My daughter want's a mazda 3. any BTDT?

[sammyg2]

Background:

My daughter is 16 and a very good kid. Good grades, responsible, very active in sports, doesn't get in trouble, and has good manners. I have no idea how I got so lucky.

I'm looking to get a decent used car for her in the next few months. Something that gets decent mileage, is reliable so she won't break down somewhere when daddy isn't around, and something that will last her through college.

Budget hasn't been set but I have a number in my head of around $8k or so, but that's flexible. I could go higher if it made sense or I could go lower if I could achieve the goals. I will not get her an expensive keep up with the jones vehicle even though i could afford it.
I'm not like that and like all new drivers she's learning, she might crash it. I think it makes sense to get her something decent but not extravagant until she learns better how to take care of it.

I like Toyotas. Always have. But she has her heart set on a mazda 3.

I explained that she isn't getting a new car from me until she graduates from college so it would be a later model used car. She's fine with that even though many of her friends are rich kids with beamers and such. She learned a long time ago that I value money in the bank more than toys in the garage.

She'll probably be 6 foot tall by the time she gets to college so size might be a factor. She's probably also going to get a volleyball scholarship and may end up going to school far away from home. I don't need to be worrying about her transportation.

Anyone here have BTDT with a mazda 3? Obviously newer would be good but cost is a factor as is reliability.
what years are good or bad, problems, etc?
I've heard they handle and perform well which can be good or bad. I don't want to buy a low-mileage boy-racer's car that has been beat to crap.

Tanks in advance.

EDIT I have done some searches for TSBs, recalls, etc. and testimonials are all over the place. Mostly good but some bad.

[vash]

the buyer of my mazdaspeed3 was stepping "up" from his regular 3. he let me drive it. it handled GREAT! the lower power translated to less torque steer, and the suspension is much much more comfy. he sold it for $9k so you are in the ball park. i typically see older people driving the regular 3, so i bet you can find some great examples.

she sounds like a great kid! i am about that tall, and i fit in the mazda great.

[stomachmonkey]

Can't go wrong.

Agree with Vash, the Speed3 may be a bit much for a new driver. Torque steer and Turbos do need some looking after which, (not insinuating anything about your daughter) I think would be lost on a 16 year old female, in general.

The regular 3 is fine.

Try to get a 2.3 S. A couple more creature features than the 2.0 i.

I've got a 4 door sedan but I prefer the 5 door hatch in looks.

Was trying to find the 5 door but they were scare at the time.

[AFC-911]

My younger brother has a Mazda 3 and I actually like the car.

Get the model before the uglier redesign. The newer ones don't look nearly as nice as the older 3s.

I haven't driven the hatch, but if my brother's sedan has been super reliable.

As far as I'm concerned, she picked a good car.

[legion]

Just for your reference, Mazda 3 = Ford Focus.

You can pick up a Focus with all of the same features for cheaper.

[Dave L]

Originally Posted by legion

Just for your reference, Mazda 3 = Ford Focus.

You can pick up a Focus with all of the same features for cheaper.

No not by a long shot. The EUROPEAN focus is a good car and is similar to the Mazda3 (and Volvo v40 for that matter). The US version of the Focus has very little in common with the Mazda3. The engines are the same but even then the Mazda3's engine is built in Japan, if that matters.

When we bought my wife a Mazda3 we looked at the focus and were not impressed at all. The Mazda has been a great car and as a used car they are very good value. I belive they are just as reliable as Toyota or Honda but dont seem to carry the same rediculouly high resale value.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by Dave L

I belive they are just as reliable as Toyota or Honda but dont seem to carry the same rediculouly high resale value.

+1

Toyota and Honda - just buy or lease a new one

Mazda 3's are pretty cheap as rental returns then they don't depreciate much from there.

Well equipped 2008 Mazda 3 'i' auto sedans bring $9-10K at auction with 35-39K miles. You'd have two years and 10-15K miles of warranty left.

There are several at the Mazda sale at Riverside each week.

E

[pwd72s]

Ypu might PM Moses...he bought one for his daughter a year or so ago.

[Pazuzu]

The stock tires are crap and only last 12K miles, but a used car should have them replaced already.

I'm learning that our blown front passenger strut is common at 35-50K miles, or a hard blow (pothole). Worth checking out (it'll blow oil everywhere).

