kwescott

someone has the car, just not Don.

Car search update. Rick from our autocross group reminded me of the racer support program through Mazda. He said that you can get a certificate to take into a dealer to get the car for 500 under invoice. I believe standard fleet sales is 500 over invoice.

The only car that would be eligible for us though, would be the mazda3. The hatch is ok looking, but is 17.9 and only comes with the standard 3yr/36k mile warranty. I could always buy an extended warranty. The four door sedan Mazda 3 starts at 14k, but is ugly in my eyes.

I still think the Lancer X is the front runner. The car is a bit bigger than the Mazda 3, has a more sporty look (in my eyes) and comes with a 10yr/100k mile warranty standard. One thing that worries me with Mitsu is the paint quality. Vipers knows all about this...

Other things to consider....is that we really don't have a mitsu dealer close to our house. The one that used to be at the Ontario auto center is gone. I think Riverside and San Bernardino are the closest dealers right now. If we went with mazda...service would be much more convenient.

I do have a Mitsu dealer by my work though...so that could work?

What are your guys opinions on the Lancer X.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

keith: some good cars there that you're considering. Just keep in mind that mitsubishi dealerships have been closing down lately so it might get even tougher in the near future if that dealersihp by your work disappears.

a few quick questions:
- I'm assuming we're trying to find a more 'family friendly' vehicle? (hence the sedans?)
- What our price range?

kwescott

Price Range: I want to have a payment at or below 400 with no more than a 60 month term (this equates out to something in the less than 20grand market, out the door).

Family Friendly: Yes.

Cars that I am aware of so far:
Honda Civic
Honda Accord (there are some good deals on the 06's since 07 has a body change)
Nissan Sentra
Nissan Altima (starts at 20g...so it is slightly out of the range)
Toyota Corolla (Ugly, no thanks)
Toyota Camry (starts at 20g...again, slightly out of the range)
Mazda 3 hatch
Mazda 3 sedan
Mitsu Lancer x
Vw Jetta (starts at 18.9 so it is on the cutoff)


Haven't looked yet at Chevy/Dodge/Saturn/Chrysler/Jeep

Detrich

u can always get a clear bra or nose mask for the lancer if you're worried about rock chips. also, since it's single layer paint, my guess is the touch-up paint they sell will most likely already be glossy- ie easier to use?

i dunno much about mitsubishi except that they make good cars. but, they are more like subaru in that they have fewer dealerships and their designs are always a bit left of the middle.

that said, one of my co-worker just bought a mazda3 hatch GT. and, WOW- what a nice car! the leather is actually better than ours (#$#$!), as are many things, actually- esp the spider alloy wheels... all the new mazda's seem to be kicking *** over the 2005 and earlier models. one of my best friends picked up a 2008 GT cx-9. and, holy cow, that thing is beyond NICE. the fit and finish is comparable if not better than the bmw x5- for almost $20k less money. (after seeing/ riding in it, there is no doubt why it won suv of the year in my mind.)

i'm still wondering what to do w/ my bmw vs mom's TL and lusting after the 08 M3 coupe myself... :P <sigh>

kwescott

Acura and BMW are out of the price range right now...as well as Lexus and Mercedes...oh, and Cadillac and...etc....

lesper4

iTrader: (3)

oh i like the CX-9 soooo much better then the CX-7.
Personally the lancer is nice but i woudl rather have the Mazda becaseu of the possibiltiy of stroage with a hatch (and the interiso just looks so much better). my last car, a 240 was a hatch and i loved it, the P5 is a hatch and we put all kinds of stuff it it. the 8 has no b pillar so that helps as well the lancer may limit you on large storage. but getting back to my initial; response i woudl stick with the warrety as teh main focus foucs point with all yoru driving....Captain please stay away i am not goign back to chekc this.

kwescott

...remember, we do have the truck...so we are not as limited as you may be with large storage issues.

The trunk on the Lancer, the Sentra, the Jetta and the Altima all look the same, they are huge. They all have fold down seats as well.

as a side...when I first got the 8, I still had stock parts from my Civic that I was selling on Ebay. I remember when I went to take my headlights down to UPS. I couldn't fit more than one of those boxes in the trunk of the 8 given the opening we have to deal with, with the 8. It has plenty of trunk room, now that the spare tire is out...but the opening is the restriction.

Detrich

i read on the lax forum about snowflake parting out her 8? are u guys selling it or what's going on?

FastRX8

Current issue of Car & Driver has a 9 page spread about the Mazdaspeed 3, Subaru Impreza WRX, Volvo C30 T5 and Dodge Caliber.

Here's a pic of the results.

lesper4

iTrader: (3)

i believe that is a different snowflake detrich...not snowfl8k

SnowFl8k

Nope - thats me! If we keep my car and only get rid of keiths, we will plan on autocrossing my car as a B-Stock car and that means getting rid of the mods. On the other hand if we get rid of BOTH our cars - mine will be worth more stock.

lesper4

iTrader: (3)

what about a ..........................ford.................... ..focus?
http://www.leftlanenews.com/ford-focus-st.html

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

in one word: NO

rglbegl

Something to consider

Mitsubishi has a great warranty that INCLUDES the turbo

Subie does not include turbo or several other important moving parts.




But in my opinion . . .The mazda 3 is the best small car out there right now.
I love the corolla, but they are just too . . . . plain.

FastRX8

I can't believe we're really having this discussion anyways.
All I have to say is look at this!!

lesper4

iTrader: (3)

OH THERE YOU GO GET THE BOO!! and you thought the 8 got attention...you wont get ingnored in the new Malibu!!

speeddemon32

He is not looking at an Evolution. he is looking at a Lancer. Turbos are not a concern of his.



I personally would go with the new Lancer. they look cool, they are plenty big, and the price is right. (right?) but hey... thats just me.

vipers

ooohhhh.... see keith confused me as well.... the new lancer isnt a lancer X... thats the new evo.... the lancer is just a lancer..... so when he put "X" ... i assumed he was referring to the evo.. which got me all happy... but oh well!

keith.... the only 2 colors that suck by mitsu are the rally red and winning white.... all other colors are fine... as long as it has some sort of mettalic in it, it has a clear... be weary of their regular colors.....

id say go for the new lancer.... that thing is just sex! especially if you get the GTS...(im not being biased becuase i own a mitsu... i really have no devotion to the tri-star.... i just love that lancer! i cant wait until the new evo comes out!)...


cesar... that malibu is fugly! the headlights look like a cobalt! i actually think they are off of a cobalt! the interior on the other hand looks quite nice!

FastRX8

If you get a Bu, we could start a Fontana monthly meet and drive 2008 thread over on www.TheBuClub.com

vipers

keith.. forgot to mention this.....

early in 2008, mitsu is coming out with a turbocharged lancer! it'll be the new ralliart lancer! but will remain fwd..... basically to contend with the MS3... but supposed to be priced around the same, if not a little lower than the MS3

FastRX8

FYI - No car is fugly when it's free & 100% of cost/maintenance is paid for.
When that car is brand new, it makes it even better.
That's why my Bu, the most beautiful car in the world.

Detrich

what's a BU?

lesper4

iTrader: (3)

lololol....you are not famliur with this fontucky talk ahh? Mali-BU!

lesper4

iTrader: (3)

i think almost everything on the new Bu came from some other car...did i hever tell you guys how much it reminds me of an 8...lol

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

see you guys in the morning!

detrich: BU is short for Malibu. (as in Chevy Malibu)