...as a daily driver. what do you guys think?? i can't go wrong with 274hp 280lb-ft turbocharged awd vehicle for under $30K, right?? or are there other cars that i should consider for a daily driver??

 

Not to say bad things about the 6 b/c it has not been tested. Just on paper, I think it's the 4th place out of 4 cars in this class.

IMO:

1st EVO (spend a little more get a lot better car)
2nd STi (ditto)
3rd Legacy GT 2.5L turbo

The Mazda will be the heaviest car in this class, not what I'd go for.

Other cars I'd look at for $30K:

325i
IS250
TSX

 

you really think the legacy 2.5 gt will be better than the mazdaspeed6, both in stock form?? i will not be modding this car at all. i just need something fun to get me from point a to point b, that also won't be too punishing. i agree the evo and sti are better cars performancewise, but given that the roads i travel on are not the smoothest, i don't know how willing i am to endure the harsher ride of those cars. it's the similar reason why i gave up using my s2k as a daily driver.

 

I have owned my evo for 2.5 years now and I would have to say that the Mazda or Legacy should be a much better daily driver. Mazda will probably have leather, power seats, decent ride, etc...... Evo has plastic, manual seats, bumpy, etc....The Evo is definately more race / performance oriented. All depends on what you are lookign for.

I posted about 3 weeks ago about the weight of the Mazda. it says something like 3700lbs on their website... that is PORKY. Hopefully they fat fingered a number when they posted it. Evo is porky at 3250.

 

hmm... i didn't know the mazda weighed so much.

btw, i can't believe the evo's been out for 2.5 years. it seemed like just yesterday that the car was debuted in the states...

 

Legacy GT

 

ya, i bought mine in March 2003.... one guy has over 100K miles on his.

Hopefully the weight was wrong on the mazda website

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/pdf/specs_...h_specs_MS6.pdf

3589 is the listed weight..... blaaaaaa....

 

Yeah, the Evo and Sti don't belong in this class of cars.

Legacy GT is a nice car. Could even consider a pre-owned Volvo S60R. They can be had for well under $30K. I'm not too sure on their reliability, but it is a 300hp AWD Sedan that comes with a 6spd. Very nice cars.

Could also consider a 2.0T A4. You get the AWD, but none of the go of these other cars.

Another choice would be an '06 WRX which will have a leather interior option.

 

I think the The Mazdaspeed6 is coming in at 3500 lbs, supposed to be 300 lbs more than 'base' 4-cylinder due to turbo, all-wheel drive system, and substantial body reinforcements. Its almost up there performance wise with the above mentioned cars, but much much better looking, IMO. I wouldn't doubt they come up with an auto tranny if sales are great.

 

250hp, 250lb-ft, turbocharged, awd and under $30k = Subaru Legacy GT.

Legacy GT is the closest thing to a BMW you will find in this price range; fit and finish are better than the 6 too. Not that tha 6 is bad, but the Subaru is a better car.

Automobile Mag has a nice write up of their long-term Legacy GT in the November issue, fyi.

If you like/want a German car, the A3 is worth looking at, and comes w/ fwd or awd, but I think the Legacy is a better value.

Slightly used Chrysler 300 Limiteds are probably on the market now, and are nice too.