is300eater

what about something like this? Audi A3 S-Line
I know you said your budget is under $20k but you're also a year away... so by then... the A3's should be in the range
http://www.carmax.com/enUS/view-car/...2-7c9c5902eb24

is300eater

opps, I got the threads mixed up... you're planning on buying in the spring... I thought you said a year away... (that's someone else's thread), but the A3 2.0T should be around your price range...

S A CHO

I did some very very basic research on the A3's but wasn't able to find one with Quattro and also manual tranny... I like them though...

jnc2000

Keep in mind the MS6 had a recall on the PCM. There are reports all over about power loss / change in power band and whatnot.

Some say they didn't notice anything - others have.

One thread as an example.

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showt...hp?t=123642097

subtledreamer

my buddy has a Legacy GT which I've driven and I really dig it. it's well-priced and IMO both the interior & exterior design is With a couple mods it can look quite aggressive and be plenty quick too.

some pictures:



autox, without the front lip

S A CHO

Nice!

1killercls

I mod at that forum. Ever since the re-flash the problem is gone for those who had it. And there have not been any posts in that thread since last year.

1killercls

Real world is that my 2006 MS6 has been virtually trouble free and has not failed me yet. I would recommend it to anyone looking for an AWD car. Oh, and it doesn't hurt that it runs high 13's either.

Rock2534

I have an 07 LGT, if you are having fun and standing on the gas you will eat up the gas, much like any car with decent power. As stated, if just driving around normally, especially with the SI drive option, you can get pretty good mileage out of it.

If the turbo is not a requirment, you can get the NA legacies for much less, and they are still AWD.

S A CHO

I wouldn't be able to go from my SHO to a slower car, the turbo is necessary

is300eater

S A CHO

For shits and giggles I went and saw a couple cars at a used car dealer... I thought they just had the 2.5i (non-turbo) but they ended up having a GT as well...

This car fits me like a glove Both cars were auto. unfortunately, but I still got a good idea of what the car was like inside. I didn't drive them as I was meeting my girlfriend at the gym and was already 15 minutes late That Momo steering wheel is to die for, and the seats are awesome as well. The 2.5i was actually optioned better than the GT; It had leather and a sunroof. Something I wasn't expecting was window frame-less doors.

I can't wait to find one of my own

mrmako

Either go for a GT or the 3.0, you will kick yourself if you get the NA 2.5.... In fact, try and test drive all three. I guarantee you will like the 2.5, then love the turbo and the 3.0. Then you'll frown at the NA 2.5.

aaronnn

Legacy!! i had both TL and LGT for a while. after being in my legacy everyday, my TL sat in the garage for months.. eventually i sold it. never looked back.

Accord_V6_400m

iTrader: (1)

Mazdaspeed 6 ebay link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-...1%7C240%3A1318

aaronnn

i have two friends with ms6's right now.. both are not doing too well. both are burning oil and they need to check it everytime they fill up (most mazdaspeeds, including older ones have this problem), and one of them burned so much and the motor blew. mazda is not warrantying his motor. it was on a lease and he really doesn't want the car back.. they dicked him over and he's stuck right now.. they didn't even give him a loaner.

it blew last week, he's been going back and forth to dealers and calling up mazda warranty department about it ever since. he still has nothing..

Costco

nice LGT aaron (with the multiple a's and n's). Looks like you cleaned up the car pretty damn well for the spring.

I'm sorry but the LGT wins in a sexiness contest between anything else AWD for the same price. Just wait til you drive a 5-speed manual one, SHO....

aaronnn

hahaha thanks!

and agree with you.. but of course im biased.
there really isn't anything in value that will beat the legacy. I bought my LGT brand new last year with 6 miles on it for $27,000 OUT THE DOOR, fully loaded. Leather, sunroof, heated seats, allseason mats, etc.. its really comfortable, im never worried about long trips (its a subaru, thing keeps going), and the aftermarket support is endless. shares suspension, engine, body bits from across the subaru lineup.

also.... I put 37,000 miles on it in ONE YEAR. still running stronger than any car i had in the past.

Accord_V6_400m

iTrader: (1)

Seems that way, theres nothing American besides that thats offered with all wheel drive and a manual except the mazdaspeed 6.

Guess in that price range its either Audi, mazda or Suby.

phil2

Mazda is owned by ford, but is built in japan so it is really not american.

1killercls

Funny..I moderate in the 6 section of one of the biggest Mazda forums out there and I have heard NOTHING about any oil burning. There were some early models with bad turbo seals but that was handled by a TSB.

