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219 messages,  Last post on Oct 02, 2012 at 10:12 AM

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What is this discussion about? Honda Civic, Acura RSX, Ford Focus, Saab 9-3, Mazda Protege5, Volkswagen Golf, Hatchback

Messages Page 21 of 22

#200 of 219 Just bought my first hatchback!!! 2006!!! by neosetna

Sep 01, 2005 (8:06 am)

Hey all, I just bought a new 2006, MZ3 GT Sport Hatchback. Awesome car...great handling and of course...I got t fully loaded, came to 27, 000 CDN. Anyone who is interested in hatchbacks...forget honda, forget toyota, go to your nearest Mazda dealership...or you know what...buy a lease back fro 2005 or 2004...what ever! just go test drive one of these cars...you will love the reponse, handling, the gear shifting...if your a manual freak like myself..and overall, great on the gas. Especially...now a days...gas prices suck. So yeah, check it out!!!

#201 of 219 Audi A3 by wolfsport

Sep 16, 2005 (7:33 pm)

Too bad the Audi A3 isn't doing well, and too bad I'm not in the market for a car now. I tried one on at the Audi musem in Ingolstadt last summer. It was the 2.0 FSI Quattro - not yet sold over here.
On the bright side of things, I bought a Mazda 3 a year ago.

#202 of 219 Still on hold by doohickie

Sep 24, 2005 (2:18 pm)

I've sold my 95 Ford Aspire in preparation for buying a new hatch. I'm driving the kids' car, an Escort Wagon, around until I buy something new. I'm down to these models that I might buy, based on what stock is out there a week or two from now:
 
#1: 2005 Hyundai GLS hatchback w/ AT. This car is my top choice not for the car itself (a solid choice but I think the styling is dated), but for the online support available, including access to Hyundai's technical data online as well as several forums that can help solve any issue that may come up. The problem here for me is availability, since local stocks of 05s are very low.
 
#2: 2005 Kia Spectra5 w/ AT. This car has better styling, resembling the more expensive Mazda3 wagon. It shares a lot of the Elantra's mechanicals. Local stocks are still high since my local dealer is the #2 volume Kia dealer in the country.
 
#3: 2006 Kia Rio5 w/ AT. This is kind of a wild card. Right now, only the new Rio sedans are at the dealer, no hatches yet. Once they get there, I don't know if I will have much bargaining power since they are a brand new model and there are no incentives from Kia yet (aside from owner loyalty). I like the car a lot. It is the direct descendent of my Aspire, and is much improved over that car. The mileage is great and the ride surprisingly good for a car that size, better than both the Scion xA (which is too stiff) and Chevy Aveo (too soft). If I were buying a year from now, there would be incentives in place to make it competitive, but I'm afraid I will end up paying more for a new Rio5 than for the larger Spectra5.
 
This is probably the most thought-about purchase of an economy hatchback in history!

#203 of 219 Good order! [doohickie] by autonomous

Sep 25, 2005 (6:17 am)

Replying to: doohickie (Sep 24, 2005 2:18 pm)
#1: 2005 Hyundai GLS hatchback w/ AT.
#2: 2005 Kia Spectra5 w/ AT.
 
From a reliability point of view, the order makes a lot of sense: the first has a good track history which trumps the second which has had poor reliability in years past and runs all the risks of the first year model.
 
p.s. You may want to check the latest issue of CR for a revealing look at how the model year relates to its rate of problems.
 
p.s. Spectra5 resembles but does not match the Mazda3

#204 of 219 Re: Good order! [autonomous] by doohickie

Sep 25, 2005 (7:06 am)

Replying to: autonomous (Sep 25, 2005 6:17 am)
p.s. Spectra5 resembles but does not match the Mazda3

Ummm... that's why I used the word resembles. The Mazda3 price does not match that of the the Spec5 either. Which is a good thing for the Spec5.

#205 of 219 Re: Still on hold [doohickie] by zoomzoomitis

Sep 25, 2005 (4:26 pm)

Replying to: doohickie (Sep 24, 2005 2:18 pm)
doohickie, looks like your heartstrings are pullin' ya towards that Rio ("...direct descendent of my Aspire...") but I think you're on it when you suggest the timing may be wrong. Rio is not the "deal" at the moment rebate-wise and both you and I KNOW it.
 
FWIW, we ARE in the same boat. Two middle-aged guys not jumpin' on the Escalade/Beamer bandwagons of our peers. Kids, wife, dog(s) etc. etc. Just looking for the most bang for the buck. Gas mileage matters. Quality matters. Certain bells and whistles matter. And then of course there's that PRICE thing.
 
