Good DD Car (Newer)

[Lowrange2]

I'm thinking you should go with a 1964ish Volkswagen Beetle.

 

[UNCC_99XJ]

I had a 2013 Mazda 3 hatchback as a rental car for over 2 months. It had the Skyactive stuff. It was an awesome little car. I fell in love with it. I even went as far as looking to buy one as a DD. I put 8000 miles on it in and enjoyed every minute of it. I will buy one. I did go to the dealer and test drive a Speed 3 too. It was a fun little car. I think if the Dart comes out as an SRT version it will give the Spped a run for its money though. I think the Dart looks better and I'm a Mopar guy. There is not enough time on the Dart yet to prove it is a reliable car though.

The skyactive system is actually very impressive. Friend of mine bought a 2011/2012 with it and was getting 40mpg right off the lot on the highway. Plenty of zip to get around town too.

 

[dasbulliwagen]

Im a Mazda dealer tech, and you really cant go too wrong with a Mazda 3. There are only a couple of issues thay have and they arent a big deal. There is a PCV hose under the intake that goes bad and throws a lean code. Its not a bad fix, just have to remove the intake. The other most common issue on the autos is for the trans turbine speed sensor, also usually an easy fix. Some of them also like to eat rear tires. They start cupping and getting noisy due to the camber these cars have in the rear. It doesnt affect all of them though.

Another good one to get is the Mazda 2. When these cars leave the dealer lot, they never come back.... for anything. Ive been the primary tech here for two or three years now and have NEVER done a repair on one. They get similar milage to the standard 3, but not as good of milage as the Skyactiv 3.

 

[Cnickgo]

Now that's a fun conversation. Its your LR tire that is making that noise. No it's not the tires fault. It's your car. It's you, not me. No it's not a defect of the tire. Oh you are going to go up the chain and call a news station? Go ahead, like you are the first person with that threat. No really, go ahead so that someone up the chain will pay you off and I don't have to listen to your crap.

I think one of the worst cars I have seen for rear cupping are Scions TCs. Or 2006-08 Civics before the rear control arm recall. That was even more fun.

 

[Lowrange2]

I think one of the worst cars I have seen for rear cupping are Scions TCs. Or 2006-08 Civics before the rear control arm recall. That was even more fun.

BMW Z3. Horrible, horrible. Sucker eats a new set of rear tires in about 8,000 miles.

 

[Cherokeekid88]

Think we are gonna try and get a Mazda 3 sometime next year. Wife has some school loans to pay off and a couple little things and then we should be set.

its gonna be REALLY HARD to pass up a speed though when looking at the 3's..........

 

[UNCC_99XJ]

Think we are gonna try and get a Mazda 3 sometime next year. Wife has some school loans to pay off and a couple little things and then we should be set.

its gonna be REALLY HARD to pass up a speed though when looking at the 3's..........

The speed3's are nice. Had my choice down to one of those or the Focus ST. Drove the speed3 and was a little disappointed with the interior goodies compared to the ST. My biggest gripe about the speed3, the torque steer was ridiculous! I'm also not 100% on board with the new front ends of them just yet.

If the ST wasn't available, the speed3 would have been a very suitable alternative.