MX-3.com

Stay away from the GS at all costs if you're concerned about repair costs. I bought my 92' GS back in Jan. 2002 and here is what i have done..

Problem: Ticking from engine
- Replaced cam shaft friction gear along with many seals/gaskets/springs/etc. $1100cdn

Problem: Car over heated on highway
- Replaced Thermastat. $175cdn

Problem: Car kept stalling when i applied brakes
- Replaced that's plastic intake hose thing. $100cdn

Problem: Car just would not start anymore
- Replaced Battery / Spark Plugs. $200cdn

Problem: Clicking sound when turning right.
- Replaced passenger side cv joint / boot / control arm ~$450cdn

Problem: Driver side wheel starts to make grinding noise.
- Replaced wheel bearing ~$150cdn

Problem: Rear passenger caliper seizes up!
- Reaplced rear passenger caliper and brake pad. ~$400cdn

Problem: Oil is on the bottom of one of my spark plugs
- Replaced valve seals. $250cdn

Problem: Can't open driver side door using key.
- Never fixed. I ended up getting keyless entry.

Problem: Timeing belt was never changed (It's at 103,000km's).
- Replaced timeing belt and tensioner. $800cdn. I should have replaced the water pump at the same time...but i didn't :\.\

Problem: GS Lip breaks in center wayyyy to easy
- Hasn't been fixed. I'll be putting an aftermarket vital grounds bumper on this spring.

Problem: I go through oil like no tommorow when i start to drive 130-145km/h on the highway. If i stay under 120km/h i don't loose nearly as much oil.
- Has not been fixed yet. Why? Havn't taken it in yet.

I swear i hate my car lol. I'll be getting a Nissan 240sx when the engine blows and/or the body starts to really rust out. Don't get the GS it's a piece of **** if you ask me. Even after all these problems, i still love my car though. So i dunno lol.

<small>[ February 13, 2004, 02:57 PM: Message edited by: Quick Sliver ]</small>

Say what??

$175 for a thermostat?
$100 for an intake hose?
$200 for a battery and spark plugs?
$450 for a cv joint and control arm?
$400 for a caliper and brake pads?

$1325 for all this? You should have come to me, I would have done it for $1200

Seriously, I admit I am naive about the American to Canadian exchange rate, but who the hell is doing your work? If you arent doing your own, its time to learn. If you are, and these are just parts costs, you need to start shopping elsewhere .

[quote]Originally posted by guyaverage:
Say what??

$175 for a thermostat?
$100 for an intake hose?
$200 for a battery and spark plugs?
$450 for a cv joint and control arm?
$400 for a caliper and brake pads?

$1325 for all this? You should have come to me, I would have done it for $1200 HAHAHAHA man you really need to shop around man. Canadian Tire is an awesome place to start
~ sam

...Labor and taxes were included in all the above prices, not to mention they are in Canadian currency. I don't post the pathetic American dollar. Keep in mind that this 'Sam' guy is obviously experienced when it comes to working on car. I just don't have that mechanical sense that you obviously take for granted.

<small>[ February 13, 2004, 07:20 PM: Message edited by: Quick Sliver ]</small>

haha dont let this become a hate thread guys, lol. well thanks for all the info. anymore suggestions or thoughts would be appreciated. im off to test drive the GS in the morning! im pumped haha. i'll give u guys a lil update of how it went tomorrow. thanks again

Unfortunately there is always going to be someone who has incredibly bad luck. Or someone who bought the car of someone who doesn't know how to take care of their car. When asking a question like this, why not look in a book like "lemonade" or consumers reports. 8 random peoples opinions on what went wrong with the car, and how reliable it is wont cut it. You have to look at the big picture, since, all cars of the production line are not alike, nor are the drivers or the mechanics.

That having been said...get the GS

Besides for my axles, i've changed (considering my car is 12years old) 1 broken spring, 1 wheel bearring, thermostat, waterpump (which was changed when i did my KLZE swap, along with my belts), a Rusted out e-brake cable and a distributor cap and sparkplug wires, and everything that was replaced was the original parts

The big problem on the V6 is the disty, alot of peole have had problems with them and they are VERY EXPENSIVE a cheap one is about $250.00 and a full dealer list price is around $650.00-$800.00

stay away from the 91-93 V6 this disty has the most problems.

if you want reliabilty go with a 5 speed RS 4 cylinder, it has less brake downs and is cheaper to repair. The parts are cheaper (1 Valve cover gasket insted of 2 for the V6) also there are only 4 cylinder so you dont have to pay for the extra parts like plugs, wires, ect.

