Went Car Shopping Today...
Discussion
With my dad (he wants a new car).
We went to a Mazda dealership to look at a Mazda 6...
Big mistake.
Firstly, the six doesn't look as good as it does in the mags. The 3 looks much better, and has a great driving position.
The main reason I thought it was a big mistake, however:
The RX8.
At the risk of sounding both a bit gay and American, oh... my... God.
There was a blue Mazdaspeed-kitted RX8 sat right in the middle of the showroom, with all the bells and whistles on it, for £27,000. It was absolutely beautiful, and I am now smitten with the '8.
My dad wants one too but he refuses to stretch to 20k for a car, but I'm still trying to convince him before his test drive of the 3 next week. Unfortunately he's more of a 'head' person than a 'heart' person.
Bah!
We went to a Mazda dealership to look at a Mazda 6...
Big mistake.
Firstly, the six doesn't look as good as it does in the mags. The 3 looks much better, and has a great driving position.
The main reason I thought it was a big mistake, however:
The RX8.
At the risk of sounding both a bit gay and American, oh... my... God.
There was a blue Mazdaspeed-kitted RX8 sat right in the middle of the showroom, with all the bells and whistles on it, for £27,000. It was absolutely beautiful, and I am now smitten with the '8.
My dad wants one too but he refuses to stretch to 20k for a car, but I'm still trying to convince him before his test drive of the 3 next week. Unfortunately he's more of a 'head' person than a 'heart' person.
Bah!
His main car, which admittedly does alot of miles, so I guess fuel economy is an issue, but still!
But he's always complaining about how boring most cars are...
The Mazda 3 does have a slight edge over other cars of that sort, but I wouldn't say it was amazing...
Nine seconds to sixty.
>> Edited by DanBoy on Sunday 6th February 17:02
But he's always complaining about how boring most cars are...
The Mazda 3 does have a slight edge over other cars of that sort, but I wouldn't say it was amazing...
Nine seconds to sixty.
>> Edited by DanBoy on Sunday 6th February 17:02
Reworx have just fited the first (AFIK) turbo to a UK RX8.
40% more torque , 20% more top end power and thats before they've worked on the tuning.
The 8 is a great car, with minor issues, expect 20mpg unless most of your milage is motorway cruising. Oil use isnt nearly as much of an issue as it was. Its a blast and nothing comes close for £20k, the mazdaspeed kit isnt cheap tho, but I assume the blue was the darker (stratos) blue, which is stunning(considered shopping my grey in for one).
If you like the looks of the 8 and dont want to buy one dont drive it, its driving dynamics more than match the looks, tho its not the quickest in a straight line its wide rev range gives it bucket loads of b road usability.
As for the 3, its far more intresting than the focus, so much so I'd pick one way ahead of the 'better' focus (dont think the mazda 3 has independant rear suspension?).
40% more torque , 20% more top end power and thats before they've worked on the tuning.
The 8 is a great car, with minor issues, expect 20mpg unless most of your milage is motorway cruising. Oil use isnt nearly as much of an issue as it was. Its a blast and nothing comes close for £20k, the mazdaspeed kit isnt cheap tho, but I assume the blue was the darker (stratos) blue, which is stunning(considered shopping my grey in for one).
If you like the looks of the 8 and dont want to buy one dont drive it, its driving dynamics more than match the looks, tho its not the quickest in a straight line its wide rev range gives it bucket loads of b road usability.
As for the 3, its far more intresting than the focus, so much so I'd pick one way ahead of the 'better' focus (dont think the mazda 3 has independant rear suspension?).
Neil_H said:
That's a pretty bold statement, 20k will buy you into a lot of good cars.
Name something , new, thats £22k or less, RWD, LSD, 200+bhp seats 4, carries lugage, has great 50/50 balance, low COG, low polar moment (front/mid engined), stops as quick as a gallardo. OK, new for under £30k.
£20k certainly does buy a lot of car, or several , but not new, thats fun and seats 4 with RWD hardly any.
(But then I got a new engine 3k miles ago from the nice people at Subaru) RobDickinson said:
Name something , new, thats £22k or less, RWD, LSD, 200+bhp seats 4, carries lugage, has great 50/50 balance, low COG, low polar moment (front/mid engined), stops as quick as a gallardo. OK, new for under £30k.
£20k certainly does buy a lot of car, or several , but not new, thats fun and seats 4 with RWD hardly any.
The criteria above are slightly narrower than you mentioned in your original post
I for one wouldn't insist on a new car.Gassing Station | Japanese Chat | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff