well if you checked out the general automotive discussion thread, you would know that i was in the market, and had my eye on the v6 stang.
after much thinking, i realized that for that price range i could probably get another car with better build quality, just as fun to drive, and wouldnt depreciate like a falling rock. so i started test driving other cars, in particular- the mazda6sport, the honda accord coup I4 EX-L, and the acura rsx premium w leather.
mazda6sport gsv6: i was really impressed with the overall design. great room, front, rear and cargo capacity (not that the latter two was a significant issue, but a nice bonus). the test drive on the other hand, was good, but not great. while the 6's ride is ultra smooth and quiet with good handling, the engine just didnt have the kick that i would expect in its 220hp rating. also the dealer didnt seem too keen on striking a better deal on price. a good car, but not the one for me.
honda accord coup exl: this is a great car. i was really impressed. it has a dead sexy exterior with a comfortable nicely designed interior (center console was a bit odd looking to me). I thought at first that the 4cylinder (the v6 exl costs too much) would be too underpowered, esp after not being impressed by the mazda 6s v6, but this was not the case. the 4cylinder held up well, a very smooth ride and was quite adequate (honda makes a better engine then mazda?). the salesman was very good, added a nice discount, and presented a very tempting offer. overall i was impressed and was seriously considering this car. i would have liked a stronger engine in the car considering its size and weight.
acura rsx premium w leather: i initially didnt give this car a chance because i thought it would be too cramped inside for me (6", 210lbs) but once i was in the drivers seat for my lengthy test drive, i found it had much more room than i thought. the interior used high quality materials, wisely designed and laid out. the sporty leather seats are beautiful, and the heated seats will be great come winter. the handling was a dream. the ride is not as soft as accord coup but has enough feel for a sportier car without being too abusive. the engine while not a monster by any means, gave good pep to satisfy my driving needs. the tiptronic transmission also suits my situation with daily heavy stop in go traffic driving, anf a desire to have more control than a standard automatic. (i was told that the sportronic transmission in the mazda6 would automatically change gears for you if let it rev too high- but the tiptronic is not designed to do that. not sure if this is true, can anyone confirm this?). the car is also loaded with many other features that i wont go too far into as it is very late as of this writing. on top of this great car, i also received a good deal i couldnt say no to with a low interest rate, a 750$ graduate program discount, and a car that wont be worth dirt after 4 years.
im quite happy with my decision and i cant wait to recieve my new car! i will be posting pics as soon as i can.
