idolo

My sister is looking at buying a new car and as she knows nothing about cars has asked my opinon. She wants a manual sedan that can comfortably carry 4 people and is looking at spending around the 30k mark.

I suggested a Mazda 6 or a Honda Accord Euro so we test drove both. After the test drive i am leaning towards to Euro. More power, magical gearbox and much nicer interior although the 6 probably looks better.

Any of you have opinions on this or have seen reviews where they are head to head?

takahashi

I like the Euro more thant he 6 to be honest. I am sucked in to a better engine, nice interior and the xenon... hangon the luxuary package Euro will be more than $30K surely

I am sure there is reviews where they are head to head - have not been looking at them close enough.

Any interest in the Maximas? Too expensive?! The 307 are spacious too! Probably it is not if you have 3 kids :o

Saru

Indeed there has been.

Wheels with the HSV Coupe4 on the cover (6-8 months old). Accord Euro vs Mazda6 vs Subaru Liberty vs Holden Vectra V6. All autos, IIRC.

4. Vectra V6: Fast, crashy handling.
3/2/1: Pick and choose between remaining 3. Subaru for spirited driving, Accord Euro for cruising around. Mazda6 for the middle ground.

Though I love French cars, it's hard to compare a 307 to the Euro or Mazda6. For the same price, you'd get a 1.6L 307 or a 2L Mazda6. Peugeot people aren't that fond of the 307, anyway.

Drive the Mazda6 and the Accord Euro back to back. Pick the one that she likes best. At $30k, you'll be looking at the lowest spec Mazda6 and IIRC the cheapest Euro is $32k.

kiwimeat

I may have that Wheels comparison at home - I'll have a look tonight.

I test drove the Mazda 6 (Luxury Sport) and Accord Euro Luxury back to back in early 2004 (when it looked like I may be getting a job with a lease car).

Preferred the looks of the '6 even when the Euro had a body kit.

Performance and handling - Euro over the '6 (but I felt it was fairly close in the handling)

Interior - Euro except for the back seats.

At the time Honda didn't want to move on pricing whereas Mazda would (offered to beat the Euro Luxury price). To this day a simple way to get a deal on a '6 is to tell them you are seriously considering a Euro.

Have you considered the Mazda 3 (it's almost as big as the '6 but works out cheaper - best value is the Maxx Sport IMHO).

ILIV48

My closest friend just bought the Euro over the Mazda 6. I went with him for the test drives and I have to say we both liked the Euro more. A very nice car to cruise in.

My wife has the Mazda SP23 sedan and she loves it. She just raves over it and is always fighting with me over her wanting to drive that instead of taking the rx8 when we go out.

They are all good cars so I think you can't go wrong either way.

Gibbo

I would have to say, get her to test drive the Mazda SP23, great little car. A friend of mine has one and the Luxury 6 and I think it is a ball tearer.

So foget the 6 andthe Accord, go th SP23, I have travelled in the back seat a couple of times and fitted no problems, (I am 6'4")

idolo

Yeah i thought the Sp23 might be a goer as well so took one for a test drive on the weekend. I had just jumped out of the RX8 so wasn't over impressed by its power. Kind of an opposite power curve whereby it made power down low but died near redline. (yes i know i shouldn't compare it to the RX8).

It handled pretty well, took it round a few corners pretty quickly and grip was very good..i didn't get tyre squeel which i was expecting.

Although the 3 isn't that small and is a pretty good car for the money she isn't a rev head at all and is really looking at more of a family car like the Euro or the 6.

kiwimeat i think your advice is good...tell Honda u are going to buy the Mazda and vice versa and see who comes to the party on price.

timbo

Dunno how you're going to get either a decent spec 6 or Accord Euro for $30K. I reckon the Mazda3 SP23 is the go, or to save a bit, the Maxx Sport and, since you already have an 8, drive a really hard bargain with your Mazda dealer -- who should have his tail between his legs about that reply on your undercarriage replacement ... tell him "don't make me feel guilty about your problem, duckwit!"

Reckon with all that you'd get a great car for your sister at under $30K

takahashi

Yeah I like the 3 as well... but I doubt it is a family car.

Dunno your sis's family situation. But in my case I cannot put my wife's pram (cf. my pram that fits into my RX-8) into the 3's boot with some groceries.

6's boot will be just big enough

Lock & Load

idolo

Have you considered the Honda Jazz 1.5 ltre VTI S , GREAT CAR UPDATED MODEL JUST RELEASED$$ 27.500 on road .

cheers
michael

RXE16T

The 6 Limited sedan can be had at the moment for less than $28500 on the road, whereas the pov pack Accord sedan is well over $30K.

As for the SP23, good luck trying to convince a dealer to drop his pants too much on one........ looking at about $31K if you're lucky.

Based on your sister's requirements and importantly, price, the goer would definitely be the 6 Limited followed by the SP23 with the Accord trailing.

If I was in the same situation and could move $5K either way, I would go the Accord, but then again, I'm a revhead.