well, still part of the club
01-23-2007, 01:27 PM
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well, still part of the club
but no longer part of the group...
The lease on my 8 is up and the buyout was way over what the car was worth, so I gave it back.
I have been looking at many cars the last 2 months and I had 2 options: Get a 4 seater RWD ( but would consider an AWD), manual with at least 220 hp that can handle or...my daughter just turned 17 and got her permit, so get a low powered, nice, very safe, automatic econobox and teach her how to drive.
For me I looked at the following: Audi A4 quatro, BWM 3 series (325), Is 250 AWD, G35, Subbie Legacy GT, or a MS3. My impressions
The A4 was a nice car, comfortable inside but slightly hard leather seats. Not alot of room in the back, but good size trunck. It had all the nice things I would want but came with a steep price tag. It held the road very nicely and pretty much did what I asked it to do no matter how tight I took the corners, but the feed back throught the steering wheel was just not there. It felt like I was holding a fake wheel in my hand, but the car did do a nice job in the twisties. Serious lack of power as the 2.0Turbo only makes 205 hp.Lease price 34K, buyout after 3 years was 24K (this was the best depreciation of the group).
The BMW handles awesome and had excellent road feel. Comfort was nice and it comes well equipt, but is rather bland looking and required a huge down payment on the lease. Interior space was better then the Audi, but still not alot of room in the rear. Power was decent and felt better then the AUdi even though both have close to the same hp.
The IS was one of the most comfortable and had the best classy feel to it, but there was no room in the back. interior layout was excellent. Like the Audi, there was little feedback throught the steering, but unlike the audi, it didn't take corners very well. I didn't get any further with this car and took it off the list right after the test drive.
The G35 has excellent power and very good handling. It was also the most expensive of the group and I really didn't want to spend 40K on a weekend toy. Small back seats, even for kids, and cheap feeling interior. Checking the nissan boards and these cars and the 350's have had a large amount of problems with them from tires to trannys and even engine issues. Nice but not exactly what I was looking for.
The Legacy Gt. This was my most favorite of the group, surprisingly. It had very good power, handled excellent, had good room in the back, good trunk, good starting price, and came well equiped. I thought this was it until we started talking numbers. Unfortunately, this car had the largest depreciation of any car I was looking at and as a result actually cost more in monthly payments then cars which were alot more expensive. Starting cost was 28K and buyout after 3 years was 14K. Too bad, maybe I should have picked up the 3 years old Gt for 14K.
The MS3 comes only manual, which is fine for me, but I'm not teaching my daughter how to drive a manual that has close to 300 hp ( because I would have gotton the extra mazda options to make it so). Just too much of a beast to start learning.
So, that left me with option 2 and last week, both my daughter and myself agreed on a new mazda3 touring hatch. Very nice little car, lots of room, decent trunk, and comes with more things on it then my 8 touring had. Also, handled extremely well, far better then I would have expected from a FWD, but then I learned mazda beefed up the suspension on the 07's. Got the manumatic, so I can still pretend like I drive a manual, but find my leg reaching for the clutch all the time.
I'm happy for now. My daughter said she would take over payments in a year or two, which works out just right because I have my eyes on a couple of cars that will be coming out about that time.
Camero, Pontiac G8, I even heard there's a new prelude coming, and I would definitely buy another 8 if mazda decides they are going to put the 2.3 turbo in it, MX8.
Thanks all for the meets and the info. I really enjoyed this site and will continue to visit...
The lease on my 8 is up and the buyout was way over what the car was worth, so I gave it back.
I have been looking at many cars the last 2 months and I had 2 options: Get a 4 seater RWD ( but would consider an AWD), manual with at least 220 hp that can handle or...my daughter just turned 17 and got her permit, so get a low powered, nice, very safe, automatic econobox and teach her how to drive.
For me I looked at the following: Audi A4 quatro, BWM 3 series (325), Is 250 AWD, G35, Subbie Legacy GT, or a MS3. My impressions
The A4 was a nice car, comfortable inside but slightly hard leather seats. Not alot of room in the back, but good size trunck. It had all the nice things I would want but came with a steep price tag. It held the road very nicely and pretty much did what I asked it to do no matter how tight I took the corners, but the feed back throught the steering wheel was just not there. It felt like I was holding a fake wheel in my hand, but the car did do a nice job in the twisties. Serious lack of power as the 2.0Turbo only makes 205 hp.Lease price 34K, buyout after 3 years was 24K (this was the best depreciation of the group).
The BMW handles awesome and had excellent road feel. Comfort was nice and it comes well equipt, but is rather bland looking and required a huge down payment on the lease. Interior space was better then the Audi, but still not alot of room in the rear. Power was decent and felt better then the AUdi even though both have close to the same hp.
The IS was one of the most comfortable and had the best classy feel to it, but there was no room in the back. interior layout was excellent. Like the Audi, there was little feedback throught the steering, but unlike the audi, it didn't take corners very well. I didn't get any further with this car and took it off the list right after the test drive.
The G35 has excellent power and very good handling. It was also the most expensive of the group and I really didn't want to spend 40K on a weekend toy. Small back seats, even for kids, and cheap feeling interior. Checking the nissan boards and these cars and the 350's have had a large amount of problems with them from tires to trannys and even engine issues. Nice but not exactly what I was looking for.
The Legacy Gt. This was my most favorite of the group, surprisingly. It had very good power, handled excellent, had good room in the back, good trunk, good starting price, and came well equiped. I thought this was it until we started talking numbers. Unfortunately, this car had the largest depreciation of any car I was looking at and as a result actually cost more in monthly payments then cars which were alot more expensive. Starting cost was 28K and buyout after 3 years was 14K. Too bad, maybe I should have picked up the 3 years old Gt for 14K.
