New Car time at last

[JohnHKart]

Not replacing my trusty rebuilt 93 Escort Wagon, I'm just going to semi retire it and drive it for gigs and other times( like trips to Mexico, bad neighborhoods ( like concerts in LA ) or leaving in park and ride lots. Just celebrated it's 20th bday in July born in Hermosillo Mx then and 300,000 miles June 17. The candidates are the 2014 Mazda 3 hatch and the 2014 Ford Focus hatch. ( The new ride must be a hatch.) It's the culmination of five years of heavy auto industry research and becoming an Autoblog, Car and Driver/ Edmunds etc guru. I just rented two weeks ago 2013 Mazda i Sky hatch to compare it to my 1300 mile Focus ride last Sept to Reno races and back to LA. Did about 500 miles. I must have missed something, but I'm not understanding the constant high marks this car gets. It was a stiffly sprung ride, cheap interior, horrible display that's un readable during the day, and very noisy . The air got hotter when you stepped on the gas pedal. WTF??? While there was plenty of leg room, the cloth seat virtually put my back out from lack of lumbar support and was torture. The Focus seat was better, but not that great , think I will spring for leather no matter what I end up in. My friend hated the Mazda and told me not to buy it. The brakes also were not as good as the Focus, and I knew going in there is not as much HP, seems like those highway passes take longer than the Ford. But for me the power was quick enough and the car had good handling on
corner entry and exit, although didn't really get on many twisty roads. I also liked the styling and looks, the goofy face has been improved to now being a non issue for me since its first horrifying appearance in 2010. The brakes also were not as good as the Focus.

Focus is a better car and feel its more refined. The 2014 3 will have to do a better job to compete with the Focus. With more weight being shaved , somehow I can't see the noise problem going away in the Mazda. My Escort is just deafening at speeds past 70, so noise is a huge deal breaker for me. Certainly on paper the Mazda 3 2014 hatch looks amazing with some great new features and it's probably the most beautiful car in the segment . I'll give it a chance.

Including my Escort I ended up driving 8 cars two weeks ago. Went to the Ford Ecoboost challenge at the Rose Bowl and drove the Fiesta and Focus St models, the Fiesta St was awesome. The Focus St was also awesome but so spoiled with great gas mileage in my Escort I just can't stomach premium fuel and barely getting 30MPG. I'd say the Mazda and Camry were the biggest disappointments of driving 8 cars that week. The Camry was godawful ! The Fiesta St was the best car I drove, but need space to get to some gigs and I think premium fuel is a deal breaker. Keep in mind I'm able to hit 36-39 when dialed back in my Escort. I love the idea of all that power in the St's but most of my driving is city (5 miles to work) at 45 MPH or less. I drove the TDI Golf for one week in Germany in 2009 and its the best car I ever drove, but no VW or any German for me until I'm rich. My mechanic wrote down on a piece of paper no VW and no Nissan. Suburu ain't gonna happen and Toyota/ Honda/ Hyundai/Kia/Deutschland/crossover/SUV/Prius/Hybrids/Electric: No Way!!! Also , although the rental DCT was great, no DCT semi auto Focus for me either ( ive seen enough about it) and my boss's 2003 automatic trans in his 2003 Acura just failed at only 90k so that seals the deal that I'm sticking with manuals. Last year my Escort manual trans finally failed- at 281000!!!.

So at last, I have the down payment saved, stellar credit and ready to put my money where my mouth is. I've also got a stellar and savvy airplane dealer friend and whiz of a sister in law to help me at the stores. It's my dream team. I'm just waiting for the 14 Mazda to hit the lots and then we do the last test drives.

[Gnam]

( The new ride must be a hatch.)
Does it have to have four doors, and do you need seats for four adults?
Does it have to be a newer car (within 5 years)?

[opinionated ow]

Considered a Volvo V40? Essentially the same as the 3/Focus twins but better looking and a tad bit classier.

[JohnHKart]

Thanks guys. Yea, first ever new car... Pretty set on Ford Focus or the Mazda 3 2014. I really loved that Fiesta St, if I go crazy I will end up in that!

[WickerBill]

Do you have service-enabled dealers close by for both? Which one offers Saturday hours?

[JohnHKart]

Yes. Am in LA on border or LA/Oc county.,, Tons of stores, probably will shop in OC thanks to awful LA tax rate.

[TravelGal]

Word to the wise. I rent a Ford Focus nearly every time I visit TravelMom. Therefore, about every 5 weeks for a week. I like them but each one is different. Even Mom notices it. Be very sure exactly what you're getting. If you don't drive one off the lot you might be unpleasantly surprised if something you particularly liked is moved or redesigned.

