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Mazda 3 or Mazda 6? Things to consider
winter_combat_knight
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Hi folks, calling all car know-it-alls!
I'm purchasing my first car, after over a year of saving, I am settled on either a Mazda 3 or a Mazda 6.
My budget is 15K (Aussie Dollars) and am looking for something thats done under 120,000 Km's (which i find is reasonable expectation)
I could go either way with this. Being that im probably the only driver, i think a Mazda 3 would be good because its smaller, and cheaper to run. However, i dont want to jam myself into a corner of having a small car - so maybe the Mazda 6 is the better option.
Has anyone had any experience with these cars, and what are the benefits of each? Also, being my first car, any general advice on models and what to look out for with these cars would be huge help. cheers
Also, at the moment, these are two cars i'd consider having a look at (not actually going to purchase these, but just to give an idea of my train of thought at the moment).
http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/mazda-6-2004-12257086?base=1216&vertical=Car&cr=10&eapi=2&__N=1621 1246 1247 1252 1282 4294965340 4294961345 901 1216&silo=Stock&Range=Year:Min,Max|Price:Min,15000~1&sort=default
http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/mazda-3-2005-11953146?base=1216&vertical=Car&cr=3&eapi=2&__N=1621 1246 1247 1252 1282 4294965340 4294961285 901 1216&silo=Stock&Range=Year:Min,Max|Price:Min,15000~1&sort=default
I'm purchasing my first car, after over a year of saving, I am settled on either a Mazda 3 or a Mazda 6.
My budget is 15K (Aussie Dollars) and am looking for something thats done under 120,000 Km's (which i find is reasonable expectation)
I could go either way with this. Being that im probably the only driver, i think a Mazda 3 would be good because its smaller, and cheaper to run. However, i dont want to jam myself into a corner of having a small car - so maybe the Mazda 6 is the better option.
Has anyone had any experience with these cars, and what are the benefits of each? Also, being my first car, any general advice on models and what to look out for with these cars would be huge help. cheers
Also, at the moment, these are two cars i'd consider having a look at (not actually going to purchase these, but just to give an idea of my train of thought at the moment).
http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/mazda-6-2004-12257086?base=1216&vertical=Car&cr=10&eapi=2&__N=1621 1246 1247 1252 1282 4294965340 4294961345 901 1216&silo=Stock&Range=Year:Min,Max|Price:Min,15000~1&sort=default
http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/mazda-3-2005-11953146?base=1216&vertical=Car&cr=3&eapi=2&__N=1621 1246 1247 1252 1282 4294965340 4294961285 901 1216&silo=Stock&Range=Year:Min,Max|Price:Min,15000~1&sort=default
winter_combat_knight on
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The 3 has plenty of space for a single dude, not really significantly less than the 6. To be honest, more car for the money is generally always a better deal - I'd go for the 6 in your position.
I've driven a 2005 3, owned a 2005 Mazda 6 MPS for 4 years, and now own a 2011 6. I love the Mazdas, they are great cars.
To me they are basically identical cars, except as you already noted, the 3 is smaller and therefore has a smaller engine and therefore slightly more economical to run. For taking 2 people (wife and me for example) a 3 was fine. Getting a couple of passengers in the back was a bit uncomfortable for them, but for short trips its not a big problem. So I'd say unless you are carrying around 4 people on a regular basis, a 3 is a better choice for you. You will be able to get a much newer, or one with less KMs for the same cost bracket when compared to a 6. IMO you don't need the luxury packs, the standard model was fine. The exception would be an SP23 or 25 which actually has a bigger (or better, can't remember which) engine and isn't just cosmetic stuff, which may give you a bit more grunt at the cost of efficiency.
I assume you've already done your comparing between cars, but a couple of other good cars that compare to the 3 are the Mitsubishi Lancer and the Subaru Imprezza. I test drove brand new ones of these when I bought my recent 6, but they are in the same range as the 3 for car size and not what we were after. I was leaning to get a lancer over our current 6, but there were a few things that just don't compare to a 6, that would compare much more closely to a 3.
As usual the best thing to do is just test drive heaps of stuff, don't feel pressured to buy just because you test drove.
Edit: Also, check out the whirlpool forums' Automotive section.
Origin: KafkaAU B-Net: Kafka#1778
I really like my 3 and yeah it's enough car for a single dude
but yeah I would agree with the wisdom that if you're going to spend the same on either one... you might as well buy the most car you can and go for the 6
we also talk about other random shit and clown upon each other
And the few times I've needed a bigger car, I needed a ute anyway so having a bigger car wouldn't have been advantageous.
You be surprised about what fits in a small car.
It taken a six seat out door table setting home in my car before.
Satans..... hints.....
Those kind of things happen quite often, even to brands like Mercedes. Hell, even Rolls Royce: http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2011/11/02/rolls-royce-recalls-ghost-cars-for-electronics-that-may-catch-fire/
SP23 is a 2.3l engine, SP25 is a 2.5. I have an SP25 3 and would be happy to answer any specific questions, but it isn't actually in the price range so I won't go into it unless asked.
I would definitely recommend getting a 3 if you don't carry passengers very often. I occasionally carry 5 guys in my car and its alright if you're whipping out for a 15min trip. 4 guys is fine if the back two aren't too tall
I test drove both the impreza and lancer (in fact my previous car was a lancer) and personally, they just didn't measure up at all in driving feel. It wasn't even close. That's a personal preference though as everyone wants something different from drive characteristics. I've been very happy with Mazda as a company so far and am happy to give my random internet stranger seal of approval
Get a Mazda 3 hatch! infinitely more useful than a sedan - especially for a young single guy. you can move an entire apartment in one if you apply yourself!
And the Mazdaspeed 3 is amazing for the money too!
seriously tho - the 3 and the 6 are different animals (although with those tiny engines... bleh). The 3 is a basic compact car... the 6 is a larger midsize sedan with the improved road manners, sound deadening, etc. You should drive both (the way you would normally use the car - highway, local, etc.) and see which one works better for you.
Then I suppose it is a non-issue which is good!
I wasn't aware of a recall on older models, just the 2009/facelifted models. As quite a few engines on the 6 owners forums have been claimed by bad pre-cats.
OP: My wife has a Mazda 3 hatch and loves it, and for the time I had my 2005 6 GT I loved it. They're also very easy to customize/mod since there's a large owner base out there. I preferred the 6 because it was significantly roomier than my wife's 3.
For the 3 one thing to look at with regards to the luxury-type editions is that (at least in 07 in the US when I bought mine) the low end 3 only had side air bags in the one-above-basic model (touring I think?)... I have no idea what the status of that is in later years, but i'd definitely make sure you check into what the differences are
FWIW I know friends who have a 3 and a kid, and even then it's plenty of car. I nearly bought a 3 right up until the moment I played hardball and got an Impreza instead. The 3 is an awesome car for a single dude.