Possibly trading in my '14 Mirage for a brand new Mazda3

[dspace9]

I'll keep that in mind. No cost in going for a test drive.

Yes I got a little excited earlier. Knowing me, I'll probably still be driving my Mirage come Friday.

Thanks Marklovski and Eggman.

[Dirk Diggler]

I envy Canadians easily living without AC. Down here there would be alot of in car heat stroke deaths especially in bumper to bumper traffic. I dont envy rust supposedly destroying cars so easily though. Although, realistically is this true?

[dspace9]

I envy Canadians easily living without AC. Down here there would be alot of in car heat stroke deaths especially in bumper to bumper traffic. I dont envy rust supposedly destroying cars so easily though. Although, realistically is this true?

I have no air in my house, either.

Now keep in mind Dirk, I'm kind of an oddball for not having AC in my car, or in my house. Most Canadians do.

But the way I see it, we have hot weather up here for like 2 months. A few maple trees are already changing colour to fall, and it's August 11. So summer peaks and twilight's real quick. Winter is like 7 months of the year sometimes.

I'll take what I can get. And enjoy the hot weather while it lasts.

I'm having major second thoughts about this Mazda3. I love it, but I did the math. Ugh. I almost feel like I need a bigger car for my winter commute, but cars are expensive.

Second on the rust thing: yea, cars rust out bad here. My friend has a 2014 Focus. The trunk lid when you open the trunk, the weld seam is bubbling with rust.

[MetroMPG]

The new mazda3 looks like a great car. I didn't know they came with no AC on base trim.

Only in Canada, eh? Many manufacturers here offer a base trim with no-AC so they can advertise a super-cheap MSRP in their sneaky commercials. Of course, hardly any dealers order, stock or sell Civics, Corollas or 3's without AC. It's mainly a marketing ploy.

On the other hand, Nissan and Mitsubishi sold quite a few Micras and Mirages sans air, but they're a different market segment, specifically aimed at penny pinchers.

---

Tough call, dspace9!

The Mazda3 is a very nice car to drive - more engaging/sophisticated than its price would suggest. And finding a true base model is a bit of a score, if that's what you want.

Personally, I couldn't live with a small-ish sedan. For practicality, hatchbacks rule! And if any friend of mine ever asked me if they should buy a new car when their old one isn't paid off yet, well, you can probably guess my answer.

But if abase Mazda 3 is your dream car that you'll be happy driving in winter weather... well, YOLO?

[MetroMPG]

6 months left is a different story. A lot of people are going deep underwater with new car loans these days... or at least they were before the beer virus.

It sounds like you're pretty good with your finances (mortgage example). If a new car + loan makes you happy, there are worse things you could do.

It also sounds like your relationship with your Mirage is similar to how I feel about my winter beater Metro: it's tolerable, not exactly enjoyable. If I find my "forever Mirage" before I have to drive that car again, I won't miss it.

[dspace9]

6 months left is a different story. A lot of people are going deep underwater with new car loans these days... or at least they were before the beer virus.

It sounds like you're pretty good with your finances (mortgage example). If a new car + loan makes you happy, there are worse things you could do.

It also sounds like your relationship with your Mirage is similar to how I feel about my winter beater Metro: it's tolerable, not exactly enjoyable. If I find my "forever Mirage" before I have to drive that car again, I won't miss it.

I will see how I feel after the test drive Thursday. I know the costs, but I'm not crazy and trading in $39,000 in car loans for an even bigger loan.. no I buy the occasional 'economy' car. I wanted to keep my Mirage longer, and my car has loads of sentimental value.. but maybe this particular Mazda3 is the right car for me because it doesn't have all the extra tech I don't want.

[Dirk Diggler]

I will see how I feel after the test drive Thursday. I know the costs, but I'm not crazy and trading in $39,000 in car loans for an even bigger loan.. no I buy the occasional 'economy' car. I wanted to keep my Mirage longer, and my car has loads of sentimental value.. but maybe this particular Mazda3 is the right car for me because it doesn't have all the extra tech I don't want.

Not too mention probably more reliable too after all the issues you had. Another great bonus is Im betting Mazda service centers vs Mitsu centers is a night and day difference in customer service.

[dspace9]

Not too mention probably more reliable too after all the issues you had. Another great bonus is Im betting Mazda service centers vs Mitsu centers is a night and day difference in customer service.

Thanks Dirk for remembering. My endless hours I spent at the local Mitsubishi dealer, waiting for service. Even regular service wasn't very good. Not to mention the warranty work, or the time they put my brakes I ordered onto another customer's Mirage. That was an annoying weekend. They were "nice" enough to give me a free rental. Well ya eh.

Hope for night and day difference in service, but this Mazda is about 65 km's or more from my house, so I will go to my local Ford still for regular service with my Mazda (if I buy the Mazda). Would be nice to splurge once and a while. I bought a TV antenna recently and that hasn't worked out like I thought. I thought I could get Detroit. Maybe put it in the attic. Sorry anyway.

[Dirk Diggler]

Thanks Dirk for remembering. My endless hours I spent at the local Mitsubishi dealer, waiting for service. Even regular service wasn't very good. Not to mention the warranty work, or the time they put my brakes I ordered onto another customer's Mirage. That was an annoying weekend. They were "nice" enough to give me a free rental. Well ya eh.

Hope for night and day difference in service, but this Mazda is about 65 km's or more from my house, so I will go to my local Ford still for regular service with my Mazda (if I buy the Mazda). Would be nice to splurge once and a while. I bought a TV antenna recently and that hasn't worked out like I thought. I thought I could get Detroit. Maybe put it in the attic. Sorry anyway.

Im not sure Ford would share any components with the Mazda? They discontinued that partnership IIRC a few years ago.

[dspace9]

Im not sure Ford would share any components with the Mazda? They discontinued that partnership IIRC a few years ago.

The same thing crossed my mind actually. My local Ford dealer might know about old Mazda's more though. But I think it's just like Chrysler is to Mitsubishi: the domestic car makers used Japanese small engines for their own cars, like K-cars with Mitsu motors in them. And Mazda engines put in Ford Escorts in the 80s and 90s.

I forgot that Mazda used to have the nickname, Japanese Ford.