Decisions

[AJsMSP]

OK, here is the story. November '05 I reluctantly traded in my '03 MSP, for a....(crazy) '05 Subaru Legacy Ltd wagon. My wife and I were expecting our first child in March and I figured I was going to need the room. Well after the birth we unfortunaly will not be able to have anymore children due to complications. So now that we are not going to need all the room, it's time to trade in and get rid of the grocery getter. So the current models I am looking at are:

Mazdaspeed 3 (Definitely first choice)
VW GTI (4 door, with DSG)
Honda Civic SI (4 door)
Subaru Impreza WRX (Sedan or Wagon...not sure)

So I have been doing alot of research and it seems like the 3 beats them all, but each car has there own uniqueness. Of course I will have to test drive all of them to see which ones feels the best. Any input? Suggestions, comments concerns?

 

[dread]

Congrats on the baby, I don't think you really need to ask this question, just read up on articles from edmunds and car and driver and you will know that the ms3 is supperior to all of the cars you mention. If I wanted comfort I would go with the gti, reliability with the honda, awd with the subie, but if I wanted a grin on my face every time I step on the gas I would go with the ms3. Post pics when you get you ms3(LOL).

 

[Evo Scooter]

(iagree)

 

[Akaveli]

how could u resist the Zoom-Zoom.

 

[Bakrauf]

Go with your first choice you wont regret it.

 

[justa4banger]

i Debated the smae cars you selected (minus the Honda). i couldn't justify the Vw pay more for lesspower and both my wife and i agreed the new VW are boring to drive IMO. the subies are fun, but everyone expects a race and well its justa subie. the greatest thing about the MS3 is very covert. Its a nice looking hatch it good decent gas mileage (26mpg on a spirited run to austin ) , and doesn't draw attention............UNTIL.............. you step on it.

I ran down a 3s BMW on my drive back from austin and man he was shocked, he kept slipping in behind me and was trying to read the mazdaspeed3 emblem. Later we got stopped (construction) and he asked what the heck i was driving. He commented on it being a nic looking car and faster than he would have imagined.

I love my car heck i got almost 3k miles and haven't made the first payment yet. Go with the MS3 you won't regret it.

 

[Karma_hunden]

justa4banger, minus the honda?...i read that then i saw your avatar and i cracked up LOL

dread couldnt have said better.

 

[Hikaru9]

I believe all those you listed are fine automobiles.

MS3 - what I have now with a big on my face.
GTI (5 door) - another fine vehicle with a bit less power but more refined/ grown up
Civic - Can you say reliability?
WRX (hatch all the way) - I'd go with this if you live in an area where snowman sightings are frequent.

 

[Karma_hunden]

Hikaru, I agree with you on all of them except the GTI...grown up? ALL i see is 16 year olds driving those things...(serious comment)...needless to say I went to check the car out and it costed 1k less than a 31k worth MS6 (bought mine for 27K, GTI=26K)...they put leather on manuals and cloth onf DSGs, so they all have the same price tag of 26k.

I would say you should consider the WRX and the MS3 depending on your needs and area.

 

[AJsMSP]

Well the only other problem is to convice the wife of getting a new car. Her arguement is that there is nothing wrong with the car I have now. Which may be the truth, but she just doesn't understand. My commute is an hour each way. I want to drive something that I enjoy. She doesn't understand that either. And the other bad thing is I would have to roll over what I have left on the existing car to the new car. That really sucks.

 

[Hikaru9]

comfort over performance

Hikaru, I agree with you on all of them except the GTI...grown up? ALL i see is 16 year olds driving those things...(serious comment)...needless to say I went to check the car out and it costed 1k less than a 31k worth MS6 (bought mine for 27K, GTI=26K)...they put leather on manuals and cloth onf DSGs, so they all have the same price tag of 26k.

I would say you should consider the WRX and the MS3 depending on your needs and area.

I was talking about the image of the vehicles themselves and not the drivers. Notice I didn't write "grown up drivers". GTIs definitely have a more mature feel to them than MS3s do. Many auto journalists agree that they would choose a GTI over all of the MS3s strong points because to them the GTI is easier to live with every day. (less noise, more compliant ride, upscale interior, etc.) HP/torque rating and 1/4 mile times don't mean a whole lot to the general public after all. After doing extensive market researches automakers usually create a target audience although often times they completely miss it. For instance Scion xB was marketed towards the young and hip snowboarding generation; instead, the car was loved by a much older generation with families who liked its practicality. I'm not sure about your neighborhood, but I don't see 16 year olds driving GTIs here in NoVA - more like mid 20s to 30s.

Having said that, I have an MS3 which is by far the sportiest ride I've owned. Perhaps I'm getting old, but my next ride will probably have more focus on the luxury over the raw performance - meaning I will choose a 335i, a G35 over an STi or an EVO. *^_^*

 

[AJsMSP]

Well there is only one Mazdaspeed dealer in the area and it just happens to be a VW dealer as well. I could drive them back to back for easy comparison. I am still leaning toward the Speed3 though.