Selling a 2009 Mazda 3, WTB Legacy GT

[cody]

Amanda doesn't like her 2009 Mazda 3 that she bought new. She wants to trade it in for a Legacy GT. She basically doesn't like how it drives. We've been trading cars when it snows and she's taken my car on a couple trips over the hill to the Bay Area and really loves the way it drives. However, she doesn't like the new Imprezas' looks or wagons in general.

She's only interested in sedans with a sunroof and manual transmission. And she wants a turbo now that she's driven my car.

The 2010 LGT has 22 more HP and is bigger but not much heavier than the 2009. But it's ugly with the funky wheel well arches. Any suggestions on which year is better? I'm thinking a used Spec B would be pretty sweet. Any common known issues like the turbo filter screen thingy to consider?

Sucks that she's going to get screwed selling a practically new car, but she's made up her mind. She says she can handle up to $550/month payments.

I asked her if she'd want it modded and she said maybe lowering springs but she's not sure because she hasn't even looked at one yet, other than online. She doesn't want it quite as low as my car though (Crucial Springs).

[Kevin M]

Is the Mazda upside down? If not, or if you have a decent down, that payment sounds totally doable.

[cody]

I'm sure it's way upside down. She might have a small down (<$2K).

She only put like $2K down on the 3 and it's a 5 year loan (IIRC) with a low APR. I think she bought it about 8 months ago. Should she try to sell it privately? Obviously a trade-in would be easier. I think it has an additional 100K mile warranty that is hopefully transferrable.

Edit: Updated first post with more detail.

[Kevin M]

Private party will be nearly impossible. If she waits another year and a half or so it's an option. She can still get a decent deal from a dealer, it's just going to take some work.

[cody]

So maybe try to get some offers from some local dealers for a straight sale of the 3 and then see if the Subaru dealers will offer similar for a trade in? Sell to highest bidder?

[Kevin M]

They'll give you a better deal if you're buying something from them. With a trade-in, they can justify not making money on one end of the sale but if you try to sell it outright, they won't give you good value. Wholesale at best.

[cody]

That's helpful. Any recommended local dealers for used LGT's?

[Kevin M]

What, besides Lithia? Just keep checking cars.com and whatnot. Newish, nice cars will get listed online somewhere. We found Nina's 3 on that or autotrader or something at Lexus of Reno.

[DaveWRX]

imo the best looking Legacy GT is the 2009 model...they have the best lines and the front bumper isnt rounded...so if at all give one of those a look and they have the power that im sure she is looking for

[Dean]

Find a good condition used 2-4 year old one and trade would be my suggestion. cars.com, vehix.com ...

Your best deal will likely be from Sac or LV, and if you never talk to a retail salesperson. Do everything over the web with the "Internet"/fleet manager.

[cody]

Man it's hard to not want the 2010 with the relocated turbo with better spool and more power.

[Kevin M]

Dude, it's a Subaru. Put that on the one you get later.

[cody]

So the issue with the Mazda 3 is that it feels sort of unstable on the freeway. I don't really notice it so much, but she does, as an intermitent issue. I think it's just when it's windy. Her dad did some searching and said the same thing I suspected, the OEM tires are crap. I even tried inflating them 4 PSI more than the door jam recommends, should I try more?

So she's thinking of keeping it since her Dad and I both keep telling her what a waste of money selling a car you bought new, so early is. She drove it home from the Bay Area yesterday and said she loved it.

I'm thinking some Falken Ziex ZE-912's would work well as an all year tire for her. Thoughts?

Would my Enkei RP02 17X7.5's (5X100) fit her car?

Any good Mazda 3 forums out there?

[Kevin M]

The tire choice sounds good, but the wheels are actually 5x114. STi wheels would work, except Mazdas have a larger hubcentric, so you'd have to machine out the center to make them fit. You can also get a surprisingly large tire under there, at least on Nina's '05. I put bald 255/40R17 RT615s on 17x8s under without a bit of rub, but her 235/45R17 snows on Scott's old MB Motorsport Weapons touch a bit on big jolts in the rear. I also have 225/45 RE01Rs on her stock wheels, which is about as big as you can go on those, unless the newer ones are wider than 6.5".

[cody]

I think her stock wheels are 17X7. They're definitely 17's but I think 16's would fit looking at the fitment. I'm tempted to put some good summer tires on them and just buy 16" steelies with snows for the Winter, but that's a big investment to make for a solution that only might fix the issue.

[Kevin M]

The brakes are pretty beefy actually- I think the rotors on our 3 are LGT size, give or take. Besides, 17s are the new 15s anyway.

[Nick Koan]

I've had the Falken Ziex ZE-912 on my car for two years now as all-season tires, and used them all last summer cause I never swapped my wheels. When they were new, they were pretty good in the snow (for an all season). Right now, though, they feel pretty average. I also had a set of the previous version, the 512, and they were about the same, but wore out very quickly. The 912 was supposed to last longer and so far has done a good job. I would say they are above average, especially for the price, but they aren't anything spectacular. Probably a decent upgrade over RE-92s or whatever craptastic tires came on the 3.

If you do decide to trade it in (even though it doesn't look like it) the options are:
2006 Spec B is limited edition, red leather, 5-speed
2007 - 2009 Spec B have the 6-speed
2007 Spec B has the black/blue interior like the STi, but its all leather
2008-2009 Spec B has all black interior and also the new power selector stuff. 08-09 also has minor exterior styling modifications that make it look better IMO. Or, maybe I've been staring at my 05 for so long, it just looks old to me.
All 05-09 non-spec B Except for the aforementioned styling bump in 08, and minor other enhancements, these cars are exactly the same. Different years offer different color packages, and that's about it.

Personally, if I was looking, I'd chose the 07 Spec b, unless I could find a good deal on an 08 or 09. The 2010 has a different 6 speed than the STi and some people are calling significantly weaker too. The look of the 2010 has grown on me, and the overall package looks pretty good, but I don't think I'm ever buying a brand new car again (unless its totally worth it).

[Kevin M]

FWIW, Nina's 3 is a little wandery on the freeway too, but I attribute that to the tire choices being big fat snows or skinny RE01Rs. And wind really tosses it around.

[cody]

Thanks Nick.

Kevin, do you think a minor drop with lowering springs would help? Amanda likes the way my car handles and wouldn't mine a minor drop.

[Nick Koan]

My car doesn't get blow around as much in the high winds we get here. I couldn't tell you if that was more the suspension or the tires. I would actually guess its more the suspension than the tires.

[Kevin M]

Originally Posted by cody

Thanks Nick.

Kevin, do you think a minor drop with lowering springs would help? Amanda likes the way my car handles and wouldn't mine a minor drop.

I have no experience at all with the Mazda aftermarket, but I imagine non-crappy springs wouldn't hurt anything. Brian at Good-Win-Racing.com would probably be a good place to start.

[cody]

Hmmm, maybe we should lower it first and then try new tires if that doesn't help.

[Nick Koan]

My car doesn't get blown around by the wind a lot, but I would guess its more the suspension work than the tires.

Unlike my truck which practically leans into the next lane (or so it feels).

[sperry]

Hey Cody... I'm going to have to sell my RPF1's off the SVX (they won't clear the StopTechs it's getting). They're 17x9's with some 245 RE01R's on them (though I may keep the tires, not sure yet).

Either way, they're a bad-ass set of wheels that will fit on the Mazda 3's.

[Kevin M]

That's hot. I'd get those for Nina, but we don't want to take her out of H Stock. Daily driving a proper SP car sucks balls.