Undecided: Speed6 vs WRX (not STI)

[jred321]

subaru.ca says "Starting at $48,995" for the STI

 

[Donas64]

hmmm...

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

hmmmm I'd figure that if he's driving BMWs and Lexus to see what he wants, he should be able to swing an STi lol

subaru.ca says "Starting at $48,995" for the STI

 

[pHeeL tHiZ ViBe]

the dub is so much rougher, and in speeds in excess of 115 the wrx starts to feel really floaty. i don't get the same floaty feeling until 140mph...so i don't know what everyone is talking about bad handling. it is much bigger and much heavier, but it handles amazing anyways.

 

[jred321]

handling = taking turns, like on a track or autox course. i don't think handling has anything to do with stability at high speeds that 99% of drivers will never see. s-class benzes and 7 series bmws feel really stable at high speeds but they can't handle because they're enormous cars built for comfort

 

[joesmazdaspeed]

First of all, thank you every one for the replies and for not flaming me! I thought for sure I would have been flamed on a Mazda forum for wanting to buy a WRX, but you have all been quite honest.

I've been shopping for a new car for about 2 months now. Please keep this in context, it's my first new car and I'm about to spend $40k (canadian) of my hard earned cash for this. Most of you probably figured out, for a car enthusiest (or wanna be) there are limited choices for the $25 -$35k range (in a heartbeat I would drop $30k on a RWD or AWD v6!!! But there are none unless you spend $50k or more). I am not into the flat out speed, though I love it. It's the G's around corners that gets me giggling.

So that being said, I want something that is fun to drive but practical. However, my g/f (soon to be wife) and I want to have kids in the near future. Yet I don't want to compromise. Sound like a familiar dillema for some of you?

I have test driven the following cars: Infinity G35 sedan, BMW 323, Lexus 250, Nissan Maxima, Cadillac CTS, Civic Si, Acura TSX, Mazda Sport v6 GT, Mazda Speed6 and the Subaru WRX. I started early one morning so I could drive them back to back in the the same day to get a true feeling for comparison.

My top three:
1-2 Mazda Speed6/ WRX (undecided on the winner, hence this post)
3 Mazda Sport GT (v6)

(Wow, was I dissapointed with some of the "badge" cars. For example, dollar for value was very low on the IS250 IMHO....)

I don't plan on taking my car on track (yet), nor do I race with it. I have my Honda 600rr for that Yes, I am a bike junkie, but guess what; I toped it out at 285 km/h (177mph) and it does 10s on the 1/4 mile. To top that off, I can enter sweeping corners at speeds in execess of 200km/h. Until I can afford a super car (in my dreams) that can do that, I won't be selling the bike anytime soon.

*** sorry for going off topic there, but even thinking about having fun on wheels, 2 or 4, just gets me excited! ***

Bottom line is, I plan on going to the dealer and buying one next week. I am leaning very strongly towards the Speed6, but before signing the papers I just needed some re-assurance...

Thanks everyone!

PS all the prices I mentioned are in Canadian funds.

you didnt like the beamer in my personal opinion i would go with that but if you dont like that i would go with the mazdaspeed 6 over the wrx anyday

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

(werd) thats not handling, thats ride quality...

handling = taking turns, like on a track or autox course. i don't think handling has anything to do with stability at high speeds that 99% of drivers will never see. s-class benzes and 7 series bmws feel really stable at high speeds but they can't handle because they're enormous cars built for comfort

 

[EvilTurk]

It's not that I didn't like the B'mer. It's just that I would be getting a base model with no option for my budget range.

Here is a short summery of what my toughts were on the cars I test drove:

STI $55000 after taxes, PDI etc...
Love it but can't afford it. I would if I could.

BMW $35,000 base no leather, nothing. Not even auto climate control, just a shifter a few seats and a stearing wheel. But... it was a great drive! That inline 6 sounded amazing! The car was also well balanced.

Lexus IS250 $37,000 base, no leather no options and a small yet very heavy car. Heavier then the Speed6 and 100 less HP.

Infinity G35 coupe. Great car, good value for a luxury sedan, lot of power and drives well. It's about $7000 over my price range.

Maxima, don't even get me started. The CVT was neat, but other then that the test drive was a waste of my time.

