[IceFire]

For a couple of years now I've been thinking about buying a car.  I've been working all that time and fortunately work is pretty close and its easy for me to get a ride in and all that sort of thing right now so its not a big deal but I'm thinking that I should think about sorting it out so that I have my own vehicle when I need it and I stop bothering other people in the family when I need to go drive somewhere for the day.  So I've been researching up...and I've test driven the following vehicles:

Honda Civic EX
Mazda 3 Sport GT
Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
VW Rabbit (thats a Golf to the Americans)

Just not sure if I should buy one now even when I don't specifically *need it*.  I've also considered something a bit bigger like a Mazda 6 or a Ford Fusion or something like that...but not sure.  Looked at but don't like the current Matrix/Vibe design enough and the new Matrix looks kinda odd and both new Matrix/Vibe versions are either underpowered again and fuel efficient or relatively powerful but suck down the fuel worse than some midsizers.  Makes no sense.  I even considered looking at hybrids but the Prius is expensive and doesn't do it for me...the new Honda FCX isn't quite a reality yet but I'd love to drive something like that one day.  I'm environmentally conscious but practically minded with a dash of independence and fun thrown in the mix and damn its confusing.

Curious if other people own any of these cars listed or want to try and justify a car purchase

[vyper]

The Civic is a technically sound car but lacks heart - won't set your pulse racing unless it's the Type R. On the other hand Honda is very fuel efficient these days.

The Mazda 3 is a great car, but I don't know enough about US spec to comment specifically on the Sport GT. If it's equivalent to the MPS then go gadget go.

The Lancer is a very fast, customisable car  - but I find it ugly and it is costly.

The VW Golf is a great wee car, but very expensive compared to rivals. It'll run till hell freezes over, the GTI or R32 is fast as **** off a Teflon shovel, and safe to boot. Just don't expect to get any change back at the dealership.

The Mazda 6 is a nice car - ahead of the previous generation of Mondeo by quite a bit, and would probably blow the Fusion out the water.

If you really want a low cost solution consider the Kia Rio (the hatchback not that awful Saloon you guys get over there). It's about the size of the Golf (ish), cheaper, pretty solid, and unless you get into a drag race won't really let you down.

[IceFire]

I think I'd go for a Honda Fit (Jazz in Europe) over a Rio.  I know Kia's getting better but they aren't there yet for me

Sport GT is the Canadian top level below the Mazdaspeed 3 which is the MPS version in Europe/elsewhere.  In some markets the GT is the SP23 or very close.

I've been looking at the Civic and 3 pretty closely.  The 3's collision protection isn't quite as top notch but the results are sketchy because the tests were done on a 2004 US spec version of the car and all Canadian versions have standard side impact airbags that US versions don't.  And the Civic is more fuel efficient...but yeah the 3 looks cooler and has more getup and go.  Emissions wise they are probably about the same.

I've been researching for so long and I can't find the right match.  I honestly think the best car for me is with mixed and matched parts from all of the automakers

[BengalTiger]

What's your budget?

And what do you find in those cars that you like most?
The make/model, economy, safety, style, performance, cool factor?
Just asking, because we might find something not on the list that would fit as well.

[IceFire]

I have a problem where I sort of want it all

I'm looking for something that mixes and matches for practicality, fuel economy, highway performance (most of my driving is highway or country roads that are 60kph or more), and style definitely factors into it.  I'm all ears for possible suggestions.  I actually wouldn't mind checking out the new Saturn Astra when it arrives in December.  Its supposed to be a very well liked car in Europe (maybe some Europeans can attest to this).

[Ashrak]

just get a Peugeot 308 with a 2l petrol


or if your rich a 407 Coupe with a 3l petrol with twin turbos

[Fearless Leader]

Go for the Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
Mitsubishis  are good cars and its fast enough to have some fun.

[BengalTiger]

I have a problem where I sort of want it all

I'm looking for something that mixes and matches for practicality, fuel economy, highway performance (most of my driving is highway or country roads that are 60kph or more), and style definitely factors into it.  I'm all ears for possible suggestions.  I actually wouldn't mind checking out the new Saturn Astra when it arrives in December.  Its supposed to be a very well liked car in Europe (maybe some Europeans can attest to this).

