Which 2-liter Car to Buy?

[jut703]

While waiting for a Mazda 6 seller to come along, I started thinking about whether it's really worth it to get a 6 over a 3.

Assuming their purchase price would be the same (~350k), the Mz6 is still thirstier at the pump. This will be my daily drive so I'll be racking up about 15,000 km a year. If the 6 does 6 km/L and the 3 does 7 km/L, that's a difference of P1,500 per month. Other maintenance costs will most likely be more expensive with the 6 as well. I can afford the cost, but of course I can also invest the 1.5k elsewhere.

On the flipside, the added fuel cost comes in exchange for much better performance. The 6 is faster both in terms of acceleration and top speed than the 3. However, the 3's performance is already good enough for me. I appreciate the extra grunt of the 6, but I can live with what the 3 offers. If I begin to want more, I can always chip the 3, but then the cost of the chip would offset a year's worth of fuel savings.

In terms of features, the only things that the 6 has that the 3 doesn't are the side/curtain airbags, traction control, and power driver's seat adjustment. These are stuff I can live without. The 3 even has aux-in which the 6 doesn't, and that's more useful on a daily basis.

However, the 6 still has more presence than a 3, being 1 class higher and thus bigger in every dimension. While both designs are timeless, I think the 6 still looks more expensive, but maybe that's just me.

Previously, I thought the 6 was the better bargain. I mean, if both cars were sold at the 3's brand new price of 1.1M, wouldn't you have gone for the 6? Now though that I begin to consider cost of ownership, I wonder if it's still the runaway winner...



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[EQAddict]

id save the money (350K) wait a bit and save more and get a brand new car in a few months time. Those cars are way too old.

[jut703]

id save the money (350K) wait a bit and save more and get a brand new car in a few months time. Those cars are way too old.

I don't mind an old car. They're 1/3 the price of equivalent brand new cars. I don't need the new car smell or happiness of buying something new. I prefer getting the most value and it's with depreciated stuff that I often find it.

These Mazdas have no known issues and most Mazda 3 owners that I know can attest that their ownership has been worry-free.

I don't mind tinkering my car for minor niggles and for major replacements I don't mind scouring Banawe or Evangelista for parts.

The idea of going brand new begs me to ask - why spend triple when a much cheaper option can do all the things I need it to do?


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[EQAddict]

i don't mind buying 2nd hand cars myself Though I must admit my preference is brand new.

Since you are a value minded shopper I guess this works. Good luck with your car hunting.

[leodawesome]

While waiting for a Mazda 6 seller to come along, I started thinking about whether it's really worth it to get a 6 over a 3.

Assuming their purchase price would be the same (~350k), the Mz6 is still thirstier at the pump. This will be my daily drive so I'll be racking up about 15,000 km a year. If the 6 does 6 km/L and the 3 does 7 km/L, that's a difference of P1,500 per month. Other maintenance costs will most likely be more expensive with the 6 as well. I can afford the cost, but of course I can also invest the 1.5k elsewhere.

On the flipside, the added fuel cost comes in exchange for much better performance. The 6 is faster both in terms of acceleration and top speed than the 3. However, the 3's performance is already good enough for me. I appreciate the extra grunt of the 6, but I can live with what the 3 offers. If I begin to want more, I can always chip the 3, but then the cost of the chip would offset a year's worth of fuel savings.

In terms of features, the only things that the 6 has that the 3 doesn't are the side/curtain airbags, traction control, and power driver's seat adjustment. These are stuff I can live without. The 3 even has aux-in which the 6 doesn't, and that's more useful on a daily basis.

However, the 6 still has more presence than a 3, being 1 class higher and thus bigger in every dimension. While both designs are timeless, I think the 6 still looks more expensive, but maybe that's just me.

Previously, I thought the 6 was the better bargain. I mean, if both cars were sold at the 3's brand new price of 1.1M, wouldn't you have gone for the 6? Now though that I begin to consider cost of ownership, I wonder if it's still the runaway winner...



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18k more per year on gas alone vs. 1 tier higher + overall safety and performance package.

Maintenance, I bet they wouldn't be that far between the two. Since 2nd hand naman sya di mo na need ipasok sa casa palagi. Masmahirap nga lang maghanap ng parts ni 6.

[jut703]

What about the '06-'08 Ford Focus TDCi MT?
Napunta na rin naman sa practicality yung usapan, it seems that this car best balances practicality with performance.

Previously, I crossed it out because Focus TDCi units were still around 450k. However, there are 2008 units now only at 390k, which is quite close to the price of a Mz3/Mz6.