[nrc]

I really wanted to love the Focus ST when I drove it but it kind of left me cold. It's a very good little sedan with a hatch on the back. It just didn't have the edge to it that I wanted. Also the dash really didn't appeal to me. I hated having the electronic status display right in the middle crowding speedo and tach. At least those are proper dials.

The current Mazda 3 has gotten pretty long in the tooth but I still prefer the dash layout over the overly busy Focus. The next generation looks even better from the picture. My concern with the new Mazdas is whether the longer stroke SkyActiv four banger will have the same zoom-zoom as the old MZR four banger.

Of course one challenge with shopping this year will be that Mazda dealers will be less likely to deal on the new Mazda 3 than the Ford dealers will on the Focus.

[cameraman]

I just saw a 2013 Subaru Impreza 2.0i 5 door that looked very nice. I might go waste someone's time and drive one.

[DagoFast]

I'm curious what the bore/stroke on the Ford is in comparison to the new Sky activ Mazda engine? Most manufacturers are moving to longer strokes for better fuel economy. My 2011 Elantra has a very under square design at 81 mm bore x 87.12 mm stroke. It will still happily rev to a 6k redline, but it has enough torque that it isn't necessary to rev it like the 4 bangers of yesteryear.

[nrc]

I'm curious what the bore/stroke on the Ford is in comparison to the new Sky activ Mazda engine? Most manufacturers are moving to longer strokes for better fuel economy. My 2011 Elantra has a very under square design at 81 mm bore x 87.12 mm stroke. It will still happily rev to a 6k redline, but it has enough torque that it isn't necessary to rev it like the 4 bangers of yesteryear.

The Focus 2 liter is 3.44 x 3.27 (same as the Mazda version of the MZR 2.0). The SkyActiv 2.0 is 3.29 x 3.59.

The Ford makes 160hp @ 6500 146lb-ft @ 4450 and delivers 26/36mpg
The Mazda makes 155 hp @ 6000 rpm 148 lb-ft @ 4100 rpm and delivers 27/39mpg

It's true that the average driver values mash the pedal torque over peak horsepower and it's clear that Mazda is making that trade-off to net a couple more MPG. But the heart of "zoom-zoom" has always been engines that are smooth and tractable all the way to redline so I'm a little concerned about this new direction.

[DagoFast]

I'm not sure you need to be too concerned. With dual intake runners, variable valve timing and other tricks, mine has a very flat torque curve from 2k-over 5k RPM. I guess we'll all have to wait and see how the SkyActiv is. The 2 litre version of the Nu has GDI added to the mix and its bore/stroke is even more under square at 81 X 97mm.

If you are used to peaky engines that were doggy down low but then delivered a big punch up high in the rev range when the cam/boost hit, you will probably not like it initially. But like most things, us humans are pretty adaptable. I quickly learned to love having power in a big range of RPM's.

[chop456]

Yes. Am in LA on border or LA/Oc county.,, Tons of stores, probably will shop in OC thanks to awful LA tax rate.

Taxes are charged for where you live, not where you buy. Unless California is even dumber than I thought. :gomer:

[TravelGal]

Taxes are charged for where you live, not where you buy. Unless California is even dumber than I thought. :gomer:

Isn't that for online shopping? If I buy a loaf of bread in Orange County, I pay their sales tax, whatever that rate may be. OTOH, if I buy a car registered in Texas, I get to pay California sales tax (LA version because that's where I live) when I go to register the car. I did that once. Quite the revoltin' development.

[Insomniac]

Isn't that for online shopping? If I buy a loaf of bread in Orange County, I pay their sales tax, whatever that rate may be. OTOH, if I buy a car registered in Texas, I get to pay California sales tax (LA version because that's where I live) when I go to register the car. I did that once. Quite the revoltin' development.

It's supposed to be that way for everything, but in practice it isn't. What I never understood was why they can collect the difference if it benefits them, but not you. Anyone ever try and put in a negative amount for your use tax because you overpaid in other states vs. your rate?

[chop456]

Isn't that for online shopping? If I buy a loaf of bread in Orange County, I pay their sales tax, whatever that rate may be. OTOH, if I buy a car registered in Texas, I get to pay California sales tax (LA version because that's where I live) when I go to register the car. I did that once. Quite the revoltin' development.

No idea about online purchases. I was referring specifically to car buying. If you got to pay based on where you buy, everyone would buy where it benefited them. I would, anyway. :tony:

[Edit] And I just turned 400K on my TDI yesterday, so n'yah! :D

[WickerBill]

[Edit] And I just turned 400K on my TDI yesterday, so n'yah! :D


That is awesome!