So I own a car that:

+gets 22 MPG's when not in big traffic (I never tested it fully on the highway, people say it gets 28 MPG)

+is a highway missile (0-120 MPH in 30 seconds, easy to modify with a supercharger to get A LOT more power)

+is safe  (75 MPH rear end crash tested, doesn't explode when hit by a truck on the highway. NCAP- 5 stars front impact for the last 10 years in a row, side impact 4 stars, models equiped with SAB- 5 stars)

+has a cool factor (In the US, people sometimes made me room after seeing me in the mirror; In Europe EVERYONE looks at it)

+It's big, quiet and relaxing to drive (sometimes not to park though)

+Rear wheel drive, V8, Body on Frame construction (making it tough as a pickup truck)

but also:

-It gets 15 MPG as a 'thank you' for aggresive driving

-Might be as fast as a BMW 530, but it ain't going to keep up with a really fast car (ie. Corvette, BMW M3) without some serious mods

-If you don't like tradition mixed with old school, you might not like the style....


My car is a 1999 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, former cop car. If you're interested- try finding an '05 CVPI or newer to get all the goodies a brand new one has (only updates were like flex-fuel capability, a hub cap change or color package or some other mostly useless things). You could also try a Mercury Marauder.

Or if you don't like Ford, a Dodge Charger looks bad@$$ and has a cool engine available, but I never drove one, so I can't tell much about it.

[Black Wolf]

For years I was looking at getting a big 6 cylinder Ute (Ford XR6 Turbo most likely), but with petrol prices on the up and up, employment past 2 or 3 years looking shaky, I'm kind of forced to go smaller, into the range you seem to be exploring. I'm looking seriously at a Focus XR-5 for my new car in a few months (Focus ST220 in europe I think). All the good qualities of the new model focus, and enough power for the weight to make it fun and quick, plus cheaper than a GTI (36000 AUD) and cheaper for parts.

[IceFire]

Crown Victoria eh

Thats waaay to big for my tastes but good suggestion nonetheless!  There's some really nifty looking cars only available in Europe too that I wish they would bring to Canada. I know we're not a big enough market but we tend to have more European tastes in general (small cars, hatchbacks, etc.).

[BengalTiger]

And as a mostly European I love American cars, guess it works both ways.

[Stealth]

just get a Peugeot 308 with a 2l petrol


or if your rich a 407 Coupe with a 3l petrol with twin turbos

i assume when you say "petrol" you mean "engine" or "displacement", right?  crazy europeans...

get the mitsubishi or the civic.  the mazda 3 is trash.  and i've never been a golf fan.

or just bite the bullet and get a cadilac.

[diceman111]

just get a Peugeot 308 with a 2l petrol


or if your rich a 407 Coupe with a 3l petrol with twin turbos

I dont think they sell Peugeot in the US wich is bad considering its a very fun car, if you want a small car the 207 is quite nice, test drove the RC version a while back was pretty quick.

[IceFire]

And as a mostly European I love American cars, guess it works both ways.

American cars they sell in Europe or American cars they sell in America?  Two different things

[vyper]

just get a Peugeot 308 with a 2l petrol


or if your rich a 407 Coupe with a 3l petrol with twin turbos

i assume when you say "petrol" you mean "engine" or "displacement", right?  crazy europeans...

get the mitsubishi or the civic.  the mazda 3 is trash.  and i've never been a golf fan.

or just bite the bullet and get a cadilac.

He actually just missed the word engine out (e.g. 3L Petrol Engine) which is perfectly fine in this informal context. Ya ****ing yank.

Also - Mitsus just lack that x-factor. If I wanted to have a car that fast and reliable I'd buy an older BMW 3 series. But you (IceFire) don't, so let's move on. I'm with Stealth on the Civic - nice car, assuming it's the same one we have..

diceman's right - the 207 is nice, especially the RC. However the RC is going to be very expensive (so much so you'll be looking at badges further up the food chain thinking "I could get a 1-series a few years old for this money, or a big family hatch...). It's also a ***** to insure and the fuel bill will rape your wallet.

My big problem here is that normally I'd be saying "diesel performance hatch" (yes such a thing exists) - but I can't because I don't think you guys get a great deal of diesel options over there. Focus TDCi, Fabia/Leon FR/Golf/ TDi, 207/307/308 HDi 110. Everyone who is "into" cars usually slags off diesels, but it's really a point of snobbery these days rather than practical difference. Unfortunately, I don't know what it's like for you Canadians.   

[Fearless Leader]

just get a Peugeot 308 with a 2l petrol


or if your rich a 407 Coupe with a 3l petrol with twin turbos

I dont think they sell Peugeot in the US wich is bad considering its a very fun car, if you want a small car the 207 is quite nice, test drove the RC version a while back was pretty quick.

If only... if only...

[Inquisitor]

I got an 03 Golf, not GTI or R32, just the 2 litre model, about 6 months ago to supplement the Camry as a second car for the household.

Its an extremely fun car to drive.

[CP5670]

I took my parents' Odyssey minivan with me when I moved here since they were rarely using it. It works well enough for my purposes. I hardly ever go anywhere apart from a ten minute commute to the university anyway.