Sell MR2, Buy Mazda 3/6?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ~Time_Attack~
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My first question is what kind of winters do you have? Second is do you like torque steer?
 
I'm not sure how friendly you are with your dealership's general manager, but if you are, you should find out from him how much money they gave the customer for the trade in. My general manager wholesaled me my BMW for that price, and has given several other employees the trade in price as well. I would assume it would be closer to $10,000. Just be friendly and ask if you can take the car for a test drive after your shift!
 
E RaK
I'm not sure how friendly you are with your dealership's general manager, but if you are, you should find out from him how much money they gave the customer for the trade in. My general manager wholesaled me my BMW for that price, and has given several other employees the trade in price as well. I would assume it would be closer to $10,000. Just be friendly and ask if you can take the car for a test drive after your shift!
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This. No point in even thinking about it until you talk to the gm or sales manager or whatever equivalent you have there. They make the final call and all dealerships have different policies regarding employee purchases. I got my car (used as well) for nearly 50% off what they had on the sticker.
 
If you have nasty winters I live in Pennsylvania, I work in the oil and gas industry, I was given a company truck (MY08 Ford F-450) I drove it to the job site which is up a single lane dirt road that climbs a mountain for about 6 miles deep into the game lands of PA. We had gotten about 4 inches of snow the night before. I got the truck stuck twice that morning. After that I decided I was gonna try my MY99 forester. Needless to say my forester tackles that 4 inches and more with no problem. I've had that forester through almost 2 feet with no problem. As long as you have momentum, your fine. Take a look at almost any Subaru model for something for the winter. My mom had a Mazda protege5 and a Mazda 6. I've driven both in the snow. Two of the worst vehicles I've driven in the snow. But in all honesty take a look at something from Subaru (non turbo). It may be a little more expensive but you're going to get a vehicle that's built to last (my first lasted to 470,xxx before the body rusted to pieces) and one that will go anywhere you want it to as long as you have the ground clearance.
 
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~Time_Attack~
I want a nicer newer car. Something presentable. Something fun to drive, sporty, but 10x more practical than an MR2. It needs a back seat, bigger trunk and needs to be a 5 speed. The Mazda IMO is worlds better than the camry or accord so the only thing that leaves is an older 3 series which would be nice but I'm ruling that out due to cost of ownership.

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Take a look at the 2.5 rs from Subaru. Practical, it sips gas, 5 speed, and can still hoon around with it. And can b priced from 3500 to 6. Don't buy a GD chassis rs. Too heavy of a car to be fun
 
I'm not interested in a subaru. They're not bad cars just not really what I want right now.

Torque steer? Hell no. Then again I just want a "sporty" daily car. I have an MR2 for weekend fun.

Winters can get pretty bad here but then again I live and work in the city so its not really a big deal to me. The car needs to be comfortable with a good heater and thats all that matters. I'd be keeping it longer than winter of course so winter is not my only focus here.

I don't know the GM. I have met several people in sales as well as the owner, but not the gm yet. I'll have to look into that.
 
~Time_Attack~
I'm not interested in a subaru. They're not bad cars just not really what I want right now.
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If you don't mind me asking why aren't you interested in a Subaru?
 
rally06pig
My mom had a Mazda protege5 and a Mazda 6. I've driven both in the snow. Two of the worst vehicles I've driven in the snow. But in all honesty take a look at something from Subaru (non turbo). It may be a little more expensive but you're going to get a vehicle that's built to last (my first lasted to 470,xxx before the body rusted to pieces) and one that will go anywhere you want it to as long as you have the ground clearance.
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I've gotten my 6 stuck ONCE. On nearly bald tires, up a reasonably steep drive, in about 6" of snow. And I was going way too slow as I turned up it.

For the P5 and 6 to be the "worst vehicles you've driven in the snow"... You must not drive much that's not AWD/4WD.
 
rally06pig
. My mom had a Mazda protege5 and a Mazda 6. I've driven both in the snow. Two of the worst vehicles I've driven in the snow. But in all honesty take a look at something from Subaru (non turbo). It may be a little more expensive but you're going to get a vehicle that's built to last (my first lasted to 470,xxx before the body rusted to pieces) and one that will go anywhere you want it to as long as you have the ground clearance.
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Are you sure you've driven a mazda 6 in the snow?

Not once has ours ever been stuck anywhere. Buy decent snow tires and it's definitely not bad. Driven it up mountains here to snowboard....also driven with my girlfriend's Mustang. It's not the car it's the driver and the tires.
 
