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YACT: Acura TSX vs. Mazda 3S vs. Subaru Legacy 2.5GT

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I'd guess the 3 would be the smallest too....go with the Suburu or the TSX... Both hold decent resale value and both will last as long as they don't get smashed by all that traffic you have down there.
 
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Originally posted by: NutBucket
You know my opinion😉
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Yes, but you have your sites set on modding. I don't.
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I also know that the TSX is too heavy for its power😉 That and I'm sick of FWD. For once I'd like some oversteer!
 
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Originally posted by: mchammer187
acura by far


if you can settle for a 2 door the RSX would probably be perfect for you
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Nope. Must be a sedan.

In terms of exterior looks, I think the TSX is the most boring by far, but none of them are unattractive. I personally do not like the 5-door MZ3, so I would go with the 4-door.

I have sat in the TSX and test-driven the other two twice. Between the two test drives of the Legacy, I've spent maybe 10 minutes driving the car, if that! (Subaru dealers ARE THE WORST!) In terms of interior fit and finish and overall build quality, I would rank them in this order:

1) Acura TSX
2) Mazda 3
3) Subaru 2.5 LGT

As that recent C&D article says, the Legacy's doors close with a really junky, cheap sound, making the other two seem much more solid. I too am not a huge fan of the Legacy's frameless windows. The Mazda 3's rear windows lower completely unlike those of the Legacy.
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i still say take a look again at the mazda 6s

http://www.caranddriver.com/ar...=4&article_id=8124

.84g
0-60 in 6.4 (i really find this questionable) more like 6.9

curb weight is about 400 lbs more than the 3 though

if you felt the mazda 6s MTX offered little power it definitely has more power than the 3 and TSX

if you felt the road holding was poor i have heard changing from the stock tires improves skip pad numbers considerably i would say that is comparable to the GT or Acura
but .84g already puts it above the legacy and the acura (according to C & D anyway)

so i'd really like to know what was so inadequate about it

the interior is definitely a league above the GT though the acura has it beat by far



 
FWIW, I own a TSX. I have been more than pleased with my car. I have had it now for a year and have put 11K miles on it.

Only complaints :

1. Rattles in both front doors - Common problem with a supposed dealer fix now available.
2. Could stand to have a slight bit more power, but by no means is it 'weak'. Then again my other car is a 99 Vette so I'm used to a little more power. 😉

When I was car shopping, I wanted a stick shift, something with 4 doors, good handling and basically just a fun car to drive. The TSX was loaded with options, and the build quality seemed much better than the Mazda.

I have a wife and baby, so in my opinion it could stand to be a little bigger, but it is still more than sufficient.


Don't base your decision on which car is the fastest. Resale and build quality should also play a role in your decision.

When in doubt, drive them all.
 
I would definitely pick the TSX...but that is just me. It definitely is not the "driver" that I imagine the 2.5GT is, but the interior on the TSX is great for a car in that price range with a really nice set of features. Before I realized I need a truck, I test drove a 6-speed TSX and absolutely loved it.
 
Can you have oversteer in a FWD car? Edmunds complains that "the rear end comes around" on the mazda 3 under sharp handling. Isn't that oversteer?
 
Originally posted by: SuperTool
Can you have oversteer in a FWD car? Edmunds complains that "the rear end comes around" on the mazda 3 under sharp handling. Isn't that oversteer?
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Yes, you can have oversteer.
 
Originally posted by: SuperTool
Can you have oversteer in a FWD car? Edmunds complains that "the rear end comes around" on the mazda 3 under sharp handling. Isn't that oversteer?
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Basically if you remove the front sway bar and put in a fat one you can get it to oversteer. Auto-X guys do this. I haven't tried it myself. At any rate, after drifting a Legacy I say the hell with FWD😀:evil:
 
Originally posted by: NFS4
WTF would you cross-shop a 3s with those?
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Why not? I test drove the 3s wagon and the Legacy GT 2.5 wagon back to back. If I can be happy with the 3s, why not spend several thousand less and get that?

I wasn't happy with the 3s, by the way. It's got some cool features, but it has an enormous blind spot and it's a little too small. When I drove the Legacy GT it was immediately obvious where the extra money was going, and that it was worth it.
 
I thought to oversteer you need a stiff rear sway bar, not front. My Maxima wouldn't oversteer without the rear sway bar, but will with it. If the front digs in, and the rear is stiff enough, it'll loosen up and come around a little.
 
Eh, my opinion is biased, but if I had that money and picked from those cars, it'd be the TSX. I'd pick that just because I know it'll still be running great 10 years from now. Not saying the others won't, but my experience with Honda has been great. I have a 91 Accord LX with 166k miles and other than the regular maintenence and regular oil changes, it doesn't really have anything done to it to keep it running this well.

If you get the TSX and take care of it, that car can last you a very long time
 
Originally posted by: AgaBooga
Eh, my opinion is biased, but if I had that money and picked from those cars, it'd be the TSX. I'd pick that just because I know it'll still be running great 10 years from now. Not saying the others won't, but my experience with Honda has been great. I have a 91 Accord LX with 166k miles and other than the regular maintenence and regular oil changes, it doesn't really have anything done to it to keep it running this well.

