What car should I buy? Looking at '03-'05 range: Mazda3, mini, Passat, scion tC?

[quarterback]

Making decisions for me is sometimes a painful experience.

[SOAPboy]

in the order you listed..
VW Passat

at leats imo..

Minis arnt bad, but im not to sure on how reliable after heavy daily driving, mazda 3s, ehh i dunno.. scion tc, just to new to jump on the bandwagon..

*shrug..

[GGKoul]

I WAS a big VW fan, (Had a 93 - 95 Golf and 2000 Jetta)  but the latest VW products just SUCK!!  Maybe its because the cars are made in Mexico instead of Germany, but I had a 2000 Jetta and it had issue after issue... 

I would recommend a Mazda 3 or a Mini S.  They are rated very high and have a cool factor.

Just a couple of questions:

- Age?

- How is your insurance record?

- Any plans on having a growing family anytime soon??

But if you have a bad insurance record and/or want to start a family soon.  Then I wouldn't recommend the Mini.

[daywane]

I like a mazda.
Parts can get a bit high.
I am a do it your self type guy. like most of us here. I had a LARGE electrical problem with my RX7 a few weeks ago. I joined a RX7 forum ( much like this one) ( Saint yours rocks compaired to all I have seen!!! USER FRIENDLY) any hoo. I would go to google and check out these forums and just skim over the problems other people are having 

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&rls=GGLD%2CGGLD%3A2005-22%2CGGLD%3Aen&q=Mazda3+forum+%2B+repair&btnG=Search

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&rls=GGLD%2CGGLD%3A2005-22%2CGGLD%3Aen&q=Mini+Cooper++forum+%2B+repair&btnG=Search

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&rls=GGLD%2CGGLD%3A2005-22%2CGGLD%3Aen&q=VW+Passat++forum+%2B+repair&btnG=Search

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&rls=GGLD%2CGGLD%3A2005-22%2CGGLD%3Aen&q=Scion+tC++forum+%2B+repair&btnG=Search

that is what I would do.

honestly 90,000 miles is a low miles car in my book... all 3 of mine are hitting 200,000
88 corsica = great on gas
89 blazer s10 = great on gas
88 mazda rx7 += (what can I say... ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM  )

[mrhowell]

My wife has been very happy with her 2004 mazda 3 hatchback.  Very quick and it gets around 25 mpg.  The fuel pump went out around 8k miles and it took about 4 weeks to get a replacement.  The dealer gave us a mazda 6 as a loaner.  Overall, it's been a great car.  If you're going the used car route, check out a Mazda 626.

[walls83]

Im looking for a new car also as of about 25mins ago.  My wife called me at work and wants me to go buy a new car tonight.  I have know Idea what to get.

[quarterback]

in the order you listed..
VW Passat

Yeah, I think (if money were not a factor at all) that'd be my decision.

[GGKoul]

I know lots of people that drive Mini's for a 40+ minute commute.  They are quite roomy and are good on gas.  But you can't fit much in the back of the Mini.

I'm sort of in the same position as you.  As I presently drive a 98 Volvo S70 and I'm temped to trade it in and get either a Mazda 3 or Mini.  And I would probably get a Mazda 3 because of the $8,000- $10,000 cost difference from a similarly equiped Mini.

[quarterback]

I know lots of people that drive Mini's for a 40+ minute commute.

[GGKoul]

I had a 2000 Jetta TDI before the 98 Volvo S70.  And the Jetta was just trouble from day one.  I was "lucky" that I got in an accident with it and the insurance company wrote-it-off.

But I can say from first had experience, that the Jetta has a good crash rating.  As I drove head on into the side of a minivan that was driving across 4 lanes of traffic without checking both ways of traffic at around 60kph (40mph).  And the airbags went off and the doors open with no issues.  Even though the front of the car was missing..... 

[Stingray]

I own a real Mini and I drive it 30 minutes each way to work. That new car that BMW calls a Mini is a lot larger than a real one. They're pretty comfy inside as well. The new Mini has been holding high resale value if that's a factor in your case.

-S

[daywane]

straights not great on gas.
not as bad as the 78 ford f150 I drive from time to time ( straight V6)
but uses more gas then My blazer, could be a heavy foot in the Mazda.

I only know about the RX7's 

[quarterback]

The new Mini has been holding high resale value if that's a factor in your case.

Only a factor in the sense that it's keeping the price of the 2003 MINI-S with 7k miles (& Premium Package) up to $21k

[Baker535]

I vote Mini if you love the style, then the Mazda 3 (which I also like). Passat is just WAY overpriced as with most newer VW products. Also as stated in here their reliability isn't as good as it once use to be. I guess they have to pay for cranking out those funky commercials somehow...

