New car for my wife, opinions?

[Bob Kazamakis]

Alright so the time has come for my wife to get a new car. this is what we've come up with but was wondering everyones experiences. she is currently driving an 01 focus ZTS so just about anything is an improvement. we havent test drove any yet.

04-05 Mazda 3 hatchback
pro's:
hatchbacks are awesome!
30 more hp than what shes got now.
similar if not better mpg than the focus
Manual
may be able to get it cheap through work
cons:
still a ford product
not too much performance aftermarket

04-05 Mini Cooper S
Pros:
hatchbacks are awesome!
go-kart handling
good aftermarket support
30 more hp than the focus and less weight=almost 3 seconds faster!
Safer than the focus
6 speed
similar gas mileage than the focus

cons:
2 door may be an issue if/when we have kids
pricier than the mazda but it has good resale
takes premium

06 VW GTI

pros:
hatchbacks are awesome!
way faster than the focus
similar mpg
4 door option
DSG's can be quick!
may be able to get it cheap through work
good performance aftermarket
turbo!

cons:
she isnt quite sure if she like the styling yet
pricier than the others
its a VW

Click to read more...

 

[Mook]

mazda3 hatch

owned a 06 and loved it sans the lack of balls....the manual box is fantastic, interior is great, cant say enough good things about it

 

[Burtonrider10022]

VW is a nice pick!

maybe an older Audi? they ride amazing.

but upgrade the brakes!

 

[Burtonrider10022]

maybe a MazdaSPEED 3 hatch....

 

[Mook]

nah, the normal 3 is more than enough fun to be honest...manual for sure tho. its so smooth. probably the best gear box out of all 4 manual cars ive owned so far

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

eh may be a bit out of the price range....maybe.

probably looking to spend up to $17,000.
under 50K mileage preferred.
hatchback
peppy

Mook - did you just have the regular 3 or the speed?

she is looking for something with a "cool factor" whatever that is.

 

[Mook]

regular. the speed wasnt out at the time..i bought it brand new. 5 speed...hatch....cloth interior.....paid like 18 maybe? i honestly loved it but i ended up going back on my word and wanted power again

 

[Dasfinc]

eh may be a bit out of the price range....maybe.

probably looking to spend up to $17,000.
under 50K mileage preferred.
hatchback
peppy

Mook - did you just have the regular 3 or the speed?

she is looking for something with a "cool factor" whatever that is.

*Cough* 2007 Ford Focus *cough*

WAY ballsier than the older ones, $12,500, warranty, and under 50K miles.

Come test-drive it sometime.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

well pretty much anything is faster than the focus. it literally kills me little by little everytime i drive it. hell the crx is faster.

i'm leaning more towards the 3 anyways, can be had for like $15K with low mileage and i think i can get it cheaper from the autobarn through work. they are also easy to find unlike the "perfect" mini.

hows the ride quality? reliability? highway noise? interior quality?

 

[firemandan1700]

Im kinda torn between the V-dub and the mazda. Id say go with the mazda cause imo i think there a bit sharper on the body lines. Plus there is a guy down here whos got a silver one, with rims, tints, exhaust, overall doesnt look too bad, plus it looks roomie too. Which thats a factor for me since im somewhat tall.

But either way one of those three are good choices.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

*Cough* 2007 Ford Focus *cough*

WAY ballsier than the older ones, $12,500, warranty, and under 50K miles.

Come test-drive it sometime.

its lacking a hatch. plus she wont drive another focus...even though the mazda is somewhat the same car.

plus its an auto no?

 

[PANDA]

I like the Mini or VW but the mazduh would be cheaper to buy, and cheaper to fix and maintain.

 

[Mook]

hows the ride quality? reliability? highway noise? interior quality?

rides smooth as hell....i only had it for 6 months so i cant comment on reliability but nothing happened in those 6 months...interior fit and finish was better than any of the cars ive owned to date...everything was where it needed to be....overall noise was fine too

 

[Bru]

The 3 is nice but in those years the VW and Mini have side impact and side curtain airbags as standard equipment, whereas those are optional on the 3. The VW and Mini also have standard stability control, which the Mazda didn't offer in that year.

As you mentioned, the Mini and VW take premium, and the Mazda is regular.

Here's a side-by-side comparision of the specs:
http://www.cars.com/go/compare/trimCompare.jsp?acodes=USB50MAC172A0,USB50MNC021A0,USB60VWC081A0

I would probably go for the 3. If something does break, at least it's still a Mazda and the parts will be cheaper than the others.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

the GTI is a quick little car. ive driven a friends at work with the dsg and a reflash and its pretty fast. i think they run low 14's with the reflash.

we may go for some test drives this saturday.

 

[Dasfinc]

its lacking a hatch. plus she wont drive another focus...even though the mazda is somewhat the same car.

plus its an auto no?

It is an auto, and its the same engine as the Base Mazda3

I don't remember, but do the old focus's have pass-through seats, cause mine does.

If fit 3, 6 foot tables in the trunk of this thing with the rear seats down.

that, and I can throw a few hundo more at it if you guys are interested.

As far as how 'slow' it is, it is rated about a half a second faster to 60mph, and in the quarter than a 3800 powered Impala.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

It is an auto, and its the same engine as the Base Mazda3

I don't remember, but do the old focus's have pass-through seats, cause mine does.

If fit 3, 6 foot tables in the trunk of this thing with the rear seats down.

that, and I can throw a few hundo more at it if you guys are interested.

As far as how 'slow' it is, it is rated about a half a second faster to 60mph, and in the quarter than a 3800 powered Impala.

yes, the rear seat fold down flush with the trunk height. i fit my engine hoist in it somehow

her focus is already a silver automatic. she wouldnt go for it. she wants a manual this time around and either a dark gray, dark blue or black car.

sorry.

 

[Dasfinc]

yes, the rear seat fold down flush with the trunk height. i fit my engine hoist in it somehow

her focus is already a silver automatic. she wouldnt go for it. she wants a manual this time around and either a dark gray, dark blue or black car.

sorry.

No prob, I can always try , Surprised she wants a manual (then again my lady does too)

+1 for a Mazda 3 then.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

No prob, I can always try , Surprised she wants a manual (then again my lady does too)

+1 for a Mazda 3 then.

thats what honda's will do to a girl...

 

[Dasfinc]

thats what honda's will do to a girl...

yours start driving the CRX and get hooked on stick also I take it?

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

haha yea pretty much how it went. we still need to do some around town driving so she gets more comfortable with it but shes hooked.

 

[Dasfinc]

haha yea pretty much how it went. we still need to do some around town driving so she gets more comfortable with it but shes hooked.

Kim 'learned' how to drive stick in her dads Geo Tracker, but since it had been 3 years prior, I taught her in the civic.

the civic is VERY forgiving (Especially the dinky SOHC motor) and she got the hang of it quickly, and off she went, and has loved driving stick since.

 

[E]

I say get the 3.
Don't get a VW. Everyone i know who has owned one has had issues.
Nothing big mind you but alot of lil things that will irate you in the long run.

 

[M@]

Test drive a civic too...it's not a hatch, but it's worth a drive.

Never in my life would I have pictured myself owning/driving a honda civic, but I couldn't be happier with the little bastard. Once I drove it, it was game over.

 

[Dasfinc]

I say get the 3.
Don't get a VW. Everyone i know who has owned one has had issues.
Nothing big mind you but alot of lil things that will irate you in the long run.

I've heard COUNTLESS complaints about horrid dealer service also.