vw rabbit vs. mazda3 vs. imprezza
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Well, Impreza is absolutely butt ugly IMO, so I would not buy that one. Rabbit is nice, but is not known to be reliable; plus being hard to work on and find parts for is a deal breaker for me. I test drove a Mazda 3 and found it to be an amazing car to drive. Excellent road feel through the steering and sporty, confidence inspiring suspension. It was also pretty quiet inside and the engine was smooth even when pushing it to the redline. All in all I walked away very impressed. The mazda also get the best gas mileage out of those 3 if you get the smaller engine. The downside is that Mazda's are generally not very reliable. However, being that Mazda and Ford share parts for this car, most notably the engines and transmissions, parts should be easy to find. FINALLY, if it were my $ I'd buy the Mazda. Let's see what everyone else thinks.
Mazda, no real comparison there.
VWs are moody, and the Subaru with AWD will not match it on mileage.
VWs are moody, and the Subaru with AWD will not match it on mileage.
Out of those three I would pick the Rabbit. The Rabbit is the enthusiast's choice.
Test drive them all and pick the one you like best.
Personally, I'd get the Mazda 3. My sister bought her 2006 3 new. She test drove other small cars, but the 3 really stood out to her because of the way it drove and the fit and finish. They are very well built and fun to drive; you don't always get those things together with small cars. The only problem with hers has been the clock resetting itself. Aside from that, it has been a great car. There are lots of gravel roads where she lives and the car is still rattle free. My mom actually bought a 2008 3 recently because my sister liked hers so much.
Personally, I'd get the Mazda 3. My sister bought her 2006 3 new. She test drove other small cars, but the 3 really stood out to her because of the way it drove and the fit and finish. They are very well built and fun to drive; you don't always get those things together with small cars. The only problem with hers has been the clock resetting itself. Aside from that, it has been a great car. There are lots of gravel roads where she lives and the car is still rattle free. My mom actually bought a 2008 3 recently because my sister liked hers so much.
If your looking for a fun and sports car like handling and decent fuel mileage, get the Mazda. If you want 150,000 mile car get the Impresa. Based on reliability I would never get the VW.
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Mazda3 is the enthusiasts choice. There really is no comparison here. Get the Mazda. It's top rated by all car magazines and has the best handling of the three.
There are 2 engines for the Madza3, the 2.0 and 2.3. My experience is with the 2.3 and it's been a fantastic engine. If there is one criticism, it could get better fuel economy. A civic has the Mazda 3 2.3 beat on that one. I don't think your other 2 considerations do.
There are 2 engines for the Madza3, the 2.0 and 2.3. My experience is with the 2.3 and it's been a fantastic engine. If there is one criticism, it could get better fuel economy. A civic has the Mazda 3 2.3 beat on that one. I don't think your other 2 considerations do.
If it were me, I'd probably disqualify the Impreza simply based on looks. Of course that's very subjective, but then again, you asked an Internet forum to respond, so that's just my response.
As for Mazda3, I test drove one in 2006 (the 2.3 engine stick), and came away unimpressed. It just wasn't as quick as I had hoped. Handling was OK. Fit and finish was also OK for this category, but not that great. I also did not like the instrument cluster design.
So, I'd probably take the Rabbit for a spin and see what it has to offer. FYI, the people in this thread that complain about VW reliability, not being easy to work on and find parts are generalizing too much, IMO.
And here's the latest JD Power Initial Quality Study (not the same as long-term reliability though). All three makes are right next to each other, below the industry average:
http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2008063
As for Mazda3, I test drove one in 2006 (the 2.3 engine stick), and came away unimpressed. It just wasn't as quick as I had hoped. Handling was OK. Fit and finish was also OK for this category, but not that great. I also did not like the instrument cluster design.
So, I'd probably take the Rabbit for a spin and see what it has to offer. FYI, the people in this thread that complain about VW reliability, not being easy to work on and find parts are generalizing too much, IMO.
And here's the latest JD Power Initial Quality Study (not the same as long-term reliability though). All three makes are right next to each other, below the industry average:
http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2008063
Out of the three I'd rather the Subie... Mind you, insurance will rape you (assuming you're under 25).
I have first hand experience with all 3. My good friend just bought a Imprezza has way to much of a tin-can sound for me, but it has AWD. My mother-in-law just bought a Mazda 5, after driving the 3. Both nice cars and handle much better than the Subbie, and the 5 was a great value.
But a Rabbit is so much more of a better value IMO, much better build quality and much more solid feeling car. and if you are scared by VW they have come a long way since 1999, and parts are readily available. Also VW has a better warranty, 4/50 Bumper to Bumper and 5/60 powertrain. Compared to 3/36 for the others, but they also have a 5/60 powertrain warranty.
PS, you also get free service for the 2009 model year. So get a OCI ever other(10K) for free!!!
But a Rabbit is so much more of a better value IMO, much better build quality and much more solid feeling car. and if you are scared by VW they have come a long way since 1999, and parts are readily available. Also VW has a better warranty, 4/50 Bumper to Bumper and 5/60 powertrain. Compared to 3/36 for the others, but they also have a 5/60 powertrain warranty.
