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Snrub
Snrub HalfDork
12/6/18 9:09 p.m.

Another one to consider: 2018 Focus S manual is $17.5k. Given the publicity about it being canceled and the age of the design, I bet you could get a good deal on those and there seems to be plenty of inventory left. They also have a poor reputation due to the automatic. I don't know if Focus ST suspension is fully compatible... ;)

Mazda's website still shows 2017 Mazda 3 inventory out there! $17.5k is their theoretical starting price.

Corollas and Civics hold their value to a crazy degree. I would not suggest Hyundais hold their value like that. A *lot* of people finance 1-3 year old used models for a cost that is not all that different than a brand new one.

ProDarwin
ProDarwin PowerDork
12/15/18 2:46 p.m.

I test drove one of these today.  It wasn't terrible.  Very appliance.  The throttle mapping or something is weird.  When you tip into the throttle around 3k rpm it feels like it hesitates for a second before getting full power.

That wasn't a dealbreaker.  But the $12000 price tag jumping to $14.5 after a bunch of crap was added on was.  

 

On a related note, anyone know how to tell the difference between a 2.5 and 2.0 Mazda 3 visually (i.e. without the VIN)?

ProDarwin
ProDarwin PowerDork
12/20/18 6:17 p.m.

Well I looked at other cars and got fed up with berkeleying used car shopping.  I just dont have time for the bullE36 M3 right now.

I went back to the hyundai dealer to buy the elantra today.  My friend (car guy) gave me a ride there.  He didn't want me driving a refrigerator and I caved to peer pressure.  Next thing you know he convinced me to drive the Veloster R.  Then I talked numbers with the guy.  I threw out a low number, and they bit.  So now I have a 2019 Veloster R. 

I think it will be a pretty fun daily for quite a while.  I have very minimal plans for it.

1)  Snow tires

2) (possible) Sell stock wheel & tire package, down/upsize to a 17x8 or 17x9 setup.

bobzilla
bobzilla MegaDork
12/20/18 7:09 p.m.

Well that escalated quickly. 

ProDarwin
ProDarwin PowerDork
12/20/18 8:45 p.m.
bobzilla said:

Well that escalated quickly. 

well put

dculberson
dculberson UltimaDork
12/20/18 10:44 p.m.

Sounds like a way more enjoyable car. Awesome. 

volvoclearinghouse
volvoclearinghouse UberDork
12/21/18 6:09 a.m.

Hope you enjoy it.  Life's too short to buy boring cars.  

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