Need some new car advice

[Batman]

I'm getting ready to shop for a new car, and have narrowed it down to three choices -- a Mazda3, a Nissan Sentra, or a Toyota Corrolla. All of them are about the same price, and I've rented the Mazda and Nissan in the last couple months and both seemed to drive OK. Haven't test-driven a Corrolla, but it's got a good reputation. All three cars seem to have gotten good reviews, too.
So for anybody who's owned one of these (a 2006 or 2007 model, preferably), are there any suggestions? How do they hold up once they get broken in? How's the gas mileage? Any help is appreciated.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

I'm getting ready to shop for a new car, and have narrowed it down to three choices -- a Mazda3, a Nissan Sentra, or a Toyota Corrolla. All of them are about the same price, and I've rented the Mazda and Nissan in the last couple months and both seemed to drive OK. Haven't test-driven a Corrolla, but it's got a good reputation. All three cars seem to have gotten good reviews, too.
So for anybody who's owned one of these (a 2006 or 2007 model, preferably), are there any suggestions? How do they hold up once they get broken in? How's the gas mileage? Any help is appreciated.

From what I've read - key phrase ... I've driven none of the above - I would go with either the Nissan Sentra or Toyota Corolla.

Toyotas tend to be the most bulletproof, though Nissan tends to give their cars a little bit more punch. I've owned two Nissans ... outstanding vehicles, but based on my ownership, the auxiliary items (i.e., non-mechanical bits that won't leave you stranded on the side of the road) tend to go after a few years.

The Mazdaspeed3, not the Mazda 3, has earned strong reviews. But those were performance numbers as a new vehicle. Given that Mazdas now have Ford mechanical bits, it would rate a distant third on my list (for those of you with older Mazdas, hang onto them for dear life ... ).

Bottom line: Flip a coin between the Corolla and Sentra ... or see which dealer has the better selection and offers the better deal. Let Ford/Mazda continue to flop around like a beached whale ...

 

[JR]

We drove a Toyota Matrix to NYC and back. Nice car.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

I'm getting ready to shop for a new car, and have narrowed it down to three choices -- a Mazda3, a Nissan Sentra, or a Toyota Corrolla. All of them are about the same price, and I've rented the Mazda and Nissan in the last couple months and both seemed to drive OK. Haven't test-driven a Corrolla, but it's got a good reputation. All three cars seem to have gotten good reviews, too.
So for anybody who's owned one of these (a 2006 or 2007 model, preferably), are there any suggestions? How do they hold up once they get broken in? How's the gas mileage? Any help is appreciated.

From what I've read - key phrase ... I've driven none of the above - I would go with either the Nissan Sentra or Toyota Corolla.

Toyotas tend to be the most bulletproof, though Nissan tends to give their cars a little bit more punch. I've owned two Nissans ... outstanding vehicles, but based on my ownership, the auxiliary items (i.e., non-mechanical bits that won't leave you stranded on the side of the road) tend to go after a few years.

The Mazdaspeed3, not the Mazda 3, have earned strong reviews. But those were performance numbers as a new vehicle. Given that Mazdas now have Ford mechanical bits, it would rate a distant third on my list (for those of you with older Mazdas, hang onto them for dear life ... ).

If only Ford would bring in some of its European models .... your opinion would change. Night-and-day level of difference between US and European versions --- or for that matter, between US and Australian Fords (Give my right arm for a Down-Under built Ford Falcon, would I. Instead, we get the Taurus/Five Hundred. )

 

[EStreetJoe]

I drive an '06 Toyota Corolla I got in early July last year (after totalling my '02 Corolla a week and a half before my wedding). With mostly in-town driving I'm getting right around 30 miles per gallon (running the AC might drop it to 28 miles per gallon). If I do a lot of highway driving, that goes up to 35+ miles per gallon. So I highly recommend the Corolla.

Acceleration is great for feeding onto highways, it rides smoothly, it handles great for making those three-point turns and parallel parking, the '06 I have not only has a low fuel light, but a light to alert you if the pressure in any of the tires is low. A "Maintainance Required" (not the check engine) light comes on at start-up and ocassionally while driving when you start getting within 100-200 miles of the recommended oil change mileage.

The other thing to consider is which cars hold their value longest. The Toyotas definitely have a high resale value/insurance value if you get into a bad accident.

I love my Corolla.