If you get the TSX and take care of it, that car can last you a very long time
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I'll be giving a TSX a test drive this weekend most likely.

I would love to have more time behind the wheel of an MT Legacy, but like I said, my experiences with two different Subaru dealers has been TERRIBLE! I could walk in with a personal check for $30K, and they still probably wouldn't pay attention!
 
Originally posted by: KingNothing
Originally posted by: NFS4
WTF would you cross-shop a 3s with those?
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Why not? I test drove the 3s wagon and the Legacy GT 2.5 wagon back to back. If I can be happy with the 3s, why not spend several thousand less and get that?

I wasn't happy with the 3s, by the way. It's got some cool features, but it has an enormous blind spot and it's a little too small. When I drove the Legacy GT it was immediately obvious where the extra money was going, and that it was worth it.
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That is something I fear about the 3. It seems like such a good value, but what about 5-7 years from now? I mean, people find it difficult to simply change the oil!
 
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
I am leaning towards the Subaru, but something in the back of my mind says, Look at the Mazda's stock roadholding number! You could buy that and pocket the $8K difference between it and the Legacy!

I live in Atlanta, so snow is not an issue. I would want AWD only for handling purposes. I would not mod any of the cars aside from tires and stereo speaker components.
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Skidpad numbers are only useful if you intend to drive in a 200 foot circle.

The Subaru and the Acura will be well above the Mazda. If you're cross shopping, look at the Mazda 6 instead. I know you said that you didn't like the 6, but the 3 isn't going to compare well to those other cars. It will be more cramped, higher-strung, and overall just more cheap-feeling, not that the 3 is a bad car by any stretch, I really like the 5-door Mazda 3, but it's not comparable to a Legacy or a TSX. It's like comparing a Civic to an Accord.

ZV
 
I would like to point out that the Legacy's skidpad and braking #'s are artificially low most likely because of the crappy Bridgestone RE92 tires that Subaru puts on almost all their cars (probably because some Bridgestone exec has pics of some Subaru exec in a compromising position, no other reason seems to explain the incredibly poor choice in tires). Swapping those out for better tires results in a whole new car -- Impreza owners have known this for years.
 
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Originally posted by: AgaBooga
Eh, my opinion is biased, but if I had that money and picked from those cars, it'd be the TSX. I'd pick that just because I know it'll still be running great 10 years from now. Not saying the others won't, but my experience with Honda has been great. I have a 91 Accord LX with 166k miles and other than the regular maintenence and regular oil changes, it doesn't really have anything done to it to keep it running this well.

If you get the TSX and take care of it, that car can last you a very long time
Click to expand...

I'll be giving a TSX a test drive this weekend most likely.

I would love to have more time behind the wheel of an MT Legacy, but like I said, my experiences with two different Subaru dealers has been TERRIBLE! I could walk in with a personal check for $30K, and they still probably wouldn't pay attention!
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I agree with your there GT. I just got lucky the last time I went that the sales guy was a college student home for the summer. He had nothing better to do:evil:
 
Originally posted by: Vic
I would like to point out that the Legacy's skidpad and braking #'s are artificially low most likely because of the crappy Bridgestone RE92 tires that Subaru puts on almost all their cars (probably because some Bridgestone exec has pics of some Subaru exec in a compromising position, no other reason seems to explain the incredibly poor choice in tires). Swapping those out for better tires results in a whole new car -- Impreza owners have known this for years.
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I am aware of this. But it's something else to factor into the purchase price. So is an aftermarket sunroof ($1500) for the non-Limited LGT.
 
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Originally posted by: Vic
I would like to point out that the Legacy's skidpad and braking #'s are artificially low most likely because of the crappy Bridgestone RE92 tires that Subaru puts on almost all their cars (probably because some Bridgestone exec has pics of some Subaru exec in a compromising position, no other reason seems to explain the incredibly poor choice in tires). Swapping those out for better tires results in a whole new car -- Impreza owners have known this for years.
Click to expand...

I am aware of this. But it's something else to factor into the purchase price. So is an aftermarket sunroof ($1500) for the non-Limited LGT.
Click to expand...

It should only be a $1k. That leaves $500 for some real tires😎
 
Originally posted by: NutBucket
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Originally posted by: Vic
I would like to point out that the Legacy's skidpad and braking #'s are artificially low most likely because of the crappy Bridgestone RE92 tires that Subaru puts on almost all their cars (probably because some Bridgestone exec has pics of some Subaru exec in a compromising position, no other reason seems to explain the incredibly poor choice in tires). Swapping those out for better tires results in a whole new car -- Impreza owners have known this for years.
Click to expand...
I am aware of this. But it's something else to factor into the purchase price. So is an aftermarket sunroof ($1500) for the non-Limited LGT.
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It should only be a $1k. That leaves $500 for some real tires😎
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Correct. A quality sunroof install with lifetime warranty should be only about $1k. Your dealer is stroking you (as he's just gonna contract it out for $1k and then pocket the extra $500 to himself).

Skip the dealer middleman and shop it around. The ASC dealer in my town (Western Sunroof) quoted me $995 for a full electric tinted glass sunroof (one that retracts inside the roof) with new headliner (required) with lifetime warranty. I'm still considering doing it 😛
 
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