TDI fades into regulatory oblivion; Enter Miata

[Rupert]

Look at this fuckin' guy, strutin' around waitin' for a ban hammer.

[Char]

 

[Tave]

More and more I think the BRZ might be the best option. I'd have to wait till I move out of here because my craggy dirt parking lot would be hell on the underbody, but that'd give me time to put some nice money down.

[CALL_911]

BRZ FTW

[Xer0]

More and more I think the BRZ might be the best option. I'd have to wait till I move out of here because my craggy dirt parking lot would be hell on the underbody, but that'd give me time to put some nice money down.

My car has one more payment left on it and on my hypothetical short list for next car in a year or two, the BRZ is at the top too (and the Accord Sport, of course  )

[MexicoCityM3]

More and more I think the BRZ might be the best option. I'd have to wait till I move out of here because my craggy dirt parking lot would be hell on the underbody, but that'd give me time to put some nice money down.

Given your criteria, i agree. BRZ sounds great.

[MrH]

More and more I think the BRZ might be the best option. I'd have to wait till I move out of here because my craggy dirt parking lot would be hell on the underbody, but that'd give me time to put some nice money down.

Sounds like you still haven't driven one?  If you're already leaning that way, guarantee that will seal the deal.

[Tave]

Shameless bump. No real news just fishing for additional suggestions.


My timeline is a little more clear but still indeterminate. It depends on 3 things:

1) How quickly I pay off my modest student loan. I've got $7500 left @ 6.8%. Given the rate I should just suck it up and knock it out within the year but it's such a pain in the ass. Maybe 2yrs is a little more realistic.

2) How much more value I can squeeze out of The Car from The Future. It needs new tires, shocks/struts, and some more minor suspension work and minor engine work. The catch is selling it immediately versus putting a little cash in it betting that I get good miles out.

3) How much I want a new car versus weekend trips out of town, which I often fly, although if I tighten down and postpone some of those I wouldn't mind driving them in the new ride. Between my intermittent sound system and rickety-crickets ride I'm not huge on doing them in The Car from The Future. It probably wouldn't hurt the cause to live more frugally in general, but trips are my biggest vice/wallet drain at the moment.

[Tave]

Blah-fuckity fuck-blah.

Check engine light started flashing this morning. Took it in, a bad wire was arcing with the ignition coil pack. New wiring + new coil pack + new plugs + cleaning the carbon buildup = me ~$900 poorer

"Oh by the way, you need new tires." Sigh. Yeah I know, add it ($400) to the bill

"Oh and your shocks/struts are shot." Sigh. Yeah I know, add it ($700) to the bill


Guess I'll be hanging onto The Car From the Future for the time being.

Silver lining - I knew exactly what that little fucker needed before they told me. So I leave the torture chamber with my man card slightly intact, if not my wallet.

[Byteme]

Help me pick out this hypothetical car that I may or may not buy now or some point in the future.

Conditions:
-Cheap
-New
-Fun
-Manual

Mazda 6 I sport


Thread over.

[Tave]

Mazda 6 I sport


Thread over.

That's near the top of my list, and my boss can get me a great deal on any Mazda the local dealer has in stock.

[Tave]

Update:

I think it's about time. Test drove the Jetta TSI and TDI yesterday, it's a very attractive package. If they offer me the 0% financing special VW is running on a lot of 2014 models I might be in one by the end of the week.

The call on the TDI is a tough one. It's a fun engine and that six speed is a blast, but is it worth the $2500 premium + the loss in power + the fewer creature features? What is the long-term reliability and design life on these new diesels? Is it something that I can legitimately expect to put 200,000-300,000 miles on?

[MexicoCityM3]

I think with proper maimtenance any new engine should last that long. Is the Mazda 6 out of the picture? I think it's a much better choice than the Jetta.

[Tave]

I think with proper maimtenance any new engine should last that long. Is the Mazda 6 out of the picture? I think it's a much better choice than the Jetta.

No it's not. I plan on driving one and I suspect I'll like the driving dynamics more than the Jetta. The VW comes better equipped, so we'll see what the Mazda's interior space and design does for me. The local dealers didn't have any manual Touring models in stock last I checked, either. VW was pretty good in that regard, although they could do with a few more Sportwagon and Passat sticks.

