driving impressions(long)

[kervinridgley@earthlink.net (Kervin)]

I'd go for the regular protoge.  That car will hold up the best and have
the lowest operating costs of the choices listed.  The handling
differences with the mazda speed are from threes things - the struts,
the sway bars and the tires.  Mazda made the "speed" to help the dealers
sell the up grade stuff to regular protégé owners.  The likelihood that
you would EVER need to bring the car back into the dealership is very
small.

I also had some driving impressions to rely.  I did a driving class for
the Porsche Cayenne on friday.  It was at the Barber (not Skipp)
motorsports park in Birmingham, Alabama.  It was a blast.  We did some
wet autocross on a sealed surface (like driving on ice), a dry
autocross, towing (with a flat bed trailer with a 911 on it!), some wide
open tack time and a off-road course.  It was the most amazing car I
ever drove.  To be able to handle on the track like a sports car and
then drive off road on trails that I don't know if I could ride my
mountain bike on is crazy.  If anyone has an extra $65,000 around, I'll
make sure it goes to a good cause :)




Doolbnroht@aol.com wrote:
> 
> today and yesterday i went on test drives, convinced i need a new car. the scirocco needs more creature comforts and i am tired of wondering when my wheel bearings,cv joints, timing belt, waterpump....etc.. are going to go out on me. i want a small reliable car.
> 
> -mazda-
>     -protoge 5 wagon... nice car. agile for a wagon, decent acceleration and power. roomy for a compact. i like the outside lines of the car. just a little too blah for me. but $18k after tags title fees and such nicely equipped. it was the lowest price so far.
>     -mazda speed protoge.... same as above with a nice stereo, quick, 4 door, minimal choice in colors(black or orange). calloway turbo seems to be plenty of power for a small car. i would like to try this  car out on a auto-x course. a little pricy at $26k after dealer markup taxes tag and title. also the interior is one that you love or hate, i like it.
>       -mazda 6. nice car except for the interior. for the "effort" that mazda put into this car you'd think they'd hired something more than an 8th grader to design the seats and such. but a nice smoot car. didn;t get the prices on this car because the interior drove me away.
> 
> -subaru-
>      -impreza wrx sedan- wow! everyone knows all about this car. all i can say is that it is awesome. handling,awd, turbo, tourqe, and hp.. sexy blue color and multitudes of upgrades avalible. 0% financing through subaru for 24 months... at $27k the most expensive of the group, payments would kill you. also no dealer option for leather interior.
> 
> -mini-
>      -mini cooper s- very very short, but as wide as a normal compact. this car is like a go cart. very well balanced. not alot of storage space as expected... but wow. 160 supercharged hp, 17" wheels, leather, 6 speed) creature comfprts out the wazoo, nice harmon kardon sound system. very unique. very quick for an ultra compact(just happened to beat a type-r on the interstate) very smooth at 105mph in 4th gear. i beat on this car alot. taction control can be turned on and off. lots of dealer options. and the 2nd least expensive at $23k out the door. and the coolest thing was the sevice at the dealership. very low key, the sales person remebered me for 2 weeks ago. handed me the key, told me there was a full tank of gas, and to have fun. no supervision in a car that is not your own. thats fun.
> 
> so in conclusion.. does anyone have $23k i could have? the mini wins this weekend. more to come later if anyone cars. i'm going to take my car shopping very seriously.
> 
> later!
> -alan
> 
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-- 
Kervin
86 Scirocco 2.0 8v 4K+80% and lots of other numbers and letters
88 Gti 1.8 16v Not done and now it's winter :(
00 tt600