Decisions, decisions... Please weigh in :) What should be my next car?

[SilentJay]

Hey guys,

I know the outcome of this poll/question might be a bit skewed, seeing as this is a Mazda3 forum, but I just wanted to put this out there and see what you guys think.

Essentially, I have my 07 GT sedan that i've had since August 07. I've put about 37k on it, 90% highway driving. Since getting the car though, i've gotten a few promotions, and a few small raises - Despite feeling the urge to, I just don't know if I want to put money into getting more ponies into the 3.

I'm only doing my very preliminary researching, but i've been lightly browsing around dealerships to get a jist of how much more i'd be paying to upgrade to another car. I've also contacted Jason at Oakville Mazda about a speed3, but he sounded really sick and said he needed some rest, so I didn't call him back yet :chuckle

I realize this post seems kinda blog-ish, but i'm bored, sore from the gym, lacking sleep, and it's Friday night. So, given my situation, what would you do? I've attached a poll to this post too, for those too lazy to type in a response :)


- What car would you get, within the speed3 price range? Why?
- Would you suggest just riding it out with the existing 3?
- Should I wait until the '10 speed3 specs are out? Any idea when they'd be released?
- Anything specifically I should be weary of?
- Has anyone in the same age-bracket (26) made the switch, and experienced significantly higher/lower insurance rates? Explain please :)

[alhope34]

Personally, I'd definitely go with an 05 STi, and mod it completely. If you really want the MS3, I'd get the current gen. I really don't like the looks of the 2010 judging by the normal 3.

The 04 STi is decently cheaper than the 05's and come with the same great looks, performance, and options except for one. The 05's have a factory immobilizer. The 04 lacked this, and because of that they are relatively easy for a common thief to steal. Insurance would be higher on the 04 and I'm sure you wouldn't want to see it get stolen. So, get a nice black or WR blue 05 STi, just don't get the fugly gold rims!

[bhrm]

save your money, buy a house. or invest in something as everything is very VERY affordable and you could be stinking rich by next year or two. There's some stocks funds I've seen are at all time lows but with potential to fly high again.

save the $$$

[SilentJay]

save your money, buy a house. or invest in something as everything is very VERY affordable and you could be stinking rich by next year or two. There's some stocks funds I've seen are at all time lows but with potential to fly high again.

save the $$$

This is true - I'm already setting aside money for a house. I'm hoping the upgrade won't bump up my monthy car payments too too much...

As for investments, I like to speculate a lot on stocks and whatnot, but I haven't the grapefruits to dive in too much :P

[alhope34]

Saving is boring, lol.

[Soyabean]

civic si coupe. looks better than all the other 3s except mine lol

I just think u will have more fun with the civic since they are made for higher revving

[alhope34]

Torque = fun

Reving = noise

[bhrm]

btw i voted VW GTi

200hp, great interior, fun to drive factor, 6sp, chip it to 240hp,

its not a mazdaspeed 3....but GTi's is more of an overall achiever.

[alhope34]

VW electrics always fall all to hell after a couple years. How is it more an "overall achiever" over the MS3? I haven't seen the interior so I can't comment, but the MS3 looks better on the outside, performs better (doesn't even need chipping!), is more reliable, and has much more space in it. Does the GTI even have an LSD in it? The MS3 also had a 6 speed, you know..

[bhrm]

VW electrics always fall all to hell after a couple years. How is it more an "overall achiever" over the MS3? I haven't seen the interior so I can't comment, but the MS3 looks better on the outside, performs better (doesn't even need chipping!), is more reliable, and has much more space in it. Does the GTI even have an LSD in it? The MS3 also had a 6 speed, you know..

Bosch electrical components and other components were to blame for recent years. VW has all that sorted out for the mk5 generation. Mk4's were the absolute worst and my familiy's mk4 jetta died before my aunt's B3 passat...and the B3 passat still lives strong!

VW has better overall build quality, I still find the mazda 3's a bit 'cheap', example: our paint sucks. Chips easily, lack of sufficient factory underbody rust proofing, fit and finish is above average for its class but still not as solid as the rabbit/GTi.

In terms of space, GTI has more interior space than the mazda 3 but less trunk space.

i can speak for the build quality comparison and reliability, i have my mazda 3 and my family's mk5 rabbit in the driveway.