Pros:
- FAST (0-100 in 9.5s, no sweat reaching 200, making it as fast as the Mz6 and faster than the Mz3)
- VERY FRUGAL (10 km/L in city driving, and it's a diesel)
- Manual transmission (more engaging and enjoyable for me, no Powershift issues)
- Good handling (more nose-heavy than the Mz3, but otherwise similar since they share the same platform)

Cons:
- Ugly rims (needs to be upgraded to 18" with 1.5" lowering springs)
- Ugly interior (no choice but to live with it)
- Not as prestigious as a Mazda 6

Assuming I can haggle to 380k, I still have to change my wheels which will cost more or less 40k, and then lowering springs, which will cost 15k, and possibly projector headlamps (25k). That brings the total to 460k, all in.

It seems that it's much more expensive than a Mz6 now, but once you factor fuel costs, winner pa rin. Assuming I travel 1,250 km a month, with the Mz6 doing 6 km/L, the Mz3 doing 7 km/L, and the Focus doing 9 km/L; gas at 52 and diesel at 45, my monthly fuel costs will be:

Mazda 6: P10,833/mo
Mazda 3: P9,285/mo
Focus TDCi: P5,625/mo

That's savings of over 5k/month compared to the Mz6, and 3.6k/month compared to the Mz3. If the Mz6 is 330k, I can recoup the extra cost of the Focus in a little over 2 years. If the Mz3 is at 320k, it only takes 3.5 years to recover the cost.

[niky]

What about the '06-'08 Ford Focus TDCi MT?
Pros:
- FAST (0-100 in 9.5s, no sweat reaching 200, making it as fast as the Mz6 and faster than the Mz3)

About 207 or so, stock... 240 fully modified. But that guy who *kept* doing 240 blew a turbo. 0-100 in 8.5 seconds. The dual clutch about 8.9 if you disable traction control. (And I've drag-launched this car many, many, many, many, MANY times. )

- VERY FRUGAL (10 km/L in city driving, and it's a diesel)

Depends on traffic. Worst I've seen/heard is around 8 km/l. But yes, typically, 10 in moderate traffic. New diesels are more frugal, however. New Jetta 2.0 does 25 km/l on the highway.

- Manual transmission (more engaging and enjoyable for me, no Powershift issues)

Mahal nga lang dual-mass flywheel. Puwede though mag-convert or mag-overhaul. You'll have to ask around Ford Club.

- Good handling (more nose-heavy than the Mz3, but otherwise similar since they share the same platform)

Yup.

Cons:
- Ugly rims (needs to be upgraded to 18" with 1.5" lowering springs)
- Ugly interior (no choice but to live with it)
- Not as prestigious as a Mazda 6

Yes. Yes. Last one... not really a problem for me... I actually like the understated looks better than the Mazda6 2.3 (The Mazda6 whose looks I like is the second gen.)

Things to note in terms of maintenance...

The Mazda3, reputedly mahina yung front shocks... Focus has better shocks (diesel variant uses heavier duty suspension than regular Focus... which already has a better suspension than the Mazda3. Also brake pads are expensive for both Mazda and Focus, but IMHO, the Focus has better brakes. (though it is much heavier in diesel form)

The Focus' main problem areas are:

1. Flywheel... the clutch is absolutely fantastic in terms of durability, but the flywheel is a consumable item. Since it's dual mass, you can't reface it like an ordinary flywheel. Again, you will have to ask at FCP about rebuilding it or sourcing a replacement outside casa.

2. Turbo... if the previous owner was an idiot... goodbye turbo. Replacement is expensive, but there are places that can rebuild for about 30k pesos. Which is pretty reasonable.

Mazda6: No idea... not enough owners. Don't doubt suspension parts and bushings will cost more.

-

I would love a TDCi MT secondhand... if you find one unmolested in good condition, it's a great car.

Still... Civic 2.0...

[jut703]

The Mazda3, reputedly mahina yung front shocks... Focus has better shocks (diesel variant uses heavier duty suspension than regular Focus... which already has a better suspension than the Mazda3. Also brake pads are expensive for both Mazda and Focus, but IMHO, the Focus has better brakes. (though it is much heavier in diesel form)

The Focus' main problem areas are:

1. Flywheel... the clutch is absolutely fantastic in terms of durability, but the flywheel is a consumable item. Since it's dual mass, you can't reface it like an ordinary flywheel. Again, you will have to ask at FCP about rebuilding it or sourcing a replacement outside casa.

2. Turbo... if the previous owner was an idiot... goodbye turbo. Replacement is expensive, but there are places that can rebuild for about 30k pesos. Which is pretty reasonable.

Mazda6: No idea... not enough owners. Don't doubt suspension parts and bushings will cost more.

I researched on these usual maintenance bits for the said cars. The flywheel of the Focus costs anywhere from 30-50k, and most folks over at FCP recommend against converting to single-mass. Turbo would be about 50k again.

In comparison, the Mazda 3's shocks cost under 4k each. The Mazda 6 would probably be around 6-8k.

Pads for any of the three would probably be around 2k.

Either way, it seems that maintaining either of the Mazdas is a less risky proposition than a potentially overused Focus. Of course, this is assuming that the clutch/turbo will fail. What are the chances of that happening for a 70,000-150,000 km car?


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