I've got one more car than I need and this is a really good way to let anyone interested in it know more about it. 

It's a 2005 Mazda 6 four door automatic with all the bells and whistles.  Power windows and door locks, tilt wheel, AC, factory cd stereo, and cruise.  This is the model with the controls to the stereo and cruise on the steering wheel.  It is a deep burgandy red with a beige cloth interior.  The windows are tinted, legally.  The tires are brand new and it has been recently serviced.  It looks like a car with 1/3 the miles that are actually on it.  The odometer now reads 94,000 +.  Most of its miles were highway miles. 

As Paul Harvey used to say, "and now for the rest of the story..." 
I went in early 2007 with my wife and oldest stepdaughter to a dealership in Trussville where they had found this Mazda.  The stepdaughter had to have it and needed me to co-sign on the note.  She had done a good job paying for the Kia Spectra she was driving that I had also signed for earlier so she could work .  They had worked out a trade where the Kia would be paid off and $19,000 would be owed towards the Mazda 6.   I gave in and signed for this car for her.  All was good for about a year and I got a notice that the note was behind a month.  I raised cain and she caught it up... or so she said.  I did not hear anything else for another year.  Last summer, I was in the Florida Keys enjoying the first day of a vacation we had planned and saved up 6 months for when the phone rang.  It was the stepdaughter.  The Mazda 6 had been repo'ed during the night.  She was 3 months behind on payments and was sorry.  I was livid.  My credit had just been screwed.  I had never been late on any payments for anything I had bought in my life and my credit showed that.   I told her to talk with her husband and figure out how to make it right.  They did.  They bought another car.  Yeah, screw me... 

$13,400 was still owed on the car plus the costs of the repo.  We ended vacation because I could not have a good time knowing I had this to deal with at home.  I also needed vacation money to bail the car out of repo jail.  Once back home, $2300 got the car to my house.  I put full coverage insurance on it and parked it, driving it occasionally.  We sat down and I studied our finances and made a budget we could live with and be able to put $2500 a month towards what was owed on this Mazda 6.  For the last 6 months, we have been eating peanut butter and jelly and cooking in.  We have done without anything we could live without.  Last week, I got the title in the mail.  Its paid for.  I can now sell it. 

I did some research and found that Kelly Blue Book lists its suggested retail value, with the miles it has on it in the low 10's.  Average private party sale is listed at the mid 8's  and trade in value is in the mid 7's.  The last 5 or 6 2005 Mazda 6's I have seen in the Birmingham news have listed in the mid 9's to low 10's.  I need a quick sale.  This car looks great, rides and drives like new, gets mid 30's on gas mileage, and would make any teenager very happy.   I consider it a perfect kid's first or second car.  There is nothing wrong with it other than I have over  $14,000 out of my pocket in it.  I am a huge fan of Dave Ramsey and his financial teachings.  He calls this a "STUPID TAX"...   Money we pay out for the stupid things we do... like sign a contract for financing on a car for someone else to drive because they convince you it is a good thing to do... for them.  There is a reason banks don't loan money to people who have a history of not paying it back.    I don't need this car.  I did not buy it for me or my wife... but I have paid double for it.  Sorry for the rant but I'm still pissed... 

Now for the pictures... Click on a picture to blow it up to full screen size.  The odometer in the last picture shows 93,645 miles but we have driven it several hundred here around town.  If I'm paying for it, I'm going to drive it.  Yes, the 449 is the miles driven on that tank of gas. 

I have it on a friend's car lot in Pleasant Grove, Walton's Used Cars, at the corner of Pleasant Grove Road and Park Road, just behind the Chevron.  He has the keys and is there to show it any time.  Call me with any questions, 966-2137. 

Send mail to foprange@bellsouth.net with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: June 23, 2009