[MrH]

I'd get a GTI over both. Not a fan of the current jetta at all

[Tave]

GTI is nicer for sure but its price reflects that.

[CALL_911]

Get an FRS

[Tave]

Really hoping to stay away from a cloth interior.

[MexicoCityM3]

Aren't the Jetta and Mazda 6 in different segments? The Mazda 3 seems like the direct competitor to the Jetta to me. GTI is very nice, it's now built here so it's more affordable than it used to be.

As always, depends on your needs. As a single car either the 6 or the GTI are great choices. Jetta is good as well (I'd get the TSI one) only if it's significantly less dear than the other two IMO.

[MX793]

Aren't the Jetta and Mazda 6 in different segments? The Mazda 3 seems like the direct competitor to the Jetta to me. GTI is very nice, it's now built here so it's more affordable than it used to be.

As always, depends on your needs. As a single car either the 6 or the GTI are great choices. Jetta is good as well (I'd get the TSI one) only if it's significantly less dear than the other two IMO.

Jetta sort of sits between segments.  In terms of size, it's on the large end of the segment (by EPA criteria, it's technically midsize).  In terms of price, the base models compete pretty well with the Mazda3, but step into a TDI or GLI and the price is in Mazda6 territory (or fully loaded, top of the line Mazda3).

[Tave]

Aren't the Jetta and Mazda 6 in different segments? The Mazda 3 seems like the direct competitor to the Jetta to me. GTI is very nice, it's now built here so it's more affordable than it used to be.

As always, depends on your needs. As a single car either the 6 or the GTI are great choices. Jetta is good as well (I'd get the TSI one) only if it's significantly less dear than the other two IMO.

The 2.5L Skyactiv + manual is the combo that appeals to me, and you can't get that in the Mazda 3 here.

The Jetta seems to have moved up in size and offers a lot of interior room, although I don't know how big the 6 is going to feel and might take a look at the Passat as well. Maybe I'll take a look at the 3 as well, but I have a feeling the models I'll want will be more expensive than the 6 and Jetta, while still feeling like a small car, which is something I want to get away from.

[Tave]

Jetta sort of sits between segments.  In terms of size, it's on the large end of the segment (by EPA criteria, it's technically midsize).  In terms of price, the base models compete pretty well with the Mazda3, but step into a TDI or GLI and the price is in Mazda6 territory (or fully loaded, top of the line Mazda3).

Mazda 3 gets pretty spendy pretty fast. To get the 2.5L you have to spend more than you would on a well-optioned Mazda 6 and there's no manual. A well-optioned Mazda 3 w/o the 2.5L is still in Mazda6 Touring territory.

*For the Hatch, the sedan is a little better

[GoCougs]

Forget the diesel. Stretch to get the GTI.

[2o6]

Mazda 3 gets pretty spendy pretty fast. To get the 2.5L you have to spend more than you would on a well-optioned Mazda 6 and there's no manual. A well-optioned Mazda 3 w/o the 2.5L is still in Mazda6 Touring territory.

*For the Hatch, the sedan is a little better

Did you try the 2.0L? It's not like it's a little hamster pulling the car around

[MexicoCityM3]

Did you try the 2.0L? It's not like it's a little hamster pulling the car around

Really? A 20 year old design...

Maybe it's like a squirrel or a medium-sized rat.

[Lebowski]

GTI

[Tave]

Did you try the 2.0L? It's not like it's a little hamster pulling the car around

Nah, I don't like the thought of spending all this money and ending up in a small car with a lackluster engine. I need some refinement and either some power to play with and/or some room.

[ifcar]

It keeps being reported that the 2015 3 will have a manual 2.5-liter version, due in a couple of months. Still rumors, though, not official word from Mazda.

[CALL_911]

Really? A 20 year old design...

Maybe it's like a squirrel or a medium-sized rat.

He means the Mazda3 2.0L

[MexicoCityM3]

He means the Mazda3 2.0L

My bad. That one is fine.