Which car for my wife's commute.

LeeH · 05-19-2004, 04:39 PM

My wife currently drives the Mazda Protege MP3. It has absolute world class handling (beat the 911 turbo in the slalom on one major mag's test), but she commutes from Phoenix to Tucson and it's noisy/harsh at 80mph for 1.5 hours each way.

She carpooled with her first officer last week and she like his Maxima. That got us talking about getting her another car. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

The car MUST handle very well, be a 5 speed, quiet at 80mph, very reliable and cost under $15K. None of these points are negotiable.

I'm thinking BMW 3 series, Acura, Maxima... any other ideas?

Rot 911 · 05-19-2004, 05:04 PM

Can you get a newer styled Nissan Altima in your price range? I would think any BMW in that price range is going to have some serious miles on it.

LeeH · 05-19-2004, 05:56 PM

I found a '99 (e46) 323i 5 speed with 67K miles and a brand new clutch for $16K. I go back and forth between a car like that and a brand new Mazda 3. I need to study up on the Acura lines. I'm thinking I could get something with fewer miles... as long as she doesn't decide Acuras are too boring.

pwd72s · 05-19-2004, 07:02 PM

The lottery ticket I buy next MUST be a winner...this point is non negotiable.

You're looking for a $15K Lexus, new or nearly so? "Scuse me, but what do you want for $15K????

LeeH · 05-19-2004, 07:54 PM

I told her the same thing... except I said Infinity! Maybe I'd be doing myself a favor by letting her do her own shopping.

slope-nz · 05-20-2004, 07:48 AM

My wife has driven a 968 for the last 7 years and still loves her car. Food for thought. Randy

LeeH · 05-21-2004, 10:03 PM

Well, we bought a new Mazda3. It reminded both of us of the Audi A4 we loved, but feared. The Mazda seems like a whole lot of car for the money - sort of like the MP3, but all grown up.

Reg · 05-22-2004, 01:31 PM

We just purchased a new left over '03 Protege5. What's the difference between it and the MP3?

I actually liked the Protege5 as much or better than the Mazda3. To be fair, we only drove the 3 sedan with the smaller engine

LeeH · 05-22-2004, 02:04 PM

The MP3 was hatched when Mazda decided to build a factory import tuner car. They used parts that would usually be installed by aftermarket tuners, but did it at the factory. The handling is truly amazing... only the 140 HP was not. The MazdaSpeed Protege, made later, was the same suspension parts, but with a turbocharged engine.

Here's a MotorTrend article on the MP3:
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedan/112_0109_mp3/

And a page from R&T where they compared the MP3 to the 911 Turbo, Ferrari 360, Lotus Elise, BMW M3, Z06 Corvette, Boxster S and the Lancer Evo... In the slalom test the MP3 tied the 911 Turbo for second beating all the cars but the Lotus.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=7&article_id=221&page_number=9

I'm truly impressed with the Mazda 3. We got the S with a 5 speed. 0-60 in 7.4 seconds vs the MP3's 8.9 seconds is a huge improvement! It feels very refined compared to the previous car. It's much quieter with standard features like steering wheel audio controls, tilt and telescoping wheel, a greatly refined interior, and 160 HP. My wife and I independently came to the conclusion that it reminded us of our Audi A4.

This is what our car looks like... for under $18K out the door, we couldn't be more pleased.

pwd72s · 05-22-2004, 02:07 PM

Wise choice, Lee. For daily commuting, it pays to become just "one of the herd"...

rammstein · 05-22-2004, 09:00 PM

I just went to the Mazda "Rev it Up" event today, drove a 3 around the course twice full out. I was amazed, it handled DAMN well. Granted, it had some stickier rubber and different springs than stock (Falken performance tires and Eibach springs, according to them) but still! I was impressed. I think you made a fine choice.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

I think the new Mazda 3 series "5 door" (read wagon) is a REALLY good looking car. Best looking rear end of any wagon out there. imho Mazda nailed the exterior styling with the new 3.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Since you're posting this on a Porsche board:

944S2.

They can be had for the $10-$12K range. Pretty fine car. If you want to spend a little more, get a 944 S2 Cabriolet. That's what my wife wants and she won't rest until I get it for her.

Ed Bighi · Ed Bighi's Garage

For me that would be a car I would have fun in when I drive. Something that would fit my big dog and nieces comfortably. Not too big also. But from this point on, I tend to get picky. It would have to be something that not only the average Joe would not drive, but also the non-average Joe. Something that I would not see on the road more than twice a year. Basically a four door car that is fast, ridiculously expensive when new, hand built on the 959 assemby facility, so good that owners rarely sell them, not known by the usual taste lacking idiot, owned only by true enthusiasts, has collector value, done depreciating since I am alergic to depreciation, easy to get parts for, extremely well built, but above all, no gimmicky styling. The kind of sedan I could be happy keeping forever. For me there is only one car that fits that bill since it's competitors and successors are overly well known and present no exclusivity in ownership. For me that car is the Mercedes W124 500E. There is no substitute when it comes to sedans. Trust me, there is a reason for why they are rarely ever sold. Last I heard, Emerson Fittipaldi, Hurley Haywood and Bobby Rahal still haven't sold theirs. They were tough to get when new, even with a ready wallet, since the dealership owners usually kept them for themselves. Today they are available. Though it usually requires some travel to find one. If a 300E and a 930 were able to reproduce, the flared fender 500E would be the offspring. For me the W210 E55 just does not do it. Too well known, too numerous, no exclusivity, damn round headlights, less durability, but most of all, no flares. Same for the M5 which every pimple faced kid knows. Only the 500E makes you laugh silly at stoplight fun against ricers who never know what hit them. Get the ASR defeat switch and shave serious time in acceleration. This is the kind of Benz you keep forever, like most of their owners do. And if boredom ever sets in, all it takes is a Renntech 7 liter option to rekindle the romance.
www.homestead.com/need2speed/E500.html

LeeH · 05-23-2004, 07:58 AM

I suggested an older Mercedes to my wife but she didn't like the idea - too big... not sporty enough, in image at least.

The 944/968 would be fine except for the lack of a back seat for our daughter.

I drove the used BMW 323i the morning that I bought the Mazda3. I'm not going to sit here and say they were the same or even extremely similar, but I have to believe that somebody at Mazda used the 3 series BMW as the target for the Mazda3.

The BMW had a few hundred dollars worth of cosmetic issues, 68K miles and the owner was at $16K firm. The Mazda3 S cost just under $18K out the door, with 2 miles, has a 4 year/50K mile warranty... and it already had a CD player - the BMW did not. I know I'm comparing apples to oranges here (so no need to lecture me, I know the E46 is a great car), but after driving both cars back to back I didn't feel like we gave up much with the Mazda.