I'm buying a car and I would like some input.
 

I will be buying a new car early next year, and I've narrowed it down to a few choices. I've read lots of online reviews and stuff, but I was hoping some TFP'ers had some personal experience with any of these cars:

Volkswagen Rabbit
Ford Focus
Mazda 3
Scion XB

mazda 3 is pretty good

Out of those, definitely Mazda3. The Rabbit is just a Golf, and I don't like those. Ford Focus...well, it's a Ford, and Scion xB is one of the ugliest cars on the roads right now (right after Honda Element and Toyota FJ Cruiser). Mazda3s are reliable, pretty fun to drive and handle great.

You do realize that Ford owns a stake in Mazda, and that the Mazda 3 and the Ford Focus are built on exactly the same platform, right?:confused: Ford designates it as the "C1 platform", the Ford Focus, Volve S40, and the Mazda 3 are all built on it.

http://www.answers.com/topic/ford-c1-platform

The Focus is probably the car to pick here. I personally wouldn't consider a VW at all. The Mazda would be second pick. Scions are ugly, in my opinion, and I'd have a hard time picking a Toyota anything.

EDIT: In this price range, the Cobalt wouldn't be a bad car to look at, either.

Yes, but as far as I know Mazda 3 and 6 are being manufactired in Japan on brand new plants. Funny as it may, it gives me a sense of greater confidence than buying an American built Focus. I could be wrong, though.

Besides, Mazda3 beats all of them visually.

i would go with the scion out of those just because scions are built by toyota and i have never even known anyone that had a toyota they wernt happy with. They seem to always last forever. Even if they are ugly who cares. your not going to win any trophies for driving any of those cars so might as well go with whats the most practical.

Why do you like the Ford, and why would you not consider a VW or Toyota? I'm not trying to argue, but I'm just curious as to why.

I must be weird, but I don't think the Xb is ugly -- it's kinda cool looking, and this is from a guy who hates SUV's. But from what I've read on it it's horrendously underpowered. You might not like that too much when you try to merge onto a freeway.

Even if the Focus and the 3 were the exact same car (they're not) I'd still go wtih the 3 because Ford's service absolutely sucks. If anything goes wrong with it prepare for either a long uphill battle to get it fixed, or to have it fixed wrong by the dealership and then continue to break.

I agree with those who wouldn't consider a VW - -they're just not reliable.

Another one to look at in that price range would be the new Civic. It's got great styling, lots of power, and even the top of the line, fully loaded model is only $23k - - -and that includes a GPS.

vw all the way, unless you get the mazda speed 3

mazda is owned by ford but there are still some differences so that ford can run mazda as a different company. the mazda 3's are still made in japan, also the mazda 6 is different because their 6 cyl. has the taurus engine i believe. if you want another option you can try the mitsubishi lancer or the honda civic.

Have you ever driven a Focus and a Mazda 3 to compare the two? I own a Focus. The only reason I bought it was because I got a great deal with the incentives and employee pricing last summer. I got nearly 5 grand off the price of the car so I bought it or it woulda cost just as much as an equally equipped Mazda 3. I really wanted a Mazda 3 because the car is way better, but I chose the Focus because it was cheaper and because I drive about 30,000 miles a year so at the time I didn't see the point of paying 5 grand more for a car that would be worthless in 4 years. Anyway, the build quality, interior, and ride quality can't even compare to a Focus even though they are built of the same platform. I really wish I woulda paid more money for the Mazda..... Don't make the same stupid mistake I made.

Just so people know..... The Focus is made is Mexico. It's not made in America.

I'd say go for the Mazda3. Looks great and I have heard many good things about the handling and reliability.

Avoid the Rabbit, have you looked at its poor gas mileage?

is there a reason, if you are considering cars like the Rabbit and the Focus, that you aren't more interested in the tC over the xB?

Yes, there sure is. The tC is the sporty Scion and, as sporty cars go, I actually prefer the Mazda 3 and the VW Rabbit. The reason I put the xB on my list of potential cars is that it's very cheap and has a ton of interior space for its size. I'm considering the Ford Focus as a compromise between the cheap, roomy car and the two sportier cars on my list (since the Focus I'm considering buying is cheaper than the VW and Mazda, but faster than the Scion).