Should I go for a $8.8k '14 Mazda3 i GT Hatchback with 160,000 miles?

I just test drove this car at a dealership tonight. It’s really clean inside, feels comfortable, and runs smoothly. Everything seems good except the TPMS needs fixing. The only thing I noticed is that the oil smelled a bit gassy, but it’s winter and it’s probably been test-driven a lot, so that’s probably why.

It’s been in New Jersey and Missouri, and there’s a little surface rust under the car, but nothing major from what I could see.

I checked the Carfax, and it looks decent. There are a few holes in the history, but it’s not the worst I’ve seen. Oil changes seem to be mostly on time, but there’s no record of a transmission fluid change. The car shifted fine during my test drive, though a bit slowly. I’ve never driven a Mazda before, so I can’t really compare it to anything.

I couldn’t buy it tonight because no financing was available, but I have other options. The price is $8,784 out the door. What do you think?

You’ll likely need a lot of repairs soon, especially with the steering and suspension. Brakes could need attention too. The valve cover gasket will probably start leaking soon. You might also need to replace the water pump and belt tensioner, along with the belts.

None of these repairs are that hard or expensive if you can do them yourself. But if you’re paying someone, it can get costly. Here’s what I had to replace between 150k and 200k miles on my Mazda:

  • Shocks and struts
  • Lower control arms
  • Inner and outer tie rods
  • Sway bar links
  • CV axles
  • Brake calipers
  • Valve cover gasket and OCV seal
  • Water pump

It only cost me less than $1000 for parts, but if I had a shop do it, it would’ve cost 3 or 4 times that. Keep this in mind when buying a higher-mileage car.

@Cal
Yeah, I do most of my own repairs, as long as it doesn’t require lifting the engine or transmission. I kept my old Ford minivan running until it hit 286k miles before the transmission finally gave out. I’m pretty familiar with Rockauto.

That raises a good point, though: does the 3 have any parts that need the engine moved to replace them? My old van needed the engine hoisted to replace the water pump, which was way beyond my skill level and ended up costing me about $800 for that job. Still kind of bitter about that.

And the big question: if you were me, would you go for it at this price?

@Phoenix
To my knowledge, you don’t need to lift the engine for any of those repairs. You just need to take off the passenger wheel well lining, but it’s still a bit of a pain to get to.

Personally, if I were buying a car with 160k miles, I’d try to find something older and cheaper from a private seller.

@Cal
Thanks for the advice. Honestly, this is the most helpful feedback I’ve gotten.

I’m not too keen on going any older if I can avoid it, but I’ll keep looking for something with fewer miles. Thanks again!

No way. That price is way too high. How long do you think it will last with 160k miles?

Don’t get me wrong. My 2012 has over 265,000 miles and still runs great…

But for an economy car with 160,000 miles, it should be priced closer to $5,000.

@Cleo
I mean, I got 283k out of my minivan before the transmission just died. It was a car known to only last 100k-150k miles if you were lucky. But I managed to get it that far without needing to buy a new vehicle too often. ^(Looking back, I wasted a lot of goat sacrifices on that minivan and feel bad about it.)

As for this Mazda, I guess it’s technically an economy car, but the GT trim is pretty nice and it rode smoothly over our winter-damaged roads. Maybe I’m just too used to old minivans and cheaper cars. *shrugs*

Anyway, despite the temptation, I’ve decided to hold off and see if something with fewer miles comes up.

@Phoenix
Keep us updated! Hope you find something that works!

Cleo said:
@Phoenix
Keep us updated! Hope you find something that works!

You’re right about the trim. That adds another grand to the price. Try to get them down to $6,500, then go over the car with a fine-tooth comb before making a decision.