The MS3 comes only manual, which is fine for me, but I'm not teaching my daughter how to drive a manual that has close to 300 hp ( because I would have gotton the extra mazda options to make it so). Just too much of a beast to start learning.
So, that left me with option 2 and last week, both my daughter and myself agreed on a new mazda3 touring hatch. Very nice little car, lots of room, decent trunk, and comes with more things on it then my 8 touring had. Also, handled extremely well, far better then I would have expected from a FWD, but then I learned mazda beefed up the suspension on the 07's. Got the manumatic, so I can still pretend like I drive a manual, but find my leg reaching for the clutch all the time.
I'm happy for now. My daughter said she would take over payments in a year or two, which works out just right because I have my eyes on a couple of cars that will be coming out about that time.
Camero, Pontiac G8, I even heard there's a new prelude coming, and I would definitely buy another 8 if mazda decides they are going to put the 2.3 turbo in it, MX8.
Thanks all for the meets and the info. I really enjoyed this site and will continue to visit...
01-23-2007, 03:27 PM
#4
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Boooo traitor.. haha j/k man.. Well atleast you'll enjoy better gas milage outa the 3 than the 8 so right away your saving some money.
The Camaro,the Commadore (refuse to call it a G8!) and the Challenger are gonna be big temptations when they come out but I have faith Mazda will do something.. one day.. eventually.. possibly.. erm.. lol
You should still show up to a Meet or two man just 'cause ya aint got one doesnt mean you can't enjoy our company
The Camaro,the Commadore (refuse to call it a G8!) and the Challenger are gonna be big temptations when they come out but I have faith Mazda will do something.. one day.. eventually.. possibly.. erm.. lol
You should still show up to a Meet or two man just 'cause ya aint got one doesnt mean you can't enjoy our company
01-23-2007, 04:32 PM
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Kev,
somehow I knew I would hear from you...lol
I'll still come to some meets but I won't be able to keep up on any drive, except the one's going by the gas stations...
Yup, put in 10 bucks today and got half a tank...
The touring pkg comes with sat ready radio, mp3 plugin, 6 cd, telescopic steering, traction, and stability control. I didn't get some of this stuff in the 8 with it's touring pkg...
Oh yea 150 pounds of torque, which is almost exactly what my 8 had...the thing shandles almost as well as the 8 but you can definitely feel it when the cars deciding between if it wants to accelerate around the corner or actually take the turn first...oh well...
The commadore is at the top of my list for new cars coming...300+ hp and 50/50 balance...sounds nice.
oh, one more thing, got the 3 for 20K, buyout after 3 years is 12K, but I looked up value for a 3 year old 3 with my options with 36K miles and got alittle over 16K. Better then my 8 did...
somehow I knew I would hear from you...lol
I'll still come to some meets but I won't be able to keep up on any drive, except the one's going by the gas stations...
Yup, put in 10 bucks today and got half a tank...
The touring pkg comes with sat ready radio, mp3 plugin, 6 cd, telescopic steering, traction, and stability control. I didn't get some of this stuff in the 8 with it's touring pkg...
Oh yea 150 pounds of torque, which is almost exactly what my 8 had...the thing shandles almost as well as the 8 but you can definitely feel it when the cars deciding between if it wants to accelerate around the corner or actually take the turn first...oh well...
The commadore is at the top of my list for new cars coming...300+ hp and 50/50 balance...sounds nice.
oh, one more thing, got the 3 for 20K, buyout after 3 years is 12K, but I looked up value for a 3 year old 3 with my options with 36K miles and got alittle over 16K. Better then my 8 did...
01-28-2007, 07:12 PM
#7
Purveyor of fine bass
Hey Rodrigo! Nice choice, I'm glad you like the car. The hatch looks good, great space, nice interior.
you were my beam of hope when I didn't have my RX-8
Come out to the meets still! bring the 3
you were my beam of hope when I didn't have my RX-8
Come out to the meets still! bring the 3
01-28-2007, 07:17 PM
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Steve:
Congrats on the new 3. My Speed3 was just build last week. Should be loaded on a slow boat from Japan and be at my dealer at the end of Feb - early March. When that happens my 8 goes bye-bye also.
Good luck!
Congrats on the new 3. My Speed3 was just build last week. Should be loaded on a slow boat from Japan and be at my dealer at the end of Feb - early March. When that happens my 8 goes bye-bye also.
Good luck!
01-29-2007, 07:27 AM
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Originally Posted by my10ae
Steve:
Congrats on the new 3. My Speed3 was just build last week. Should be loaded on a slow boat from Japan and be at my dealer at the end of Feb - early March. When that happens my 8 goes bye-bye also.
Good luck!
Congrats on the new 3. My Speed3 was just build last week. Should be loaded on a slow boat from Japan and be at my dealer at the end of Feb - early March. When that happens my 8 goes bye-bye also.
Good luck!
The funny thing was, there was a VR MS3 on the lot when I got the tit Mazda3 for just a few grand more. I was so tempted, then my daughter would tap me and just say daaaaad....Id start walking toward the tit. 3 and look back at the VR...daaaad. Ok...ok....but it looked so good....daaaad.
I already decided that my next "toy" will be excessive just to make it up to myself...
Astral, it seems we switched places for the present...until you get rid of yours. Enjoy it while you have it, but honestly, I don't miss it much. Other then the power, the mazda 3 is almost just as good handling, has more room, gets better milage, and came with more comforts then the 8.
Kev, your going to really enjoy the MS3, which corrects the only thing I don't like about the mazda3...the power. I am still amazed at how well this thing corners for a front wheel drive.
I still show up for meets, but probably not runs, I would never be able to keep up and then I would miss my 8, until we make a gas stop...
Last edited by rodrigo67; 01-29-2007 at 07:30 AM.
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