[silvermist99]

keep your 3 unless you are planning on totally upgrading (ie 3 series, c class or evo, sti etc). Your 07 mazda is relatively new, getting rid of it now will totally be throwing money out the window, if you are upgrading you might as well get a real 'upgrade' If it is performance you are after get a 09 sti, evo, 335i etc. If its luxury then get a c class. The civic SI,GTI, mazdaspeed3 is not worth the upgrade, they are too similar to the mazda3.



- What car would you get, within the speed3 price range? Why?
- Would you suggest just riding it out with the existing 3?
- Should I wait until the '10 speed3 specs are out? Any idea when they'd be released?
- Anything specifically I should be weary of?
- Has anyone in the same age-bracket (26) made the switch, and experienced significantly higher/lower insurance rates? Explain please :)
- mazdaspeed3. I won't pick anything else under 30k
- yes and no, if you are only planning on upgrading to a mazdaspeed3, I'd say its definately not worth the money. If you want to upgrade to something like a bmw 335i and can afford it... yeah sure.
- i suggest not getting the mazdaspeed because you are going to loose A LOT trading your 07 in for something that is too similar.
- not sure

[Nick]

money wise i'd stick with a 3 but i wouldn't mind upgrading to a na jap engine so i would go with the civic si. not sure if it takes 87 octane but that would be great too!

[5_Alive]

Buy a G8 GT..

[rotarygreg]

i voted for the speed3, heres why. mazda makes just about the best quality car on the market if you ask me. also, the speed three is lightening fast. i was very very suprised the first time i drove one. if you are looking for speed and you want to stick with a company you turst, the speed3 is the only choice IMO. also, one look at alhope34's signature is all thats needed to convince anyone whos on the fence. haha. My second choice would be the ralliart. my last car was the old ralliart and i was very impressed with the build quality and the reliability of that car. however i do have a few quams with the ralliart. im not a fan of the dual clutch "semi auto" style transmission. its such new technology for mitusbishi...i just dont trust it in the long run, plus i prefer a real manual tranny anyways. also, if you want the nice seats, sunroof and sound system in the car, you have buy the better package, which puts the price of the car up into evo territory, so you may as well get the base evo in that case. anyways, just my two cents. good luck deciding and i think all the cars on the list with the exception of the VW are all decent choices.

greg

[3GFX]

Genisis....huge potential.

Two powerful and tunable motors.

Rear wheel drive.

Affordable.

[kevcol74]

2010 Mustang GT.... traction control and your winter driving is very surprising!! (brother has an 07 Cali Special) Tonnes of aftermarket upgrades and a piece of history! If you are that rich, get a Shelby!

[Nova 3 GT]

I would choose the VW GTI with the DSG tranny :bana

[aris]

I would just keep what ya got

[3GFX]

Why is no one else weighing in on the Genisis? Forgotten vehicle?

Only car on your list that's rear wheel drive!

The base model will be affordable with a 4cyl Turbo. TONS of tuning potential there.

The higher end model will be a V6. Its designed to compete with the Altima coupe and Nissan Z. Need I say more?

[DumpInfo]

As someone else suggested save your $! With the crisis going I'd suggest the sametime as it's a priority overall. Not everyone is being affected however you never know when it's time. GL

[bhrm]

As someone else suggested save your $! With the crisis going I'd suggest the sametime as it's a priority overall. Not everyone is being affected however you never know when it's time. GL

unless you're employed by the government spending our tax dollars.

[DumpInfo]

unless you're employed by the government spending our tax dollars.

ahh yes the government! :pop

[S.F.W.]

there is a major car you are forgetting..you can get a BMW 128i Coupe for 34K list.

[silvermist99]

i voted for the speed3, heres why. mazda makes just about the best quality car on the market if you ask me. also, the speed three is lightening fast. i was very very suprised the first time i drove one. if you are looking for speed and you want to stick with a company you turst, the speed3 is the only choice IMO. also, one look at alhope34's signature is all thats needed to convince anyone whos on the fence. haha. My second choice would be the ralliart. my last car was the old ralliart and i was very impressed with the build quality and the reliability of that car. however i do have a few quams with the ralliart. im not a fan of the dual clutch "semi auto" style transmission. its such new technology for mitusbishi...i just dont trust it in the long run, plus i prefer a real manual tranny anyways. also, if you want the nice seats, sunroof and sound system in the car, you have buy the better package, which puts the price of the car up into evo territory, so you may as well get the base evo in that case. anyways, just my two cents. good luck deciding and i think all the cars on the list with the exception of the VW are all decent choices.

greg

the problem with the speed3 is its the same thing as his current mz3 just a bit faster. OP will loose A LOT trading in a 07 model for something that is almost the exact same but faster.


