So I'm pretty sure I'm going to pull the trigger on an MS3 within the next week or so. In addition to choosing the color, I need to choose a trim level.
I'm wondering if any of you sport owners have any buyers remorse and wish you had gotten the GT instead.
I've been pretty spoiled with my current car. The audio system is ridiculous. in dash pioneer nav/dvd w/bluetooth and ipod adapter... high end kickers throughout powered by the stock msp amp... and an 8" mtx thunder powered by another. all in all, the sound is amazing. So it wasn't exactly a shock to sit in the GT and listen to the bose stereo... only to feel dissapointed. it's certainly better than most stock systems but... not even in the same league as mine. so.... needless to say, regardless of the trim, their days would be numbered. that pretty much negates the stereo benefit of the GT.
Then there's the seats... I must admit, those partial leather seats are pretty badass. both seats feel about the same (the sport may have felt slightly more comfortable for some reason) but, if price wasn't an issue... I'd lean towards the GT seats.
lastly (unless I'm missing something) are the HID headlamps. naturally these are pretty sweet... but, if the stereo and seats are relative non-factors... is the benefit of having HIDs really worth an extra $1500??? Hell no! I can have those badboys installed for... i dont' know... 1/15 that price!
Seriously though... am I missing something here? The sport seems like a no brainer to me.
I bought the Sport. Of all the considerations, price and value were my most important. I'm a bit of a tight German and lean towards Neo-Luddism. Overall, I tend to de-value bells & whistles (though last car was Camry XLE). Heck, in my mind, the car is a technological marvel in Sport trim.
I had a price and I knew what kind of performance and features were important to me, so the matrix steered me towards the right choice.
To address your specific points:
a) The more-expensive-to-replace HIDs don't attract me. I was in the bike business and could buy anything cheap, and I stuck with halogen lighting for my cycling. Not long ago, halogens were state-of-the-art and are satisfactory. Automatic on/off headlights are great, but also not necessary.
b) I think, like some others here, the rain-sensing wipers are a gadget - not needed. Plus, they come on when I traditionally wouldn't use them.
c) Bose stereo not worth the upgrade - I'm a music lover, not an audiophile (I'm also over 40 so don't need to show off with subs)
d) LED tail lights are great, but not a huge improvement, and certainly not worth buying the whole package to get it.
e) I've had leather. I wouldn't have minded leather seats (since I'm accustomed to them) but not leather bolsters stitched to fabric centers.
I wanted a car for the driving experience, to get more connected to the road, so to speak. [I know there's a thread for this --> This is the best performing car I've ever owned in 32 years: '68 Rambler Ambassador (343ci, 2bbl carb, auto), '66 Dodge Polara (383, 2bbl, autol), '81 Tercel/5sp (?), '85 Tercel (5sp), '91 Camry DX/V6, '95 Camry V6, '95 Camry XLE 4cyl.
I don't care much about color as long as it isn't something disguisting. Red is too flashy though, so I bought black. Though it shows dirt, etc. pretty easily I'm not wrapped up into cosmetics so I don't care much. In retrospect I would have bought a blue one though.
As for mod's., I might mod only when I need to repair/replace.
Would I have bought the GT if it were in my price range? No.
I looked strongly at loaded Mazda3 GTs as well.
Well, I guess that pretty much explains my motivations for buying a MS3 Sport. Your values may lie elsewhere. In reading your post, however, it seems you ought to buy the Sport. Use the extra money for something important (like gift for wife/gf).
Sorry for the long-winded post. I don't post much, but I post
long. (hump)
Robin
. The cosmic blue looks VERY different depending on the environment and lighting. At sunset it looks grey, in a parking garage at night it looks purple, high noon is very saturated blue. Personally I love it now, but before I bought it I was debating a lot about it.
