Mazda3 vs. Focus vs. Honda

In reply to Shaun:

Sorry for the confusion. I meant 250k total miles, not 250k additional miles.

2001-03 Hyundai Elantra GT Hatch. Throw a rear swaybar and new struts/springs for $400 and have a comfortable, reliable DD. Have 212k on the two I maintain.

twolittlebroncos wrote: I drove the 3 last night. Please talk me out of it, my wallet and wife will thank you.

If the fuel-consumption issue doesn't scare you off, I see no reason you shouldn't negotiate the best possible price and buy the 3.

Just wanted to update this thread since I decided to buy the 3.

Getting side and curtain airbags, abs, xenons, a hatchback, manual transmission, steering wheel stereo controls and 30+ mpg for just over $5k was a deal I couldn't pass up. The miles on the car are high, but I think the car will last long enough with regular maintenance.

So far I have averaged about 29mpg (2.3 5speed) with a mostly highway commute. My high tank was 32.5 and the low was 24.5.

It has consumed no oil in the 4k miles I have driven it. I'm going to put on a spin-on filter conversion and do my first oil change on the car in the next week or two.

I wish it was a bit more of a wagon than it is. The hatch helps, but it's still only marginally more spacious than a sedan. For big items with the seats down it is much better than the sedan, but otherwise it's barely more spacious and possibly still less spacious than a Camry trunk. We packed our two kids and a weekend's worth of gear + a few Christmas presents in the back of the car, but suit cases could only go one direction as the distance from the seat to the door was a little too short.

I like the way the car handles and brakes. It's surprisingly fun to drive and if it was RWD it would be an extremely fun car. Why don't they make that? 30 mpg, 5-doors and rwd - that would be perfect.

I've long wished that the 3 had been made RWD. It would be pretty awesome and I'd be even happier with mine than I already am.

Nice score on the price. I'm amazed you got it that low.