Buy a G8 GT..
good choice also if you want a big RWD auto sedan


Why is no one else weighing in on the Genisis? Forgotten vehicle?

Only car on your list that's rear wheel drive!

The base model will be affordable with a 4cyl Turbo. TONS of tuning potential there.

The higher end model will be a V6. Its designed to compete with the Altima coupe and Nissan Z. Need I say more?

Because its not out yet!! haha the genesis coupe will go above list price and it will be very hard to get when it comes out. That car looks hawt. I won't mine trading my speed3 in for the V6... but I will loose too much $ :(


As someone else suggested save your $! With the crisis going I'd suggest the sametime as it's a priority overall. Not everyone is being affected however you never know when it's time. GL
If everyone thinks like that the economy is just going to collapses!

[5_Alive]

I never said anything about auto.. Oh, it comes in a 6-speed manual.. and I like it.. big bitch like that just screams out of my way..
The 128i reminds me too much of a Euro-style Ford Escort from back in the late 90's.. 95' Cosworth to be specific.
The Genesis is sweet, keeping in mind that they wont be priced much cheaper than the competition, cause if they are, everyone would be buying one when they get released..
The Speed3 is not worth the trade because you have something too new as it is..
Keep looking, or don't bother until the fall when everything goes on sale..

[Mazda3X2]

I voted Speed 3 and here's why,

It depends how "upside down" you would be on your 07 first off.

I went from my 04 Mazda 3 Sport GT to my Speed and I love it. But, I also really enjoyed my 04 and the only thing I thought it was lacking for me were the things the Speed has. Bose, 6 speed and of course more power. Although I do miss the sunroof.

If you feel the same way I would wait until you can get a current model Speed 3 at 0% and go for it.

My opinion,
Civic - although fun to drive lacks raw power and the interior is a little too out of the ordinary for me.
GTI - I can't get past the styling of the back of the car, fugly.
Base Impreza -just too basic.
Cobalt - Too easy, not even going to go there.

[rotarygreg]

hmm...i didnt notice the genesis on the list. i would actually change my vote to that. hyundai's come a long way. their quality is really creeping up there to be with the best. oh, and RWD ftmfw!!!!

greg

[Axelarate]

I am also thinking about going subaru. I want AWD for my next car. Volvo S60R is also high on my list. Afterall, 300 ponies would be nice in a sleeper car! :chuckle And can be modded to make 400 easily!

[jaimie08mazda3]

civic- looks like a spaceship on wheels
GTI- made in mexico... need i say more
Impreza- if i were you id look at an 04-06 WRX i hate the new body style its fugly. plus be alot cheaper and those cars are fast too!
mazdaspeed3- i voted for this car because id love to own one
lancer ralliart- dont like the style whatsoever
cobalt SS- its a chevy with a supercharger nothing can go wrong right? (think grand Prix GTP
caliber srt-4- id actually like to have one of these but were to expensive.
focus- nooooooooooooooo

[iconicrocket]

I would go for the MazdaSpeed3, just great value for what you're getting.

[3GFX]

Can I add another point proven by this poll.....

...no one knows the sheer potential of the Genisis. Its not a sleeper, but an unknown.

Its the 1996 Eclipse of this coming decade, only RWD.

[whiteomega]

I would stick with the 3. I'm facing the same dilemma, actually.

If you *really* want to buy a new car though, my vote goes to the mazdaspeed3. You currently have a mazda, so fit and finish-wise, it will be the same or better than what you have now. If you have a good relationship with your dealer, that's another plus, as you can go back there for sales and service, and get good treatment.

Of the competition, the Civic Si would probably be very close in terms of fun-to-drive, but you have to rev it to really get the most out of it; the speed3 is a bit lazier in terms of power delivery. The VW GTI is an awesome car; the DSG is fun to drive, but a real pain in the neck in parking lots. The Ralliart is wholly new this year, and you should probably stay away from it in the first year. The Cobalt SS is a possibility, but how long is GM going to be around? And the Focus......well, it's not the EDM model. 'nuff said.


Can I add another point proven by this poll.....

...no one knows the sheer potential of the Genisis. Its not a sleeper, but an unknown.