Civic SI, fun to drive, redlines at 8000rmp! A car I would have bought if I was 10 years younger (I'm turning 34 in a few months). I want a car that's a little more refined. It's very noisy BTW.

Mazda 6 sport GT (v6), fell in love with it. If it was RWD or AWD I would have bought it on the spot.

Speed6 - great car, gives me all the creature comforts while it packs a huge punch! It's a few thousand more then I was planning on spending, but I'm willing to go the few extra bucks for this.

WRX - Well it's the WRX, what else do I need to say. It's my favorite car to drive, but it lacks big time on the interior compared the Mazda's

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

I'd say if you're planning on staying away from any serious modding, then go for the MS6

 

[pHeeL tHiZ ViBe]

how is high speed handling considered ride quality? speed bumps and potholes are ride quality

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

because you were describing what it felt like at those speeds (ie "really floaty") and that is ride quality, not handling.

 

[dutchbuffalo]

I was in the same boat as you a month ago, I'm a fellow Canadian trying to decide between a wrx, 3 series bmw, g35 sedan, lexIS250 and the speed6, and 4 weeks later I couldn't be happier about my purchase, I love my speed6.

 

[zimmstoy]

I gotta tell ya, I picked one up last week and have about 500 miles on it now. I found an 06 on the showroom floor that was never sold. So far it is fantastic. It has every option except the moonroof. No complaints whatsoever.

I was looking at many of the same cars you are evaluating. I found the WRX to be a bit small for me, however it was the only one of the bunch with comprable performance.

Since we are starting a new family and wanted a car with a little more room and not to mention the smoking deal I got on it. I went with the Mazda!

 

[TexasSpeed6]

I test drove the BMW 3series and M5, the 350z, the WRX specB and STI, and the Mazdaspeed6 at over 100mph when I test drove them. The BMW's and the Mazda were the only ones that I felt comfortable in at speeds in excess of 120mph.

Since the STI is out, the specB doesn't really have anything on the speed6, the interior is way better, the overall power is better, straight line is better, more sound proofing, a better dash layout, auto climate control, and a better sound system. If your an electronics junky like me, the speed6 has two accessory plugs vs the specB which has only one last I checked.

The powerloss issue isn't an issue anymore with the new PCM flash, and I didn't notice any performance issues with it either.

 

[~JoJo~]

man I thought I am the only one who's having trouble selecting my next car. I am now down to a very similar choices

1. mdzspd6
2. mdzspd3
3. is250
4. wrx
5. evo

All has to be 5/6 speed and comfortable, under 30k. I have a kid and it will be my daily driver. I just need to find the right package and color.

let me know your final choices. I am interested in the end dicision.

 

[Donas64]

man I thought I am the only one who's having trouble selecting my next car. I am now down to a very similar choices

1. mdzspd6
2. mdzspd3
3. is250
4. wrx
5. evo

All has to be 5/6 speed and comfortable, under 30k. I have a kid and it will be my daily driver. I just need to find the right package and color.

let me know your final choices. I am interested in the end dicision.

First of all take the IS250 off your list. Its a good looking car but its a DOG! and its overpriced for what you get which is pretty much RWD, a sterring wheel and a shifter.

Since you mentioned comfort I'll put it in this order:

1.MS6
2.MS3
3.WRX
4.EVO

 

[TC2.3]

because you were describing what it felt like at those speeds (ie "really floaty") and that is ride quality, not handling.

Actually, its both because floaty describes how it feels when you drive a truck. I don't know about you guys but I've never felt comfortable with how trucks handle at high speeds around corners.(no)

 

[TC2.3]

As Mikey444 said..wrx for a driver's car. The 6 is a pig and you can definitely feel the weight once you start driving it to the limits. Note..that you can't feel this until you own the car for at least a month or so. One has to know the car before they can understand the limits.

Is it the car's weight your feeling or is it yours??????

 

[MazdaJeff]

Not much I can say that was not already said. I do have two children and the MS6 works very well.

 

[Japan8]

If you can wait... then do so. New WRX coming out with better exterior and interior. Ride is also supposed to be much better as well. Otherwise WRX (current) vs MS6... MS6 hands down.