Help me choose a car! ~22k

[HyperTek]

are you open to domestics? id check out the ford focus ST, looked at it at the LA Auto show, pretty nice.

[mr2turbo122]

Look into the Suzuki Kizashi. 2011 models are in the high teens with low mileage.

[WanganRunner]

Originally Posted by blueshark123

I wanna buy diesel car for my next daily for sure.

I just did, although mine is an ancient Mercedes 240d 4-speed.

Lots of fun though, sounds like a semi and moves like a glacier.

[turbobrick]

lol, I know what you mean. I have an 83 300D non turbo, automatic though. Might be slow but get amazing gas mileage for how big and heavy it is.

Originally Posted by mr2turbo122

Look into the Suzuki Kizashi. 2011 models are in the high teens with low mileage.

I agree with this. I have driven one and its a pretty good car for the price.

[tcg5014]

I know the VW's are a little bit more money out the door but if you want NEW I think they are worth it. We just bought a '11 GTI this summer and so far it has been great. Compared to everything else we shopped the interior and fit and finished just seemed so much better. I also felt like the inside was a lot roomier. If your local VW dealer is a good place to shop then 3 years 36,000 miles is decent since service can be pricey on them depending on transmissions and engine options. If you don't mind used I think a year or so old Focus is a good option too.

[One_love_silvia]

save until ft-86 is released.

and no i didn't read any of this.

[WanganRunner]

Originally Posted by turbobrick

lol, I know what you mean. I have an 83 300D non turbo, automatic though. Might be slow but get amazing gas mileage for how big and heavy it is.

Yeah the mileage on mine is really surprising me. I got a '78, 280k on it.

I've never had so much fun commuting in something, I love the way it sounds. It's like a little semi truck.

[Leetfade]

Too lazy to read it all but my biggest suggestion is look at Certified Used instead of new. Better warranty (in most cases) and get more car.

I bought a brand new WRX last year and I wish I wouldn't have.

If you look around you could probably get an IS certified for 22k. It will require some haggling but it's a hell of a car. There are quite a few more options at that route. Just make sure you read how their certified program works as it's different for every manufacturer.

I know Honda and Lexus have great programs.

[lucky7]

3er > IS

the only toyota i've every had fun in was a '91 MR2 turbo.

[axiomatik]

Originally Posted by yokotas13

The features of the mazda at 22k is horrible to say the least. I was going to buy one, and ended up with a 2011 corolla S for 20k out the door with 3 years no maintenance. i have 32-34 mpg consistantly
If you get a Used Corolla XRS, you can have your fun too

That's surprising. We just bought a new Mazda CX-7 for my wife, and Mazda was far and away the best value for features/dollar of all that we looked at.

The 2012 Mazda3 has Bluetooth standard on all trim levels, at least the 5-door does, didn't look at the 4-door. Top-level trim on the Mazda3 is $23.4k and includes leather, heated seats, power drivers seat, moonroof, Bose stereo, auto-climate and navigation. The mpgs with the new skyactive engine is pretty impressive, 28/39.

Ford Focus is also sharp looking and great mileage.

[yokotas13]

Originally Posted by axiomatik

That's surprising. We just bought a new Mazda CX-7 for my wife, and Mazda was far and away the best value for features/dollar of all that we looked at.

The 2012 Mazda3 has Bluetooth standard on all trim levels, at least the 5-door does, didn't look at the 4-door. Top-level trim on the Mazda3 is $23.4k and includes leather, heated seats, power drivers seat, moonroof, Bose stereo, auto-climate and navigation. The mpgs with the new skyactive engine is pretty impressive, 28/39.

Ford Focus is also sharp looking and great mileage.

23k for the car brings it to 25k out the door or more.
WELL out of his 22k range.
and an equally equiped car to my toyota (only cause i have one is why i reference) is 23k out the door (2011, not 12)

focus looks great, but i refer to build quality constantly. i was VERY dissapointed. and it was around 26k to have it decently equipped out the door

[Highway Riding]

I've been looking into the Juke.... Mazda's are nice but the Juke is still Nissan

[Walperstyle]

Originally Posted by ManoNegra

Have all the resources I could possibly need on hand
but it is nice to drive a nice comfortable car with good mpg
and warranty

you are a confused individual. Get a Prius, never come back to this site, lol.

[ManoNegra]

Originally Posted by Walperstyle

you are a confused individual. Get a Prius, never come back to this site, lol.

Nope, never been more lucid
Fuck busting your ass on the weekend
To get you project/daily ready for work on Monday

You'll get it one day

[lucky7]

a comfy DD = peace of mind. it's really an underrated thing in the car-modding community. two cars serve two different purposes.

