New car choices for ex-Ford employee...

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Since I'll be leaving Ford at the end of Feb and truning in our two Escape company lease cars, I need to get 2 new cars, one for my wife and one for me. I'm seriously considering the Mazda 6 Sportwagon for my wife and the Mini Cooper S for me. We would lease my wife's car and she's always hauling the kids and their stuff around and we get the "employee discount" on the lease/purchase of the Mazda because Fords owns a percentage of Mazda. The Mazda dealership is close to our home and has a very good reputation.

There aren't many Cooper dealers in MI, but there is one a few miles away from my new employer, so that would be convenient. I would put about 15,000 - 20,000 miles a year on the Cooper, so I'll buy it instead of leasing it. I just drove my friend's Cooper S in San Diego a few weeks ago and loved it. I like smaller, better handling vehicles and since I'll be doing more driving, I'd like to drive something a little more fun.

Of course, I still have Helga ('74 911) and I'll drive the 911 during the nice weather and on weekends, mostly. What do you guys think? Sound reasonable?

Rot 911 · 02-07-2007, 07:30 AM

Both are excellent choices!

Joeaksa · 02-07-2007, 07:36 AM

Agree with Kurt and either one is a good car.

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by azasadny
Of course, I still have Helga ('74 911) and I'll drive the 911 during the nice weather and on weekends, mostly. What do you guys think? Sound reasonable?

Art,

Considering you were all set to get rid of her just a few short months ago, I think this is one of the most reasonable things you've ever said!

Randy

NICKG · 02-07-2007, 10:26 AM

go drive a vw gti mkv. test both dsg (automatic) and a 6 speed stick....they are a heck of a great car, really

therotman · 02-07-2007, 10:29 AM

How many kids and how old are they?

If they can fit in it I'd look at the Mazdaspeed 3 and the Cooper S.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Thanks for the advice guys! My son is 15 and my daughter is 11. They will fit in the Mazda Sportwagon just fine, but the Cooper S will be tight. My wife's car (Mazda) will be the "family car" and my car (Cooper S) will be the "commute car". I think we'll get both cars and I'll drive Helga (911) on the weekend when the weather permits. After owning Ford vehicles since'91, this will be a big change for us.

NICKG · 02-07-2007, 11:43 AM

look at a 4 door gti mk5!!!!! ask nostatic, he has one

vash · vash's Garage

mazda 6 wagon for the little lady. mazdaspeed 3 hatchback for yourself.
or subaru legacy wagon, in the sportstrim for the wife.

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

Since your in cold country I'd look at the subau for the wifey - 4WD and yes the mini is a blast of a commuter car (and quite roomy for 4)

glad things are going well for you.

LakeCleElum · 02-07-2007, 12:39 PM

I had one Maz. sedan and 3 pickups.....All great rigs and undervalued.......No intent to slam Ford, but ya can't go wrong buying German or Jananese.....

carambola · carambola's Garage

why not wait for the new volvo hatchback?

Dottore · 02-07-2007, 02:29 PM

...or you could just wait for one of those new Chinese cars. Should be hitting our shores any day now.

Supposed to be cheap as chips.

Moneyguy1 · 02-07-2007, 02:59 PM

Yup.

Buy a car built offshore. That will help protect jobs here!!

TWork · 02-07-2007, 03:10 PM

I think those are two solid choices. I can't go along with the 'buy German' sentiment. After my experiences with a new Passat ('98), GTI ('00), and Beetle ('02), it'll be a long time before I own or recommend a VW.

Moneyguy1 · 02-07-2007, 03:19 PM

Ditto on VW. My local shop tells me the Passat and its relatives keep him solidly in the green.

In fact, our beater, a '93 Pisant with only 93 k has him stumped with an intermittent no start problem. He has had it for two weeks trying to get it to act repeatedly...It will fail to start two out of three mornings.

dd74 · 02-07-2007, 03:21 PM

Is Ford no longer building the Focus SVT? I like Minis and Mazdas, but always thought the Focus SVT to be a solid alternative - at least to the Mini S.

Dottore · 02-07-2007, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Moneyguy1
Yup.

Buy a car built offshore. That will help protect jobs here!!

Ahem...coming from a Porsche owner on a Porsche forum....ahem.

Por_sha911 · Por_sha911's Garage

If you are leasing, you may want to look at Volvo. You get the employee discount and Volvo monthly lease numbers are great because of high LEVs.

vanwyk4257 · vanwyk4257's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by dd74
Is Ford no longer building the Focus SVT? I like Minis and Mazdas, but always thought the Focus SVT to be a solid alternative - at least to the Mini S.

Ford quit making he Focus SVT after 2004. I know because I bought a Focus one year too late. That said, the Focus ST I have is 90% of the SVT, with the same dampers, brakes, and sway bars, just a taller ride height. I lowered mine 1.5" and put 17" dark argent European SVT wheels on it and it's great. The ST comes with sport seats, and the same 2.3 liter engine from the Mazda 3 with 155HP, and more torque than the SVT had. The only downside is the 5-speed manual instead of the 6-speed that the SVT had.
It's a cheap daily driver (20-25K miles per year), has a 5-year 100K drivetrain warranty and gets around 30mpg on the highway.

All of that said, Art, I would look at the new Mazdaspeed 3 if you want a fun car to tear around in. They have the same 2.3 liter motor but with a turbo and make around 260-280HP if I remember correctly. I wish I would have waited and bought one myself.