[sadams]

[Edit] And I just turned 400K on my TDI yesterday, so n'yah! :D

WOW. I thought I was doing good closing in on 200K on mine.

[cameraman]

And I just turned 400K on my TDI yesterday, so n'yah! :D

So at the rate that I rack up mileage I will have to drive my 18 year old Subaru for another 34 years before I hit 400K.
If parts are becoming an issue now....

[TravelGal]

No idea about online purchases. I was referring specifically to car buying. If you got to pay based on where you buy, everyone would buy where it benefited them. I would, anyway. :tony:

[Edit] And I just turned 400K on my TDI yesterday, so n'yah! :D

Wish I'd been that aware when I bought the TX car. I paid where I bought AND where I lived. As for other stuff lots of people cross state (and national) lines to buy cigarettes, booze, etc. to pay the tax (or lack thereof) where they buy as opposed to where they live. The states keep trying to stop that but they aren't always successful.

Good work on the TDI. Another 100,000 or so and you can be in a commercial for them. ;)

[Gnam]

Nissan NVP 3500

The photo isn't convincing, but I just saw one of these in flat black with all the chrome blacked out. Very sinister looking. It would not have been out of place in an armed presidential escort convoy. :eek:

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/minivans-vans/1111_2012_nissan_nv_3500_hd_passenger_van_first_lo ok/

http://s29.postimg.org/5g22tn6k7/front_view.pnghttp://s8.postimg.org/kxx9m4bj9/KH3.jpg

[nrc]

A sinister bread van?

[opinionated ow]

Nissan NVP 3500

The photo isn't convincing, but I just saw one of these in flat black with all the chrome blacked out. Very sinister looking. It would not have been out of place in an armed presidential escort convoy. :eek:

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/minivans-vans/1111_2012_nissan_nv_3500_hd_passenger_van_first_lo ok/

http://s29.postimg.org/5g22tn6k7/front_view.pnghttp://s8.postimg.org/kxx9m4bj9/KH3.jpg

i take that and raise you the new London cab...
600

[rosawendel]

Hagerty called the Fiesta ST a future collectible, chich I imagine has some translation to the Focus ST: http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mkm45gkkig/2014-fiesta-st/

Myself, I liked the Focus' performance numbers, but the interior was a bit chotch. I'm quite happy with my GTI (I would have considered the R, but the insurance numbers put it on par with a BMW M3 - I imagine because of stupid twenty-somethings going all "fast and furious" with it)

[NismoZ]

Never easy to suggest what somebody ELSE should buy without knowing about a dozen other bits of information but the ONLY reason I traded my M'Speed 3 was for winter driving consideration. Turns out THIS winter, if I had kept that little piece of affordable fun, I wouldn't have been able to leave the driveway! Sad to hear rumors of a new Speed3 without a turbo and about 63 less ZOOM power!:irked: Yep, going for the mpg. but I got 33.5 highway AND a spirited drive, plus hatch utility. My wife loves the new CX-5 which has even MORE utility AND 4-season practicality...compares VERY well with anything else in it's class, 35.5 on our only road trip so far but C'MON, it doesn't come close to the driving satisfaction I felt before. I have actually considered getting a new discounted/closeout '013 'Speed3...(only 5 in a 50 mi. radius...and all RED!) I may have to look for a more comfortable family room couch first!:(

[nrc]

Never easy to suggest what somebody ELSE should buy without knowing about a dozen other bits of information but the ONLY reason I traded my M'Speed 3 was for winter driving consideration. Turns out THIS winter, if I had kept that little piece of affordable fun, I wouldn't have been able to leave the driveway!

With full snows on the Miata we haven't had any weather that I've been uncomfortable driving it in. It really is an big difference - more manageable than my MINI with all seasons. Of course I don't have 260hp to put down through the steering end.

[cameraman]

Here ya go :D

http://www.roadandtrack.com/cm/roadandtrack/images/kU/vw-20microbus-20concept-jl-0001.jpg

[Gnam]

It's not a new car, but it could be new to you:


Porsche 907 Longtail for sale

The 1968 Porsche known as the 907 Longtail is coming up for sale at the Gooding & Co. auction at Amelia Island, Ga., in about a week and it is indeed an historic car. Gooding says it was raced at Le Mans (it won its class in 1971) and at Sebring and Monza. Only eight were made and this is one of two survivors. Bidding is expected to be up in the $5 million area.

http://s3.postimg.org/k95y3asj7/screen_shot_2014_02_27_at_7_58_39_am.png

http://blog.sfgate.com/topdown/2014/02/28/amelia-island-auction-a-porsche-race-car-may-go-for-as-much-as-5-million/#20958101=0