[ManoNegra]

- Don't daily project cars
- If you're going to have a project make sure you can afford to insure and store it.

Took me years to learn that the hard way.

[yokotas13]

yep. which is why i DD a corolla, nad hte v8 miata is in my garage

[turbobrick]

Having your project car as your only car sucks, especially when it has no a/c, super stiff suspension and no interior. While I admit I do drive my project car about half the time, its still nice having a back up car that you know will always start and get you where you're going.

[axiomatik]

Originally Posted by yokotas13

23k for the car brings it to 25k out the door or more.

Not necessarily. The CX-7 I just bought MSRP's for $25.3k (iSport w/Convenience Package, including destination), and I got it out-the-door for $25.5k and 0.0% financing. That out-the-door price includes a 5-yr/60k mile extended warranty ($1200), tag/title & sales tax.

I only mentioned the top trim pricing on the Mazda3 because I was surprised at the pricing you were quoting. Base Mazda3 5-door stickers for $19.3k ($20k including destination) with power everything, keyless, bluetooth, steering wheel controls.

s Touring is $21.8k and adds the more powerful engine, fog lights, moonroof, aero package, auto climate, Bose stereo and 17" wheels.

[yokotas13]

Originally Posted by axiomatik

Not necessarily. The CX-7 I just bought MSRP's for $25.3k (iSport w/Convenience Package, including destination), and I got it out-the-door for $25.5k and 0.0% financing. That out-the-door price includes a 5-yr/60k mile extended warranty ($1200), tag/title & sales tax.

I only mentioned the top trim pricing on the Mazda3 because I was surprised at the pricing you were quoting. Base Mazda3 5-door stickers for $19.3k ($20k including destination) with power everything, keyless, bluetooth, steering wheel controls.

s Touring is $21.8k and adds the more powerful engine, fog lights, moonroof, aero package, auto climate, Bose stereo and 17" wheels.

in my area pricing was redic i guess. and i qualified for the 0%

[thrax]

One of my friends looked at cars with similar criteria to you a couple of months ago.
-manual
-low 20s
-4door hatch or sedan.

He looked at Accent, Kia equivalent Mazda 3, and the base Sentra.

He ended up with the Mazda 3 due to excellent financing and because of the sportiness of it. The Hyundai was great too but because the new design had just come out and didn't have as good incentives. Maybe now that months had passed the incentives will be better for Hyundai.

[Anto]

UPdated. Got a Mazda 3!

[Bubbles]

Originally Posted by lucky7

3er > IS

the only toyota i've every had fun in was a '91 MR2 turbo.

Bought an 85 gts for 1200(in the boonies nobody had any clue what the fuck the car was) put 200 bucks of repairs in it.

Drove it 30+ thousand miles in the 2 yrs I owned it.

Bounced it off the redline religiously, had it sideways, had it in a ditch, tried to go through a ditch, water crossing, gravel road shenanigans, hauled four of my buddies, hauled wood one winter, drove 80 past cops who wouldn't even think to question my speed cuz it looked so horrible.

Selling it was probably the worst car decision I've ever made.

[lucky7]

Sounds like my last E30.

[ManoNegra]

Originally Posted by Anto

UPdated. Got a Mazda 3!

Congratulations, I love mine.
Averaging 36 - 37mpg combined, granted, that's mostly highway miles.

[yokotas13]

Congrats on the car!
sedan or hatch?

[aziankingz]

How is the skyactive technology?

[Anto]

Thanks!
Got the hatchback in white, it's effin awesome. Averaging 34, mostly city. The factory MPG gauge is pretty accurate, last two tanks it displayed 34.2 and 33.9 mpg, actual was 33.8 and 33.6. Unfortunately, there's not too many big 2010 Mazda 3 forums, so most of the stuff not too many people know.

The DbW throttle takes getting used to as well, doesn't feel as responsive as the 240, and the pedal height difference is much more, so I can't heel toe downshift. I had to buy some pedals and add a small spacer to the gas pedal to bring it up to height.

Here's an article on the Skyactiv motor, it's pretty crazy the stuff they were able to do. Too bad they didn't bring the 14:1 compression motor over here, that would have been rad.

The diesel mazda3 is supposed to be here for 2013. 160-180hp and 310-340 tq, OVER 40 mpg. F.

[RiversideS13]

nice choice! I wish i have one of those but i don't have money for a new car.
recently I picked up a 05 scion XA with manual transmission as DD for $8k, average 35mpg.
you can get the "racing feel" at legal speed...really needs upgrade on suspension, wheels and tires.

[TougeLove]

i see a lot of mazada 3's around 858 for some reason. If it was rwd i would have picked it over the 2011 wrx.