Best alternative to the MazdaSpeed 3?

[theeedude]

Originally posted by: ExarKun333

Originally posted by: senseamp
Mazda 3s + $$$$ in pocket.
This is just comparing to 2009 to 2009, since 2010 Mazdaspeed3 is not out yet.
200 lbs lighter + 5 mpg better fuel economy + takes regular fuel and with manual it has all the power you can reasonably use on public roads (2010 has more power and one extra gear)
I am admittedly biased since I got a 2006 Mazda 3s touring hatchback. I love that car. I only paid 16,500 for it too

167 hp and 168 lb-ft of torque; I am calling shenanigans on this.

In a 2900 lb FWD car, I really don't feel the need for any more power when driving on public roads. It's not a drag strip rocket, but yeah, it is all the power you really can reasonably use, if you aren't racing or driving like an idiot. It's mid-size car's I4 engine in a compact. Also, the main fun of it is the handling, steering, braking, and balance, power is just there to keep the party moving, and it's plenty enough power for that. That's just my opinion.

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: senseamp

Originally posted by: ExarKun333

Originally posted by: senseamp
Mazda 3s + $$$$ in pocket.
This is just comparing to 2009 to 2009, since 2010 Mazdaspeed3 is not out yet.
200 lbs lighter + 5 mpg better fuel economy + takes regular fuel and with manual it has all the power you can reasonably use on public roads (2010 has more power and one extra gear)
I am admittedly biased since I got a 2006 Mazda 3s touring hatchback. I love that car. I only paid 16,500 for it too

167 hp and 168 lb-ft of torque; I am calling shenanigans on this.

In a 2900 lb FWD car, I really don't feel the need for any more power when driving on public roads. It's not a drag strip rocket, but yeah, it is all the power you really can reasonably use, if you aren't racing or driving like an idiot. It's mid-size car's I4 engine in a compact. Also, the main fun of it is the handling, steering, braking, and balance, power is just there to keep the party moving, and it's plenty enough power for that. That's just my opinion.

It's a reasonable difference of opinion. I feel about the same way, we have about identical power/weight ratio, I have an '08 Focus Coupe with the 5spd and 2.0L, stock makes 140hp/136tq, I've done some very mild mods to add a few here and there, and it's a 2550lb car. For day to day, it's plenty of power for driving. It's certainly no stoplight racer, even though I've had a few funny runs with various opponents from mild to utterly ridiculous. For me it's just about the fun.

Now on the flip side, having come from a 400hp V8 RWD Sedan, I really miss having low-end torque, and the ability to use throttle oversteer corrections at will. I don't miss the sub-20mpg combined fuel economy by any means though. With my usual driving habits, I'm getting over 30mpg combined.

High-hp FWD cars, even when as well done as the Cobalt SS or Speed3, don't make much sense to me. With that kind of scratch, a used C5 Z06 floats my boat, which will easily dominate the crap out of the vast majority of cars on the road, even with the mediocre interior.

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I haven't checked mileage I bet the subaru gets crap mileage. I know my mom's used to and my brother's one now drinks it like an alcoholic, neither were WRX variants. That AWD just sucks crap on mileage. They are nice cars, though from a reliability and performance standpoint.

N/A Subaru's get pretty good mileage for an AWD vehicle. My new Outback is 3500 pounds and I've been getting 29mpg.

 

[rdp6]

GTI with APR Stage 1: ~250 hp, 300 lb ft at the crank. I had the test flash done on my B6 Passat, what a monster!

 

[boomhower]

I would go with the GTI with the DSG. My flavor would add mats, and stereo for a total of 24.9k. A lot of doe for a 6.9 0-60. The interior of the Mazda just kills it for me.

 

[Dman877]

After numerous FWD Honda's, I got tired of FWD foibles. I won't go back. The MS3 has such a nice motor, it's just too bad they stuck it in a FWD.

I've averaged 25 mpg in my 09 WRX over the last 5k miles and that's with lots of redline trips. It replaced an 04 TSX that averaged about 27 mpg and wasn't nearly as fun.

I never drove an MS3, no dealers in my area so I can't really comment. I really wasn't that interested in it though. We get plenty of snow here which just added more incentive to get the WRX.

 

[slugg]

I think after reading all your replies, the only other car that seems interesting is the Impreza WRX. I'll go check it out! I have no intention to even look at the Cobalt. I just really hate American cars, except for Corvettes.

As for the people telling me to get a Mustang or 350z, etc... One of the main reasons why I like the MS3 is the 4 doors and a trunk, combined with a fun drive! It's a good compromise, I'd say.

Thanks, everyone, for your input.

