Mazda 6 MPS

[Siewss]

Hi, I'm thinking of getting a used Mazda MPS6. Paper specs and actual drive look and feel is, to say the least, impressive - just take a look:

 

Transmission: 6-speed manual

Engine: 2.3-litre, inline 4-cylinder turbo, petrol

Seats: 5

Safety: 6 airbags (drive and passenger front, front side and head-protecting curtain airbags), ABS, BA, DSC

Fuel consumption: 10.5L/100km

Max Power: 260ps @ 5500rpm

Max Torque: 380Nm @ 3000rpm

Max Speed: 240km/h

0-100km/h: 6.6 seconds

 

However, I've the following concerns:

 

1) As it'll be 3rd hand if I take ownership, that essentially means there's hardly any decent resale value if I were to sell later

 

2) On the same note, a rare turbo car, with manual transmission, is going to be hard to attract any buyer

 

3) It's a previous generation model, which again will exacerbate the problem of reselling when the time arise. I probably have to scrap at paper value at the 5th year

 

4) I'll have to run the risk of parts shortage. Long wait is expected if the situation arise

 

I can still bear with the rest of the undesirables like higher insurance premium, non-favorite color, and higher fuel consumption, but the above bugs me.

 

What do you think?

Edited March 4, 2008 by Siewss

[Macrosszero]

Is it a white one with aftermarket wheels?

[Toyo]

since its rare, resale value may be good.

anyway just keep on driving if its not. the specs itself looks very impressive

[Siewss]

Yeah, you guessed it, that's the one. Some info you can share?

[Siewss]

Well, it could be, but I'm more inclined to the contrarian view. It's precisely because it's rare that few people, except for enthusiast willing to take the risk, will consider.

 

I'm also hard pressed to keep the car beyond 5 yrs.

Edited March 4, 2008 by Siewss

[Toyo]

why not find a car tat u can drive longer? most cars if u want to sell is just PARF + COE rebate + body value.

[Nobrainer32007]

buy only if u can press down the asking price.

[Siewss]

I guess if that's the case, I can probably stick to my current ride, which is coming to 4 yrs of age. Just thought I'll try out a TCed car for a couple of year, if the depreciation is not heavy on the pocket.

 

And PARF + COE rebate + body value apply to 1.5yr old car?

[Siewss]

I feel the risk is big because the asking price is way above PARF + COE rebate + body value. It's unlikely I can get any body value after the 5th year since I don't think there's any one in need of the body.

 

I'm also looking at the Legacy GT (STi tuned). The SE is tempting me with a very attractive price, which I'm seriously considering if the asking price for the MPS is too high.

[Toyo]

Yup, usually the newer the car the higher the body value. sometimes other factors also played a part, need to check with a few dealers to get the best quote.

[Siewss]

In this case, I think the asking price is twice the body value - not sure if any dealer can quote since it's quite rare. By asking dealer, you're saying I should approach a dealer and ask what price he'll offer for an MPS which I don't own?

[Macrosszero]

If it is the one with the Advan wheels then it has an intermittent engine check light problem - it could simply be a sensor issue, as Mazda Motors themselves can't solve it despite repeated visits.

 

Other than that it is a tidy, straight car, don't let the creases inside the rear fenders worry you too much as it is because of the offset of the aftermarket wheels hitting the bodywork.

 

The car only has a light pressure turbo, yet it feels like it has quite a bit of turbo lag. It feels heavier than a WRX because it is.

 

Don't expect too much for resale value - nowadays which car commands resale value for rarity? However, it being manual won't count against it. WRXes are mostly manual and no one is complaining. It being rare (I think less than 10-15 locally) means that there is a lack of aftermarket parts not to mention spare parts. Good thing it is an AD car then.

 

But if you drive it sensibly and stock then it shouldn't be more trouble than the average Mazda 6. If you always wanted a manual transmission Legacy but missed the previous generation's, then this is a direct replacement.

[Toyo]

asking now also no use cos the market is always changing. nobody can tell u the body value few years down the road

[Fatswift]

The MPS is a nice car, but if you have so many doubts about it, it might be prudent to listen to your inner voice.

 

 

But a bit off topic....

 

A rare car that commands resale value based on its rarity ---->

 

http://www.sgcarmart.com/main/info-2ILHOoJp-1059.html

 

tada!

Edited March 4, 2008 by Fatswift

[Zcold]

if wads holding u back betw the MPS n legacy is whether its MT anot... can go PI find a MT JDM legacy...

 

actually some time back there were 1-2 2nd-hand MT legacy on sale... one i tink +/- 4 yrs wan was i tink 60k + .... and the other one was a under 1 year old one 100+ k..

that is totally based on my memory... arh... tell u first..

 

 

besides... the cars tt have high resale values are due to its rarity and achieve some sort of cult status are like skylines, rx7s, NSXs which had high performance partly due to less strict emmission standards then...

MPS to have higher resale value due to rarity? fingers crossed ... huh huh ...

Edited March 4, 2008 by Zcold

[Macrosszero]

You can't use that rule of thumb for all the recently registered new cars.

 

Take this car for example:

 

http://www.sgcarmart.com/main/info-2ItHEXrh-1001.html

 

This Altis is registered 16th Nov 06, which makes it 1yr and 4mths old (approx).

 

COE is $12979, and OMV is $15498.

 

The car's asking price is $48,800.

 

So based on your assertion, the car is wildly overpriced, because remaining COE paper is $11248 and remaining OMV assuming scrap is 75% of OMV which is $11623.50. Thus, $48,800 minus $11248 minus $11623.50 = $25928.5.

 

Assuming Altis body value is rock solid at $12k it means the dealer earns the remainder, a nice hefty $13k?

 

But then again, see if you can find a 2 year old Altis that is sold at anything in the $30k range.

[Knighthunter]

Don't worry MPS enigne parts almost identical with CX-7 which is getting popular now, body wise almost smilar to normal Mazda 6. I think no issue for spare parts.

[Macrosszero]

It is being sold at a premium, but it is a buyers' market for this sort of car. Let me explain. You really got to love this particular model of GTR.

 

Look at the price of this one, 195k and 4 years of COE left. Meaning that if you had to take a loan to buy this car, your monthly would be crazy because you can't loan beyond the COE expiry date. COE paper is also high - 2002 is a period where COEs were still high and most of the other 2002 model year cars of other makes have long been taken off the road.

 

So, if you had cash to throw at this car, you would have the cash to buy the latest GTR, brand new. The depreciation is probably similar.

 

And asking price does not equate to selling price. I am sure the dealer has tacked on a huge margin on this one to buffer the months of depreciation the car has to suffer while sitting in their showroom waiting for a buyer, until the dealer bites the bullet and exports the car.