 

[Batman]

That's a shame about the Mazda. I drove one on a trip to Florida and really liked it. It was fun to drive and had some giddy-up. The accelerator was so light it was actually hard to keep it under 80 on the highway. But I'm proud to have never owned a ****ed Over Rebuilt Dodge, and I don't want to start now. Especially if it's a Ford in sheep's clothing.

 

[PaperDoll]

I just had a brand new Mazda3 rental for my southern adventure, and I liked it a lot (though not nearly as much as my '03 Protege).

It goes really fast really quickly. The speed limit on the highways was 75, and I found myself going significantly faster most of the time. I didn't even notice and I was goin' 90!

Definitely try the car on first, particularly if you're tall or have long legs. I wound up with aches in muscles I didn't know I had because I was stretching my arms to hold the steering wheel comfortably.

Oh, and the light that says you're low on gas is hard to see over the steering wheel. But I didn't run out in the middle of nowhere... really! I just got damn close. :-X

 

[Sam Mills 51]

That's a shame about the Mazda. I drove one on a trip to Florida and really liked it. It was fun to drive and had some giddy-up. The accelerator was so light it was actually hard to keep it under 80 on the highway. But I'm proud to have never owned a ****ed Over Rebuilt Dodge, and I don't want to start now. Especially if it's a Ford in sheep's clothing.

Because it had seriously cooked itself financially, Mazda didn't have a choice when Ford came calling.

 

[Breakyoself]

i just got a Mazda3 and like it a lot. As for price, it depends what you get in the car, but I think the corrolla and altima are a little more, although both are damn good cars too.

 

[txsportsscribe]

check out the saturn aura

 

[HeinekenMan]

I rented a Ford Fusion and thought it was okay. I owned a Corolla and didn't like it's weak engine. Does anyone know about he Mitsubishi Lancer? I see a lot of those on the road.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

I rented a Ford Fusion and thought it was okay. I owned a Corolla and didn't like it's weak engine. Does anyone know about he Mitsubishi Lancer? I see a lot of those on the road.

The all-new one for 2008 is highly thought of by Car And Driver. The old base models, not so much. The Lancer Evolution is great for hoonage, but it's not exactly a family car.

 

[mike311gd]

I'm a Honda guy through and through, so I'd recommend a Civic or an Accord; they get tremendous gas mileage and I've never had a problem worse than a flat tire with them. That said, between those three, I've heard only good things about the Corrolla, especially with the gas mileage.

 

[PaperDoll]

Has anybody tried the hybrid versions of the smaller cars? I'll likely be car shopping in the spring, and it seems like a great way to save on gas mileage... but I'm still a little skeptical.

 

[Corky Ramirez up on 94th St.]

Jesus, why no love for Fords? I own a '99 Ford Ranger 4x4 that I bought new with five miles. Now I have 166,000 miles, and to this point I have spent a grand total of $285 on the engine (for a new alternator and a new thermostat) and maybe $1500 total on everything else (new rear leaf springs being the biggest purchase) including the aforementioned engine. I couldn't be happier with it (although the tape deck just quit) and it's hauled everything/gone everywhere.

That said, as soon as a new job comes along, it's time to get a new one...anyone ever drive the Dodge Magnum?

 

[Platyrhynchos]

I likely won't be buying a new vehicle again, just used. They depreciate so fast, you can get a really, really good two- to three-year-old vehicle for a fraction of what a new one would cost.

 

[lone star scribe]

My son was asking much the same question about unloading his used car and buying his first new car. I suggested looking at the new hybrid Camry.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

My impression of hybrids so far is that the mileage savings is not as high as claimed, while the extra money you spend is more than the price of the gasoline you would save.

How about a Jetta TDI? I've heard many good things.

 

[Write-brained]

DO NOT buy a car from a dealer without reading this story. Great piece in which the Edmunds reporter goes undercover at two dealerships in three months.

http://www.edmunds.com/advice/buying/articles/42962/page001.html

 

[OTD]

I'd stick with the Corolla or Sentra. I'm still suspicious of the Mazda/Fords ever since renting a Focus that seemed like it was put together with Tinkertoys.

The Corolla or Sentra, especially the Corolla, are just about bulletproof. If they're the same price, go with the Corolla. But you'll be happy with either.

I will say that I just drove a new Taurus on vacation last month. I put about 2500 miles on it in a week. Drove great, was solidly put together, was very comfortable and had plenty of room. For just driving, I'd put it ahead of my Nissan Altima, which I love. I'd wait awhile to see the reliability figures though before buying.