Subaru WRX or Mazda3 2.3L?

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ibuildthings - 06 Mar 2006 07:59 GMT

Tried both this weekend. WRX TR turbocharged and Mazda 3 with 2.3 L engine.
Neither has a sunroof, I am too tall to want one.

I loved both cars. Each one, I would buy in a minute, if I was only 6 feet
tall. I fit more comfortably in the Mazda3, but the WRX is tolerable and a
LOT faster.

I haven't seen too many severe complaints on the boards about either, not
like some of the other cars out there. Consumer Reports claims both have
above average reliability. The WRX costs a bunch more. Is it worth it?

Anyone here have practical experience they care to share? Troubles, joys,
factory "policy" decisions, anything?

Thanks in advance.

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Dave Combs - 06 Mar 2006 15:47 GMT

Wow, you must be really tall! I'm 6'4" and I bought a Mazda3 2.3 for my
soon to be licensed son last Oct. I happen to fit in it even with a sun
roof. Can't say that about many cars. Of course it does depend on your leg
length/torso ratio. The only car I've ever owned where I had to pull the
seat forward a bit was a 1964 MGB. Well enough of this disgressing.

Both are fine cars. I've had no problems with the Mazda. Great handling (a
safety feature in my opinion) and it has low end quickness. With the 5
speed automatic, if you're in 4th or 5th the "kickdown" has a slight lag.
Milage around town (Los Angeles w/ minimal freeway driving) has been 21-22.

Guess it gets down to your need for speed and whether you like the "boy
racer" look with the hood scoop and rear wing.

Were I to buy a car for myself, the Mazda3 would be the standard I measured
everything against.

Good luck!

Dave

> Tried both this weekend. WRX TR turbocharged and Mazda 3 with 2.3 L engine.
> Neither has a sunroof, I am too tall to want one.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Thanks in advance.

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ibuildthings - 13 Mar 2006 00:21 GMT

My "need for speed" was settled several years ago, when I raced my Norton
Commando through the streets of LA. Now it is "good enough for an
occasional thrill" and "reliable enough for daily driver". Got a little
older, what can you do?

I opted for the Mazda3. It was more comfortable, fast enough, more creature
comforts, and $5500 cheaper.

Thanks all.

"happy new M3 driver"

> Wow, you must be really tall! I'm 6'4" and I bought a Mazda3 2.3 for my
> soon to be licensed son last Oct. I happen to fit in it even with a sun
[quoted text clipped - 40 lines]
>>
>> Thanks in advance.

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FanJet - 13 Mar 2006 03:58 GMT

> My "need for speed" was settled several years ago, when I raced my
> Norton Commando through the streets of LA.

A family member owned one of these with the 'police package'. As I recall,
it'd blow your hair around from 15 paces to the rear.

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Jeffrey Kaplan - 06 Mar 2006 20:01 GMT

It is alleged that ibuildthings claimed:

> Tried both this weekend. WRX TR turbocharged and Mazda 3 with 2.3 L engine.
> Neither has a sunroof, I am too tall to want one.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> Anyone here have practical experience they care to share? Troubles, joys,
> factory "policy" decisions, anything?

Not +exactly+ the same comparison, but in the Spring of 2000 I compared
the then-current WRX against the then-current Protege. The WRX trunk
was too hard to get stuff into, and the rear seatback didn't fold to
make more room. That plus the fact that the WRX was almost $4000 more
expensive.

Speed fun is nice, but in some things practicality wins out. I got the
Protegé ES. As it turned out, I would up needing that seat fold down
feature less than a year later.

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ibuildthings - 13 Mar 2006 00:48 GMT

> Speed fun is nice, but in some things practicality wins out.

Yup, you got older too, right?

Thanks for the helpful feedback. I got the Mazda3.

> It is alleged that ibuildthings claimed:
>
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
> Protegé ES. As it turned out, I would up needing that seat fold down
> feature less than a year later.

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Jeffrey Kaplan - 13 Mar 2006 23:25 GMT

It is alleged that ibuildthings claimed:

>> Speed fun is nice, but in some things practicality wins out.
>
>Yup, you got older too, right?

Believe it or not, I've been like that for a long time even before I
"got older". There is also the aspect of, what good is it, really, to
have a 190mph capable car if I'm never going to go that fast? As long
as the top end is high enough to have some reserve at highway speeds
I'm happy with that. Otherwise, the only reason why I like cars to be
able to accelerate snappily is for short highway onramps.

One of the other things I liked about the Protegé ES is that it's what
I called a "stealth sports sedan". It looked boxy, but with 5 speed
stick and 2L engine, etc, I could make it move when I wanted to. :) The
only reason why I traded it (for an '03 Mazda6) was because my left
knee gave out - I couldn't use the clutch anymore.

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If I Am Ever the Sidekick... 25. Someone involved in the Heroic
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