Its the 1996 Eclipse of this coming decade, only RWD.

That's cause it's called the Genesis, not the Genisis :).. Seriously though, the potential in that car IS pretty good, but I'd stay away from it in the first year; especially given it's Hyundai's first attempt at a rear-drive sports coupe...

[Mazda3X2]

Its the 1996 Eclipse of this coming decade, only RWD.

Is that a good thing? I just don't remember much about the 96 Eclipse, and I think there must be a reason for that.

[alhope34]

I thought the Genisis came with a V8 making 375hp?

[rotarygreg]

I thought the Genisis came with a V8 making 375hp?


thats what i thought, but now that the car is acutally coming out, i cant find any mention of it at all. shame. that would have been cool. also, why are people talking about all this "potential" the genesis has? its not available yet, therefore, how does anyone know? the numbers a car puts down and its actual performance are two different things. only time will actually tell. being hyundais first RWD car i would stay away for the first 2 years. look at the tiburon. the 2003 model year cars are loaded with problems. weak clutches. wiring issues abroad. and that was a redesign of an old model. this will be completely new ground for the company. still, if i had enough money i would definitly get it, i just dont think people should be giving it such praise when we dont really know yet. also, "potential" matters not if you have a choice of cars as broad as the list, why not buy the best one to start off with, that way modding isnt necessary. then your warranty is untouched and you wont be getting CELs and running problems on your brand new car.

whiteomega, ive never heard of the speed3s power delivery as being lazy. violent describes it better, but that controdicts what you've said about it...the civic Si feels lazy in power delivery because it comes on so late and not all at once like a bomb going off as the speed does. you step on the gas in the Si and the revs climb faster and faster. its very smooth and sounds amazing. but the speed 3 is like BANG! and your fighting to keep the steering wheel straight. i love speed3s. so badass. and they are a real sleeper. the only giveaway to the layperson is the tall spoiler really. the stock wheels and bumpers look pretty tame which is also a plus because it makes the car easy to live with as you get older.

greg

[SilentJay]

Fantastic opinions guys :) I really appreciate the input. I probably wouldn't mod the car for a good while if I were to switch over. Here's a breakdown of why I chose to put those cars on the list. Jamie, i'm going to borrow your post and modify it :):

Civic - I think it looks great, reliable platform. Not a huge fan of the extremely long dash though...

GTI - Actually made in Germany IIRC, looks nice, but I have a few friends with relatively new (2005+) German-made Audi's/VWs that still experience quality/fitment/electrical issues.

Impreza - Looks nice to me, decent NA power, AWD

Mazdaspeed3 - My 3 has been relatively problem free (only dealer issues), and the fit-n-finish is pretty good, if not for a few squeeks. I have yet to drive one though :bang I was casually looking through the Mazda site, and thought that I saw 60 month financing for 1.4%? Maybe i'm blind...

Lancer ralliart - I like the styling, power-train design and reliability have been maturing as the company expands

Cobalt SS - Just plain cheap. As someone else put it, rubbermaid plastic interior, outside looks quite aggresive. It's turboed now, btw. Thing is, the reliability of the Cobalt line has been quite sketchy.

Caliber srt-4 - Borrowing from the Mitsu world engine, this wouldn't be such a bad choice if not for the poor interior quality, and the prospect of Chrysler being gobbled up by GM or shut down.

Focus - Thankfully, I noted Euro-spec Focus RS. This is entirely too wishful thinking, but it'd be nice :)



I've paid attention to the Genesis simply because I had been reading articles about speculated specifications. A high-output screamer NA 4-banger as base, turbo 4-banger, and turbo 6-cylinder were tossed around, as well as RWD. Thing is, as much as Hyundai has improved light-years in quality, they tend to emmulate other auto-makers, then try to refine the copies. Interested, but speculative :chuckle

[SilentJay]

:chuckle I don't have a job with the government, but there would have to be close to a depression before I lose my job :) That said, i'm also currently interviewing for a government position.

The G8 looks mean as hell, and I do come from a family of "GM only" drivers (and we're chinese, go figure!), but for some reason, I just can't picture myself driving an extreme-makeover version of the Impala I just bought my folks :)

I had thought about the BMW 1-series, but the maintainance costs and insurance associated with it really scared me off :P Really solid looking cars, and I took one for a spin a few months back and it proved to be a hoot!

