Mazda 323f ZXi

clivvy · 21-08-2010, 09:28

going to view one today in Sheffield. Im quite excited, as I adore these cars. In the pics, it looks in very good condition. the advert is a typical trader ad, so not too much detail. 11 months mot, 3 month tax. 2 previous owners. appears to be a trade in, as the seller is a merc trader, so I suspect the mazda was a deposit on a more expensive vehicle.

Im hoping this means its been loked after, its high spec, so generaly this means the cars are looked after.

I know a fair bit about these cars, and the V6 engine (mine is a 2.5 V6, this is a 2.0 v6) so have a few ideas on what to look for. hoping to knock the guy down £50-£100, hes asking £799, so for cash, im offering £700 unless i find a lot of faults but knowing these cars, i bet there isnt much if anything.

its got 95k miles on it, generally that will mean check the calipers, clutch shoudl be fine as they go for a hell of a long time (my MX6 is on 112k miles on the original clutch and its still mint). Check the air con, elec windows as they tend to begin sticking, break pads for certain, rear discs too. exhausts are three part, and pretty cheap to have done so not too worried about that, shocks and suspention tend to last, but the drop links do not but again, not difficult to fix or expensive.

engine wise theres not much to check. cambelt of course, but they need doing every 60k miles or 5 year, so it will be due at 120k. ill need to check the pump, pully for leaks, any rattle (ignore tappet noise/hla noise) oil of course and cooling. Radiators are very sensitive, the fans tend to break on their mounting, an dcrack the radiator fins causing leak/overheat immediately-the V6's run VERY hot, so has to be spot on.

arrgghh

im all excited so im going to go build some more of my shed.

wish me luck guys, if i buy it, ill post some pics.

My MX6 will be up for sale too, nowt wrong with it, i just want something new. cambelt due at 120k, so 8k miles to go.other than that, its good. anyway, ill post about that later.

clivvy · 21-08-2010, 15:22

the car wasnt right

I had to rip it to shreds, it was full of faults. the guy was a bit of a cock too, wouldnt even take it off the forcourt unless id pay the £800. i simply said "no" then proceeded to point out all the faults i found, i even MADE him open the bonnet back up to prove the car didnt have air con, smugly asking "where are you going to re fill it then?" etc, arrogant arse.

the car was chucking out some serious blue smoke from cold, which turned black then blue plus fuel/water/oil spitting out the exhaust. one tyre almost bold, the other tyres not far behind. some poor repair work on one arch, scratches on the doors etc etc.

i admit, I was being picky, but £800 is £800, and for that, id expect a car to be as advertised, and it wasnt. "excellent car" was in the ad, it ISNT an excellent car any more.

ah well.

21-08-2010, 09:28	#1
clivvy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Huddersfield Vehicle: Terrano 03 LWB Posts: 6,947	Mazda 323f ZXi going to view one today in Sheffield. Im quite excited, as I adore these cars. In the pics, it looks in very good condition. the advert is a typical trader ad, so not too much detail. 11 months mot, 3 month tax. 2 previous owners. appears to be a trade in, as the seller is a merc trader, so I suspect the mazda was a deposit on a more expensive vehicle. Im hoping this means its been loked after, its high spec, so generaly this means the cars are looked after. I know a fair bit about these cars, and the V6 engine (mine is a 2.5 V6, this is a 2.0 v6) so have a few ideas on what to look for. hoping to knock the guy down £50-£100, hes asking £799, so for cash, im offering £700 unless i find a lot of faults but knowing these cars, i bet there isnt much if anything. its got 95k miles on it, generally that will mean check the calipers, clutch shoudl be fine as they go for a hell of a long time (my MX6 is on 112k miles on the original clutch and its still mint). Check the air con, elec windows as they tend to begin sticking, break pads for certain, rear discs too. exhausts are three part, and pretty cheap to have done so not too worried about that, shocks and suspention tend to last, but the drop links do not but again, not difficult to fix or expensive. engine wise theres not much to check. cambelt of course, but they need doing every 60k miles or 5 year, so it will be due at 120k. ill need to check the pump, pully for leaks, any rattle (ignore tappet noise/hla noise) oil of course and cooling. Radiators are very sensitive, the fans tend to break on their mounting, an dcrack the radiator fins causing leak/overheat immediately-the V6's run VERY hot, so has to be spot on. arrgghh im all excited so im going to go build some more of my shed. wish me luck guys, if i buy it, ill post some pics. My MX6 will be up for sale too, nowt wrong with it, i just want something new. cambelt due at 120k, so 8k miles to go.other than that, its good. anyway, ill post about that later.

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21-08-2010, 15:22	#2
clivvy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Huddersfield Vehicle: Terrano 03 LWB Posts: 6,947	the car wasnt right I had to rip it to shreds, it was full of faults. the guy was a bit of a cock too, wouldnt even take it off the forcourt unless id pay the £800. i simply said "no" then proceeded to point out all the faults i found, i even MADE him open the bonnet back up to prove the car didnt have air con, smugly asking "where are you going to re fill it then?" etc, arrogant arse. the car was chucking out some serious blue smoke from cold, which turned black then blue plus fuel/water/oil spitting out the exhaust. one tyre almost bold, the other tyres not far behind. some poor repair work on one arch, scratches on the doors etc etc. i admit, I was being picky, but £800 is £800, and for that, id expect a car to be as advertised, and it wasnt. "excellent car" was in the ad, it ISNT an excellent car any more. ah well.