Help me choose a new car.....

[malta blue]

I am in the market for a new (to me) car.

I currently drive a 2000 Subaru Outback wagon and it has 175k miles on it. It can keep going, but I think she is tired and would like to rest.....

So here are the choices:

[alarimer]

1. I have a Mazda 3 hatchback and I love it.

I do not know how common used ones are. You'd probably have an easier time finding a used Mazda 3 Sedan. I do not like those as well and you might prefer the space that comes with a hatch or with one of those Subarus. I've never driven a Subaru so I don't know what they are like to drive but my Mazda is pretty zippy and gets pretty good gas mileage, though it is not all-wheel drive.

[malta blue]

2. Thanks for checking in....

I like the way the Mazda3 looks, but I am pretty brand loyal to the Subaru. My dad is pushing me to look at other alternatives - amazing that he still has that power even though I am pushing 40 :rofl:

[alarimer]

45. I know exactly what you mean about dads.

I'm still worried about what mine thinks and I am the same age as you are.

But mine is usually right about cars, even if he is a pain in the ass about other things.

Kidding (mostly).

[ZombieHorde]

3. a BITCHIN CAMARO! nt

[malta blue]

4. ...

:spray:

I once had a guy pick me up for a date in one....my roommate (male) peeked over the balcony and came running to my room to oooh and aaah about it....

To tell you the truth, I didn't like riding around in it - it was too loud.

If I wanted to draw attention to myself in a loud car, I would borrow Daddy's Ferrari :P

[ZombieHorde]

13. Sorry, my post was a joke...

I was a huge Dead Milk Man fan as a kid. I was referring to one of their songs.

[malta blue]

15. I know, just wanted to let you know that I had

actually been in one of them BITCHIN' CAMAROs...

:hi:

[redqueen]

5. Whichever one has the best mileage / lowest emissions.

:D

[malta blue]

7. I have been checking on that front for sure

:D

They are pretty comparable.

Thanks :)

[redqueen]

11. The next criterion for me would be price.

I'm so practical I disgust myself. :P

Good luck! :hi:

[malta blue]

16. I am working with cash and a trade-in

:wow:

so hopefully I can bargain better than if I wanted a loan.

I wish I were more practical...

[LeftyMom]

6. The 3 is smaller but gets better mpg, if you don't need the AWD.

flvegan just got the mazda 3 mazdaspeed, and I'm sure he'll be along in a minute to tell you that it's better than both beer and sex. :)

[malta blue]

9. I really love the AWD, especially since I live in snow country...

not that it helps with the ice :rofl:

I am surprised that the outback and the impreza get the same mileage pretty much, although the impreza seems so much smaller to me. :shrug:

[LeftyMom]

12. If I'm not mistaken, the Impreza has to compete with other small, zippy cars.

I know a lot of street racer types use the WRX.

The impreza wagons are pretty tiny. I looked at one before I got my Saturn, and it was hardly any bigger than the dinky 80's civic hatch the kid's dad and I were using at the time, so we decided against it (the AWD wasn't a deciding factor here in flatland, though it could be useful during street flooding.) Cute car though.

[malta blue]

19. So it seemed to small?

That is a concern of my dad's. He suggested I just get another outback wagon since I love my car so much. He is concerned about the size of the impreza since his only child and grandchild would be the primary occupants at any given moment...

The WRX is cool, but a little out of my price range, I think...

[LeftyMom]

23. We had a ginormous honkin' carseat and stroller to haul at the time

LK was a really enormous kid for his age, not fat just really tall and solid, so streamlined baby gear was out, which was the main reason we needed a bigger car. Now that he's older one would be okay for now, but I think the back seat might be a bit cramped on long trips and he's years away from being safe up front with the airbag, so I don't think it would work for a family in the long term, unless the kids ran to the small side or there was a larger vehicle that would be used for longer trips and it was more of the commuter car.

[malta blue]

25. That is great to know.

I would be using it to drive to NYC (200 miles) every couple of months with little MB in the back. She is not small for her age, so perhaps the backseat would be cramped.

Thanks so much for your input - it is really helpful :)

[LeftyMom]

32. As much as I hate to say it, for your needs

a mini SUV might work as well or better than a wagon. You'd have a lot more options with AWD and family room, and for something in the CR-V/Rav4/Escape size range, the safety and MPG should be about the same.