As someone who's owned a 3 and currently a 6 I can say with conviction the 6 is a way better car. Just feels alot more refined and planted on the road.
The 3 MPS is a different story altogether though. Great little car.

Cheers Shaun.
 
Subarus don't do it for me. I think they look bland and uninteresting. They still sound good but they haven't been good looking since the GC8 bowed out. It also doesn't help that most of the people who live around here that drive subarus are either Dbags or lesbians. I certainly hope I don't fit into either of those catagories....
 
CMvan46
Are you sure you've driven a mazda 6 in the snow?

Not once has ours ever been stuck anywhere. Buy decent snow tires and it's definitely not bad. Driven it up mountains here to snowboard....also driven with my girlfriend's Mustang. It's not the car it's the driver and the tires.
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You want to question my driving ability or my choice of tires? You're not even worth arguing with...
 
rally06pig
You want to question my driving ability or my choice of tires? You're not even worth arguing with...
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Haha no not whatsoever. I don't care to be honest. If I can drive it up and down two different mountains for snowboarding I'm pretty sure it's not the worst car ever in the snow.
 
rally06pig
You want to question my driving ability or my choice of tires? You're not even worth arguing with...
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The Mazda6, on the proper tires, is no more prone to getting stuck in slippery conditions than any other car without a locking center differential and/or LSDs. I've gotten stuck in our CR-V more often than our old 626.

You just have to know how to rock/dig the car out of the rut it's in... infinitely easier to do with FWD than with a RWD vehicle.
 
In dry weather, is the handling of the 2.3 still pretty sporty? The only reviews I've found on youtube are about the V6.
 
Well I've obviously never driven the V6 model (only got the 2.3 down here) but the 2.3 should have most of the same characteristics; just with a bit less weight over the front and a little less power.

I test drove a 2.3 Lux Sports a few months ago and I loved the chassis and overall handling. The engine could have done with a liiiittle bit more poke but otherwise it's still a dream to drive.
 
Time_Attack
In dry weather, is the handling of the 2.3 still pretty sporty? The only reviews I've found on youtube are about the V6.
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Yes. Did I mention mine feels mo' betta' around corners than a Civic Si?
 
The 2.3 has a lighter front end than the V6. Handling is, obviously, fantastic. Some of my colleagues in the motoring media were rumored to have been practicing their Scandinavian flicks during the launch event (thanks to the "interesting" mountainous roads around the launch venue).

Did the same thing with the new one when we got the 2.5 for Car of the Year testing a while back. :D
 
Well I've still not heard back from that sales guy about it. I guess I'll have to talk to someone else. I guess when you work there they don't care about you because you're worth less to them. Did I mention I don't like salesmen?

I'm very torn on which MR2 I'd have to sell. I don't REALLY have to sell either... But the thought of putting gas and insurance into 3 cars each month plus the amount of space for 3 cars... And god forbid I have to work on more than one at a time... So on and so forth... It sounds like a nightmare.

Rotary Junkie
Yes. Did I mention mine feels mo' betta' around corners than a Civic Si?
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I really want to drive that car. I keep talking to my friend the mazda tech about it and he keeps telling me how great they are. His wife also owns one.
 
I wanted to look at the car after work today but I decided to wait until tomorrow. I asked a different sales person but they were busy with someone else I guess. They said I could go get the keys and show it to myself but I figured why bother if I can't also drive it...
 
Time_Attack
I wanted to look at the car after work today but I decided to wait until tomorrow. I asked a different sales person but they were busy with someone else I guess. They said I could go get the keys and show it to myself but I figured why bother if I can't also drive it...
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What's your position there?
 
Well I test drove it today. They handed me the key and a dealer plate and sent me on my way. I got on it a fair bit and I must say its an amazing car for being a mid size sedan. No torque steer at all and decent get up and go. The suspension was a little soft but it rode well. Finally they gave me a price of $12,400. I may just have to talk to them a bit more and see what kind of deal I can work out...
 
$13,700. I think they can do better though.
 
Time_Attack
$13,700. I think they can do better though.
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Oh god yeah. I bought a car from mine for $5500 which was listed at $10 000. I've been here more then a year though which could make a difference. Also I bought my car before the dealership did anything to it (detail, wheels, touch ups) which kept the price down. If they had done anything to it I'd have been charged for it.
 
I think they did a little bit to it. They did say it had been on the lot for about 45 days though so I'm going to use that to my advantage. They would probably rather sell it even to an employee rather than have to take it to auction...
 
Well I was going to offer 10,500 for it today but some jackoff bought it this morning.
 
If there's one thing you learn about the car business: There will ALWAYS be more.
 
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