New Jersey Giant: 2008 Mazda Mazdaspeed 3

I'm going to post this next car with a caveat that Brooklyn isn't a good place to buy a car...or probably much of anything.  The Big Apple is notorious for crappy roads, sketchy parking, bad weather, and well...New Yorkers.  Everybody who isn't trying to actually pick your pocket is probably trying to muscle something outta your bank account...not that there is anything wrong with that...but this next car seems to be a good deal and I have to admit that I would look past the zip code and consider this...wait...why does it have Jersey plates?  Is this the New York Giants of the car world? Find this 2008 Mazda Mazdaspeed 3 offered for $4995 in Brooklyn, NY via craigslist. Tip from ME.

Cheap Horsepower: 2006 Mazdaspeed6

There was a time when Mazda was just another entry into the world of cheap Japanese economy cars.  Most Mazdas built in the '80s & '90s had all the reliability, charisma, and fun factor of a dollar store enema kit, but sometime in the early '00s (that's pronounced "oughts" like "I oughta smack you for buying an automatic transmission") the product planners at Mazda decided that they needed to create fast cars that looked good...what a concept!! Today you can find used turbo Mazdas for REALLY cheap.  Find this 2006 Mazdaspeed6 offered for $5,600 in Gardena, CA via craigslist.

Turbocharged 6-Speed: 2007 Mazda Mazdaspeed 3

Mazda is like the Dodge of Japan. Honda and Toyota fight like Ford and GM over bragging rights to the "best" volume sales cars and the "fastest" supercars, but Mazda just drops some crazy fun cars like the inexplicably named Mazdaspeed 3, which combined the best attributes of a small front drive family economy car with a turbocharged engine, limited slip diff, and a 6-speed manual box from 2007 through 2009 (second generation version with big smiley face was sold from 2010-2013).  Think of the Mazdaspeed 3 like a Mini Cooper S with an injection of muscle car grunt and size.  Find this 2007 Mazda Mazdaspeed 3 offered for $5950 in Hayward, CA via craigslist.

High Miles, No Problem- 2008 Mazdaspeed 3

When I was growing up, a car that rolled over 100,000 miles was something to take note of.  Flash forward twenty five years and it is common place see cars with plenty of life at 200,000+ miles.  The 2007-2009 Mazdaspeed 3 was the first real hit for the brand. Mazdaspeed's first go at things with the Protege was a somewhat lukewarm effort besieged by an engine that grenaded itself if  boosted much over stock level.  The Speed 3 righted the ship with a very potent 263 hp 2.3 turbo engine and 6 speed trans that still has a strong aftermarket tuner following.  It is rare to see a late model hot hatch from any brand in 100% stock unmodified condition.  Find this especially clean 2008 Mazdaspeed 3 for sale in Coventry, CT for $4,800 via craigslist.

Speed Wagon: 2003 Mazda Protege 5 Swap

Last week's Sunday piece featured a unusually clean Mazdaspeed Protege.  In the comments, it was bemoaned that Mazda never saw fit to give the Mazdaspeed treatment to the Protege 5 wagon.  Nearly all car enthusiasts (DT readers included) share a common love of the station wagon.  An enthusiastic Protege fan took it upon himself to create a more practical alternative to the MS Protege sedan.  The seller is active on a Mazda forum and lists more information about the car than most any normal person will care to read about.  Find this 2003 Mazda Protege 5 for sale in Manchester, CT for $4,200 via craigslist.

Underapreciated Front Driver: 2003 Mazdaspeed Protege

The 2003 Mazdaspeed Protege was the first offering from the Mazdaspeed name plate.  It was to be Mazda's hot rod shop ala Mercedes AMG, BMW M-series, Ford's SVT, etc.  The Mazdaspeed was spawned from the righteous handling 2001-2 Protege MP3 model.  The MP3 name was derived from the audio MP3 file (think Napster) which was new at the time and the car was outfitted with a wacky Kenwood headunit that would do somersaults every time the car was turned on.  Well known tuner Callaway Cars was brought in to turbo charge the MP3 140 hp 2.0 engine.  The boosted engine was good for 170 hp, but developed a horrible reputation for throwing rods if you upped the boost past 10 psi.  Find this 2003 Mazdaspeed Protege for sale in Waterbury, CT for $2,900 via craigslist.

Renaissance Car: 2004 Mazdaspeed MX-5

The Mazda MX-5 Miata was a perfectly good car before the guys at Mazdaspeed slapped a small turbocharger on the engine, but the Mazdaspeed MX-5 is the renaissance man's car, a well balanced combination of usefulness, style, and fun.  It isn't a cave man (Mustang) or a Machiavelli (Ferrari), but it is the Leonardo Da Vinci of cars, a well rounded example of a car that makes the journey more interesting than the destination.   Find this 2004 Mazdaspeed MX-5 offered for $4,000 via cars.com.  Tip from Roy.  

Mid Week Match-Up: A Winter Car For Michael

Today's Mid Week Match-Up request is from a friend of DT Michael who needs a replacement for his Acura TL.  In his words: The transmission on my 2005 Acura TL grenaded on my way home from work on Friday. With 187,000 miles on the clock and a body riddled with hail damage (the car, not mine) it looks like it is time to move on. The cars that interest me vary rather wildly -- yes, the Porsche 911 is my dream car (like many a 46 year old dude). But I also like the utility of a Jeep Wrangler or Commander. And I also dream of owning an electric car. Or a gigantic Autobahn cruising sedan.

10k: Factory Boosted: 2005 Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata

The 2nd generation Mazda MX-5 Miata has a bit of a reputation for being an unmanly car, an unfair judgement on one of the better handling cars of the 20th century.   Add a factory turbocharger and you get the Mazdaspeed MX-5 -- the renaissance man's car, a well balanced combination of usefulness, style, and fun.  It isn't a cave man (Mustang) or a Machiavelli (Ferrari), but it is the Leonardo Da Vinci of cars, a well rounded example of a car that makes the journey more interesting than the destination.  Find this 2005 Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata offered for $10,500 in New Haven, CT via craigslist.  Tip from John.

10k: Flyin Miata: 2004 Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata Turbo

The 2nd generation (NB) Mazda MX-5 was introduced in 1998 but it wasn't until 2004 that the Mazdaspeed factory turbo version was released.  The Mazdaspeed version was only produced in limited quantities (less than 5500) for 2004 and 2005 and was powered by a turbocharged and intercooled BP-4W engine.  Find this 2004 Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata turbo for sale in San Diego, CA for $10,000 via craigslist.

15k: 10 Sec Car: 2001 Mazda Mazdaspeed Protegé Drag Car

The term 10 second car gets tossed around by the Fast and Furious crowd as some kind of goal that can be accomplished by bolting on enough shiny aftermarket parts and their accompanying stickers (NOS baby NOS!!).  The truth is that it takes much more, chiefly, the total destruction of any potential transportation capabilities of the subject car, no trunk, no roll up windows, no license plates...etc.  This 2001 Mazda Mazdaspeed Protegé has been converted into a full track only 10 second 1/4 mile capable front-drive drag car and is for sale in Los Angeles, CA for $13,999 via craigslist.