[Moses]

In the same exact situation, we bought my daughter a Mazda3 a year ago. The car has performed perfectly. Great build quality, fun to drive and enormously practical. I "borrow" my daughters car all the time.

If we were to make the decision again, we'd still get the Mazda3. I'm very satisfied.

Link to an old thread:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/426355-poll-car-would-you-buy-under-20-000-a.html

[onewhippedpuppy]

My 18 year old little sister in law has a 2.0 base model automatic sedan. Except for an incident with a deer its been flawless. 60k-ish on it now. If a teen driver can't kill one, who can?

I've driven it multiple times and came away very impressed. Very nice interior, best in class in my opinion. Great steering and brakes, nice ride and handling balance. Not fast, but a fun little car. My in-laws like it enough that they have since bought a 6, and are considering a new 3 for the next teen.

[gprsh924]

I really liked it when I test drove them when we were considering letting the 525 die. It is just about the only car that I ever considered drawing me away from wanting an E46. In the end I couldn't live with fwd, but for your daughter it will surely be more than capable.

[azasadny]

I'm on my 2nd MazdaSpeed3 (2007 and now a 2010). I love the car but I WOULD NOT give a new driver a car with that much power. The standard Mazda 3 is a great car and would make an excellent 1st car, or the new Ford Fusion.

[azasadny]

Originally Posted by legion

Just for your reference, Mazda 3 = Ford Focus.

You can pick up a Focus with all of the same features for cheaper.

The Mazda 3 and the Ford Focus are not the same car. Same platform but many other parts (drivetrain, suspension, interior, etc...) are different.

[Looking_for_911]

For what it's worth....
GF's niece is 16. Wonderful student, great kid, pillar of the community-type, etc., ad nauseum.
Daddy goes out and buys late model Mustang for her first car. "Wonderful kid" gets lecture about safety, speeding, drinking and driving, etc. from everyone with a mouth.
She's been driving about 6-8 months. Yesterday morning she oversleeps and is running late for school. She thinks it'd be better to fly like a banshee to make up the time rather than arriving in one piece.
State Trooper busts her for speeding. Graciously wrote her up for 14mph over rather than the true speed she was doing. Ticket still about $200-bucks. Firefighter tag didn't help.
Daddy now wishes he'd bought a under powered Granny car for her to poot around in!

[Moses]

One more thing, Sammy. In the world of teens, the Mazda3 hatchback is cool. The sedan is not. At all.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by Looking_for_911

For what it's worth....
GF's niece is 16. Wonderful student, great kid, pillar of the community-type, etc., ad nauseum.
Daddy goes out and buys late model Mustang for her first car. "Wonderful kid" gets lecture about safety, speeding, drinking and driving, etc. from everyone with a mouth.
She's been driving about 6-8 months. Yesterday morning she oversleeps and is running late for school. She thinks it'd be better to fly like a banshee to make up the time rather than arriving in one piece.
State Trooper busts her for speeding. Graciously wrote her up for 14mph over rather than the true speed she was doing. Ticket still about $200-bucks. Firefighter tag didn't help.
Daddy now wishes he'd bought a under powered Granny car for her to poot around in!

Even a Daewoo will break the speed limit. A base Mazda 3 will do almost 120mph

[BRPORSCHE]

Originally Posted by kaisen

Well equipped 2008 Mazda 3 'i' auto sedans bring $9-10K at auction with 35-39K miles. You'd have two years and 10-15K miles of warranty left.

There are several at the Mazda sale at Riverside each week.

E

If you can find me this car, I would love to see some links.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by kaisen

Even a Daewoo will break the speed limit. A base Mazda 3 will do almost 120mph

My moms toyota corolla is limited at like 111... Ask me how I know...



Get my point guys? Us younguns speed occasionally no matter what we are in....

[Looking_for_911]

Originally Posted by kaisen

Even a Daewoo will break the speed limit. A base Mazda 3 will do almost 120mph

My point was, and maybe I should have explained it more clearly, is that kids will be kids, that I know, so if I ever have one they'll be lucky to get a Daewoo that runs on all cylinders!
I'll be one of those dads that makes sure my kid's first car is a slow moving turtle. And what if they don't like it? Bus, my friend, Bus!