Again, I haven't driven the Speed3 yet (really hope to soon), so I can't say whether it's too similar to my 3. Who knows :)

[bigwood29]

Stay away from Dodge/Chrysler - worst reliability out there. Had lots problems with Dodge (front end, tranny, body, etc.) and I'm sure the Caliber would be no different. Just my 2 cents (actually my 200,000 cents in repairs to my Durango this year).

[bhrm]

GTI- made in mexico... need i say more

wrong

all wolfsburg, germany

[jaimie08mazda3]

okay maybe im wrong about the GTI, but see i come a father who is heavily in his honda's (2006 acura MDX, 2009 acura TSX and 2004 Acura EL in my driveway and my 2008 mazda3. wierd no) but i had an accorn before and i loved that car. but i would never buy the civic. i hate the digital dash. its too wierd for my liking

[SilentJay]

^^ That's another thing - the contents of the super-long dash seems to leave something to be desired... Too many digital gauges are like shift-lights. Makes you feel like you can't drive a car without an electronic device telling you how to do it :P

[omalak]

Voted for mellon-head :chuckle

I say you hang on to the cash, i realize you already said you are putting money aside for a house, and other investments. But hang on to your cash for now..

The car you have is barely used! Run it as hard as you can.. look for something new in 3-4 years. I wouldn;t pick up anything right now.. Just sit with the cash..

My 2 cents.. good luck on whatever you decide

And congrats ont he promotions and raises :)

Good luck with the gov interview, is it provincial or fed? the provincial guys have a hiring freeze on right now unless position is critical to business continuity..

[3GFX]

Here's another option if your money's burning a hole in your pocket.

Invest it! Markets are low (cheap) its a good time to buy. In a year or two you can get away with a little more spending money on the car.

[jaimie08mazda3]

I GOT AN IDEA. buy a lincoln MK-V or whatever it is. and then let me borrow it for my g test. yea it automatically parks itself :D. but you know what if you really like your car, just keep it i mean whats the point in spending the money in a car if you already have a car that you like and enjoy then keep it. the extra money can go for anything and then youd be glad to have it. and btw ^^ i was waiting for that dave lol. you stop be a banker aha

[SilentJay]

Y'know, I've been thinking about opening a questrade account to play around with...

[Slipstream]

stop dreaming melon head! harhar =D i would get that infiniti in your DP man

[///M]

I had thought about the BMW 1-series, but the maintainance costs and insurance associated with it really scared me off :P Really solid looking cars, and I took one for a spin a few months back and it proved to be a hoot!


Assuming you buy new, BMW maintenance is free for the first four years.

The 135i has a lot of potential. I test drove the new V8 M3 and 135i back to back - and the 135i felt faster. On paper, they're dead even 0-60 and the 1/4 mile.

[Tokic_o]

the genesis is hott!!

http://www.dieselupload.com/files/547_ibryq/HKS-Genesis-007.jpg
http://www.dieselupload.com/files/548_futpc/HKS-Genesis-008.jpg
http://www.dieselupload.com/files/549_36t2i/HKS-Genesis-002.jpg
http://www.dieselupload.com/files/550_2ih4r/HKS-Genesis-003.jpg
http://bkmania.com/bbs/data/bk_gallery/DSC04227.jpg
http://bkmania.com/bbs/data/bk_gallery/DSC04238.jpg
http://bkmania.com/bbs/data/bk_gallery/1228836066/9991.JPG
http://bkmania.com/bbs/data/bk_gallery/1228836232/9993.JPG
http://bkmania.com/bbs/data/bk_gallery/9994.JPG
http://bkmania.com/bbs/data/bk_gallery/S73F0888.JPG
http://bkmania.com/bbs/data/bk_gallery/S73F0889.JPG
http://bkmania.com/bbs/data/bk_gallery/S73F0892.JPG

[SilentJay]

Genesis hotness in 123984 x 1239832 resolution :chuckle

[kevcol74]

Genesis looks like a 350Z.... just my opinion...

[laksman91]

335xi is a great option! Depending on my situation with my car I might try to look into it myself

[mleblond]

Genesis is not cheap like the mazdaspeed 3. Plus if you buy and 09 when the 2010 come out you get a discount to drop it at around 25k. Can't be that.

Genesis is in the 50K because everyone knows if you don't buy your car's top model you always want the things you missed out on. (like the ones that mod their WRX instead of buying an sti) So no use to waste money on the base model.

