Said engine was a two-liter four cylinder with 148 horsepower. Go with this mill if you’re more concerned with mileage than performance. Optionally available was a 2.3 liter four-cylinder with output in the 160 horsepower ballpark. This engine was available in the sedan and standard in the 3 Sport 5-door model. In either case, the 3 came with a five-speed stick or four speed automatic gearbox and spun its front wheels.
Look for equipment like a sunroof, heated leather seats, heated mirrors, automatic climate control and power accessories as optional or standard- depending on the model selected. Automatic xenon lights with a leveling switch and automatic wipers were also available, as was a wide selection of safety hardware. If you’re going after a loaded package with all the toys, you’re looking for the ‘GT’ trim designation.
Though no catastrophic issues presented themselves with the 3, a comprehensive test-drive and mechanical inspection is advisable. Note the proper operation of all electric accessories, paying special attention to the stereo display screen which is known to fail over time.
Note the condition of the tires, too. With the available 17-inch wheels, replacement rubber tends to be considerably more expensive than owners budget for. If the tires are worn badly, call them into pricing negotiations.
Same goes for the brakes. You can check these by ensuring the car stops with moderate pedal effort and no pulsating or squealing. A shake, shimmy or squealing / grinding noise when brakes are applied indicates that they need attention.
Going with the manual transmission? Shift into a high gear to get the revs down and apply full throttle where appropriate. Note any clutch slippage that occurs in this scenario, as well as any grinding or questionable noise when shifting. Note that a vibration at certain speeds from the front end could be caused by a faulty motor mount. If in doubt, ask a mechanic for assistance.
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| 2008 Mazda3 |
Look for equipment like a sunroof, heated leather seats, heated mirrors, automatic climate control and power accessories as optional or standard- depending on the model selected. Automatic xenon lights with a leveling switch and automatic wipers were also available, as was a wide selection of safety hardware. If you’re going after a loaded package with all the toys, you’re looking for the ‘GT’ trim designation.
Though no catastrophic issues presented themselves with the 3, a comprehensive test-drive and mechanical inspection is advisable. Note the proper operation of all electric accessories, paying special attention to the stereo display screen which is known to fail over time.
Note the condition of the tires, too. With the available 17-inch wheels, replacement rubber tends to be considerably more expensive than owners budget for. If the tires are worn badly, call them into pricing negotiations.
Same goes for the brakes. You can check these by ensuring the car stops with moderate pedal effort and no pulsating or squealing. A shake, shimmy or squealing / grinding noise when brakes are applied indicates that they need attention.
Going with the manual transmission? Shift into a high gear to get the revs down and apply full throttle where appropriate. Note any clutch slippage that occurs in this scenario, as well as any grinding or questionable noise when shifting. Note that a vibration at certain speeds from the front end could be caused by a faulty motor mount. If in doubt, ask a mechanic for assistance.
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| 2008 Mazda3 Sport |