Looking into buying one of the 3...

[bamacheats]

I'd stick with a Jap car. I drive Hondas. Japs just put a better product on the road imo.

Koreans are making a push though. New Hyundais are pretty sweet. Elantra gets about 31 mpg in daily driving and 40 on the highway, without batteries.

[Orangesmokey]

The GTO are nice cars but since Pontiac is no more they are getting harder to find parts for unless you go aftermarket. Which is not really a big deal if you are talking about engine or suspenion parts, but if it comes down to interior parts you might have a hard time finding stuff through a dealer. There is always a junk yard or ebay but you never know what you are going to get with those two options. Just something to think about.

The Mini's are fun to drive but can be expensive to maintain since they recommend Mobil 1 oil or at least full synthetic oil. Which means at least $60 bucks an oil change. I don't remember for sure what their service interval is but I think it's every 7500 miles. $60 every 7500 miles isn't really bad but again something to think about.

I can't really comment on the Mazda because I don't have any experience with them. The only thing I can comment on is a friend of mines dad has one and enjoyes driving it but the AC compressor went out and is the neighborhood of $600 to fix it. He has yet to fix it.

[Orangesmokey]

Originally Posted by bamacheats

I'd stick with a Jap car. I drive Hondas. Japs just put a better product on the road imo.

Koreans are making a push though. New Hyundais are pretty sweet. Elantra gets about 31 mpg in daily driving and 40 on the highway, without batteries.

I work for a Hyundai dealer and it is crazy to see where they are now and where they started. I bought my wife a Sonata and she has loved it. It has gotten great gas mileage on the highway and in town.

[Orangesmokey]

Originally Posted by Dudleys87

looking at the GTO, is it true they need premium gas strictly?

It is recommended that they use premium gas to get the performance out of the engine but you don't have to use premium. I have seen people who didn't used premium gas had issues later in the cars life; like oxygen sensors failing. Those also could be caused by just the sensor going bad but the few times I have seen it the customer themselves asked if using non-premium gas could have cause the oxygen sensor to fail.

[Nerd-Vol]

The Speed 3 needs premium. I own one. Ask me questions.

[Nerd-Vol]

I looked at the GTO. But I liked the utility of the hatch. The mini needs more hp.

The Mazda has plenty of room. I am 6'5".

[Nerd-Vol]

What year speed 3?

[possumslayer]

Originally Posted by Dudleys87

Mazda Speed 3

or

2004 Mini Cooper S

or

GTO 6.0

Opinions VN?

Penn st. fan ?
Posted via VolNation Mobile

[MG1968]

the new Subaru BRZ or it's twin over at Toyota/Scion

the 2013 Dodge Dart is pretty nice as well

[Pepe_Silvia]

Originally Posted by Orangesmokey

The GTO are nice cars but since Pontiac is no more they are getting harder to find parts for unless you go aftermarket. Which is not really a big deal if you are talking about engine or suspenion parts, but if it comes down to interior parts you might have a hard time finding stuff through a dealer. There is always a junk yard or ebay but you never know what you are going to get with those two options. Just something to think about.

The Mini's are fun to drive but can be expensive to maintain since they recommend Mobil 1 oil or at least full synthetic oil. Which means at least $60 bucks an oil change. I don't remember for sure what their service interval is but I think it's every 7500 miles. $60 every 7500 miles isn't really bad but again something to think about.

I can't really comment on the Mazda because I don't have any experience with them. The only thing I can comment on is a friend of mines dad has one and enjoyes driving it but the AC compressor went out and is the neighborhood of $600 to fix it. He has yet to fix it.

Or he could just change the oil himself for about $20 less.

[Orangesmokey]

Originally Posted by Pepe_Silvia

Or he could just change the oil himself for about $20 less.

This a true statement but not everyone is capable of changing their own oil.

Edit: Everyone has the cabability to change it but not everyone should change their own oil.

[volinbham]

the cost/benefit for me of using a jiffy lube is pretty clear.

[Nerd-Vol]

Changing the oil on the Mazda is a pain in the bottom.

[Orangesmokey]

Originally Posted by Nerd-Vol

Changing the oil on the Mazda is a pain in the bottom.

That's thing most people don't have a lift to change their own oil so it's not simple or easy to change in the garage or drive way on the floor.

[milohimself]

Originally Posted by Orangesmokey

That's thing most people don't have a lift to change their own oil so it's not simple or easy to change in the garage or drive way on the floor.

Not really any more difficult than putting on a spare once you know what you're doing. Hell, the jack that comes with the car should be all you need, but $80 on a jack and jack stands from Sears is a good investment for any car owner.