Hi,

I have been searching, waiting for a whole month wanting to get a new car. I also dont know much about cars... Since i have a price range max is 18,000$, i was wondering which car is a better choice.

CAR CHOICES (TOP to BOTTOM):
1) Mazda3 i like this one the best!
2) Scion TC
3) Toyota Corolla
4) Honda Civic
5) VW Jetta
6) Ford Focus


Any goods and benefits from the other cars above? Car experts...
(beside Maz3)


- What accessories is really worth for me to get for the mazda 3?
- Is navigation system worth the dough? For a car below 20,000 to have a navi, isnt it special ?
- Interior: Leather or Cloth? Many commented leather is made of cheap materials....

 

Also,

I have a 95' Honda Accord LX

Should i trade it in to a DEALER? or MECHANICS?
Where do i check the value of this car?

Sorry i am a newbie :P

 

Well take the Corolla and the Focus out of that list. I don't like the look for those. The Scion looks like a cool car, I was looking at the xB, but decided it was a little too different looking. Figured I'd get some friends (especially the one with a bimmer) ripping on me. Also I like the Mazda3's interior alot more than the Scion. Well if you get the 3, get the S not the I, the S is worth the little bit of extra money. Actually I think my ranking of the 4 cars you listed would be:
1) Mazda3
2) Scion tC
3) Honda Civic
4) Ford Focus
5) Toyota Corolla

 

for a tight budget minded person consider mazda 3 5 door hatch...its a bargain !!!! With all the options i got except leather seatin...i paid $500 over invoice price @ 3.9 apr financing..plus the $500 rebate promo last march...im driving happy...but its my wife car tho...LOL
Don't get the scion xB..its like a refrigerator on wheels or a shoe box with wheels.....i jus don't get it why those people r thinkin why they r attracted to this scion xB...i always laugh to death if i see someone drivin an xB...honda civic ----boring design unless u have to revamp the looks and engine.....if u got money consider waiting for the new BMW 1 series coupe..but its expensive...and the 4 door hatch BMW 1 series will not be available in US market....but they r really identical...CLONE? maybe...LOL

 

I still haven't seen the Scion tC in person, but I've been happy with my M3 hatchback for the past couple of months. My last car was a 3 door Focus - which I liked very much, but the modifications I made to it caused it to become unreliable (intercooler/turbocharger, etc..). The Focus is (except for the SVT) is not in the same class as the other cars. Everyone I know who's owned a Jetta has been really unhappy with the cost of maintenance and the measely base engine that comes standard (I think it's around 140 horsepower). Civics are nice cars but like the Corolla, bland and more expensive then they should be.

 

Best bang for the buck Mazda 3 !!
heres my order

1.Mazda 3
2.Focus ZX4(gets the 2.3L)
3.Scion Tc
4.Toyota Corolla
5.Honda Civic

don't understand people's issues on this board with the Focus...it's a VERY well put together car and a great chassis design...

Mazda seems to agree Ford can make a chassis...they looked to Ford to help design the 3's chassis

 

I wasn't complaining about the Focus build quality - the only problem I had with my Focus that I think was Ford's fault was that they didn't have breakaway side-view mirrors (a very minor complaint). However, I did have some serious problems once I modified it - like the transmission dying on me.

 

Have you given any thought to a Lancer OZ or Ralli Art. My brother just got a Ralli Art fro $20K but that's with some options.

 

First off, Civics are the most overrated cars on the planet. DO NOT GET ONE!! Second, of your cars narrowed mine to the Scion and the 3, but the Scion is really, really slow. Not to mention, it's not done by Toyota, Scion is a separate company which, in my opinion, is a little shaky. I have a 3 and I love it. My only regret is that I couldn't afford the S, so if you can step it up get that, but the I is still a bargain.

 

i got hte 3s hatch for a little over 16,000 that was base. but it still has everything you need.

 

just got my 3s hatch the other day paid less then 18 and it was all power, 6 disc, moon roof and 17's for feet..... was comparing your other options..... i highly recomend the 3, either the 4 or 5 door, but go for the s of course....

 

I too was considering those cars and got the Mazda 3s hatchback, manual, yellow, moonroof/6CD in dash and I paid 17.2K through the internet fleet manager. The M3 is just the best car of the ones you listed, more horsepower, nice wheels, great handling, comfortable seats, and everything just looks nice and matches well. I recommend the moonroof, which I keep either open or tilted all of the time. Even at 65 mph there is basically no wind inside the car because of an alluminum deflector that pops up. The CD changer is sort of a novelty, but nice nonetheless. I'd say cloth over leather, the two tone seats look sharp and you won't slide around and it's not as hot. Would have liked ABS but couldn't find the complete package and color I wanted because they have lots of automatics and lots of silver and titanium. I think navigation is overrated.

Once you get everything you want, the scion is not that cheap and still isn't as nice. And who wants gauges in the middle of the dash? The Honda Civic EX is well packaged and you can get it cheaper. I was quoted a little over 15, manual with moonroof. The EX has everything you want including ABS, but again not as performance oriented as the Mazda and very common/boring. Also, the seat in the Honda is just plain uncomfortable. The Corolla S is a crappy car made to be "cool" with body kits that don't blend well. Great gas mileage and reliability, but I get 30 mpg in the M3 and the warranty is just as good. DO NOT get a jetta. It will seem nice, but reliability is terrible. European cars recently dropped lower on the scale than American. I don't know much about the Focus other than they gave me one Monday as a rental cause I was getting an oil change. It's not very nice, but you can get it really cheaply.