Also, All I have is a SRI and a Downpipe and my Mazdaspeed6 has been more trouble free than my Acura was. (2 Tranny's, bad 6 disc changer, window motor...I could go on and on) As far as your buddy getting dicked over...was his car modded at all? If yes, and he blew a motor that is his fault...not Mazdas.

So on the general content of your post I am going to have to call

Rock2534

Did you have to re-tune the ecu with the addition of the dp? (sorry to be off-topic)

Someone will always know of someone else who had issues with any make of car. The LGT and MS6 are pretty equal, to me anyway, its just a personal preference as far as which one you choose.

S A CHO

Hey Rock, what's the maintenance schedule look like for a Legacy GT? I've been trying to find a clear cut schedule on LegacyGT.com but can't find one for the life of me.

1killercls

I could but I chose not to re-tune the ECU because I like my warranty. My dealer is mod friendly up until you mess with the computer. So, With the SRI and the down-pipe I was able to turn a 13.8 @ 102 last winter at Bradenton. It was still pullin like crazy !!!!

mr_luv

Just get a LGT and call it a day, My 05 JDMSpec-B/Sti swapped Auto.

Street Spirit

If it's narrowed down to the Legacy or MS6, there's no question that I'd choose Subaru! I wouldn't even give the Mazda a second thought. I've sat in the previous gen Mazda 6 and the interior materials, fit, and finish felt and looked really crappy and cheap. I prefer everything about Subaru, and that's saying a lot considering how plain and uninspiring I find most of their interiors to be. Engine-wise, etc....Subaru's great, I love the exterior styling...but the MS6 looks extremely outdated and plain to me.

To clarify, I have not driven the 6 (but that's because I wouldn't even want to bother after having sat in it), but have driven a Mazda 3 and love it! For some reason, the 3's interior seems so much more put together and of higher quality, even for a lesser priced car. I'd get a 3 anyday, but not a 6 or Speed 6.

S A CHO

I'd like to thank everybody for all their help This thread was everything I had hoped for; Opinions, past experience and current owners

The Dougler

iTrader: (1)

if you get a subaru your licence plate has to be "lesbian"

S A CHO

I was thinking DBL ENDD...or PRYD RIDE...

aaronnn

nothing against you or anything. but im only posting on the account of both my friends having trouble at the moment and mazda doing nothing in order to help them. i am speaking on two occasions and not on the behalf of the entire ms6 population. you say that they're handled by TSB, but the main reason the oil burning/leaking was happening was because of the turbo seals. why aren't they doing anything about it?

This is still an ongoing battle between my friend and Wayne Mazda in NJ. They're still trying to make him pay out of pocket for something he did not do.

aaronnn

i just have a stage 2 tune from accessport and was able to run 13.2 with my legacy with just a turboback and upgraded tmic.

my friend with an ms6 with intake, intercooler, downpipe, exhaust, wotbox, ran about the same as me, with a higher trap (also on the accessport tune).

1killercls

Wow...never heard anyone say that.
Opinions are like............

1killercls

Street Spirit..please explain why this looks "Outdated" compared to the Legacy. I am just curious.

and never mind that the 2.3 DISI Turbo was rated one of the Top 10 Engines for 2006 and 2007.

phil2

While I agree with you I must say you are the biggest Mazda nutswinger on the planet!

invisiblewar

+1 for the subbie just looks alot better imo

1killercls

I confess. I just think they are great cars for the money.

aaronnn

i agree that the MZR motor is by far one of the nicest and most efficient motors made out there.. but i cant agree that the 6 is a good looking car. i do like the speed3's looks better.

and for great value for money... what's wrong with a legacy gt that's 27,000 out the door fully loaded?

Rock2534

They have the schedules on subaru's site. There is an "owners" list on the top right, and under that you can get the maintenance schedules for whatever model year you want.

Street Spirit

There's no textbook definition I can give you, just my opinion. The headlights, tail lights, wheels, and body shape just looks very outdated to me. I'm not saying anyone else needs to agree. It looks plain and boring, and very family-sedan-like...cheaper looking than the Legacy. I've already loved the headlights on the current Legacy, the back-end is nice (although I preferred it slightly more before the latest bumper facelift), and I like the lines of the car, and even more so when modded.

Street Spirit

That's because I don't belong to a Mazda forum or hold any loyalty to them or to any brand, for that matter.

I'm glad you have a car you enjoy. I think Mazda makes some great cars for great value, and they've done really well. But nice engine or not, it just doesn't look aggressive, interesting, or high quality to me. I just wouldn't get that generation of (Speed)6. I'd get a Mazda 3 or the current 6 and even the cross-overs are nice (styling-wise) but everyone's different, and I'm not the one buying.