I have my next vehicle narrowed down to the following two vehicles and would like your opinions, please. MazdaSpeed nor the WRX is an option so I'm not needing opinions on those vehicles but if you have a suggestion of a car that falls under the 5-door category between the 20-25k route, I'd be open to hearing it. Thanks.

Choices are:

2009 Mazda Mazda3 Grand Touring
or
2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5i w/Preferred Pkg

 

how long do you plan on keeping it? just while under warranty?

 

5+ years is the goal

 

I'd definately say the Impreza... Only 1 car that I really like of Mazdas... (rx-7, SOMEWHAT the rx-8 for the risk they took, and it looks ok.)

 

You realize a brand spanking new Mazdaspeed3 can be had in that price range, right? A friend of mine just picked up a new '09 MS3 Sport for ~$22k. Way more fun than the regular Mazda3 without much of a mileage penalty.

Hell, the MSRP on a Grand Touring MS3 is $25,125, and Mazda is offering $500 cash back on the '09 right now. Shop around and I'm sure you can find an MS3 GT for under $25k OTD.

 

Wife doesn't want to drive a manual trann. Otherwise I'd hang onto my beloved S.

 

NOOOOOOOOOO Don't do it!

 

you can get an auto wrx for that much.. subaru are selling them ****ing cheap.. like 20k otd

 

PsykotiK, I'll have to check those out! Are you speculating or know this for sure? Either way, thanks for the heads up! It never hurts to ask, right?

 

Get the Impreza WRX, not 2.5i. 300ft lbs of torque @ all 4 wheels with will cost only you $200.