New car shopping

[C_Note]

I'm trading the truck this week for a nice Impreza Outback for the wife, and have been looking to replace the Buck for myself, and thought I'd get some outside input.

Round 2 narrowed it down to:

Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart MT
Pontiac Vibe GT
Subaru Impreza WRX Sport Wagon
Volkswagen Jetta GLS 1.8T
Mazda 3 5-Door
Nissan Sentra 2.5S
Toyota Matrix XRS
Honda CR-V LX 4WD
Jeep Liberty Limited 4WD

Now, after long and careful deliberation this evening, I have narrowed round 3 down to the:

Jetta, Mazda 3, and Matrix

Do you guys have any suggestions and/or opinions about the 3? Anything (other models, perhaps) I've overlooked?

[C_Note]

Oh, and I suppose round 4 will be to investigate dealer/manufacturer incentives, and what-not.

[Feedman]

[quote="C_Note"]

Volkswagen Jetta GLS 1.8T
Mazda 3 5-Door

Subaru Impreza WRX Sport Wagon
Jeep Liberty Limited 4WD
quote]

There ya go narrowed it down. If you want a car, you have two choices fromwhat you mentioned. If you want an Suv you also have two choices.

Drive them all, and see what you think....

Good luck... 8)

[C_Note]

I've already nix'd the Impreza and Liberty.

You don't like the Matrix? I think the '04 model was a Best Buy on one of those Consumer Reports pages.

[Feedman]

I've already nix'd the Impreza and Liberty.

You don't like the Matrix? I think the '04 model was a Best Buy on one of those Consumer Reports pages.


Well you can't really go wrong with a suby...as far as the Jeep, my mom has one, and its absolutly amazing in the snow. Rides nice, comfy, spacious, short turning radius for the walmart shopper....and it has Jeep quality... 8)

[Davis Silver Sti]

I've already nix'd the Impreza and Liberty.



:(

Both good cars

[jamesN272]

Jetta

[Feedman]

Jetta


if your homosexual... 8)

[RobbieNelson]

if your homosexual... 8)

Where did that come from? They don't come with rainbow colored paint jobs do they?

[C_Note]

I really want the Sub, but here's the thing... I'm also trying to buy/build a house, hopefully before my daughter starts kindergarten. If I can keep a car payment around/below $350, then I can afford a car and a house, otherwise it'll have to be one or the other.

$350/month means I need to try and keep it around $20k, as jumping up to $25k also increases the monthly payment by $90'ish (depending on interest rates). The Sport Wagon and Liberty Limited were both around $27... just a bit outside.

I don't even really want a new car, honestly. I've never been that fascinated with them, as I can build something just as good, if not better, for a lot less. If I can find one of these 4-5 floating around the Bulletin Board, then I can snatch that up and apply what would have been lost in the depriciation process to fitting my needs/wants/desires/urges/etc.

So, if I can find one in the BB, then I'll keep my eyes open for the Impreza and Liberty as well as the Jetta and Mazda, but if a few months pass and I don't find what I'd like to have, then I'll be forced to buy new, limiting my options.

Thanks for the opinions/suggestions, though.

[Davis Silver Sti]

I really want the Sub, but here's the thing... I'm also trying to buy/build a house, hopefully before my daughter starts kindergarten. If I can keep a car payment around/below $350, then I can afford a car and a house, otherwise it'll have to be one or the other.

$350/month means I need to try and keep it around $20k, as jumping up to $25k also increases the monthly payment by $90'ish (depending on interest rates). The Sport Wagon and Liberty Limited were both around $27... just a bit outside.

I don't even really want a new car, honestly. I've never been that fascinated with them, as I can build something just as good, if not better, for a lot less. If I can find one of these 4-5 floating around the Bulletin Board, then I can snatch that up and apply what would have been lost in the depriciation process to fitting my needs/wants/desires/urges/etc.