Labour charges will also be cheapr because the engine is smaller and it easyer to acess all the little bits and pieces.

as for axles and wheel bearings, ball joints and tie rod ends, these are normal wearing parts ALL cars will need to have these changed at some time, Hondas always need to replace these so I dont consider them as a "problem" its just a normal part of owning a car, you will have to change them at some time, just dont know when. Driving style, mileage and maintance will all affect when these parts will need to be changed.

If you buy a 1992 with 250,000 Km that wasnt maintained, dont bad mouth the car if it needs an exhaust, C/V boots or axles, ball joints, Timming belt and water pump, valve cover gasket, maybe a intake manifold gasket, maybe a fuel pump, alternator, thermostat, alt belt, maybe a starter, ect.. after 14 years and 250,000 KM the car is going to be worn and parts will fail if they have never been changed.

As for prices, if you want cheap crapp then get it its your car, if you want quality parts and installed at a quailty shop they you have to pay for it.

a mazda thermostat for the GS is approx $35.00 CDN, coolant is approx $16.00 CDN, labour is approx $75.00/hr CND and the thermostat is barried on the GS, you have to remove the air cleaner assembly and all the plastic intake piping, pulling the disty is a good Idea as well so you have lots of room to access the Thermostat.

so you do the math. thats bout $125.00 CDN then add 15% tax, and thats what you would pay for a thermostat installed on your car in Toronto, Ont. Cnanda.

Dont trach someone because they know their limitations and they want the job done properly.

I have $8000.00 (thats THOUSAND) CDN worth of BMW XENON head lamp assemblies sitting in my apprtment, and I have 3 Turbos (2 Brand new audi S4 turbos) and I havent paid for any of it, so I can trash anyone for spending $1.00 on anything for there car, but I dont cause eveyones abilitys and knoledge are differnet.

<small>[ February 14, 2004, 01:37 PM: Message edited by: curtklze ]</small>

Hey quick silver, Looks like you got a dud, because Ive had my GS for 6 years, a not one prob!!

weelll the results from the test drive are in... i just got home. im half satisified. car looks great in and out and drives amazing. there were only two things that i didnt like about it but tell me if im being picky being that the car has 112k miles on it. As soon as i started it up i heard engine tapping and it didnt go away the entire time that i drove it. it wasnt real loud but it was enough to make me cringe. any ideas on this?? valves?? the other was the brakes didnt seem smooth. they were actually a lil rough when i pressed them. oh and 1 other thing, when i started the engine it idled at 2000 rmp for at least 30 sec then i just drove it away. didnt take time to see if it dropped. prob normal. i dont really know to much about buying used cars so any suggestions are appreciated. the guy is asking $3600 US. im sure i could talk him down to at least 3k.
http://www.weaselnoze.1afm.com/mx3front.jpg
http://www.weaselnoze.1afm.com/mx3rear.jpg
<img src="http://www.weaselnoze.1afm.com/mx3front.jpg" alt=" - " />
<img src="http://www.weaselnoze.1afm.com/mx3rear.jpg" alt=" - " />

<small>[ February 14, 2004, 02:59 PM: Message edited by: hyperpunkguy ]</small>

ok well after some extensive research on the forum ie. search feature.. i found that it is most likely the HLA problem everyone sees. so should i just get the freakin car and worry bout it later assuming it is HLA noise? everyone says this is not bad but just annoying. well what if some of them are collapsed? then should i worry? Also what can i do to be sure it is not a real problem (HLA) and not something else? i know i asked the most common question on the forum but i cant seem to find a straight answer. maybe someone could point me to the best post. everyone says mask the problem with oil type change but to me that doesnt seem like its fixing anything just hiding it... well idk i still love the car and will probably end up getting it anyway!

It's either the HLA's or one of the cam shaft friction gears. I got my right camshaft friction gear replaced last year, and it ran me about $1100cdn (Labour and taxes inc.) for an authorized Mazda mechanic to do it.

If i were you, id' just find another mx that doesn't have that ticking sound.

damn. i guess i'll just keep my eyes open

wasnt that "tapping" sound part of all GS engines? i mean.. thot i read that somewhere that all of em have it. but thats hella coo that you got rid of it quicksilver! cant stand mine haha.. but yo man ur car looks sweet! the idling high thing = looks very cold where you are, so it has to heat up. my car does that in the morning.. its all good :p .... and about the breaks, mine are rough at first but i think thats cuz its cold. duno BUT what we all wanna know is... how'd ya like drivin it? u feel some powa? i dont know much about how cars work, but the mx3 is soooo easy to work on! (all except that damn thermostat, which was harder than swapping the entire suspension) but yea, pretty cool car that way.. sorrie i waz rude

<small>[ February 15, 2004, 11:36 AM: Message edited by: Sam Baker ]</small>

hell yea i love it! power isnt tat great till u get to about 3 grand. most cars are like that though. it handles great and its soo much fun! i just dont want a car that needs work cause im poor and dont have any money for repairs.