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.

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.

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: Wrecked 2010 Mazdaspeed3 - Cheap Performance

The Mazda Mazdaspeed3 (or is it just the Mazdaspeed3?) is a hot-hatch rocketship that is powered by a jewel of a 2.3 liter, 263 hp turbocharged, direct injected four cylinder engine mated to a slick 6-speed manual transmission. They don't even offer an automatic as an option! The "speed3" is quite affordable for the level of performance dished out; 0-60 in just 6.3 seconds is super quick for only $24,200 MSRP with a factory warranty. But for 1/3 the price of a new model, we are intrigued by this example that we stumbled across on ebay. This 2010 Mazdaspeed3 is essentially the same car still on dealer lots today and has been in a moderate front end collision. We think this is the perfect start to a track-day car or budget racer - great power, sharp handling and modern Japanese reliability is a great headstart versus the average 15 year old performance car in this price range. Find it here on ebay for $8900 Buy it Now (or make offer) in Huntingdon, PA.