 

[StageLeft]

slugg it lacks 4 doors but you could look at a 2010 Camaro with a V6. Its gas mileage is _very good_ and it has a pretty powerful launch. You won't get it for as cheap as an MS3, though.

Good to hear not everyone with a subaru is putting the oil barons through college like we were.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
slugg it lacks 4 doors but you could look at a 2010 Camaro with a V6. Its gas mileage is _very good_ and it has a pretty powerful launch. You won't get it for as cheap as an MS3, though.

Good to hear not everyone with a subaru is putting the oil barons through college like we were.

In fairness he just said he hates American cars. I don't dislike the Camaro but can't imagine I'd ever actually buy one, much less a V6 one. To each his own, though . . .

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: slugg
I think after reading all your replies, the only other car that seems interesting is the Impreza WRX. I'll go check it out! I have no intention to even look at the Cobalt. I just really hate American cars, except for Corvettes.

As for the people telling me to get a Mustang or 350z, etc... One of the main reasons why I like the MS3 is the 4 doors and a trunk, combined with a fun drive! It's a good compromise, I'd say.

Thanks, everyone, for your input.

That's a sad shame as there are many great american cars.

 

[JDub02]

I like the MS3, but my money would go to the WRX.

<- currently own '06 Mazda6, which has been a great car so far

 

[slugg]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
slugg it lacks 4 doors but you could look at a 2010 Camaro with a V6. Its gas mileage is _very good_ and it has a pretty powerful launch. You won't get it for as cheap as an MS3, though.

Good to hear not everyone with a subaru is putting the oil barons through college like we were.

Ugly (subjective, I know) American car and it lacks 4 doors. Oh man, I can't think of something less appealing. At least the Cobalt SS comes in 4 doors, so I thought about it.

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: slugg
I think after reading all your replies, the only other car that seems interesting is the Impreza WRX. I'll go check it out! I have no intention to even look at the Cobalt. I just really hate American cars, except for Corvettes.

As for the people telling me to get a Mustang or 350z, etc... One of the main reasons why I like the MS3 is the 4 doors and a trunk, combined with a fun drive! It's a good compromise, I'd say.

Thanks, everyone, for your input.

That's a sad shame as there are many great american cars.

They seem great on paper, but in reality... Resale value is terrible, most of them are ugly, reliability is sub-par, the interiors are awkward, and they just have a crap feel to them in general. For the money, imports are just plain better, in my eyes. I think most people agree, noting GM's and Chrysler's market performance as of late.


I will be checking out the WRX this weekend, I think. By the way, for those who care, when I say "I" in this thread, I mean my friend and I, as he will be buying the car, but we have identical tastes but he doesn't post on AT, so I'm getting some feedback for him. It's kinda cool to go check out new cars when I'm not buying anything. LOL

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: slugg

Originally posted by: Skoorb
slugg it lacks 4 doors but you could look at a 2010 Camaro with a V6. Its gas mileage is _very good_ and it has a pretty powerful launch. You won't get it for as cheap as an MS3, though.

Good to hear not everyone with a subaru is putting the oil barons through college like we were.

Ugly (subjective, I know) American car and it lacks 4 doors. Oh man, I can't think of something less appealing. At least the Cobalt SS comes in 4 doors, so I thought about it.

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: slugg
I think after reading all your replies, the only other car that seems interesting is the Impreza WRX. I'll go check it out! I have no intention to even look at the Cobalt. I just really hate American cars, except for Corvettes.

As for the people telling me to get a Mustang or 350z, etc... One of the main reasons why I like the MS3 is the 4 doors and a trunk, combined with a fun drive! It's a good compromise, I'd say.

Thanks, everyone, for your input.

That's a sad shame as there are many great american cars.

They seem great on paper, but in reality... Resale value is terrible, most of them are ugly, reliability is sub-par, the interiors are awkward, and they just have a crap feel to them in general. For the money, imports are just plain better, in my eyes. I think most people agree, noting GM's and Chrysler's market performance as of late.


I will be checking out the WRX this weekend, I think. By the way, for those who care, when I say "I" in this thread, I mean my friend and I, as he will be buying the car, but we have identical tastes but he doesn't post on AT, so I'm getting some feedback for him. It's kinda cool to go check out new cars when I'm not buying anything. LOL

(1)- In general, almost all car makers have been suffering lately.

(2)- Indeed, Chrysler is about as you describe all US carmakers as.

(3)- Many GM products, and a lot of Ford products, are entirely competitive with 'imports'. There are also a lot of crossover / shared platform / drivetrain products. The Vibe is a Toyota Matrix. The Focus and Fusion are shared products with Mazda, ditto the B-series pickups.