If I could close my eyes and see into the future it sure would help. I almost feel like I'm steppin' out on some thin ice on a pond somewhere looking at these non-Jap economy cars (something they, the Japanese, have gotten VERY good at over the years), hoping it won't crack and get me all cold and wet. I think you get the picture. We know Mazda (Toy', Honda etc. etc. for that matter) make damn good products...for a price unfortunately. So much so, Zoom Zoom Inc. has taken me right out of the Zoomer fold I'm afraid.
 
That said, these Korean entrants do have appeal IF the quality is going up as so many have noted on these boards and various other publications. Mighty big IF!You've a much different situation then myself in that you've already been the happy owner of the highly esteemed, world reknown, impeccably assembled and regarded Ford product known as the late Aspire for all these years. IOW, your comfort level may in fact be considerably higher than mine at the moment in this search of ours. I've got all twenty fingers and toes crossed while you've only a couple touchin'.
 
I agree with you. It does finally come down to doors #1 & #2 as you've pointed out. Only Monty knows which is the better "deal" (BTW, what's your costume? Mine's a Jack Nicholson look-a-like from One Flew Over the Coo-Coo's Nest right now - going nutso!) and Monty ain't on the boob-tube anymore holding those big wads of cash in case you go chicken. You are doing exactly what I am at the moment my friend in this last week of the quarter...at the end of the model year... COUNTIN' HOW MANY BLEEPIN' DOOR #1's there are and how many BLEEPIN' DOOR #2's there are and going from there. Everyday there seems to be less and less doors!
 
I can't wait to see what happens the end of this week. After 9/30 the rebate game rolls into the next round. Pendulum might swing my way. Might not. Darn gas prices aren't helpin' the situation any sending all these SUV/Big Truck freaks OUR way on the neighborhood econo-box lots. Grrrrr...Heck, with my zoomer crossin' 177,000 this week without a hiccup, if things don't go my way, might just have to wait 'til year end (12/31) in the middle of a snow storm to go in and see what Mr. & Mrs. Kia have to offer on that candy red lil' Spec5 of theirs. Hold together baby...three more months of zoomin'...maybe.

#206 of 219 Re: Still on hold [zoomzoomitis] by doohickie

Sep 25, 2005 (7:22 pm)

Replying to: zoomzoomitis (Sep 25, 2005 4:26 pm)
Another thought to add to the mix: The number one midsize car in the latest JD Power customer satisfaction survey? Kia Optima. I have no doubt Kia is on the way up.
 
I think my window will likely be Oct 1 to Oct 14 for my purchase, simply because I would like to have the deal closed before my son comes home from college for his high school homecoming (that way, he will have a car to drive around while he's home).

#207 of 219 Re: Still on hold [zoomzoomitis] by doohickie

Sep 25, 2005 (7:28 pm)

Replying to: zoomzoomitis (Sep 25, 2005 4:26 pm)
Another thought to add to the mix: The number one midsize car in the latest JD Power customer satisfaction survey? "The Kia Amanti was the highest-ranked midsize car in a customer-satisfaction survey released Wednesday by J.D. Power and Associates, marking the first time an entry from Korean automaker Kia Motor Co. had made it to the top of the list." I have no doubt Kia is on the way up.
 
I think my window will likely be Oct 1 to Oct 14 for my purchase, simply because I would like to have the deal closed before my son comes home from college for his high school homecoming (that way, he will have a car to drive around while he's home).
 
The Kia Amanti was the highest-ranked midsize car in a customer-satisfaction survey released Wednesday by J.D. Power and Associates, marking the first time an entry from Korean automaker Kia Motor Co. had made it to the top of the list.

#208 of 219 How did I over look this by chrisducati

Apr 23, 2006 (10:44 am)

I have been posting on Edmunds for years and have over looked this discussion. I'm a die hard hatchback fan. Own a 2006 Matrix XR at this point. Past hatchbacks owned have been, Vega, Gremlin,Monza, B 210 ,Rabbit, Strada, R5, Omni, Shadow, Corolla (2), not in that order but that is how they popped into my head.

#209 of 219 Newbie by rgarcia2

Mar 08, 2007 (12:38 pm)

I purchased my first hatchback in December 2006, it is a black 3-door 2007 VW Rabbit. Being an artist and musician I can't say enough good things about how functional and how well it drives. Not to mention it's good looks.

Messages Page 21 of 22

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