PS, you also get free service for the 2009 model year. So get a OCI ever other(10K) for free!!!
JD Power and Associates studies are not to be treated like facts. They have very little credibility.
Only buy the VW if you are willing to set aside extra money for repairs.
I have never driven a Mazda 3, but I've only read good things.
If you're willing to spend 22k and drive a manual transmission, you can buy a 200hp Honda that returns ~32mpg in town driving.
Only buy the VW if you are willing to set aside extra money for repairs.
I have never driven a Mazda 3, but I've only read good things.
If you're willing to spend 22k and drive a manual transmission, you can buy a 200hp Honda that returns ~32mpg in town driving.
Originally Posted By: ourfamo4
My mother-in-law just bought a Mazda 5, after driving the 3. Both nice cars and handle much better than the Subbie, and the 5 was a great value.
But a Rabbit is so much more of a better value IMO, much better build quality and much more solid feeling car.
Yeah, you lost all credibility when you gave a mediocre FWD powertrain over the edge of a tuned AWD system... And you speak as if VW makes tanks.
My mother-in-law just bought a Mazda 5, after driving the 3. Both nice cars and handle much better than the Subbie, and the 5 was a great value.
But a Rabbit is so much more of a better value IMO, much better build quality and much more solid feeling car.
Yeah, you lost all credibility when you gave a mediocre FWD powertrain over the edge of a tuned AWD system... And you speak as if VW makes tanks.
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Ask "which car do I want 7 years from now...."
Patman
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I'd choose the Rabbit for sure, that 170hp 5 cylinder engine is nice, and the 6 speed automatic is even nicer! They give you a lot of standard features on the Rabbit that would cost you extra on other cars too.
For me I just love the solid feel of VWs. My mom's 2001 VW Golf feels just as solid at 100,000 km as many new cars do. And even though it's an inexpensive car, it doesn't come across like it, it drives like a much more expensive car.
For me I just love the solid feel of VWs. My mom's 2001 VW Golf feels just as solid at 100,000 km as many new cars do. And even though it's an inexpensive car, it doesn't come across like it, it drives like a much more expensive car.
Originally Posted By: ourfamo4
I'd take a few issues with any VW, rather than hearing the Japanese toaster quailty metal rattle everytime I shut the door!!!
And I can drive in the winter so AWD just costs more money to maintain. No Quattro for me!!
Little bit biased, huh?
I'd take a few issues with any VW, rather than hearing the Japanese toaster quailty metal rattle everytime I shut the door!!!
And I can drive in the winter so AWD just costs more money to maintain. No Quattro for me!!
Little bit biased, huh?
Originally Posted By: ourfamo4
I'd take a few issues with any VW, rather than hearing the Japanese toaster quailty metal rattle everytime I shut the door!!!
And I can drive in the winter so AWD just costs more money to maintain. No Quattro for me!!
A few issues with VW? Are you kidding? Have you ever been to a VW forum (such as PassatWorld or VWVortex)? Have you ever been to MyVWLemon.com? Do you wonder why VW/Audi tops the "least reliable automaker" lists every year?
I joined PassatWorld so I could learn repair info about my father's Passat wagon (which we've spent thousands of dollars on repairs, by the way). My thread complaining about the lack of reliability was generally met with posts like "welcome to VW ownership". Even VW enthusiasts recognize the abhorrent reliability issues.
And as for your comment on Japanese doors, I'm not sure where that came from. Perhaps you were speaking of 80's era models. My Civic has a double door seal; the door "thud" is much beefier than my co-worker's Range Rover Sport Supercharged, which sounds like a sheet of metal falling to the ground.
I'd take a few issues with any VW, rather than hearing the Japanese toaster quailty metal rattle everytime I shut the door!!!
And I can drive in the winter so AWD just costs more money to maintain. No Quattro for me!!
A few issues with VW? Are you kidding? Have you ever been to a VW forum (such as PassatWorld or VWVortex)? Have you ever been to MyVWLemon.com? Do you wonder why VW/Audi tops the "least reliable automaker" lists every year?
I joined PassatWorld so I could learn repair info about my father's Passat wagon (which we've spent thousands of dollars on repairs, by the way). My thread complaining about the lack of reliability was generally met with posts like "welcome to VW ownership". Even VW enthusiasts recognize the abhorrent reliability issues.
And as for your comment on Japanese doors, I'm not sure where that came from. Perhaps you were speaking of 80's era models. My Civic has a double door seal; the door "thud" is much beefier than my co-worker's Range Rover Sport Supercharged, which sounds like a sheet of metal falling to the ground.
If you buy a VW, make sure you buy a Vag-Com. If you don't know what a Vag-Com is, don't buy one.
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out of those cars i would go with the mazda 3 the subbie is only worth buying if you get a wrx, the vw is too much for 20k you might as well get the GTI. If i had 20 right now i would spend it on a used civic si sedan and call it a day
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