(4)- The WRX is very nice.

(5)- The Cobalt SS is fast as hell (in the segment), but I agree, it looks and feels like a Cavalier on steroids. And the Cavalier was the bad old days.

(6)- Current Ford/GM products are a world of improvement over the '80s and '90s trash. Ugly is subjective (I think current Hondas look nice, current Acuras / Toyotas are pretty ugly, current Mazdas look nice, etc .. but that's just me), interiors vary widely car to car (Malibu is a world better than Cobalt for example, and is competitive with Accord/Camry), 'crap' feel I could only really apply to Chevy Aveo and all non-Truck Chrysler products. Resale varies model by model. A subaru or a mazda will hold value about the same as a GM or Ford, the only real stalwarts in holding value are Honda/Toyota, and the only makers that lose an unusally high amount of value are Korean cars and high-dollar imports of all stripes.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone

Originally posted by: Skoorb
slugg it lacks 4 doors but you could look at a 2010 Camaro with a V6. Its gas mileage is _very good_ and it has a pretty powerful launch. You won't get it for as cheap as an MS3, though.

Good to hear not everyone with a subaru is putting the oil barons through college like we were.

In fairness he just said he hates American cars. I don't dislike the Camaro but can't imagine I'd ever actually buy one, much less a V6 one. To each his own, though . . .

Yep, I meant to caveat my post with that but forgot. I think I was thrown by his consideration of a mustang.

(5)- The Cobalt SS is fast as hell (in the segment), but I agree, it looks and feels like a Cavalier on steroids. And the Cavalier was the bad old days.

Why I called it a throw-away car above. I cannot imagine getting excited about one. I couldn't care if it had 700 horsepower and was $10k, the thing, from its size even to its name just screams "wants to pretend it's not a cavalier". It may be objectively superb, but damn, it's a COBALT. Sounds like a plymouth laser

For me personally Ford is coming up very quickly in name. I truly could see myself owning one. I don't know how much is their lineup and how much I perceive them as a winner because they've not filed for BK like GM and Chrysler.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone

Originally posted by: Skoorb
slugg it lacks 4 doors but you could look at a 2010 Camaro with a V6. Its gas mileage is _very good_ and it has a pretty powerful launch. You won't get it for as cheap as an MS3, though.

Good to hear not everyone with a subaru is putting the oil barons through college like we were.

In fairness he just said he hates American cars. I don't dislike the Camaro but can't imagine I'd ever actually buy one, much less a V6 one. To each his own, though . . .

Yep, I meant to caveat my post with that but forgot. I think I was thrown by his consideration of a mustang.

(5)- The Cobalt SS is fast as hell (in the segment), but I agree, it looks and feels like a Cavalier on steroids. And the Cavalier was the bad old days.

Why I called it a throw-away car above. I cannot imagine getting excited about one. I couldn't care if it had 700 horsepower and was $10k, the thing, from its size even to its name just screams "wants to pretend it's not a cavalier". It may be objectively superb, but damn, it's a COBALT. Sounds like a plymouth laser

For me personally Ford is coming up very quickly in name. I truly could see myself owning one. I don't know how much is their lineup and how much I perceive them as a winner because they've not filed for BK like GM and Chrysler.

Some people could care less about what others think about the car and get it cus it's the best price/performance. That's why I bought a Neon.

 

[SickBeast]

If you care about reliability and fuel economy, the Civic Si is a better car than the MazdaSpeed 3. It is also $1300 cheaper. I'm wondering how much horsepower the Civic would have if you modded it with a cheap turbo.

It's really a tough call. I would probably go with the Mazda 3 if I were making the decision. It depends on how tight your budget is though. If you can afford the repairs once the warranty is up, the Mazda is probably a good choice for you. The Civic will last you forever; if you plan to drive the car into the ground, it's worth considering the Honda.

 

[SickBeast]

Actually, I'm just thinking, what about the new Camaro?

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: SickBeast
If you care about reliability and fuel economy, the Civic Si is a better car than the MazdaSpeed 3. It is also $1300 cheaper. I'm wondering how much horsepower the Civic would have if you modded it with a cheap turbo.

It's really a tough call. I would probably go with the Mazda 3 if I were making the decision. It depends on how tight your budget is though. If you can afford the repairs once the warranty is up, the Mazda is probably a good choice for you. The Civic will last you forever; if you plan to drive the car into the ground, it's worth considering the Honda.

Yea but you don't buy the Si if you want performance. Modding it will throw reliability down a lot and the price difference will go out the window. It's a perfectly fine vehicle but not one you want if you want a pocket rocket cus there are so many more better options for the price.