Hey everybody, I registered in need of advice and hopefully more in the future.. So I have this choice - either to buy a grey 05 mazda 3 manual w/73k miles on craigslist, or an 06 silver mazda 3 w/ 76k miles from my cousin. Both are going for $7000.
Which one should I go for? I kinda like the look of the dark grey color on it too..


Now I want to know, is there a significant different between those two years?
And are there any problems mechanical/technological in those years?

Also, 160hp for a stock 3 seems pretty low imo, what mods lightweight should I put onto it?

 

through 06 there was a recall on engine mounts, and 05 i think there was one for brake squeal too. in any case i'd go with the newer 06 just because there will be more fixes in place. Also you know the original owner (cousin) - while that may cause tension of/when there are car problems, its always good to have a source for the vehicles history / repairs / accidents etc...

http://finishlineperformance.com/sto....php?pageid=12 - has recall info
http://www.edmunds.com/ - has vehicle changes by model / year

Good luck with the new ride.

 

first off, 160 hp is a manufacturer spec when the engine is hooked up to computers, not a car. most dyno runs on youtube put stock 3s with a cai at just above 130 hp which, with a bit of research, youll find it put the 3 at the top of its class. (in 05 anyway, the year of my car. competition includes baseline civics, lancers, cobalts and maybe a few others i cant recall)

differences are minimal between the 05 and 06. the 06 has an indent for your hand on the trunk lid, which im glad mine doesnt have (looks sleeker.) but 05 has no trunk release on the key faab and 06 does (i think)....those kinds of small differences...

mods are endless....turbo or NA? answer that first, then do research. and bring your wallet....

 

That's about a push, truth be told. And as already said, if all else is about equal, I'd take the "newer" car most every time. It's only got 3k more miles so that's not a biggie. It may or may not be a good thing to be a car from a relative, but at the least, you have an idea as to how it's been driven and taken care of. Really just sounds like a matter of which you would prefer.