I flooded mine once... moved it about ten feet in 0-degree chill, then shut it off. Cold weather apparently raises the risk.

 

Thanks for the replies. So, the million dollar question is- would you recommend the car? If so, new or used? Given the frequency of engine replacements that I read about, it sounds like I want a warranty. I also like to keep my cars quite a while- do you guys think it'll be feasible?

 

That's a good practice, but not a full solution. We have had our car for a little over two years, with never a problem (it's a 2003 build; we bought it new off the lot). We had never shut the car off cold, so we really hadn't seen if we had a problem. So, I drove the car out of the garage, and parked it in the driveway. Revved it to 4000 RPM for ten seconds, and shut it off from that rev level. The next day, it wouldn't start. They did a quality job of hauling the car into the dealer, performing the TSB, and getting the car back to me in one day, without a whine or complaint by them, but I was advised in no uncertain terms that the problem is really here to stay, and the only solution is never to turn the car off unless it is warm.
The car is a great car, with two very significant caveats--simply horrible gas mileage, and the flooding issue. If you don't mind a car with horrible gas mileage, and if you can control whether you ever turn the car off cold, there's no reason to avoid it. I fully believe that the car is a reliable, fun, useful, comfortable car. This is our third rotary car, and the other two worked for many, many years (we generally buy new and drive until it goes to the junk yard, so I understand your quesiton).

The advantage of buying new is that you get the full warranty (whatever that is these days). The advantage of buying used is that you get the benefit of how the market has discounted these as used cars (presumably because of the gas mileage issue). If you're a careful buyer, you can usually get it new for a good deal under invoice (ours was a leftover 2004 after the 2005s had come out, and we got it at about $3000 under invoice), so keep that in mind when shopping.

 

Search.

And I do the 3 to 4K spin and shut down just in case.

 

I guess I am just lucky, I never have to do it. Every morning I have to back the car out of the driveway so my other car can get out of the house. Total start time is 30-90 sec.

 

yep,

same thing here.. i dont think i could flood mine if i tried...

i did not even bother to get the upgraded starter..

beers

 

Ever consider reversing the order of the cars?

 

But its free along with a new battery!

 

sure it is, but if i have no need. why cost mazda more money???

it works fine as it did 3.5 years ago... but i did get the new motor. but it gets the same mileage as the old one.

neither failed to start...

beers

 

Never flooded mine but I don't move it anywhere until it's warmed up to the first or second line of the temp. guage. Just always make sure u let it run and warm up some b4 you shut it off and it will be fine.

 

i have never flooded mine either...even though i move my car out of the drive way just to repark all the cars