buying a car: mazda6 vs vw jetta

[laFiera]

I need to buy a new car as my 95 prizm is dead;my budget is 20k and i'm looking for something that looks decent and somewhat reliable; don't want the accord or the honda b/c they just look too boring! I've gone to edmunds.com and since I liked how the jetta looks, i was going to buy that one; but then i read the reviews and people were complaining about minor issues and somebody that has been driving vw's for a while told me that since they are now made in mexico, the quality has gone down a lot! The mazda 6 is fairly a new model so most everybody that reviews it gives it high marks!
do you guys have any recommendations??
any of you with a 2002, 2003 jetta that has given you too many problems??
thanks for the input!

 

[xEDIT409]

go for 6.

 

[Rallispec]

hmmm... i like the mazda 6 better. (vw jetta is the number one car of gay men-- i just wouldnt' be comfortable in it )


anyhow-- with 20k, you could pick up a new Nissan altima

 

[RossMAN]

Where's the poll?

Mazda 6

 

[KingNothing]

That's funny, I drive a 95 Prizm now. What happened to yours?

I used to want a Jetta, but after the Mazda 6 came out I think that's what I'd buy if I was going to get a new car right now.

 

[Encryptic]

I like the looks of the 6 myself. Too many horror stories heard about VW's reliability/dealer service....

 

[BigSmooth]

The Jetta is nearing the end of its life cycle and VW has indeed had some recent reliability/Q.A. issues. I also think the Jetta is somewhat overpriced, especially when you start to add on the options. The Jetta's interior will be superior to the 6's, however,

The 6 is brand new so there is not going to be a lot of data as far as reliability, but Mazda's smaller cars have historically been pretty solid.
I haven't driven a 6 yet but by most accounts the handling is excellent and it's a relatively fun car to drive. Mazda's resale is poor but you should be able to find a good deal.

Personally, I would probably go with the 6, but I would definitely recommend some test drives before making any decision.

 

[KGB1]

Originally posted by: Rallispec
hmmm... i like the mazda 6 better. (vw jetta is the number one car of gay men-- i just wouldnt' be comfortable in it )


anyhow-- with 20k, you could pick up a new Nissan altima

$14,500 was the quote I got from my dealer.
Plain Jane Altima... 5 speed/cd/cloth/16" tires

 

[optoman]

The next generation of Jettas are coming out within the next couple of years. I wouldn't touch the current ones, they are riddled with problems.

 

[RossMAN]

I would also consider a Nissan Altima, IF they fixed the interior.

Nissan's are fairly reliable.

 

[BigSmooth]

The Altima is a nice car. They have spruced up the interior a tad since it first came out, although it's still not great... but considering the price of the car, I think it's fine. It's got good power and handling, and it will be reliable.

However, it is a fair amount larger inside and out than either the Jetta or the 6... this could be a good or a bad thing depending on your needs. And I still don't like the taillights.

 

[laFiera]

I DIDN'T keep up with the maintenance schedule! only oil changes; i think the transmission went out b/c i recently changed the clutch at 120k miles; right now is at 142k miles. to change gears i would have to hit 5000rpms to go into another one; i'm not much of a mechanic but i think the transmission went out...but who knows.....

 

[Kaieye]

I just don't think German brand cars are as reliable as Japanese brands. Stick with the Mazda...

 

[mrchan]

get the 6. vw's have too many reliability problems, and the 6 looks much better than the altima.

 

[laFiera]

cool...good points...i guess the mazda 6 it is; normally i keep my car til they die! so i'm sure this one will hopefully last me another 10 years!

 

[KingNothing]

Originally posted by: laFiera
I DIDN'T keep up with the maintenance schedule! only oil changes; i think the transmission went out b/c i recently changed the clutch at 120k miles; right now is at 142k miles. to change gears i would have to hit 5000rpms to go into another one; i'm not much of a mechanic but i think the transmission went out...but who knows.....

...so you killed your car. I hope you're going to take better care of your new one! :Q

 

[BatmanNate]

Jetta is a chick car.

 

[laFiera]

Originally posted by: KingNothing

Originally posted by: laFiera
I DIDN'T keep up with the maintenance schedule! only oil changes; i think the transmission went out b/c i recently changed the clutch at 120k miles; right now is at 142k miles. to change gears i would have to hit 5000rpms to go into another one; i'm not much of a mechanic but i think the transmission went out...but who knows.....

...so you killed your car. I hope you're going to take better care of your new one! :Q

yeah...that's the plan!!!! ilearnd the lesson!
although this one got me far, for teh care i gave it!!!!
although i think i did it subconciously, as an excuse to get a new one!

 

[DumbGuy]

i drove the mazda 6 @ the mazdarevitup.com; It handled extremely well, and using triptronic was fun

 

[DieselUV]

Originally posted by: BatmanNate
Jetta is a chick car.

I agree. If you're a dude, get the 6.

 

[vi edit]

I own a Passat, but I don't know if I could own a Jetta. I rode in one recently and the word "claustrophobia" comes to mind. The inside is just...well small. Not much head room, not much leg room, not much shoulder room, ect. It just didn't have the roominess in it that my Passat or a previously owned GTI did.

Couldn't deal with it personally. Too cramped feeling.

Look at a closeout passat

 

[mchammer187]

mazda 6 all the way

very sexy car IMO

i prefer its looks to any of the new sedans/coupes 2003/2004 in that price range

 

[Spac3d]

Mazda 6

 

[zCypher]

The Mazda 6 is sweet but I have no idea what it's like to drive... I drove the new protoge and I didn't like it one bit. Way too ricey, felt just like a Civic to me. Compared to other cars. The 6 may not be like that though... and it's definitely a step up. It looks good. Can't be too bad.. try one out!

 

[Parrotheader]

Definitely the 6.

By far the best looking sedan in that price range and one of the better looking cars on the road period IMO. I haven't driven one yet although my co-worker just got a V6 model. She took me down some windy roads near our office and it was hugging them great with gobs of power coming out of the corners (she and her husband are both big into racing and they wanted a fun daily commuter.) There's a Mazda dealership about 3 miles from my house and they always use the road in front of my neighborhood as a test drive road since it's got a good mix of moderate curves on it. I'm glad I got my truck a few months ago since that's what I need, but I definitely think twice sometimes when I pass those 6's every day.