Shopping for cars... can use some input

[Chocolate Lab]

Said it before, but I'd go with the Mazda. I personally wouldn't buy a GM SUV, and from everything I've read, Honda's quality has dropped a lot in the last few years. (Still good, just not as bulletproof as before.) The Mazda will get the great MPG and have some fun factor, too.

 

[Kevinicus]

Wait til August/September for when all the 2013 models start coming out and the remaining 2012's go a lot cheaper.

 

[Duane]

Said it before, but I'd go with the Mazda. I personally wouldn't buy a GM SUV, and from everything I've read, Honda's quality has dropped a lot in the last few years. (Still good, just not as bulletproof as before.) The Mazda will get the great MPG and have some fun factor, too.

The two best cars I've ever owned have been Mazdas. I had an 82 RX7 in high school that I bought for $1,200 and ran until I sold it. And right now I'm driving a 99 Miata that I've owned since I drove it off the lot in 98.

The only issues I've ever heard with Mazdas is that their automatic transmissions aren't great. I wouldn't know because I've always owned standards.

 

[Duane]

If I was looking for a new vehicle I'd check into a Mazda 3/Mazdaspeed 3, Volkswagen GTI, or Subaru Impreza.

All these cars have room, performance, safety and decent gas mileage.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

The two best cars I've ever owned have been Mazdas. I had an 82 RX7 in high school that I bought for $1,200 and ran until I sold it. And right now I'm driving a 99 Miata that I've owned since I drove it off the lot in 98.

Very good to know... I've actually been considering one myself lately.

My second car was an RX7 in 1990 or so... I almost forget about that. Good times.

The only issues I've ever heard with Mazdas is that their automatic transmissions aren't great. I wouldn't know because I've always owned standards.

Same here. I knew you were an okay dude.

 

[Galian Beast]

Very good to know... I've actually been considering one myself lately.

My second car was an RX7 in 1990 or so... I almost forget about that. Good times.

Same here. I knew you were an okay dude.

I love my 95 rx7, and when i had it my 05 RX8, i'll end up buying one again as they continue to drop in value.

 

[ethiostar]

Said it before, but I'd go with the Mazda. I personally wouldn't buy a GM SUV, and from everything I've read, Honda's quality has dropped a lot in the last few years. (Still good, just not as bulletproof as before.) The Mazda will get the great MPG and have some fun factor, too.

The Mazda RX-5 is very tempting for a number of reasons. It's less expensive, better looking, and provides same mpg as our 2005 4-door Toyota Corolla LE and the car we're replacing, 1995 Nissan 200sx. The only thing is it is not as powerful as the others I'm considering.

 

[ethiostar]

If I was looking for a new vehicle I'd check into a Mazda 3/Mazdaspeed 3, Volkswagen GTI, or Subaru Impreza.

All these cars have room, performance, safety and decent gas mileage.

Mazda 3 is too small. I drove the Impreza 2.0i sports premium and liked it a lot but it is also too small. Love the Volkswagen GTI Passat. It has ample leg room in the back seat and huge trunk space. I love the 43/39 mpg as well. We haven't completely crossed that out off our list yet.

 

[VietCowboy]

Well, the wife and I have been talking it over and it looks like we want to get something bigger than what we have, which is a 4-door sedan. This will mean we'll have to compromise on fuel efficiency but with two kids we feel we need more cargo space and a little versatility.

So, I've been looking at SUV/Crossover types for around 25k with very good safety rating, decent MPG, plenty of rear leg room, and cargo space. I've narrowed it down to 4.

2012 Chevrolet Equinox
2012 GMC Terrain
2012 Honda CR-V
2013 Mazda CX-5

The first three give around 22/32 mpg and the Mazda is slightly better with 26/35 for the base model but with considerably less HP and torque. They are all between 22k-25k.

We'll test-drive all of them by the end of the week.

Any suggestions out of the 4 or perhaps another I should consider?

I own a 2012 RAV4, OTD was only $21K ($19K before TTL). Mileage is around 28mpg for me which is better than listed, but I also only drive max 60 mph on the highway. It's a great car, I love it. You can get it in AWD and/or have the 3rd row seating installed as well for when you want to haul your kid's friends around too without having to go to a minivan.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

I'm actually in WV right now, have been for about 3 years. However, I don't think we'll be here much longer and TX is our most likely destination.

