looking to buy a new car: help

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

I believe the North American Focus is one generation removed from the European one, just like the VW Golf's. Always one body shape behind. Fusion isn't bad, but styling is kind of blah.
Wow, it seems like the Mazda 3 is the "official vehicle" of CP...

well that's the problem, it's such a good car, has had so many good reviews and won so many awards that now it seems half of Calgary has them. it's pretty much dethroned the civic as the best affordable car on the market

[Cliche]

However, there is a problem with the door locks. Apparently on the mazda 3 it is possible to trick to the door alarm to unlock itself by denting the area around the door lock. There is a fix for that(which involves a metal plate for reinforcing the area around the door)

[Incinerator]

Originally Posted by Eddie Bronze

Knock some displays over in there, too?

Another CP Classic legacy up there with the Snot Boy Story...too funny

[Incinerator]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

well that's the problem, it's such a good car, has had so many good reviews and won so many awards that now it seems half of Calgary has them. it's pretty much dethroned the civic as the best affordable car on the market

I was at a traffic light a few days ago and there were 7, count'em SEVEN Mazda3s lined up in a line. I thought it was a Mazda3 meet or something. hatches & sedans all model types & colours were there.

[Bill Bumface]

The #1 reason to not get a Mazda 3 is everyone already has a Mazda 3, which says quite a bit about the car. Man that thing is a turnaround for Mazda compared to the Protege.

In that segment, one other car you should go test drive is the Subaru Impreza. Not flashy, but a VERY solid car. Handles nicer than most listed, and there can't be enough said for AWD. After borrowing an Impreza for a while I'll never buy a FWD car again. Especially in the snow. Its frustrating when a car with 100hp less than yours can walk away on you on wet or snowy roads just because of AWD.

[Incinerator]

I like how the Subies drive, but the maintenance cost is ridiculously high and the dealers in Calgary aren't exactly reputable from what I hear from my subie-owning acquaintances...

[Tyler]

Just bought a 2007 Mazda Sport.

Yup - quite the preferred automobile around these parts

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by Incinerator

I like how the Subies drive, but the maintenance cost is ridiculously high and the dealers in Calgary aren't exactly reputable from what I hear from my subie-owning acquaintances...

You could fly to the US, bring it back and still save thousands of bucks. Especially on the ones built in the US - Legacy, Outback and Tribeca.

I'm pretty sure when I have to replace my Mazda, I'll be getting a Subaru from the US.

[FlamesKickAss]

Well i went to advantage ford to test drive a fusion se i4, i liked it and the price was good, I still wanted to drive a 3 though. So I went down to Kramer test drove it and fell in love. If all goes well with the bank today I have bought a '07 3 GT sedan electric blue mica. I got talked into the luxury package with the leather seats. Oh I hope I get approved.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Cliche

However, there is a problem with the door locks. Apparently on the mazda 3 it is possible to trick to the door alarm to unlock itself by denting the area around the door lock. There is a fix for that(which involves a metal plate for reinforcing the area around the door)

That is a problem for 04-06's but they have fixed it for the 07's. But unfortunately you can't stop people from kicking in your doors and trying.

[Frank the Tank]

I have an '01 Focus Wagon and love it. Now I also have an '03 Focus ZX5. As far as bang for the buck, they have been awesome cars for us.

[ernie]

We've had three Mazdas. A 1996 Protege (lease), 2000 Protege (lease then bought) and 2004 Mazda 3 GT (lease, traded in the 2000).

Never had any problems with any of them. The only problem with the Mazda 3 I have is that when we bought it we were essentially the only ones in the city to have one. Now they are literally everywhere. It's like driving a CR-V or Rav-4....you can't find your car in the parking lot because there are bound to be 4 or 5 in the same row as you!

We recently purchased a Nissan X-Trail Bonavista edition. Many dealerships in Canada are giving $5000 off of them right now as the X-Trail has been phased out in Canada to be replaced by the crossover Rogue this summer/fall. A nice vehicle that I believe is Nissan's best selling vehicle in Europe. Good amount of space and the mileage is great. Better than the Mazda 3 in fact, though of course I drive the X-Trail a bit differently than I drive the Mazda. I get over 25 mpg in the city and over 35 on the highway with the Nissan...pretty darn good for an SUV (albeit a small one).