It’s been a nice run.

[Zeya]

I haven’t been super active here in recent years. I am the original owner of a true red 2008 Mazdaspeed 3 GT. That’s almost 11 years. When I bought this car, I was a 24-year-old bachelor. Now I’m 35 with a wife and 3-year old and all kinds of situations. How the times have changed.

Anyway, she’s sadly not long for my garage. I’ll admit I got lazy with maintenance in recent years; oil changes and whatnot. The main issue is that the A/C compressor seized up. (Over the past 4 years or so it’s been slowly leaking juice and blowing hot by springtime, prompting a basic recharge. May or may not be related.) And with the compressor seized, the engine was having trouble starting because the belt couldn’t turn that A/C wheel. Replacing just the compressor, I was quoted about 1200 or $1500 for the job (can’t remember), but then I was also told that the other 2 parts of the A/C system might also be compromised and might need replacing in the short term, making for a few thousand more to repair. Also the engine oil had tell-tale metal flecks in it, indicating early stages of engine failure. So that all being a large chunk of the car’s trade-in value (about $6k) or private sale value (theoretical $8k and a hard sell without full repairs), I’m off to shop for a new ride.

I’m looking into an Audi A4 or S4. Kinda feeling a used S4. It’s gotta be a manual of course! Also going to look into a BMW 3-series or maybe Cadillac ATS. Too bad Mazdaspeed is dead. But it’s time to step up to something a bit more refined.

Gonna miss the car! It’s been a lot of fun to drive, every day. Playing around with light mods at first was fun too. I never got the balls to step up to real power mods. Only thing I ever did was an intake, boost tubes, rear engine mount, and then some lesser perks (hood lifts which I highly recommend, shifter bushings… that’s about it I think, lol). About the only things I won’t miss about this car is the narrow ass seats (I never got rid of my fat ass after all) and the climate controls have always just kind of blown, pun intended. Never once used the CD player or the cigarette tray, lol.

When I got this car, I thought for sure I’d have some major engine issue, like a blown turbo down the road or god-knows-what with the engine block. Or transmission issues like the Mazdaspeed Protege had. But yeah, mainly just the goddamn A/C system. Who knew.

Peace out! Thanks for the miscellaneous help over the years.

[MSMS3]

For a family vehicle consider a 2013 or newer Q5 with the 3.0T engine. Many of the attributes of a hatchback but with more interior room and it is all wheel drive. With the creature comfort and amenities one expects from the A4/S4 Audi platform

That engine, which is shared with the S4, is a supercharged monster. Stock is 272 horsepower, but with one bolt on (either overdrive crank pulley or undersize s/c pulley) and stage 2 tune it is 430 horses. Mine is doing 0-60 in 4.3 seconds and 12.7 quarters. And some guys running higher ratio overdrive pulleys and race gas or ethanol blends are in the 11s.

it has the same 8 speed ZF transmission that is in all the hot MOPARs, AMG Mercs, BMWs and some exotics. In sport mode, especially with brutal, lightning quick launch control activated, you will not miss the 6 speed manual and extra pedal. It has a manual mode, if you prefer. It will knock out those 4.3 0-60s with no tire spin. I repeat, launch is brutal. 1.6 or better 60 ft without effort.

I still have my '08 Speed 3 I bought new 10 years ago, but am considering putting it up for adoption after spending a year with the supercharged Q5. It is basically an SUV version of an S4. It gains some weight, but carries it well. The fat lady can sing.

[Zeya]

Wow that's pretty intense with the Q5. Sounds like a lot of fun!

For your speed 3... you can either ride it till it dies, or consider selling it now while it holds more value and runs well, maybe to an enthusiast looking for a fun ride. I'm afraid of when I go to trade mine in because it is not running well at all. Hopefully they don't look to closely.

[crankshaft]

That was a good run. How many miles?

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Can you tell us more about the "tell tale signs of metal flecks" from the engine oil? Like what specifically, and how did you know?

I'm curious because I just found out my 10x,xxx miles car is burning oil.

Thank you.

[crankshaft]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo Can you tell us more about the "tell tale signs of metal flecks" from the engine oil? Like what specifically, and how did you know? I'm curious because I just found out my 10x,xxx miles car is burning oil. Thank you.

Probably looks like flakes in the oil...you can google some good pictures. Actual metal flakes in the oil...kinda like flakes in metallic paint, except the flakes are bigger and fewer. It's typically bearing material.

Burning oil would be more along the lines of a turbo seal, worn or bad oil rings, worn valve guides.........

[Zeya]

It’s about 100k miles. The meta in the oil... if you hold it and reflect some light it’s like this super fine dust floating on top that’s glinting light off it. Photos wouldn’t do it justice. You almost need a microscope or something.

[Pu Manchu]

send it for analysis, they'll tell you what kind of metal it is, but it's prolly bearings.

[Zeya]

Just to cap this off. I ended up trying to buy an Audi A4 allroad. When it came time to appraise my trade-in (the speed 3), they had trouble starting it. Then they drove it across the lot to the mechanic where it would not start again. The AC compressor had seized up again. I ended up actually selling it to the mechanic who took a look at it, lol. Would have been hard to find a buyer in general, but too bad it couldn't have just held itself together for a little longer to be nicer for a trade-in.

But then they kept dragging their feet at Audi and I left not buying a car. And then I thought better of it and how I could find another car and save money. (Got a family to support on only my income...) After a couple more weekends of car shopping, I ended up buying a new 2018 Honda Accord 2.0T with six speed manual transmission. It's actually really fun and the fit and finish on that car is really out of its own price range (about $31k msrp, I paid just over 31k out the door). My wife didn't want me getting a stick which I was ready to abandon "for the team" but then she relented. Doesn't seem like people mod the hell out of the Honda Accord but that's fine with me. They got a couple ECU tuning solutions.

Anyway thanks again! Going to miss the speed 3. Oh I kept the shift knob as a memento. Poor sap got some $14 off-the-shelf shift knob, lol.

[Carskick]

Those 2018 Accord 2.0T sports are nice. A good friend of mine is leasing one, and they are very nice and refined. Good compromise of sport and luxury for the price. His is the 10 speed auto.

I bought my 09 speed new and started modding 2 years ago. Luckily still running great. Started to have AC issues, but a flush and charge solved it and mechanic found no signs of leaks. Proabably just needed the flush since it's never been done.

Those Accorda are detuned Civic type R engines, right? I'd think with some bolt on and a tune you'd be over 300hp easy!

[Vinnie]

Let me chime in. I just traded in my MS3 for a Focus RS. they can be had brand new at a great price right now because Ford axed their sedan segment. It's worth checking out. AWD, 350hp/tq, creature comforts, torque vectoring, drift mode... hahha but for real, why not toss that in.

[HumbleGhost]

What kind of value are you looking at for an 08 MS3 with 95k miles?