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Despite all the good, sound financial advice to the contrary, I bought a new car. I admit that this was at least 90% emotional and maybe 10% practical, but I now have a new 2005 Mazda3 5 Door. I was able to get the finances arranged so that we still have only one payment, it's about the same as the van payment was and we'll be done paying about the same time as if I had waited until the van was paid off. It's a load of fun to drive, easy on the eyes, quick, taught and did I mention a hoot to drive? This car is everything the old Escort (sheepishly hiding behind the newcomer) was not. Hopefully this one will also be quite a few things the Escort was - pretty frugal, reliable and dependable. Being a 2005 meant a little more room to negotiate the price, but having a friend working in the marketing department of the dealer didn't hurt either. In fact, he did all the bargaining for me, playing hard nose with his own co-workers on my behalf!
It's got only two options, a CD changer and the 'Appearance Package I' which includes those add on things at the bottom corners of each bumper (look again, they're there). I didn't care about either, what I did care about was it being a stick shift. This was the last 2005 stick 5 door in the state (I looked). The 5 door Mazda3 only comes in the high end S trim, so it comes with a bunch of stuff anyway, power windows and locks, keyless entry, steering wheel controls, AC, a CD radio, etc. Plenty of goodies.
The most important stuff, thought, is the bigger 2.3 liter 4 cylinder engine putting out 160 HP and the independent suspension and the 17" wheels and tires. They add up to go-cart like responses and a fun snarl when driven hard. I've been longing for a car like this ever since I traded my fun loving, but junk, Nissan Pulsar NX on that Escort. I feel as though I've done my time in the economy car, now it's time for some fun.
I'm not a new car kind of guy, in fact this is my first new car. I subscribe to the "let some other guy take the depreciation hit" theory. But these Mazdas hold their value very well, so that's not as big an issue with this car as it would be with others. It being new will also give us some more breathing room when it's paid off to stretch our van a few more years if we want.
It was a good weekend..
excellent choice, on so many levels:
1. great car. I almost got one of those myself four years ago, but all they had then was a relatively anemic 130 hp engine.
2. probably a good financial choice as well, since there was no guarantee a clutch was all the Escort needed and no guarantee it wouldn't eat an engine soon.
3. At some point in life, time with family becomes more valuable than money, and now you have a relative guarantee of no garage time on this car for at least 5 years.
4. Definitely safer than the escort in the event of a crash
5. Zoom, zoom, zoom!
Congrats, and try not to let the buyer's remorse keep you awake.
She's pretty. Congrats.
Cool. I've been itching for awhile too. I think I saw an advertisemnt the mazada min-van/sport ute thingy you talked about for around 17 or 18k. They look like nice vehicles and yours is stylin.
'doc - Four years ago, are you sure? This car has only been on the market since the '04 model year, although it may have come to market early. It's relatively unchanged since it's debut, including the 160 HP engine on the S model, the only trim available on the 5 doors. Are you thinking of the Protege5 that was available from 2002-2003? Similar car in concept, although with slightly less power at 130.
Even with 30 more ponies, power is not this thing's strong suit, although it's reasonably quick. It's forte is handling. It drives like a 4 door go-kart with a backpack. The Protege5 was the same way, only more so. Less refinement (which the Mazda3 has in spades) and more go-kart.
BEG - The Mazda5 you're talking about is a real neat car, but the rear seats are definitely kid items. The third row has very little leg room and both rear rows will have adults with their knees in the air because they are low to the floor. When I looked at them at the auto show and at the dealer I was disappointed by that. With only a 4 banger, it's a little light on power too, I've read. But it's versatile, nimble, relatively cheap and pretty frugal. If you're mainly putting kids back there, like you would be, it's probably a good choice.
Yes, the car I looked at was a Protege5, the uglier step sister to yours. I could only test drive it with a 3 speed automatic and the stock engine, and it was incredibly lackluster. But very rigid. That's why I went with the Civic Si. Although now that we have three kids I'm really wishing I had a four door. Getting car seats in and out of the Si is a royal pain.
I drove a 2002 low milage Protege5 before the 3 and loved it. If anything, it was a touch more fun to drive, even if a little slower. The car I drove was a 5 speed, though.
I thought about a Civic Si like yours, but I just couldn't get excited about the mini bread van look. I bet the styling is pretty polarizing.
So, still enjoying the M3? I ask because I'm thinking of getting one of these soon. Any regrets? What kind of mileage do you get in real driving?