[LeftinOH]

8. I've had my Mazda3 for a year...and I luuuuurve it.

[malta blue]

10. hmmmm

I see no one is pushing Subaru yet....

Thanks for letting me know :hi:

[Rambis]

36. Any trouble with fan?

a friend has one and it does not keep the windscreen defrosted in the winter time.

[BOSSHOG]

14. How bout a Chevy Colorado Truck??

[malta blue]

17. I'm not really a truck driving kid of gal...

Plus, I can't imagine having to haul out the snow from the bed when we get those 36" plus storms....

[quip]

18. Test drive the Honda CRX.

[malta blue]

20. My friend has one and she LOVES it....

I have owned three cars total my entire life and I am almost 40. One of them was a Honda that my ex pushed me to get when my first car finally died. I didn't want that car, I wanted something else, and so I think we just had a bad relationship. I had three accidents in that car, all of them while I was pregnant....
bad carma....

[quip]

21. "carma"? lol

We're on our 5th Honda; 4 of them purchased new. Great cars, great company. :thumbsup:

[malta blue]

22. "carma"

:rofl:

I am glad you have had great luck with them. The one I had was bought brand new, 3 miles on it when I drove it off the lot. Three accidents later, and one deathspin which put me and the little MB (18mos at the time) into a ditch, we traded it in....

[quip]

27. Ugh. That's scary stuff. I'm glad you all are okay. My mom drove 2 consecutive Outbacks

and loved them.

[flvegan]

24. Zoom-zoom!

My mom has the Mazda 3 hatch and I have the Mazdaspeed 3. We both love ours.

[malta blue]

30. Thanks

:hi:

It runs in the family, I see....

[XNASA]

26. I have an '07 Mazda3s Sedan.

I previously owned 2 Integras and was looking for something sporty, but with better ingress/egress than an Integra. Also thought I would enjoy a automatic after driving 5-speeds for years and the Mazda3 has a 5-speed auto with a Sportshifter.

The 3 is a great car. You won't find a better interior for even $10K more. Handles as good as either of my Intergras did and has plenty of power.

Nice cars.

Mine's blue.

Highly recommended.

[malta blue]

33. Thanks for the information

:hi:

[LibertyLover]

28. Personally, I'd go with another Outback

I had a 1999 Outback for 5 years and loved that car. However when I went to buy a new car, the styling on the Outbacks had changed and I didn't like the new version as much. So, if you decide on the Outback, do make sure that you like the changes that have been made. I believe that the more recent model years have dropped some of the styling silliness and are back to being good transportation. When my Mini dies, I'm seriously thinking about going back to a Subaru, probably the Forester if it's still being produced. Good luck and, whatever car you get, enjoy it!

[malta blue]

35. I am definitely a sucker for my car....

I absolutely love this car.

I am trying to go a little smaller this time, but the gas mileage for the outback and the impreza are pretty much the same :shrug:

Maybe I will stick with what I know....

Thanks :hi:

[IronLionZion]

29. First decide if you need AWD or not.

If you don't need it, then I would say test drive all of them and see which one feels best for you. I test drove the impreza and like it a lot. It's fun to drive and I like AWD.

[malta blue]

37. Gotta have the AWD

I live in the land of cold and snow (upstate NY) and have to drive 40 miles each way to work....

[Oeditpus Rex]

31. This one's nice

Dunno if it's available, though. :shrug:

[malta blue]

38. Great Car!

I think it may be out of my price range though.... :shrug:

[Deep13]

41. Looks funny to me.

:-)

[Deep13]

34. Fix the old one.

That's the cheapest possible option.

[malta blue]

39. Yes, but I find I am fixing something every time I turn

around.

How much should I put in before I call it quits? 5k? 10k?

I have put over 6k in the last 2 years. I think it is time....

BTW, I am not one to just trade in a car because it's no longer new.

I am almost 40 and this is my third car. The second one only lasted 4 years (that was the bad karma car). So this is not a decision I take lightly.

Thanks :)

[Deep13]

40. Hondas are very reliable. Good on gas too.

I bought a new car in 2002. It replaced a 1978 Chevy Nova. Of course, that had only 130,000 miles. It was rusted out, though.

[One_Life_To_Give]

42. 1911 Simplex

Stanley Steamer

Rolls Royce Phantom II

I love spending other peoples money.

[SKKY]

43. I have the Mazda Protege5, which is the predecesor to the 3...

...and it's a smashing car. I love it.

[Zoigal]

44. prius..you'll never regret it..z