Convince me to not buy a WRX and get a Mazda3 instead

You'll be able to pay the 3 off faster. Plus the money you save every month you can save up so that when your warranty is out you can go with the HI BOOST! 300-WHP (alright)

Or you could wait a yr and see what new cars come out. Some good stuff is coming.
 
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buy the wrx. i wanted a wrx when i bought my p5...wife said "no"...so i got the p5 (i sold mazdas at the time)...wish i could have gotten a wrx...i love my p5, but i'd rather have a subbie
 
Being my own devil's advocate, here are things in favor of the Mazda3:
- The Mazda3 has a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) much lower than the WRX (purchase budget doesn't matter here)
- better fuel economy and uses 87 octane fuel (instead of 91)
- lower insurance
- lower maintenance cost
- longer wheel base 103.9 vs WRX's 99.4
- has a sunroof
- comes with nav
- about 230 lbs lighter than the WRX
- variable valve timing engine
- SU-LEV emissions
- better looking
- no turbo = less things to go wrong

seems like you basically have your mind made up
I stick with my original statement, buy the wrx!! thats what i'm doing anyway:)
but its your money so you should spend it how you see fit, with the things you have listed the 3 would be a much more practical car for you,
i can't remember but i thought you said you have a family which means more responsibilities,and more important things to think about than a car,
so a car like the 3 would probably be a better choice for someone with your circumstances(if they are like i said i can't remember lol)
but for someone like me with no family and basically only myself to worry about the wrx is great Imo
peace
dante
 
chimchim said:
Where do you get this information?

I'm still torn between the two cars. The 160hp Mazda3 is quite adequate as a daily driver. No, it's not "fast" but at least I can merge from the 0-65 onramp without being smashed by traffic... or go from the stop n go non-carpool lanes to the 80 mph carpool lane. But everyone knows the thirst for power can never be quenched.
The 3's braking is actualy better if I recall the stats right. So is the handling. Just side notes.

Anything you ever wanted to know about these companies can be found on www.nasioc.com. I pay close attention to the big braggers and what ends up happing to them and there cars. Even from local guys, most that mod heavily, just keep doing it. Nothing ever works aswell as its advertised when tuning is involved. After all, how can guys in California and Jersey tune to a New England winter? They can't. Thats why you should always look for people with experience with a product from your own region. Then look them up and talk personaly. They will typicly talk a very different stroy then they will on boards like this.
 
sadly, i'm from the south...and everyone in my office thought i married my cousin...AND THEY STILL HIRED ME...freaks.



cable43 said:
do it like they do down south..... keep it in the family!
 
Thapro1 said:
seems like you basically have your mind made up
I stick with my original statement, buy the wrx!! thats what i'm doing anyway:)
but its your money so you should spend it how you see fit, with the things you have listed the 3 would be a much more practical car for you,
i can't remember but i thought you said you have a family which means more responsibilities,and more important things to think about than a car,
so a car like the 3 would probably be a better choice for someone with your circumstances(if they are like i said i can't remember lol)
but for someone like me with no family and basically only myself to worry about the wrx is great Imo
peace
dante

No... I don't have my mind made up actually (never done debate, eh?)... here's my self rebuttal:

WRX:
- 225 hp at a lower RPM and much more torque
- awesome crash safety record and very strong body (good for family)
- AWD
- a "driver's car with thought to details like TACH in the center
- better visibility
- enormous aftermarket support
- TCO is more but not that much more... hey you're established and in your 30's, treat yourself a little (not like you're getting a BMW)
- double DIN center stack can easily accomodate a nav
- still good enough mpg to not get hit by gas guzzler tax
- still an LEV vehicle
- as quoted by millions: "FRICKEN FUN TO DRIVE!!!"
 
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Buy a Saab 9-2X !

a) Saab cach-- you might not care, but your wife or girlfriend and/or your penis might
b) with Subaru WRX reliability and modability
c) the turbos retail at $27 or 28 but they're supposedly going out the door for $19,000 right now!!! 7 grand discount! Because GM is in deep doo-doo.
 
19.4k without haggling (GM discount). As low as 18-19k with heavy haggling. Same wrx drivetrain, same wrx chassis, same wrx engine...just saab body, saab interior, saab warranty.
 
crossbow said:
19.4k without haggling (GM discount). As low as 18-19k with heavy haggling. Same wrx drivetrain, same wrx chassis, same wrx engine...just saab body, saab interior, saab warranty.

shut up! shut up! ;)

you're making me want to cheat on my beloved Proteg.
it's such a freakin' great deal!!!

no, I'm in for the long haul with my ES.
but the 9-2X will be a very tempting off-lease buy in a couple years.
 
