SomeMarine
Member
- :
- 1996 Miata/2014 Wrangler/2014 Mazda2
Today my girlfriend and I signed on a Mazda2 Touring in zeal red.
We've been looking around for a new car for her to drive for a long time, so much so that I'd actually grown tired of test driving cars.
Finally, after looking at everything from GTIs to STs to Foresters to Mazda3s and plenty of other cars I can't even remember we (she) decided the Mazda2 was the way to go. A year ago she had driven a Mazda2 auto and thought it felt it was too slow and felt too cheap. We weren't really in the market at the time, but once we were she remembered her impression. First impressions are hard to break.
She's been semiseriously car shopping for about a month, but last week she sold her auto Civic for a ridiculously good price and things finally got serious. I've been a cheerleader for the cheapest Mazda the whole time, but she was between the Mazda3 (20k for the one we were going to buy) and the Forrester (24k). We both liked for Forester more than the 3. While both cars were great I was slightly worried about financing 10-14k when she's probably going to grad school in a few months.
Today was a soft deadline because I'm out of town for the next two weeks, while I don't mind her borrowing my cars she's super independent and wanted to have this whole car buying thing done today. I did too.
Though I've attempted to teach her manual for a while she finally had everything click last night. She's brilliant, but something wasn't working until today. Suddenly she just got it. Yesterday my Miata was shuttering and groaning when she drove. Today she drove it to work without an issue and was even able to drive my Jeep, probably one of the shittiest modern manuals, without an issue. It was primetime to give the Mazda2 another try. I drove at first and loved it, and she was actually confident enough to drive a stick on a test drive. She loved it for the price. While she didn't like it as much as the Forester she definitely didn't think the Forester was worth 10k more. I considered selling my Wrangler and pocketing the difference.
We almost bought a Sport for 13k, but right before we were ready to go the dealer told us they could find a Touring for us. Turns out there weren't any Tourings to be had by that dealer, which was sad because I really wanted to give them our money, so we decided to think on the Sport over dinner. I called another dealer and they found a Touring with a Manual in her second favorite color and we bought it for 14 and change. It should be in by Tuesday. They also offered us a Sport for 12k. I would have sold my Jeep and turned it into a Spec-b if I didn't have a chance of being sent overseas in December.
I've had 20+ cars in my decade and a half of driving and three of them have been Mazdas, all Miatas. I currently have a 1996 Miata and I've slowly been replacing parts after they break at track days. After my flyinmiata suspension arrives I'll be done for a bit. I've put four people into Mazda3s over the years, the first of which was my best friend (2007 GT 5 speed) and the last one was my Mom (Whatever the loaded 2.0 is with a 6 speed is). Three of the four have been manuals. I'm really excited to get the 2 in the driveway and if the break in is over I'll be paying for two spots at the next track day in October. I'll probably be switching the wheels with my Miata sets for s**** and giggles. Going to be fun.
TL
R
Long time looking at cars, bought a Mazda2
We've been looking around for a new car for her to drive for a long time, so much so that I'd actually grown tired of test driving cars.
Finally, after looking at everything from GTIs to STs to Foresters to Mazda3s and plenty of other cars I can't even remember we (she) decided the Mazda2 was the way to go. A year ago she had driven a Mazda2 auto and thought it felt it was too slow and felt too cheap. We weren't really in the market at the time, but once we were she remembered her impression. First impressions are hard to break.
She's been semiseriously car shopping for about a month, but last week she sold her auto Civic for a ridiculously good price and things finally got serious. I've been a cheerleader for the cheapest Mazda the whole time, but she was between the Mazda3 (20k for the one we were going to buy) and the Forrester (24k). We both liked for Forester more than the 3. While both cars were great I was slightly worried about financing 10-14k when she's probably going to grad school in a few months.
Today was a soft deadline because I'm out of town for the next two weeks, while I don't mind her borrowing my cars she's super independent and wanted to have this whole car buying thing done today. I did too.
Though I've attempted to teach her manual for a while she finally had everything click last night. She's brilliant, but something wasn't working until today. Suddenly she just got it. Yesterday my Miata was shuttering and groaning when she drove. Today she drove it to work without an issue and was even able to drive my Jeep, probably one of the shittiest modern manuals, without an issue. It was primetime to give the Mazda2 another try. I drove at first and loved it, and she was actually confident enough to drive a stick on a test drive. She loved it for the price. While she didn't like it as much as the Forester she definitely didn't think the Forester was worth 10k more. I considered selling my Wrangler and pocketing the difference.
We almost bought a Sport for 13k, but right before we were ready to go the dealer told us they could find a Touring for us. Turns out there weren't any Tourings to be had by that dealer, which was sad because I really wanted to give them our money, so we decided to think on the Sport over dinner. I called another dealer and they found a Touring with a Manual in her second favorite color and we bought it for 14 and change. It should be in by Tuesday. They also offered us a Sport for 12k. I would have sold my Jeep and turned it into a Spec-b if I didn't have a chance of being sent overseas in December.
I've had 20+ cars in my decade and a half of driving and three of them have been Mazdas, all Miatas. I currently have a 1996 Miata and I've slowly been replacing parts after they break at track days. After my flyinmiata suspension arrives I'll be done for a bit. I've put four people into Mazda3s over the years, the first of which was my best friend (2007 GT 5 speed) and the last one was my Mom (Whatever the loaded 2.0 is with a 6 speed is). Three of the four have been manuals. I'm really excited to get the 2 in the driveway and if the break in is over I'll be paying for two spots at the next track day in October. I'll probably be switching the wheels with my Miata sets for s**** and giggles. Going to be fun.
TL

Long time looking at cars, bought a Mazda2