So, if I can find one in the BB, then I'll keep my eyes open for the Impreza and Liberty as well as the Jetta and Mazda, but if a few months pass and I don't find what I'd like to have, then I'll be forced to buy new, limiting my options.

Thanks for the opinions/suggestions, though.

10-4 on the house budget. It really is more important (as you already know) to invest wisely on the house. Better payoff and asset.
Cars come and go, and you might be able to find that really nice used car for $20K wich would be perfect. I'll keep my eyes peeled:)

[Feedman]

if your homosexual... 8)

Where did that come from? They don't come with rainbow colored paint jobs do they?

long standing joke....another board i visit.....they refer vw=gh3y... 8)

[ben2000formula]

mazda 3 all the way. if i was shopping for a good daily driver, with decent torque, where you need it most to get around town in it would be the three. plus they kinda look cool. they have that love it or hate it style

[Feedman]

mazda 3 all the way. if i was shopping for a good daily driver, with decent torque, where you need it most to get around town in it would be the three. plus they kinda look cool. they have that love it or hate it style

true..... 8)

[xjoewhitex]

i would just wait to get a new car and figure out whats going to go on with the new house. You can always get the car you really want down the road.. Just get a decent car for right now, a used car with low miles...So you wont have any money problems.. just an idea 8)

[jamesN272]

mazda 3 all the way. if i was shopping for a good daily driver, with decent torque, where you need it most to get around town in it would be the three. plus they kinda look cool. they have that love it or hate it style

Yeah I see one parked down at community bank all the time...pretty cool interior.

I'm sure VW = teh homoghey (lol) but the 1.8T isn't so bad...

If you can buy used you'd get a LOT more car for the money.

Try autotrader.com

[xjoewhitex]

mazda 3 all the way. if i was shopping for a good daily driver, with decent torque, where you need it most to get around town in it would be the three. plus they kinda look cool. they have that love it or hate it style

Yeah I see one parked down at community bank all the time...pretty cool interior.

I'm sure VW = teh homoghey (lol) but the 1.8T isn't so bad...

If you can buy used you'd get a LOT more car for the money.

Try autotrader.com

even better.. http://www.Cars.com :)

[ShortysTRM]

All three are nice, off-beat choices. I think the modern vw's are sweet in the way they look so solid in stance...well, like an Audi I guess lol. The Matrix is AWD right? AWD is something I want. I think I'd go with a Suby and toss some rally springs and dampers on it :lol: . Also, the 3's have a lot of character, and from what I have seen in the past, compact Mazda's are way fun to toss around.

[C_Note]

i would just wait to get a new car and figure out whats going to go on with the new house. You can always get the car you really want down the road.. Just get a decent car for right now, a used car with low miles...So you wont have any money problems.. just an idea 8)

That's actually what I'm expecting to do, probably in the 98-02 era, but I thought I would still try to narrow it down, to get an idea of what I wanted.

[ben2000formula]

Ever consider a new scion tc?

Seems pretty cool, i saw one in the new car and driver mag, just a touch slower then the the 3, .2 secs in the quarter 160 hp and 163 lbs/ft of torque. and starting at just over 16k

[daveb91]

All three are nice, off-beat choices. I think the modern vw's are sweet in the way they look so solid in stance...well, like an Audi I guess lol. The Matrix is AWD right? AWD is something I want. I think I'd go with a Suby and toss some rally springs and dampers on it :lol: . Also, the 3's have a lot of character, and from what I have seen in the past, compact Mazda's are way fun to toss around.

Only some models of the Matrix are AWD the others are FWD.

[C_Note]

Going down to Charlestown this weekend to look at a '99 GLX (VR6), which looks fairly nice from the picture I saw.

Is there somewhere local to check out a Scion in person?

[xjoewhitex]

Going down to Charlestown this weekend to look at a '99 GLX (VR6), which looks fairly nice from the picture I saw.

Is there somewhere local to check out a Scion in person? sweet dude tell us how the test Drive goes... 8)

And no i havent seen any local Scions i saw a group of them in columbus at this thing i was in for school.. :?