Looking at buying a 2 soon and had a question...

[JC-MP5]

I wanted to get everybody's opinion on a sport vs a touring. Is it better to just spring the extra money for a touring and get the nice interior and factory cruise control or is it a better deal to buy a sport and install aftermarket cruise control? Having cc is a big deal on this purchase. I refuse to go without this time around. It's a little under a $1500 difference for 2012s in my area (advertised prices), so i figure the touring might be the better, easier way to go. Also, I don't know if aftermarket cc will void the warranty. Any insight?

 

[genericmoniker]

No need for an aftermarket CC. The module is there for CC, all it needs is a controller. So your call on your $1500. All you'd need to do (IIRC) is swap the wheel with one that has CC controls.

I'd opt for the touring though, and I did. The "leather wrapped" steering wheel was a big plus, as was the wheel controls and "better" seats.

 

[Ryno666]

Touring!

 

[ngd298]

Touring for sure. You get all the interior stuff, plus you get the spoiler, wheels, and fog lights. Well worth a few dollars a month extra.

 

[fam]

Just buy my touring....Ill drive my 2 down to you ;-)

 

[DaleNixon]

No need for an aftermarket CC. The module is there for CC, all it needs is a controller. So your call on your $1500. All you'd need to do (IIRC) is swap the wheel with one that has CC controls.

I'd opt for the touring though, and I did. The "leather wrapped" steering wheel was a big plus, as was the wheel controls and "better" seats.

I'm pretty sure the wheel swap was attempted and failed.

 

[Font Motorsports]

Touring all the way. What's $1500 or so split up in monthly payments? Not much. ( assuming you are doing monthly payments ).

 

[QueenMazda2]

Deff touring

 

[ScorpioGTX1]

I also debated between the Sport and Touring. Although the Touring doesn't have any really huge features that the Sport doesn't, all the little things add up. I ended up going with the Touring (well, a GS, in Canada), and I am confident I made the right choice. Definitely worth the extra money.

Plus, that red trimmed interior looks awesome, and the leather wrapped steering wheel feels great.

 

[PassivAggressor]

As a sport owner, I regret not having cruise control and a leather wheel.

 

[Font Motorsports]

That's a nice interior pic ScorpioGTX1.

 

[kwaits92]

Cruise control was the only thing worth getting. And you can get it for much cheaper than the touring model.

Then with the money you save, upgrade that stereo and add performance mods.

 

[JC-MP5]

Yeah, I looked at an interior pic of a sport next to a touring and it hit me how barren it looks. We'll still have to see when the time comes, though. Thanks for the insight, everybody! Hopefully I can pull off the purchase end of it. Fingers crossed!

 

[DrWebster]

Touring, for sure. It's more than just the cruise control, it's the fog lights, alloy wheels, rear spoiler, leather wheel, (slightly) better stereo, fuel economy display (with ambient temperature), and fabric on the door panel inserts. It makes the car feel less like an economy car. All of that stuff is well worth the extra money to me.

 

[Jond63]

What DrWebster said -- I really like having the computer with gas mileage and temperature.

 

[eyeballs]

Its really a no-brainer, especially if you don't plan on getting aftermarket wheels. The touring wheels look very good, fogs and spoiler are nice exterior touches, the trip computer helps me avoid speeding tickets (I find maximizing my mpg's during the daily commute a fun challenge), etc, etc. You really do get alot of little things for that $1500. My wife has a sport Mazda 5, and everytime I drive her car I miss my steering wheel.

 

[DrWebster]

My wife has a sport Mazda 5, and everytime I drive her car I miss my steering wheel.

Oh yeah, I totally forgot that the Sport models don't have the steering wheel stereo controls. I'd almost pay the $1500 difference just for those, lol.

 

[ScorpioGTX1]

In Canada you can actually get cruise control and steering wheel mounted controls on the GX (Sport) with the "Convenience Package." I'm not sure if that's a thing in the US.

 

[JC-MP5]

Yeah, there aren't any add-on packages here. You either buy the loaded one or the bare bones one. lol

Its really a no-brainer, especially if you don't plan on getting aftermarket wheels.

Well, nobody said anything about that. lol I plan on modding down the line. I won't get wheels unless it's lowered, though. Anybody get flak from the service departments (if they've ever needed to go in) over the warranty for being lowered? I know bolt-on power adders void everything unless it's directly from Mazda, which in the case of the 2 are non-existent.

Really, this is mostly about having a nice, comfortable daily on a budget that will occasionally see an autocross. The nicer interior and cruise control are where that comes in. I wish you could build a car from the ground up and hand-choose from every option/add-on that is available across all the trim levels. But, then again, by the time you're done I'd just about have a touring so why not just cut out the middleman? lol

If I'm honest, I really wanted a Skyactiv 3 hatch touring with a Skyactiv Drive gearbox, but it's a little too far out of my price range.

 

[kentinuum]

The majority here is saying Touring, but as a Sport owner, I have to recommend the Sport if you can live with the "bare bones". For me, while many of the extras from the Touring are nice, I don't feel that they're all that much better (though CC would be nice). For example, steering wheel controls are nice, but the radio controls are really just a short reach away. However, I can appreciate the convenience of it, so it really just comes down to a personal choice.

Personally, I am much happier having paid $1500 less, which I can in turn spend on some nice rims or performance mods when the time comes. But that's just my 2 cents -- good luck with your purchase