New Here w/Question

[FHUCK]

First off, this site looks pretty awesome and I'm glad I found it.

I'm looking at getting an 08' mazda 3 sedan for my first car but I don't know which one to get. Here is my situation. I'm 17, going to be paying for the car myself in payments to my dad who is buying it straight cash, want to spend below $20k perferably around $16k, have to get an AT, and plan on modding it. Is it really worth spending the extra money for the 2.3L?

BTW I got a chance to test drive one and I think it's awesome. I'm 6'6" and surprisingly fit in it very well. It's not a sure bet that I'll be getting a 3 but it's at about a 90% chance.

Thanks to anyone that helps.

 

[NCZ13]

i think you should get a 3 with a manual tranny. if your planning on modding, a MT is preferred.

 

[cmedrive]

I would agree. However, to answer your question, there isn't a huge performance gain between the 2.0l and the 2.3l.

 

[FHUCK]

My dad wants me to get an automatic and I can't argue with him because he's paying insurance and letting me get a car in the first place

 

[MS3077]

The 2.3 liter has more punch in it and would be worth the extra $$ if you really enjoy driving. However, seeing as gass prices are going thru the ******* roof the 2.0 liter would be the more sensiable option obviously

Try to talk dad into getting a manual. Why is he hell bent on you getting an automatic anyway? Either way it's a great little car and you are lucky

 

[FHUCK]

ya I've been driving an explorer and a durango before that which both got under 13mpg so any version of this cars would be a huge improvement.

I've been trying to talk my dad into getting a manual for awhile now but he isn't changing his mind. he says that having a manual is a distraction, which I think is actually the opposite since it's harder to talk on your cell phone and do other stuff while driving. But I'm just grateful that I'm getting a car and I can always get a manual later down the road.

thanks for your help

 

[ForceFed]

Wow..Nice name.

 

[ducky1288]

I was always told people who drive m/t are better drivers because they usually concentrate more (confused)....oh well its an opinion thing im sure lol

 

[projectss]

I was always told people who drive m/t are better drivers because they usually concentrate more (confused)....oh well its an opinion thing im sure lol

Those people are right. The first few weeks that I went from AT to MT, I really felt a difference in my driving that I'm a lot more cautious and have to watch their surroundings more since they also need to focus on their body movements.

2.0 and 2.3 don't have that much difference in power really so that's totally up to you.

You can still mod it up with performance parts since the car is also a manumatic, but honestly, it's not as fun as MT cuz the clutch is the key of having fun in driving MT.

Bear in mind that MT is cheaper by around a grand, more power, somewhat better mpg, and more durability.

 

[FHUCK]

maybe if I show him this page with comments coming from actual owners he'll change his mind. another thing that I forgot to mention was that I'll probably be selling it 2 or 3 years down the line for somthing faster (MS3?) and then he wouldn't care what I got. So, don't AT's have better resale value? The salesman told me that he bought one and after putting 30k on it, he got all his money back. Although, if I got a manual I probably wouldn't want to sell it. IDK I'll talk to him again right before I show him it.

thanks ForceFed, I get worried everytime I join a new website that they'll kick me off even though it's my name.

 

[NCZ13]

manual trannys are easier to maintain, and repair.


they are also cheaper to service than an automatic transmission. as well as a cheaper sticker price.

and, it makes you a much better, focused driver. despite what your dad thinks, you can be distracted much easier with an automatic transmission.

 

[ducky1288]

ONLY reason i personally wouldnt get a manual transmission is if i lived in a large city with tons of stop lights or stop and go traffic. That is the only way i would think of it as a distraction upshifting and downshifting quite a bit and trying to do other things...but i live on wide open highways thank god but i can see where ur dad is coming from in a way...sorta..not really

 

[719prottege]

you should definately push for a MT as hard as possible, without pissing your dad off of course. My mom made me get an AT, and i nearly fell asleep driving down the road, waking up by sideswiping the car next to me... :/
Now i have my MT protege, and i have to actually think when i drive