I'm going to pipe in with some bias... you ever consider a Civic? If so, only get the EX model... the LX, and DX aren't really worth it. I love my 4 door '03. That year almost looks like a European styled car! A Japanese Jetta!

I think their sales declined with the change. Since then, they have been progressively adding more hard lines in. This makes them sportier again, probably to make it a good platform to base the SI off of. I think it's not going to be a hatchback for '06. Still, the new 05' 2 door looks sharp!

Good luck!

-baker

[AceTKK]

I don't think any of those cars are worth the 20k cost.  In my opinion the best thing you could do would be to get a 2001-2003 V6 Honda Accord or Acura CL/TL.  You'll spend less, you'll get a much nicer / roomier / comfortable / powerful car.  Put the extra 5k into an interest-bearing account and use it to repair any minor issues that come up. 

-Ace-

[GameOver]

Somewhat surprised no one has mentioned the Focus.  I've had 2 - first a ZX3 Premium, now a ZX3 SVT.  These are outstanding cars, and outstanding value.  They also have very high crash ratings for their class.  The ZX3 Premium got about 34 MPG highway, the SVT gets about 28. 

I highly recommend either one!  These are very practical, affordable vehicles.  I'm amazed at how much stuff I can get in the back of these with the seats down.  They drive and handle GREAT, and are just a hoot to drive.  I bought the premium new in 2002 for 13,500, you can get a used one for much less.  The 2003 SVT I got recently for 14k.

I have a 65 mile round trip commute each day, these cars are FUN and COMFORTABLE!  And easy on your wallet at the pump.  I put 65k miles on the ZX3 premium before trading it in without a single problem, just routine maintenance (oil changes, air filters).  I've only had the SVT for 3k miles but no problems yet & it's still under factory warranty.

FOCUS FANATIC!

[SirPoonga]

I'd take the tC then the mazda3. 
I'd stay away from VW.  Lately they have had poor quality.  I hear many friends who don't like their VW (and uise to be big VW fans).

Yep. look at the focus too, the newer models use the mazda engine.

I think the mini is overpriced for what you get.  There is a wow factor but there are much better cars for the same price.

[quarterback]

Well, after two full days of car shopping, the deal's done and I bought a car I wasn't really thinking about.

[shmokes]

Put the extra 5k into an interest-bearing account and use it to repair any minor issues that come up. 

LMAO......something tells me that he's not actually going to be paying for this car in cash.

[quarterback]

Put the extra 5k into an interest-bearing account and use it to repair any minor issues that come up.

[SirPoonga]

The scions I hear are decent.  They ar toyotas.  I believe they are just corollas and celicas (engine and tranny) with a more hip body.

[quarterback]

The scions I hear are decent.

[SirPoonga]

Yep, Toyota finally got in the game.  Ford, Mazda, Honda all have been doing that for sometime.   Toyota does have TRD but they don't have too much from there for US.

[GGKoul]

Congrads!

I wish they sold Scions in Canada... At least we have the Smart Car...

[quarterback]

Congrads!

Thanks

I wish they sold Scions in Canada... At least we have the Smart Car...

Whoa!  You're kidding me.  I'll have to Google that because I had no idea they were on this side of the Pond at all.   I was just over in the UK and saw a number of them on the streets.  The 4-person one ain't bad and they get GREAT mileage.  Don't they even have a sporty model?

Man, I'm jealous.  Maybe they'll make their way down in the US.   They're probably afraid they won't sell here because they're too small and efficient.  Not manly enough for the US consumer.

Off to Google "smart car canada"

[GameOver]

Put the extra 5k into an interest-bearing account and use it to repair any minor issues that come up. 

LMAO......something tells me that he's not actually going to be paying for this car in cash.

  Actually I was going to & I did

First, nice car!  You knew what you wanted, and what your budget was and you stuck to it.  Well done, that can be hard especially with shiny metal sittin' in front of you!

Second - DUDE, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!  Paid in cash?  You must be rollin' in it!  Why would you pay cash for something that loses 20% of it's value when you drive it off the lot?  I could give several examples of better ways to invest 15k.  You shoulda made payments with the relatively low interest new car loan.  I don't know what rates Toyota is offering, prolly round 4-5% since it sounds like you've got your credit in order.  I think you would've done much better using that cash to invest & paid the car off over time.  That's ok, I'm sure you've got your reasons (as you explained).

Good choice on the car!  I'm sure it will give you many years of maintenance free driving!  Now - how much for a SUPERCHARGER?     Street sleeper xA baby!