Looking At Buying Small-Mid Sized Family Car. What To Get?

[RS ZWEI]

Is that brand new for $21k?

Yip, you guys would have to take one for a drive for that money.

[Aidan]

If you're after a Mazda 3, heres a model you really can't look past. I guess its a little over the budget though, but if you kept looking...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/Mazda/MPS/auction-202514711.htm

With 263bhp to the fronts, that thing really wouldn't eff round

[Audio]

If you're after a Mazda 3, heres a model you really can't look past. I guess its a little over the budget though, but if you kept looking...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/Mazda/MPS/auction-202514711.htm

With 263bhp to the fronts, that thing really wouldn't eff round

Yeah bit too expensive. Would be awesome though

[Ballin]

Yeah I think we are gonna go for an SP23. Just looking round for the right one

I love our mazda 6 wagon Atenza great car, but im looking to change it for a passat wagon i think....

[xring]

I looked at the Mazda 3 MPS when I was asked to choose a new company car. The car is damn quick, but a LOT of torque steer. Could be a real handful in the wet. Had a very unsophisticated feel to it. At the time, my own car was a MkIV Golf 4Motion V6. The MPS was certainly faster but I definitely preferred the 4Motion.

In the end I went for a MkV GTI for my company car.

[Trofeo]

Yeah I think we are gonna go for an SP23. Just looking round for the right one

my GF has a Mazda 3 (not the SP23) and its a fantastic car. It's pretty quick too. She's had it from new and nothing has ever gone wrong with it. Mind you its only done 20kms!

It's one up from the base model (alloys, 6 stack in-dash CD, multi-function steering wheel, Aux in etc) and she loves it. Even the interior looks good for cars in this price bracket.

My only comment would be that there is quite a lot of tyre/road noise - i have also read this in a review too. Maybe it is the tyres (bridgestones) but it could be the design and sound-deadening. But even so, i'd recommend you drive one.

[HandsomeDan]

My only comment would be that there is quite a lot of tyre/road noise - i have also read this in a review too. Maybe it is the tyres (bridgestones) but it could be the design and sound-deadening. But even so, i'd recommend you drive one.

The tyre noise thing is not limited to a specific brand of tyre - it's pretty common in these. You get used to it and frankly it doesn;t bother me at all. You'll get the same in a Honda, Hyundai, Toyota or Mitsubishi in the same class.