My last 'what car' thread for awhile

I promise. I know I've been asking these a lot, because I've been looking at the wrong cars. I kept saying I wanted something more family than fun, but then I was looking at WRX wagons.

So I finally came to my sense and looked at two cars that really are pretty damn family. The Honda Accord and Mazda 3. Neither one of these will set my hair on fire, win an Autocross, or break the bank account.

This is what I've gathered so far. The Accord will be more comfy, but the Mazda will be more fun. Both are reliable, get decent mpg, and both meet our current family needs.

The Accords I'm looking at

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=309821937

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=310287714

The Mazda3s

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=307232424

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=311022044

I looked some older forum posts. Everyone seems to love the Mazda 3. So I just wanted to see if my head was finally screwed on straight.

When my dad was car shopping for my college age brother, I test drove a few Mazda 3's with him.

They are fun. I seriously considered for a week or two trading in my 2009 Accent in for a used 3. In the end I didnt, but my brother does now have a Mazda 3.

Never driven an accord of that vintage, but I cant imagine its anywhere near as enjoyable to drive as a 3.

former Mazda 3 owner..

Unless you need the space of the accord (midsized vs compact). I would go Mazda 3.

The 3 does have some issues however..
The center console to steering wheel clerance is tight. Like tighter than miata tight. I would make sure you can get a 20 mile highway test drive to ensure this doesn't bother you. It is nearly the sole reason I sold mine I didn't really notice it when I bought it and 50k trouble free miles later I couldn't stand it. 2 the rear doors and trunk lid on the sedan are very weird shaped. The car has a lot of interior space but it is dificult to get stuff into it. This is probably a non issue on the hatch.

Ok that's all I have for cons. Pros are very economical to operate, and quite fun to drive. Not a bunch of power but also not a bunch of weight. They can be semi competitive HS cars and can handle trackday use pretty well.

The accord is a car that prides itself on being a vanilla appliance. It will be an excellent car but the Mazda can be more.

Drewsifer wrote: So I finally came to my sense and looked at two cars that really are pretty damn family. The Honda Accord and Mazda 3. Neither one of these will set my hair on fire, win an Autocross, or break the bank account.

Actually, the Mazda 3 is a pretty damn good HS car. I liked everything about the way it drove (same one in 2 autocrosses--one time street tire, the other RComps) except for the fact that it is FWD. I hated the ergonomics (like nocones, steering wheel position was high up there). Not a car for me, but an excellent car overall.

the 3 hatch will swallow a ton of stuff, i brought home my 3-box craftsman roll around from sears in my MS3. the tradeoff though, is that the rear seats in a 3 sedan have more legroom than the 3 hatchback, if thats an issue. also, for me to not hit my knee on the console, i had to have the drivers seat pretty much as far back as it would go, which further limited the back seat legroom. i did at one time have 3 children under the age of 6 in the back seat, two in car seats, one buckled into the regular belt, none were mine.

Like a 3 but more family friendly...
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=300090828&dealer_id=77034&car_year=2006&systime=&doors=&model=MAZDA5&search_lang=en&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=both&distance=500&min_price=&rdm=1323368750106&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=y&fuel=&keywords_display=&sownerid=67393&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2012&showZipError=n&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=TAMPA-ST_PETESARASOTA_NO&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&isFlashPlugin=true&transmission=Manual&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&color=&address=33511&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=10000&make=MAZDA&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=559&standard=false

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=300082987&dealer_id=66300397&car_year=2006&systime=&doors=&model=MAZDA5&search_lang=en&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=both&distance=100&min_price=&rdm=1323368530733&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=y&fuel=&keywords_display=&sownerid=67393&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2012&showZipError=n&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=TAMPA-ST_PETESARASOTA_NO&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&isFlashPlugin=true&transmission=Manual&default_sort=&max_mileage=&color=&address=33511&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=10000&make=MAZDA&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=53&standard=false

I saw one DOMINATE autox in a stock 3 sedan.... he ripped HS apart with it. It's a capable weapon in the right hands. I have an ms3, and before that I had a regular 3 hatch. I love the things to death.

Have you driven a 5 door svt focus?

Mazda5! Mazda5!!

Now that that's out of the way... The Accord is a mid-size, and the Mazda3 is a compact. The 3 can be had as a hatch though (which IMO is the only way to get one) and is downright fun. I came very, very close to getting a 3 more than once, but in the end we needed the larger room in the 5, which is well, a taller 3.

The Accord's of that generation were already pretty soul-sucking and garbage. The 3 is actually fun to drive, is way more useful, and can be fun at an autocross if you ever get the itch.

How many people do you need to fit into this car? If it's only 2 adults and 1 kid, go for the Mazda 3. If it's 2 adults and 2 kids, go for the Accord.

The Accord has an ok engine with a manual but otherwise is pretty boring.

What about a Mazda 6 instead of an Accord?

Right now our family is 2 adults and one baby. We occasional take other people with us but that isn't a huge concern for me.

Very cool that the Mazda 3 S is actually a lot better on the autocross than I thought. He had thought about the Mazda 5. And we still might. But right now we can get by with something a little smaller and little more fun. The wife said if we have another kid she wouldn't mind a Mazda 5.

I think I'm sold on the Mazda 3. Thanks guys.

I had a 5 door manual in Titanium Grey. It handled quite well, swallowed gobs of stuff and was quite on long trips, but I'm not really all that tall, either.

If you go automatic, make sure you get a 2006 or later model- the autos were 4 speed in 2005. 2006 also came with ABS standard.

Brett_Murphy wrote: I had a 5 door manual in Titanium Grey. It handled quite well, swallowed gobs of stuff and was quite on long trips, but I'm not really all that tall, either. If you go automatic, make *sure* you get a 2006 or later model- the autos were 4 speed in 2005. 2006 also came with ABS standard.

Spanish transmission since it's going to be my car. And if they wife wants to use it, she'll have to suck it up and get over not wanting to drive a manual (even though she's great at it!).

You guys gave me the affirmation I needed. I'm settled on the Mazda 3. Now I just need to find one.

Find one with a turbo. Won't be H-stock, but they're piles of fun.

mndsm wrote: Find one with a turbo. Won't be H-stock, but they're piles of fun.

Out of my price range, otherwise I'd be on it like stink.

In reply to Drewsifer:

what is your price range? i've seen some 07 ms3's listed for around 13,500. wierd thing is they actually bring less than the ms6 down here in TX.

KNowing the ~14k miles on put on my Speed 3 from new(when I bought it I had no intention of keeping it past warranty)..................I wouldn't buy one used.

Absolutely heck of a fun car, too bad I had to ditch it.

Strizzo wrote: In reply to Drewsifer: what is your price range? i've seen some 07 ms3's listed for around 13,500. wierd thing is they actually bring less than the ms6 down here in TX.

10k is my limit, and I'm trying to keep it as far under that as possible.

There always seem to be a few for sale around me:

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/ctd/2737042881.html

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/ctd/2737461707.html