I keep changing my mind

[Midwayman]

FWIW buying a car you like isn't the most horrible idea in the world. What is a terrible idea is switching cars often. Then you're right back into paying big bucks in taxes and depreciation. Something I found out about myself that took decades is that I'm much more likely to stick with a car if Its something I really want. Saw an Acura TL 3g at the autoshow when it was new, kept it 8 years until I wrecked it. I have a MB c350 that I picked up with 20k miles and going on 5 years with already and not much of an itch. before I was always switching every 2-3 years and buying all sorts of stupid parts trying to make something I was kinda "meh" about into something great. In the long run it was cheaper just to buy a more expensive car to start.

 

[Tormac]

Assuming that the Mazda runs well, I don’t see the GTI as a large enough improvement in performance to justify the cost. If you are just starting out in autocross the biggest thing that will improve your times will be improving your skills and increasing your experience. Drive the Mazda for a couple more years, and maybe use the money that you were going to spend on the GTI on a performance oriented driving school instead. In the long run more experience and driving skill are going to make a much larger difference than the 45 hp jump between the two cars.

As you mentioned that you are good at saving, I would say save up, and after more experience auto crossing, you will be in a good position to purchase a car that will be a real upgrade from the Mazda, if you decide that you love autocross and want to devote money and time to it.

 

[jlee]

You can autocross the car that you have -- no reason to buy something else.

 

[_Rick_]

A GTI is a pointless car.
Think of what you want in a car, and then get back to us.
If you want a reliable, fast, serious-fun hatch, get a Hyundai

 

[DooKey]

Take out a loan and don't spend your cash like that. My wife and I have been in a position to pay cash for whatever vehicle we would like for many years now, however, I always take a low interest loan and pay it off in a couple of years. There's just no reason to spend a huge chunk of change at one time for a depreciating asset when you can make money with your money. I make far more than I would pay in interest on my loan. JMHO.

 

[ondma]

what? the GTI is a classic. the Mazda3 is...classically boring.

As for the OP: also consider a 2018-2019 Mazda6. Those are a little peppy and could probably be found ~$20k with decent miles.

You know, you could probably get a 2018-2019 GTI S for close to $20k...and with the 2019, and assuming manual, you get to play the unintentional stalling lottery!

Wouldnt exactly call the Mazda 3 boring. It is one of the sportier mainstream cars and the new models, IMO, have very nice styling. Really, one should compare the Mazda 3 to the base Golf, where I would actually prefer the Mazda, especially since they put a smaller engine in the new Golf. The GTI is of course a step up in sportiness, which the Mazda has no model comparable to. Yea, the Mazda 6 is nice also. A used GTI is attractive, since the excellent warranty transfers to the second owner I believe.

 

[Midwayman]

A used GTI is attractive, since the excellent warranty transfers to the second owner I believe.

Is that not normal? I mean every car I've ever bought used I've never had an issue with the warranty.

 

[ondma]

Is that not normal? I mean every car I've ever bought used I've never had an issue with the warranty.

Kia and Hyundai are the models I was talking about. They have a 5year/60k bumper to bumper warranty and a 10year/100k power train warranty.The bumper to bumper warranty transfers to a second owner, but the 100k power train warranty only transfers to a second owner if they buy a CPO vehicle.

 

[zinfamous]

Wouldnt exactly call the Mazda 3 boring. It is one of the sportier mainstream cars and the new models, IMO, have very nice styling. Really, one should compare the Mazda 3 to the base Golf, where I would actually prefer the Mazda, especially since they put a smaller engine in the new Golf. The GTI is of course a step up in sportiness, which the Mazda has no model comparable to. Yea, the Mazda 6 is nice also. A used GTI is attractive, since the excellent warranty transfers to the second owner I believe.

I'm just comparing it my 10 years driving my Mazda3 and now the GTI.

Yes, the Mazda3 is sportier, at least "feels so," than the other eco-sedans in its class, but it has many significant disadvantages to a GTI. It's not just about HP and Torques--the GTI (well at least standard for 2019 across all trims, but in PP trims in earlier years) has a front LSD (mechanical in 2017 and earlier, I believe) and a stiffer rear sway bar in some trims....yeah, that's something that you can easily swap out on your own, but overall the stock chassis is significantly stiffer compared to a base Golf, and certainly any Mazda3 (non-speed). ...but it also doesn't have the crazy torque steer that the Mazda3 speed was famous for.

My Mazda3 was a 4 speed auto...and damn was that a garbage transmission. I was thinking about getting an MT at the time, but I was living in Berkeley and the GF (and I) didn't want to bother with that driving up and down 30 degree grades all day long.

 

[ondma]

How is the GTI for torque steer? I suppose the LSD helps reduce it. Too bad AWD is not available, especially for those in snowy climates.

I drove an Altima for a few years, and even a modestly powered FWD car like that had considerable torque steer, especially on wet roads. And that was only the four cylinder. The V6 would be a real handful.

 

[zinfamous]

How is the GTI for torque steer? I suppose the LSD helps reduce it. Too bad AWD is not available, especially for those in snowy climates.

I drove an Altima for a few years, and even a modestly powered FWD car like that had considerable torque steer, especially on wet roads. And that was only the four cylinder. The V6 would be a real handful.

I don't have a DSG so I haven't tried to launch it, but I also haven't gone WOT in a while, but there is none in my limited experience where I would notice it, and it's pretty much known to not suffer from torque steer all (I mean, unless that's what you want, heh). it's also 250lb/ft at 1500-6k, I think, so it comes on early and fast. It's pretty great, but certainly not the most powerful, quickest in its class.

The R has seq-AWD and stock 280/300, I think. But those are ~$42k...quite a step up from the well-apportioned GTI trims.

 

[ondma]

I don't have a DSG so I haven't tried to launch it, but I also haven't gone WOT in a while, but there is none in my limited experience where I would notice it, and it's pretty much known to not suffer from torque steer all (I mean, unless that's what you want, heh). it's also 250lb/ft at 1500-6k, I think, so it comes on early and fast. It's pretty great, but certainly not the most powerful, quickest in its class.

The R has seq-AWD and stock 280/300, I think. But those are ~$42k...quite a step up from the well-apportioned GTI trims.

Yea, I dont think I would pay 40k for a car anyway, but if I was going to pay that much, I would get something like an Audi A4 or Q5.