i seem to remember somebody on here's avatar pic was a blue mazda3 hatch, but been so long since i was here, can't remember who it was & hell they might now even have it anymore.

anywho, finally selling the accord when i leave for Basic....no sense paying to store it & insurance while i'm in Basic & pretty sure they told me i won't be allowed a personal vehicle while in AIT...but afterwards, i plan on buying either a brand new or possible Carmax used car & think i've narrowed it down to 2 man contenders - the mazda3 (either 5-door hatch or 4-door) & a 2-door civic (more than likely non-SI version). 3rd possible contender is a used ford escape (probably the hybrid version)...but that depends on how things pan out between now & then w/ the girl i been seeing (since she has 2 kids)

the mini, 350z & s2k were considerations, but i think they have been taken off the list.

definately want manual transmission & navigation (along w/ the usual power windows, door locks, cruise, ac, etc)

thoughts?? suggestions?? personal experiences w/ the choices on my list??

 

R_Squared has both, although a Mazdaspeed 3 and a 4dr Si. Might ask him if he doesn't catch this thread.

 

Get the 5 door Mazda3 and you will never look back. They are semi sporty (non MS3 version), can lug around a LOT, and get decent gas mileage.

2 door civic and 5 door mazda3 aren't in the same category imo...they serve two totally different purposes. Also, I would look into a used 2010 Mazda3. By the time you get out of BCT and AIT it would probably be around a year, so prices will be lower on used cars.

 

yeah, i been perusing carmax & have found quite a few mazda3 either hatch or 4-doors that peak my interest.

AIT ends mid-sept, so i think used inventory should be pretty good by then on the '10 models. purchase time-frame will also depend on where i am stationed after AIT, but won't know that till prob mid-aug or so

i do like the way they have incorporated the navi display in the '10 vs the "flip-up" on the previous years.

always been a fan of the civic since seeing alley's when she had it, but not a fan of how it & the radio were all one unit....for adding aftermarket stereo equip :rick:

 

I have a fair bit of experience with both. Good friend has an '09 3s hatch, several have assorted 4-door Civics both regular and Si.

Interior build quality on the Civic is a bit nicer (although the layout's weird) and it gets better mileage.

3 can have more luxo features, more character to drive, hatch is more useful for carrying crap.

Do you really need built-in navi when a portable GPS or a smartphone will do the trick?

 

something like one of these 3 vehicles are what i think i'm looking at as possibilities. the 5-door hatch is starting to grow on me....i think it's that huuuuuge rear bumper area i am having problems with asthetically LOL

http://www.carmax.com/enUS/view-car/...tml?id=6117308

http://www.carmax.com/enUS/view-car/...tml?id=6098770

http://www.carmax.com/enUS/view-car/...tml?id=6224065

 

the navi isn't a deal-breaker as the portable or cell is always an option (planning on going to verizon after i get outta Basic as well, so have VZ navigator)....but it would be an option that i'd prefer to have on the vehicle

i do like the fact that on the mazda, pretty much all the convience options i'd want are pretty much standard, so the navi would be the only real "option"

 

Werd to everything Fatbooty said. I wasn't too impressed with the 2010 Mazda3's sat nav, as I found the display's size and features a bit underwhelming. The push button start and bluetooth audio are nice features that are also part of the tech package on the 3 though. Fuel economy aside, I would say if you like the Mazda's redesign, the 5-door 3s would be the much more enjoyable car to own. :thumbup:

Now if we're just comparing the pre-2010 Mazda3 and the 8th gen Civic, it's a little more of a toss-up for me. I've never driven a non-speed model previous gen 3 but just from riding in one I can say the Civic feels roomier inside and a little more solid overall.

 

yeah, the smaller screen on the '10 model was a trade-off in the incorporating to the dash aspect vs the bigger but less asthetic flip-up of the previous

guess it's all just speculation/wishful thinking till im actually in the market for something....which will be 8 or so months from now LOL

also depends on if i end up staying stateside of being stationed in germany or such (big signal corp group there apprantly so good possibility)

but i appreciate all the talking points....gives me stuff to consider in the interium

 

I'd go with the 3 simply for the hatchbackery goodness.