YACT: Mazda 3, Scion tC, or Civic SI

[whoiswes]

thanks for all the input guys. i'm driving the tC this afternoon, and will be going back to look at the 3 this weekend...

keep the input coming, never can have too much!

 

[beach2nd]

Originally posted by: Excelsior
Mazda 3s Hatchback

 

[Aharami]

looks wise, tC. drive wise, I really cant say cuz ive never driven any of those.

 

[dxkj]

Originally posted by: whoiswes
looking at the following four cars. will be my daily driver (about 40 miles round trip). i've never had a new car before, and all of these fit the bill for what i'm looking for.

1. Mazda 3i - $16,000
2. Mazda 3s hatchback - $17,300
3. Scion tC - $17,400
4. Honda Civic SI - $18,400

just wanted to see what you all thought. thanks.

I love my mazda 3 hatch, versatile, useable for moving friends and small furniture/purchases around, handles great, lots of power for an econo car, high quality interior vs other econo's.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

And do you think the OP is going to be putting golf clubs in his $18k car?? WTF?!

I put golf clubs in my $3000 Camry.

WTF does the value of a car have to do golf? I used to regularly golf for $10 a round on evening specials. I don't need to be rolling in a Benz to do that.

People don't get that golf is not just for the rich... lots of people play golf...

 

[tami]

mazda 3s sedan?

that's what we have. it's nice. it's neither the 3i or the 3s hatchback but it is a good in-between

 

[43st]

Mazda3s... I got 33.8 MPG on my last trip. :thumbsup:

 

[Frost Byte]

Um.. I got Mazda 6i @ $17,500 out the door including taxes....

 

[BMdoobieW]

Originally posted by: Frost Byte
Um.. I got Mazda 6i @ $17,500 out the door including taxes....

Yeah, but it has to be slower and less fun than a 3s, right?

 

[BMdoobieW]

Mazda 3s Hatchback

 

[exilera]

They're all junk. Why don't you get a used BMW or something for 20k.

 

[pclstyle]

g35

 

[aolj]

I would suggest the tC since I drive one. Trunk is small but like others had said, once the seats are down, it's good for lots of things. Even two humans fit! haha.

The mpg might suck a little but it has a really good drive!

 

[LeiZaK]

Originally posted by: Excelsior
Mazda 3s Hatchback

 

[JEDI]

mazda6 has a rebate. mazda3 does not. mazda6 costs the about same as the mazda3.
but the mazda6 are made in the USA, while all Mazda3 are imported from Japan.

mazda6 uses the same engine as the mazda3s (2.3L). but the 2.3L is a gas hog.

mazda3i has a 2.0L engine. 26city/34hwy (automatic). :thumbsup:

mazda3 sedan trunk is small. but you can fold down seats.

skip the 2005 mazda3 and go for the 2006 mazda3. the 2005 mazda3 (both i and s) has weak a/c. hopefully they fixed that in the 2006 model.

also the engine in the 2006 has vvt (variable valve timing). :thumbsup:

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: aolj
I would suggest the tC since I drive one. Trunk is small but like others had said, once the seats are down, it's good for lots of things. Even two humans fit! haha.

The mpg might suck a little but it has a really good drive!

what kinda mileage do you see with the tC? gf is considering one

 

[Maximus96]

Originally posted by: aolj
I would suggest the tC since I drive one. Trunk is small but like others had said, once the seats are down, it's good for lots of things. Even two humans fit! haha.

The mpg might suck a little but it has a really good drive!

I'm getting 29-30 mpg on my tc. but i drive pretty much all freeway. i consider that pretty good since the engine revs around 4000 at 80mph.

 

[43st]

Originally posted by: JEDI
mazda6 has a rebate. mazda3 does not. mazda6 costs the about same as the mazda3.
but the mazda6 are made in the USA, while all Mazda3 are imported from Japan.

mazda6 uses the same engine as the mazda3s (2.3L). but the 2.3L is a gas hog.

mazda3i has a 2.0L engine. 26city/34hwy (automatic). :thumbsup:

mazda3 sedan trunk is small. but you can fold down seats.

skip the 2005 mazda3 and go for the 2006 mazda3. the 2005 mazda3 (both i and s) has weak a/c. hopefully they fixed that in the 2006 model.

also the engine in the 2006 has vvt (variable valve timing). :thumbsup:

All 2004+ Mazda3s have the VVT engine. The Mazda3i get's VVT in 2006.

The AC is fixable at the dealership or at home with the cabin air filter, works on all 2004+ Mazda3 vehicles (any type).

Just to repeat... my 2004 2.3 got 33.8 MPG on my last road trip. 600 miles, avg. 57 MPH, top speed 93 MPH.

 

[aolj]

Originally posted by: Aharami

Originally posted by: aolj
I would suggest the tC since I drive one. Trunk is small but like others had said, once the seats are down, it's good for lots of things. Even two humans fit! haha.

The mpg might suck a little but it has a really good drive!

what kinda mileage do you see with the tC? gf is considering one

I've been averaging 29-31 mpg. It holds a 14.5 gallon tank. It's alright but of course, I'd like it to go to like 35 or so.

 

[Zee]

i have the 3s sedan. I would pick whichever car has the best MPG.

 

[dxkj]

Originally posted by: Zee
i have the 3s sedan. I would pick whichever car has the best MPG.

Ive been getting 32 mpg highway on the 3s wagon

 

[Deeko]

mazda

 

[mrchan]

if the extra $2k over the mazda 3 isnt a big deal, the civic si will probably be the fastest and most reliable. mazda 3 would be a sweet car too though.

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: JEDI
mazda6 has a rebate. mazda3 does not. mazda6 costs the about same as the mazda3.
but the mazda6 are made in the USA, while all Mazda3 are imported from Japan.

mazda6 uses the same engine as the mazda3s (2.3L). but the 2.3L is a gas hog.

mazda3i has a 2.0L engine. 26city/34hwy (automatic). :thumbsup:

mazda3 sedan trunk is small. but you can fold down seats.

skip the 2005 mazda3 and go for the 2006 mazda3. the 2005 mazda3 (both i and s) has weak a/c. hopefully they fixed that in the 2006 model.

also the engine in the 2006 has vvt (variable valve timing). :thumbsup:

I have a 6i with that 2.3L and I have been averaging 25mpg in the city. I'm taking it on a road trip to Florida next weekend so I'll let ya know how the highway mileage is.

Plus, the trunk is much larger than the 3 and so is the rear legroom.

But, the 3's interior is cooler looking, imo.

 

[CraigRT]

MZ3 hatch.
I drove one and I want one.