I enjoyed driving the Subaru but I read that it struggles a bit going uphill. That won't be an issue in TX but it may be annoying while we're still in WV.

I'm looking forward to test-driving the Passat.

Subaru, Toyota, Nissan.... All great choices.

 

[Duane]

Mazda 3 is too small. I drove the Impreza 2.0i sports premium and liked it a lot but it is also too small. Love the Volkswagen GTI Passat. It has ample leg room in the back seat and huge trunk space. I love the 43/39 mpg as well. We haven't completely crossed that out off our list yet.

Even the Mazda 3 & Impreza hatchbacks? They both seemed like they had a lot of storage space.

 

[burmafrd]

check out the warranty. In this day and age its like health care at your job; it is VITAL.

 

[ethiostar]

Even the Mazda 3 & Impreza hatchbacks? They both seemed like they had a lot of storage space.

Rear leg room in the Mazda3 is 36.2 and 35.4 in the Impreza and cargo space is 17 and 22.5 cu.ft., respectively. In comparison, rear leg room is 38.3 in the Honda CR-V and and 39.3 in the Mazda CX-5, while cargo space is 65.4 cu.ft. in the CR-V and 70.9 cu.ft. in the CX-5.

The Mazda3 and the Impreza have the same size leg room in the back as our 2005 Toyota Corolla Sedan, which also has 13.6 cu.ft of cargo space. Putting a rear-facing car seat for our little girl in the Corolla is a tight fit. We have to lean the back for the driver or passenger seat forward some to accommodate it which makes driving or seating shotgun somewhat unpleasant.

Our 3 year old son is obviously in a front-facing car seat but he is at the stage where the edge of the car seat comes to his calves, which means that his legs are straightened out and up against the back of the front seats rather than bending at the knees. Its not very comfortable for him or whoever sits directly in the front of him because on long rides he gets restless and starts kicking his legs every now and then.

Cargo space in the Impreza and Mazda3 would be somewhat adequate if almost all the space in the back seat would not be taken by two car seats most of the time. So, almost every cargo we would carry for various reasons (i.e., a couple of suitcases, camping stuff, groceries, bulky items from Lowe's or Home Depot, etc...) will have to be able to fit comfortably in the cargo space. While the Impreza and Mazda3 are an upgrade over the Corolla, it is just not enough.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

So did you decide on the 'Vette, Mustang or Camaro?

 

[Yeagermeister]

I own a 2012 RAV4, OTD was only $21K ($19K before TTL). Mileage is around 28mpg for me which is better than listed, but I also only drive max 60 mph on the highway. It's a great car, I love it. You can get it in AWD and/or have the 3rd row seating installed as well for when you want to haul your kid's friends around too without having to go to a minivan.

So that was you I flew by the other day

 

[ethiostar]

check out the warranty. In this day and age its like health care at your job; it is VITAL.

Thanks.

Almost all of these SUV/Crossovers have almost the same warranty: 3 yrs or 36,000 miles basic, 5 yrs or 60,000miles powertrain, and 5 year or unlimited for corrusion/rust thru. The GMC and Chevy have a 5 yrs or 100,000 miles roadside assistance program, the CX-5 only has a 3 years or 36,000 but the CR-V doesn't have any.

 

[Lonestar94]

So did you decide on the 'Vette, Mustang or Camaro?

A new cummins diesel sounds like what he needs. Room, dependable, safe, good mpg. What else you need?

Of course I would take anything over a foreign car.

 

[YosemiteSam]

If you're going to get an SUV, do it right!

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

A new cummins diesel sounds like what he needs. Room, dependable, safe, good mpg. What else you need?

Of course I would take anything over a foreign car.

I think he wants to save money on gas...not pay extra for diesel. Speaking of which...is it just me or does anyone else remember when diesel gas used to cost less instead of more like today.

Or course he could get a caterpillar diesel engine...it a hatteras sport fishing yacht.

 

[ethiostar]

So did you decide on the 'Vette, Mustang or Camaro?

:laugh1:

The car I've always liked was actually the Audi but I don't particularly care for the look of the grill area on models in the last few years.

However, I will be more than happy if someone would donate this one to me.

Do you think I can raise enough from posters on this forum? It's only about 40K