with a low-mileage Mazda that’s like unnecessary like a belt and suspenders. It’s a one-owner car Virginia car, and it looks like that one-owner rear ended someone in the first year of ownership. Perhaps that matters to you. Find it here at Dulles, Virginia for $15,998. If the link is dead it’s sold/on hold, or being transferred.