A New Car

[SSVPom]

Well, the time has come to upgrade my daily driver to something better on juice, and basically 'new'.... I've got a car allowance to justify you see.

The good news is that the Fairmont is staying!! The wife will take the helm during the week, which means she'll rack up a "huge" 40kms per week on the car instead of my 400kms, which hopefully means less wear-and-tear, retain more value etc etc...

Which brings me to my dilemma, I'm currently split between a top spec medium car (Mazda 3 SP23 lux pack, not the MPS turbo) or a low spec larger car, such as the Subaru Liberty 2.0R (slowish, but with free satnav at the mo). I cannot justify the depreciation on a BF2 Falcon or indeed running two 4.0L cars, can't find an XR5T and it doesn't have an auto option, and also want to reduce weekly fuel bills and own a car that will be worth something after 3/4years.

I have my finances sorted and just need to hear some feedback (good and bad), has anyone got any thoughts on either of these two cars ?

My allegiance to the blue oval is still there - I just want to wear out some other car, not my Fairmont !

Cheers.

[Fairlane]

Mazda 3 sounds like a good bet to me, though if i was you id wait for the new Lancer GSR or check out the Honda Civic Sport.

Liberty 2.0R is for masochists, only its like stabing your eyes out with a red hot poker.

[AC]

How about a Getz ?

Run on the sniff of an oily rag and hell cheap for a new car.
Even used ones are pretty cheap with low kms.
If it depriciates, you dont loose out so bad either.
I only know so cause my little sister has been looking at them.

But it depends what you want tho, family car or commuter basher.

[SSVPom]

I've just sold an Elantra, so I have "done" the budget brand, and will never buy one again I reckon.

Not a bad car, just not a quality car.

The Liberty is great to sit in, but even the 2.5i version (same kws as 2.0R but more torque) seems gutless... but then most smaller cars would do after driving a 4.0L !!!

[Mr Hardware]

subaru's are very heavy cars = bad fuel economy

what troubles did you have with the elantra?

[Riksta]

If you like Subaru, have you considered the Impreza?

One of my friends has an SP23 and it seems to be a really nice car. I haven't actually driven it, but I've been for a ride in it, and even with four people it seemed to pack a lot of punch.

[NeishaXR8_347]

IMO ive driven near new Mazda 3 SP23 and they go very well for a smaller car, has plenty of poke out of the corners and the suspension is very well tuned and they handle great, i'd seriously consider one myself for the other half as they are a great car to drive.

[sly]

You can probably get the best of both ATM in a Mazda6. Same engine as SP23, not much more weight, similar size to Liberty and they've just upped equipment and dropped prices at the bottom of the range ahead of a runout later in the year.

AND Mazda are owned by Ford....

[Dark Horse]

Diesel VW Golf?

[Laminge]

Originally Posted by Dark Horse

Diesel VW Golf?

Ill second that!

[andrewts]

Get the Mazda 3. My mother has one, and even for base model, it is surprisingly excellent!

[Umineko]

I'd go for the Mazda, good resale, reliable and cheaper to maintain... the Liberty isn't a bad car and holds its value resonably well but it's heavy, underpowered, complicated and very expensive to fix when something stuffs up... IMHO the Mazda drives better and is better appointed and styled. and at the end of the day will probably be the easier of the 2 to shift when you come to get rid of it

[LOWAU]

LPG +$2k rebate = answer, haha

Cheap to run and service costs for the au will be lower then all of the cars mentioned above.

[au2sw]

me thinks that this is really in the wrong section here. wouldnt this be better posted in the pub or the bar? it really has nothing to do with the au's, let alone falcons as you want imports.
just my 2 cents though

[GK]

The Mazda 3 is a great car. Does everything really well from what I understand. I would check the real world fuel consumption though.

What's wrong with the non turbo Ford Focus?

Great that the Fairmont stays!

GK

[Ringo]

Mazda is a nice bit of gear. Very high quality. I have a 12 month old Mazda 6 Luxury Sport 6 speed on lease and think its great. No regrets. It has the 2.3 litre. It is very quick around town but I think its the way the electronic throttle is set up - its very sensitive initially making it feel vey punchy but once the throttle goes from half way to the floor there is no extra oomph. 5 star safety rating and as many airbags as a BMW.

I'm getting 8.3 l/100 km on 95 premium and I'm not babying it. It loves to rev and happiest from 2500 upwards. It has fully variable inlet cam phasing (timing) and while that doesn't = massive hp gain it gives this engine fantastic flexibility. For only 2.3L it really does cope with pulling away in 3rd without issueand I regularly go 1st, 2nd, 4th or 1st, 2nd, 3rd to 5th.

The resale of this generation of Mazdas is about the highest possible and the Mazda 3 is only selling second to Corolla in the small car class. I don't know heaps about the Sub's but they have had a reputation for noise previously on Impreza's - I was seriously considering a Forrester as well but Mrs Ringo fell in love with the shape. Mazda's are great value and servicing costs are quite reasonable.

The 6 has just been revised and nealry $1k taken off the price as a new 6 is on the horizon (no pic available yet but it won't be dramaticaly different)

[Andy XR8]

also consider a honda accord euro they are a great, my brother has one, its got heaps of pull from down low and it just revs forever.

[SSVPom]

Thanks for the input guys - I have made my choice this morning... A 2.0R Liberty with auto and Satnav thrown in for less than the manual without Satnav.

Not a road rocket, but better than the VCT Ghia on juice and "nice and safe" around the corners... although the wife will proabably be able to beat me off the lights when she's in the Ghia!! It's all about the quality and value of the thing in 3 or 4 years time, and that was part of what swung the deal.

As for the Elantra, we had loads of rattles, it drove badly (manual box) and had to have the bonnet, roof and bootlid repainted due to it peeling.

[TS50]

sp23 is great, but the MPS is so much fun
please consider

[SSVPom]

I agree - MPS goes ballistic (shame they couldn't fit the 4x4 drivetrain in it) but was ultimately out of my reach financially.

Anyway, this thread hasn't mentioned AU's much, so I will probably get banned soon if this doesn't finish up soon !

Cheers.

[Bitmap]

Originally Posted by FairmontPom

.....I have made my choice this morning... A 2.0R Liberty with auto and Satnav .......

Good choice mate. A nice car.

The Mazdas are great cars too. The wife drives a Mazda that is 3.5 years old and never had a problem with it. It may not have the same power as my ute but its still a very nice car to drive.