Being recently married, I plan on replacing my 05 Forester (5 speed MT) with a vehicle that has an AT so the wife can drive it. I commute to work in NYC everyday via public transportation and only need a vehicle on weekends.
Also, the forester is pushing 160k miles and I don't want to deal with any mechanical issues that usually surface with a 10 year old vehicle with high mileage. It has been very reliable to date.
It does not make financial sense for us to maintain 2 vehicles in our household. With that being said, my two top choices for a replacement are the Mazda 3 5 door and Subaru XV.
The pros of the Mazda I can see are:
-better fuel economy
-more "fun" to drive
-simpler engine design
-no complications of AWD system
-cheaper initial purchase price
Subaru:
-AWD for winters in Northeast
-higher ground clearance
-better cargo carrying capabilities.
I prefer an MT, but this purchase will be an AT. I will be man enough to admit on BITOG that I eschewed an MT for an AT. I've read a lot about the Subaru CVT on BITOG and have to weigh the CVT vs. a more conventional 6 speed AT in the Mazda 3.
My budget is in the low 20's. I usually pay cash for my vehicles unless I am offered 0% financing. I anticipate getting about 3k as trade in for the forester.
I had a 97 Protégé (totaled in accident) prior to the Subaru and really liked the MPG's it produced.
I'm interested in how the BITOG crowd will compare and contrast these two vehicles.
Also, the forester is pushing 160k miles and I don't want to deal with any mechanical issues that usually surface with a 10 year old vehicle with high mileage. It has been very reliable to date.
It does not make financial sense for us to maintain 2 vehicles in our household. With that being said, my two top choices for a replacement are the Mazda 3 5 door and Subaru XV.
The pros of the Mazda I can see are:
-better fuel economy
-more "fun" to drive
-simpler engine design
-no complications of AWD system
-cheaper initial purchase price
Subaru:
-AWD for winters in Northeast
-higher ground clearance
-better cargo carrying capabilities.
I prefer an MT, but this purchase will be an AT. I will be man enough to admit on BITOG that I eschewed an MT for an AT. I've read a lot about the Subaru CVT on BITOG and have to weigh the CVT vs. a more conventional 6 speed AT in the Mazda 3.
My budget is in the low 20's. I usually pay cash for my vehicles unless I am offered 0% financing. I anticipate getting about 3k as trade in for the forester.
I had a 97 Protégé (totaled in accident) prior to the Subaru and really liked the MPG's it produced.
I'm interested in how the BITOG crowd will compare and contrast these two vehicles.