As for the truth, a car is an expense. Keep the 3 you have, invest you money in a project car, or house, whatever it is you want but not a new, more expensive car. I mean if you do that then might as well take a 2 year lease and change the car every 2 years. It would even out cheaper...

[jaimie08mazda3]

BUY A DELOREAN, OR AN AMC GREMLIN :chuckle

[SilentJay]

Genesis is not cheap like the mazdaspeed 3. Plus if you buy and 09 when the 2010 come out you get a discount to drop it at around 25k. Can't be that.

Genesis is in the 50K because everyone knows if you don't buy your car's top model you always want the things you missed out on. (like the ones that mod their WRX instead of buying an sti) So no use to waste money on the base model.

As for the truth, a car is an expense. Keep the 3 you have, invest you money in a project car, or house, whatever it is you want but not a new, more expensive car. I mean if you do that then might as well take a 2 year lease and change the car every 2 years. It would even out cheaper...


Sage words from a youngin' :chuckle

The only reason why I am contemplating changing to another car, is because i've always wanted a powerful car. I've always driven crappy non-working hand-me-downs, lemons, and death-traps. Don't get me wrong, driving cars that'd shut off on the highway mid-acceleration really taught me how to be a "shady tree mechanic", and for that, i'm glad. The 3 was a nice step up in reliability, but still fell in line with under-powered marginally economic econo-box.

I'm gettin' up there in age, and would like to get something to finally reward and appease myself for all those years of hard work. In reality, I AM still gunning for a house/condo, but figured a marginal increase in my monthly payments wouldn't have been THAT detrimental to the overall scheme of things...

[SilentJay]

Excerpt taken from US popular mechanics article about the Genesis coupe:

"Hyundai says the V6 coupe will be the least expensive car you can get with over 300-hp. The exact pricing hasn't been set, but judging by the competition, that means this 310-hp two-door should sticker around $26,000."

Hmm... So maybe the 2.0t will ring in around $21-22kUS. And it can use regular OR premium gas... Interesting...

[rotarygreg]

hmm...whatever you do, just test drive test drive test drive. maybe wait until the genesis is out before you decide, otherwise you will always wonder. im in that position right now. i really liked my 04 lancer ralliart and i fell in love with the 09 ralliart when i saw it at the autoshow last year. i decided then and there i was gonna wait until it came out before switching cars. i ended up not waiting and landed myself in an rx8. but now that the ralliart is out i cant help but wonder if i would have been happier with that car. at the same time, the rx8 is every bit as bad ass as the ralliart if not more badass. plus, i love everything about the rx8, where i would have to just "live" with the twinclutch semiauto tranny that you have to have with the ralliart. im still planning on test driving one in the spring, just to see what im missing out on but to be honest, i love my rx8 and i wont go back to FWD. i love my RWD. next year i plan to get a cheap AWD winter beater though. lol. so the moral of the story, dont just drive one and fall in love and pick that one. they are all cool cars and you will likely like them all alot individually. i hear you about the power thing. all my cars have been among the more powerful ones in their respective lines, but i've always wanted something that would get your passenger grabbing for the "holy shit" bar. i know its not necessary but the way i look at it, you're only young once. when i was talking about getting the rx8 i have now, my dad (who has been in the car business for ever so i really value his opinion and ask it when making a decision on cars) said "what do you need a car like that for?" i asked him what he drove when he was my age. he lowered his head and said under his breath "73 corvette...and i also had a 72 240z...oh, and i had a brand new cheroke for the winter". this was all in 1974. i just burst out laughing. he knew then and there i was getting my sports car. haha.

Greg

[SilentJay]

hmm...whatever you do, just test drive test drive test drive. maybe wait until the genesis is out before you decide, otherwise you will always wonder. im in that position right now. i really liked my 04 lancer ralliart and i fell in love with the 09 ralliart when i saw it at the autoshow last year. i decided then and there i was gonna wait until it came out before switching cars. i ended up not waiting and landed myself in an rx8. but now that the ralliart is out i cant help but wonder if i would have been happier with that car. at the same time, the rx8 is every bit as bad ass as the ralliart if not more badass. plus, i love everything about the rx8, where i would have to just "live" with the twinclutch semiauto tranny that you have to have with the ralliart. im still planning on test driving one in the spring, just to see what im missing out on but to be honest, i love my rx8 and i wont go back to FWD. i love my RWD. next year i plan to get a cheap AWD winter beater though. lol. so the moral of the story, dont just drive one and fall in love and pick that one. they are all cool cars and you will likely like them all alot individually. i hear you about the power thing. all my cars have been among the more powerful ones in their respective lines, but i've always wanted something that would get your passenger grabbing for the "holy shit" bar. i know its not necessary but the way i look at it, you're only young once. when i was talking about getting the rx8 i have now, my dad (who has been in the car business for ever so i really value his opinion and ask it when making a decision on cars) said "what do you need a car like that for?" i asked him what he drove when he was my age. he lowered his head and said under his breath "73 corvette...and i also had a 72 240z...oh, and i had a brand new cheroke for the winter". this was all in 1974. i just burst out laughing. he knew then and there i was getting my sports car. haha.