Yeah I'm looking at the Saab too. It's an incredible deal with the mark down. My concern is that it will be discontinued next year and I wonder if Subaru dealers also honor the warranty and do maintenance.
 
Yeah, I'm in a pretty similar situation. I've decided to wait till September when the new mazdaspeed 3 will be debuted before I think too seriously about it. Here are a few other things to consider:

There are strong rumors that the 06 WRX wagons will have a sunroof option. I dont know if youre aware but the 06 WRX will be getting a 2.5 liter motor (detuned STI motor) which makes the same horsepower but A LOT more torque lower in the RPM range = easier for daily driving. 17 rims and better brakes will now be standard on the WRX and leather will also be an option. No word yet on how much of a price increase this will result in. As far as the new look of the WRX, wait to see it in personI dont think these low quality pics can give an accurate feel for the whole package.<O:p></O:p>

The only reason Im still waiting for the mazdaspeed 3 is that Im a sucker for HIDs, Nav and steering wheel mounted audio controls (none of which are available on the WRX) and the mazda will most likely make a smaller dent in my wallet.
 
Option said:
Yeah, I'm in a pretty similar situation. I've decided to wait till September when the new mazdaspeed 3 will be debuted before I think too seriously about it. Here are a few other things to consider:

There are strong rumors that the 06 WRX wagons will have a sunroof option. I dont know if youre aware but the 06 WRX will be getting a 2.5 liter motor (detuned STI motor) which makes the same horsepower but A LOT more torque lower in the RPM range = easier for daily driving. 17 rims and better brakes will now be standard on the WRX and leather will also be an option. No word yet on how much of a price increase this will result in. As far as the new look of the WRX, wait to see it in personI dont think these low quality pics can give an accurate feel for the whole package.<o ="">:p></o>:p>

The only reason Im still waiting for the mazdaspeed 3 is that Im a sucker for HIDs, Nav and steering wheel mounted audio controls (none of which are available on the WRX) and the mazda will most likely make a smaller dent in my wallet.

Ahhh... thank you very much. I've read several things about the 06 WRX, but never anything about the sunroof rumor.... mostly people b*&ching about the new nose.

The bigger engine will be nice, but I'm worried about paying even more at the mpg rating.

I agree, I think we are in a similar boat for this one.

As for the look, I'm ok with it. I don't think it's ugly. I just want it to not look frumpy. People may disagree that the 06 nose looks good, but I think they'll agree it's not frumpy. So... I'm a sucker for nav, but I don't care about HIDs or steering mounted controls. I don't want leather, so that's moot for me. So... I figure the WRX double DIN will fit the in dash nav systems.

I thought that the Mazdaspeed 3 will ONLY come as a coupe?
 
Where the hell do people get the idea that the STi has some lack of torque. That damncar easily double that put out by my 6 at any point in the power band. The car really couldn't be easier to drive. Power is basicly right there, always. Worst case, you wait 3 seconds for a massive surge unlike most cars where you wait 10 seconds for jack.


God damn I miss that car.
 
chimchim said:
Ahhh... thank you very much. I've read several things about the 06 WRX, but never anything about the sunroof rumor.... mostly people b*&ching about the new nose.

The bigger engine will be nice, but I'm worried about paying even more at the mpg rating.

I agree, I think we are in a similar boat for this one.

As for the look, I'm ok with it. I don't think it's ugly. I just want it to not look frumpy. People may disagree that the 06 nose looks good, but I think they'll agree it's not frumpy. So... I'm a sucker for nav, but I don't care about HIDs or steering mounted controls. I don't want leather, so that's moot for me. So... I figure the WRX double DIN will fit the in dash nav systems.

I thought that the Mazdaspeed 3 will ONLY come as a coupe?

Well the 06 WRX will have taller gearing and I'm guessing it's in an attempt to keep the gas milage from decreasing so I wouldn't expect it to change much if at all.

As far as the mazdaspeed goes, nobody knows for sure if it'll me a coupe or hatch but there have been spy shots taken of a mazda3 hatch with a makeshift hoodscoop:

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=105417

http://channel4.com/4car/gallery/spyshots-2005/M/mazda/3-mps/mps.html

I don't know much about aftermarket nav systems but I'd imagine it'd be pretty expensive for a head unit/nav combo + install. Any ideas how much that would cost?
 
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What about a Legacy GT. I drove one, and was impressed. The WRX is very close in price and with the extra options on the Legacy, It may be worth it. You could get a 5 speed nicely loaded for $28.5k, and with slow sales, knock off an additional 2-3k if you do it right. It also comes in a wagon if that is what you really want. The only 2 things I would change right away is the stereo and if you get a MTX, get an STi short shifter. Just my 2 cents.
 
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