want a fun, fast economical commuter car - Subie wrx, mazda , Cobalt??

[ezbtr]

Lookin at used, love the Subie turbo, been reading up on a few, VW, Mazda, Cobalt, to name a few. Definitely a manual tranny, dependable, prob a 4 door - any hints?
Thanks guys!

 

[roscoe]

Re: want a fun, fast economical commuter car - Subie wrx, mazda , Cobalt??

Top Gear - Mazda RX8 - BBC - YouTube

 

[angus63]

Re: want a fun, fast economical commuter car - Subie wrx, mazda , Cobalt??

I have 2012 Mazda3 hatchback 6sp manual skyactive. 155 hp and 40 mpg. Fun ride. Under $20k. Highly recommend!

 

[smclear]

Re: want a fun, fast economical commuter car - Subie wrx, mazda , Cobalt??

In 2002, I bought a new Mazda Protoge5 (forerunner to the 3). In ten years I put over 250K miles on it. I never did anything other than oil changes, tires, brakes. Seriously great little car. In January last year I wrecked it (slid on ice). Had to go used as I wasn't prepared for the sudden need to replace it. I really wanted to see just how many miles I could put on it. At any rate, I got an '07 Mazda 3. It now has 150K miles on it and still runs and looks great. I would highly recommend a Mazda 3 to anyone looking to buy. If you want performance, check out the Mazdaspeed3 version.

 

[catfish58]

Re: want a fun, fast economical commuter car - Subie wrx, mazda , Cobalt??

Had an '86 Mazda 323. Gave it to my daughter when it had 178,000 miles because she needed something dependable. She traded it 3 years later with 227,000. (It still ran great but she didn't like having the oldest car in the parking lot).

 

[jkust]

Re: want a fun, fast economical commuter car - Subie wrx, mazda , Cobalt??

read the wrx was one of the costliest to insure.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: want a fun, fast economical commuter car - Subie wrx, mazda , Cobalt??

The WRX is a 227 horsepower turbocharged rocket. Try to find parts or a mechanic to work on them. Subaru dealerships are few and far between unless you're from a big city or live in the far north where Subaru's sell well as snow cars.

The Honda Civic SI is simply the standard of the industry for pocket rockets, and they're also the most durable. My daughter's on her second one, and it's a really, really nice car. It has more rear seat room than my Lexus IS.

If you were buying new, I'd tell you to wait for the new Ford Focus RS. It's 252 horsepower, and it's priced very well for the performance capability. They'll be available shortly.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: want a fun, fast economical commuter car - Subie wrx, mazda , Cobalt??

In 2002, I bought a new Mazda Protoge5 (forerunner to the 3). In ten years I put over 250K miles on it. I never did anything other than oil changes, tires, brakes. Seriously great little car. In January last year I wrecked it (slid on ice). Had to go used as I wasn't prepared for the sudden need to replace it. I really wanted to see just how many miles I could put on it. At any rate, I got an '07 Mazda 3. It now has 150K miles on it and still runs and looks great. I would highly recommend a Mazda 3 to anyone looking to buy. If you want performance, check out the Mazdaspeed3 version.

My buddy has 193k on his 3. It just had its first semi-major repair and that was the water pump. He'll absolutely buy another.

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: want a fun, fast economical commuter car - Subie wrx, mazda , Cobalt??

Because I've worked for them for 6 years I have to recommend Ford: 2013 Ford Focus | View Focus Features | Ford.com

 

[rogerwa]

Re: want a fun, fast economical commuter car - Subie wrx, mazda , Cobalt??

I have a 2009 Mazda 6i Touring sedan with 6 speed manual transmission. I bought it new and it has never had a single, repeat single issue that needed to be repaired. It has close to 58K on it right now.

It is very roomy and comfortable and has a very sporty ride and handling. It also gets 30mpg..

 

[ezmobee]

Re: want a fun, fast economical commuter car - Subie wrx, mazda , Cobalt??

Because I've worked for them for 6 years I have to recommend Ford: 2013 Ford Focus | View Focus Features | Ford.com

I'm currently driving my very first ever Ford: a 2012 Fusion SEL V6. We love it, and it won't be my last.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: want a fun, fast economical commuter car - Subie wrx, mazda , Cobalt??

Wasn't the Mazda discontinued last year.(2012)

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: want a fun, fast economical commuter car - Subie wrx, mazda , Cobalt??

Wasn't the Mazda discontinued last year.(2012)

Mazdaspeed 3 is still current production.

I was a Master Technician at a Mazda dealer for 5 years, and have to say most of what they made was very well built. Usually on par with Toyota.

Never got a chance to drive a Speed 3. But I was there when the Mazdaspeed Prot?g?, Miata, and 6 came around..

While your standard Protege was a very good car, the Speed Protege was really not. Mazda had farmed out the task of making the Speed Protege to Callaway. All they really did was bolt a turbo onto a stock engine (an engine that was making 10:1 compression). Didn't offer much useable power before boost was cut off. The limited slip unit in the transaxle loved to try to rip the steering wheel out of your hand with torque steer.

