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'16 focus vs. mazda3 vs 17 elantra

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Pantoot

Golden Member
I imagine someone here has cross shopped these 3. Looking at a car for a 16yo boy, so with insurance in mind looking to keep it basic.

Not really interested in used car shopping. Looking to buy in about 2 months.

Thoughts?
 
Lucky 16 year old. That's my first thought.

Second thought: I'd probably lean more towards a Veloster or a Fiesta instead, maybe a Mazda CX-3.

If I had to send you to one of those it would probably be the Elantra, mainly because it's more pedestrian, a 16 year old can get himself into trouble with a Focus, and a LOT of trouble in a Zoom-Zoom Mazda3. 😉
 
How about a Sentra? Cheaper and just as functional for a new driver. At that rate, even the Versa Note doesn't look half bad.

You can probably get a Kia Forte cheaper than an Elantra. Same platform.
 
Thanks for the replies.
Although it shouldn't really matter he gave his input and vetoed all hatchbacks and unfortunately the wife agreed. We also definitely want 4 doors.

The wife also vetoed the sentra because a friend of a friend had a bad experience (or something equally ridiculous.)

We hadn't thought of Kia, I will check that out.
 
I just bought a Mazda 3 but would have probably suggested a Sentra as well. An Elantra if he fits well in it would be the best of the remaining.
 
z1ggy said:
Why is Civic/Corolla not on the list? You seem to be cross shopping small 4 door sedans.
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Indeed we are. Neither liked the new civic style. Corolla was on the list, but we narrowed down to the 3 and the focus. Recently added the hyundai.
 
I'm going through the exact same thing with my 15 year old. My wife has 2012 Mazda 3 S Grand Touring that we are going to give the boy and buy my wife a new Mazda 3. I think the Mazda is a better car than the Focus. Not sure about the Hyundai.
 
I'd have a hard time looking at anything in this class/price besides the 3 or new Civic unless I absolutely needed AWD.

The Scion iA (rebadged Mazda 2) is also an option if you want to go smaller.
 
I'd think one thing to absolutely check into prior to purchase is the cost of insuring said vehicles. And I'd go back and rethink about excluding the Corolla---while as pathetically uninspiring as that vehicle is, it'd be about the most anvil-like vehicle you've considered, which, in the hands of a teenage boy, may be an endearing quality.
 
The 3 is a great car so definitely a good starting point, I highly recommend making sure the model has a backup camera. It's been reasonable to insure, but no idea what it'd be like with a 16yr old.
 
Pantoot said:
Indeed we are. Neither liked the new civic style. Corolla was on the list, but we narrowed down to the 3 and the focus. Recently added the hyundai.
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IMO 3>Hyundai>Focus

I still think you should consider looking at the insurance costs and resale value of the corolla and civic. Your kid is 16, looks and how "cool" something is shouldn't matter. You want the safest, most reliable and highest value vehicle.
 
I'd prefer the new Elantra personally, but a 1 year old Forte with some options would be very tempting
 
Pantoot said:
Although it shouldn't really matter he gave his input and vetoed all hatchbacks and unfortunately the wife agreed.
Click to expand...

I'm really perplexed that people hate hatchbacks so much. Mazda 3 Hatchback is one sexy machine. And hatchbacks have a lot more useful space compared to sedans. You can haul a washer or a dryer in a hatch if you fold down the back seats, you can't do that in a sedan. I'd still take them to the car lot and show them hatchback models to show how they actually look in person and just how much more usable space they have. Just pull sedan/hatch side by side, fold the rear seats down and pop the trunk/hatch.
 
fleshconsumed said:
I'm really perplexed that people hate hatchbacks so much. Mazda 3 Hatchback is one sexy machine. And hatchbacks have a lot more useful space compared to sedans. You can haul a washer or a dryer in a hatch if you fold down the back seats, you can't do that in a sedan. I'd still take them to the car lot and show them hatchback models to show how they actually look in person and just how much more usable space they have. Just pull sedan/hatch side by side, fold the rear seats down and pop the trunk/hatch.
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In practical terms, yeah hatch all the way. But a 16 year old kid is probably more worried about looks, and hatches this size aren't all THAT big. I can't fit a washer in my focus hatch (too short), but I definitely can do more than the sedan

Focus? Hatch is much better looking IMO

Elantra? Sedan please

Forte? I could take either
 
fleshconsumed said:
I'm really perplexed that people hate hatchbacks so much. Mazda 3 Hatchback is one sexy machine. And hatchbacks have a lot more useful space compared to sedans. You can haul a washer or a dryer in a hatch if you fold down the back seats, you can't do that in a sedan. I'd still take them to the car lot and show them hatchback models to show how they actually look in person and just how much more usable space they have. Just pull sedan/hatch side by side, fold the rear seats down and pop the trunk/hatch.
Click to expand...

Totally agree. (Both the wife and I drive hatches)
 
NutBucket said:
If you want to force someone to pay more attention to driving the easy thing to do is get them a MT.
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Yes, that is like 80% of my logic on that decision.
10% is I want him to learn a manual. (and I like to be a jerk)
10% is it is cheaper.
 
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