Greg


heh... my dad was lecturing me about driving too fast/recklessly if I were to get a car in this class, but I remembered seeing pictures of him riding motor cycles and called him on it :chuckle he backed down :P

[jaimie08mazda3]

BUY A DELOREAN. nah man keep your car invest in a pool or something for your house. or buy a house for that matter. i mean whats wrong with your mazda3 you have currently?

[Dante]

VW electrics always fall all to hell after a couple years. How is it more an "overall achiever" over the MS3? I haven't seen the interior so I can't comment, but the MS3 looks better on the outside, performs better (doesn't even need chipping!), is more reliable, and has much more space in it. Does the GTI even have an LSD in it? The MS3 also had a 6 speed, you know..

Wow. How about we bring up past issues mazda has had in 1992. Then lets place those issues on our current 3's.

Being a ex vw enthusiast, your statement is true to the older models. Doesnt matter if uncle buck or aunt shitzy has had problems. Cant say the same for all VW's being built now. Thats just ..wow.

[rotarygreg]

Wow. How about we bring up past issues mazda has had in 1992. Then lets place those issues on our current 3's.

Being a ex vw enthusiast, your statement is true to the older models. Doesnt matter if uncle buck or aunt shitzy has had problems. Cant say the same for all VW's being built now. Thats just ..wow.

my friends 03 jetta has its own wiring problems. i remember her complaining to me about them but i dont remember the specific issues. i wasnt listening when she told me as i told her not to get a VW and i really dont want to say "i told you so" lol. VW fanatics have this amazing ability to overlook all the issues their cars have and claim them as great. its a strange thing. guess rotary fanatics (myself included) suffer from the same disease. we defend the rotary engine forever, even though its actually a torqueless, gas guzzling, flooding, oil using, finicky litte peice of machinery. haha. but for some reason, those that own one can completely over look all those and focus only on the positive things about the engine. 9000rpm, responsive, its physical size alloys the car its in to have perfect weight distribution and thus the handling is on par with cars way above its price range and calss. anyways, i digress. i have had a few experiences with working on VWs and none of them pleasant. also, if the wiring is still as crappy and flawed as it was only a few years ago, would you really want a car as wired up as the new GTi with a DSG tranny? if you are planning to keep it for a long time, you could be in a world of hurt after the warranty expires. this is another reason i gave up on waiting for the new ralliart. those twin clutch computer controlled transmissions would be a nightmare if you ever had to repair it. also, like i said, im sure the shear amount of wiring and thus possible electrical gremlins in the future are a frightening concept to me. also, have you seen the seats in those? if you have to buy one off the lot instead of ordering one that you want, some of them have these hideous plaid seats in them. honestly, plaid!!!! ew. lol theres my rant for thismorning.

Greg

[SilentJay]

You're right Greg, it's all about personal preference. I've included the GTI in my list, as it seems like a solid vehicle, although I have friends with recent VWs that experience build-quality issues. Let's forget about the fussin' and a feudin' :chuckle

On a side note, it looks like the "Mellon-head" option is catching up to the speed3 option. I hope you bastids aren't choosing that option just to make fun of me :P

[SilentJay]

Crap, double post.

[Dante]

Uh, I had a passat with a crap load of problems which none were electrical. I had vw's worst lemon car next to the corrado. I know this, I recognize this. I WILL buy that car again in the future and finish any dreams i had with it.. I loved it.

Newer ones, im talking 06,07,08,09. I havent heard of a problem from anyone, at least from whom I know.

Our 3's arent perfect either, so much flaws.. Yet I love it too.. I just hate the stereotype of VW's is highly exaggerated.

Oh, you bought a VW? Yeah, your headlights are out..