The Miata was a blast. A little 2000lb car with 170hp. Mazda did their homework on that one. They built it them self, and purpose built the engine for it.

When I gave my 2 weeks notice is when the Speed 6 was rolling off the car carriers. Another fun car to drive, with allot of ba**$. You could feel all 270hp. AFAIK it was the only 6 in the U.S. with AWD, and was built in Japan instead of the Autoaliance/Flatrock MI plant where all the other 6's (and the 626/MX-6/Probe) came from.

All thoes cars only had one production year. The 3 has been in production for 5 years. I'm guessing people like it.

 

[jkust]

Re: want a fun, fast economical commuter car - Subie wrx, mazda , Cobalt??

Every time I ever see a WRX, it has that godawful, tall spoiler and is a young kid. I'm amazed how far the hot hatch and similar has come.

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: want a fun, fast economical commuter car - Subie wrx, mazda , Cobalt??

I'm currently driving my very first ever Ford: a 2012 Fusion SEL V6. We love it, and it won't be my last.

The Admiral's last three cars have been a Ford Mustang. She loves them. Good on quality and mileage. Latest is a 2012 (conv) that she picked up for under $17K last year.

 

[cjjjdeck]

Re: want a fun, fast economical commuter car - Subie wrx, mazda , Cobalt??

1983 Mazda 626 over 100K, 1999 Mazda Protege EX 150K+ (my sister has it now), 1999 Mazda 626 LX 138K (was wife's car, now my son's), 2005 Mazda 6s 95K+ (V6 with Tiptronic 6 speed auto, wife's car), 2008 Mazda 3s Touring 95K+ (daughter's car).

No..... I don't own a Mazda dealership (but did sell them in the 80's) ........I guess I'm a Mazda fan............. they have given me great service and they are absolutely fun to drive.

The newer MazdaSpeed 3's (after the "Protege" era and the name was discontinued) are great performance cars and worth considering.

Definitely test drive the Mazda of your choice before deciding.

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: want a fun, fast economical commuter car - Subie wrx, mazda , Cobalt??

1983 Mazda 626 over 100K, 1999 Mazda Protege EX 150K+ (my sister has it now), 1999 Mazda 626 LX 138K (was wife's car, now my son's), 2005 Mazda 6s 95K+ (V6 with Tiptronic 6 speed auto, wife's car), 2008 Mazda 3s Touring 95K+ (daughter's car).

Those are just breaking in.
We had a few mid 200K'ers coming in for service on occasion, and the one that took the cake was a late 90's 626 V6 with 340K, and still ran like a top. It's too bad they discontinued the KL V6. That was a really nice running, reliable engine.
Everything has now been switched over to a Ford based engine. The Japanese engineers have their way with tweaking them, but the design began with Ford, not that there's anything wrong with that.

 

[matt167]

Re: want a fun, fast economical commuter car - Subie wrx, mazda , Cobalt??

WRX isn't the car to buy used. Most have non factory parts in them and have been beat. Finding one well cared for will cost close to new.. Great cars tho. My mom bought a 2012 Imprezza pretty much fresh off the delivery truck last year ( arrived day before ). 2.0Li 5spd sedan, no bells and whistles but it will get 37 MPG pretty consistant and it's extremely quick. She paid less than a used 2009 Imprezza 5 door with 40k miles they had on the lot. The 5 door had a nicer radio with XM and heated seats + it was automatic. only difference in options

 

[smoedog]

Re: want a fun, fast economical commuter car - Subie wrx, mazda , Cobalt??

Picked up an 02 wrx wagon 5 speed a few years back, already had a full cobb up/down/exhaust setup. Stole it from the dealer since the clutch was slipping. Threw a new clutch in it and it has been awesome.

They are not any harder to work on than any other car and parts are very easy to come by with everyone upgrading there's

 

[cjjjdeck]

Re: want a fun, fast economical commuter car - Subie wrx, mazda , Cobalt??

Those are just breaking in.
We had a few mid 200K'ers coming in for service on occasion, and the one that took the cake was a late 90's 626 V6 with 340K, and still ran like a top. It's too bad they discontinued the KL V6. That was a really nice running, reliable engine.
Everything has now been switched over to a Ford based engine. The Japanese engineers have their way with tweaking them, but the design began with Ford, not that there's anything wrong with that.

I agree! All (no longer have the '83) have plenty of service left!

I also agree on the Japanese designed engines (I'm a big Yamaha fan too, their induction technology has always been awesome. Ford thought so too when they used it on SHO cars) The 2.5L V6 in the 1999 626 has been a great motor (they used it in the Millenia too, didn't they?), one of the few stock V6's that I know of that redlines at 7,000 rpm. The 3.0L V6 on the '05 6 is of Ford design and does run very well, so far so good.

I noticed mention of Ford Fusion. The Fusion is based on the Mazda 6 platform with slight differences, so I'm not surprised with the positive comments on the Fusion.

WRX's, and Subaru's in general, are very cool and reliable cars but I would probably not buy one used unless I knew the car/owner due to the high potential of previous owner abuses (either driving and/or modifications).