Buying a new car

[Corkie]

Hello people: Help Needed

I'm getting a car through my company and my budget's limited, between 700-730K. I'm looking for sound advice.

I'm choosing between a Mazda 3 and a Suzuki Swift. My wife wants the Mazda because it's bigger but I'm worried because I hear it can be a bit sluggish. I like Mazda's interiors better, though. Most of my officemates got Mazda 3s, too.

F/C won't be an issue because I'll get a gas card from my company.

I've visited dealers for both brands and they have assured me that they can work around my budget and throw in some freebies.

Head to head which is better?

Appreciate the help!

[tedd]

Hello people: Help Needed

I'm getting a car through my company and my budget's limited, between 700-730K. I'm looking for sound advice.

I'm choosing between a Mazda 3 and a Suzuki Swift. My wife wants the Mazda because it's bigger but I'm worried because I hear it can be a bit sluggish. I like Mazda's interiors better, though. Most of my officemates got Mazda 3s, too.

F/C won't be an issue because I'll get a gas card from my company.

I've visited dealers for both brands and they have assured me that they can work around my budget and throw in some freebies.

Head to head which is better?

Appreciate the help!

Why not include Honda Civic and Toyota Altis to your choices? Head to head between Mazda 3 and Suzuki Swift only, I prefer Mazda 3!

[Corkie]

Why not include Honda Civic and Toyota Altis to your choices? Head to head between Mazda 3 and Suzuki Swift only, I prefer Mazda 3!

Do you know any Honda or Toyota dealers that can offer me a Civic or an Altis for less than 730K? I'd definitely consider looking into those two models if they fit my budget

Mazda sent me a quote today and the discount's crazy! Over 100K! I think that'll be too hard to refuse.

[Bogeyman]

Between the two, the Mazda3 would be the more logical choice, since you're married and you might probably need the extra space.

If I were in your place, I know I'd choose the Swift in a heartbeat, since I already have a family car. Plus the Swift comes with a stick shift now, so driving it is going to be twice as fun for me.

[Gerbo]

Mazda sent me a quote today and the discount's crazy! Over 100K! I think that'll be too hard to refuse.

To put this into perspective:

There was recently a 2007 Mazda 3 1.6L that has been sold at P628,000.
http://tsikot.yehey.com/classifieds/...ct/56645/cat/7

With a market depreciation of about 15% of the car's selling price on the first year, getting it at around P720,000 seems fair enough.

The only caveat here is its an outgoing model. But still a nice sporty vehicle to have. Better than the gas Focus, IMHO.

[BlueJazz]

Do you know any Honda or Toyota dealers that can offer me a Civic or an Altis for less than 730K? I'd definitely consider looking into those two models if they fit my budget

Mazda sent me a quote today and the discount's crazy! Over 100K! I think that'll be too hard to refuse.

yes, discounts are crazy. got mine with a 90k discount last August.

Mazda 3 is a very stable car and yes, its sluggish compared to the corolla and civic, but you have a wife, so you cant really speed right?

so far, no regrets, and my wife loves it as well.. everyone is happy.

[niky]

Hmmm... the Civic's only issue is the hard seats... the Jazz is better (because the seats are shaped better), but the foam is still on the stiff side...

The Corolla is a very, very, VERY comfortable car, in terms of both seating and ride. It's one of the few new cars that rides better than the Mazda3 (which has one of the more supple rides in the segment)... only issues are the horrid steering and the weird front footwell... also, the cabin just ain't as appealing as the Mazda3.

The Swift is nice, but it's a toy. The rear seat isn't worth mentioning. But if you don't have kids... hmmmm...

The 1.3 Jazz is worth a long, hard, look. Nice new car, good fuel efficiency, spacious, good looks. Even if you're on a gas card, if there's a chance of inheriting the car from the company in the long run, or if you will use to car on personal trips, that counts for something. ;)

[actor21]

yeah mag mazda 3 kana lang..para pareho tayo lol hehehe

[ghosthunter]

mazda3 vs swift: no contest that the mazda3 is the better choice between the two. As you mentioned, the Mazda3 is a bit sluggish if you choose the 1.6L version, requiring you to press the accelerator a big deeper to get better results but it's not that bad. Maybe you should ask your officemates for a testdrive of their unit so you can have first-hand experience.

My parents have one and it's not that bad. The only real time I truly feel it lacks more power is when I take that car for a long drive to Baguio or similar and when I want to overtake another car at high speed.

BTW, the SRP prices of your choice of vehicles are:
Mazda3 S 1.6L A/T = PHP 819,000.00
Swift 1.6L A/T = PHP 755,000.00

Your other choices within your budget are:
Toyota Yaris 1.5G A/T = PHP 748,000.00
Toyota Vios 1.5G A/T = PHP 765,000.00
Honda Jazz S 1.3L A/T = PHP 747,000.00
Honda Jazz V 1.5L A/T = PHP 797,000.00

Right now, you can avail of the Honda Jazz 1.3L since there is an oversupply of the 1.3L variant while the 1.5L has a long waiting list (sometimes over 45 days before delivery) since the price difference (P50K) makes it a better purchase based on the added accessories/features.

[Gerbo]

I'd say, get the Mazda 3.

-your wife also wants it: probably it would be difficult if you get the Swift and "nagged"
that the other car is better.
-your office mates has one, too: you will feel "in".

But seriously, the 3 is a bigger and much better car, handles better IMHO. As to the 1.6L displacement, it cannot be that bad in MM traffic. And you have the luxury of the company paying for the gas. Go zoom-zoom na!

[al shaheen]

I'd say, get the Mazda 3.

-your wife also wants it: probably it would be difficult if you get the Swift and "nagged"
that the other car is better.
-your office mates has one, too: you will feel "in".

And you have the luxury of the company paying for the gas. Go zoom-zoom na!

+ 1 on this, yes zoom zoom na!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[meledson]

Typically, the bigger the vehicle, the more stable, safer and spacious it is.

[rainbow73]

hi,

i was faced the same dilemna as u did....my budget was 750k...i also sought the help of the people here in this forum,quite interesting coz a lot of people talaga shared and gave their advice....at the end of the day, ikaw pa din magdedecide sa mga options presented to you....of all the choices, I bought avanza 1.5A/T at 768k so dagdag lang me ng 18k coz thru company din kc ...kc automatic sya and nde sya ganun kalaki , mas me seating capacity lang sya vs sedan and magaan din idrive....i got the car Nov 20 and nabigay ng toyota ung license plate ng nov 28 so nagagamit ko na sya but not totally pa kc im just a new driver...takot pa eh....good luck sa choice mo ...impt ung gustong gusto mo talaga

[xmb]

gusto mo avanza ka nalang.. kunin mo nalang yung akin ... bank financing ito sa BPI .. 1.5G AT .. nakuha ko lang October 10, 2008.. ahihihih pm nalang kung interested... TIA...