Thought it would be a good idea to provide consumer advice here. Anyway, with the current economic panic, I thought it might be a good weekend to go and play real hardball with area car dealers.

The two cars we're considering are the Mazda 5 (a smallish mini-van looking thing) and the Saturn Astra (a Euro-style hatch wagon). Anyone with experience or thoughts about these vehicles?

no advice on cars. i know a couple of people with mazdas and they're great.

i go out today to try and get a car loan for my charger. i hope i get approved without a crazy rate.

TenuredVulture wrote:Thought it would be a good idea to provide consumer advice here. Anyway, with the current economic panic, I thought it might be a good weekend to go and play real hardball with area car dealers.

The two cars we're considering are the Mazda 5 (a smallish mini-van looking thing) and the Saturn Astra (a Euro-style hatch wagon). Anyone with experience or thoughts about these vehicles?

Both suck, go foreign

Buy used

The Red Tornado wrote:

TenuredVulture wrote:Thought it would be a good idea to provide consumer advice here. Anyway, with the current economic panic, I thought it might be a good weekend to go and play real hardball with area car dealers.

The two cars we're considering are the Mazda 5 (a smallish mini-van looking thing) and the Saturn Astra (a Euro-style hatch wagon). Anyone with experience or thoughts about these vehicles?

Both suck, go foreign

Is Japan in America?

Mazda is 33.6% American (Ford)

Woody wrote:Mazda is 33.6% American (Ford)

Hopefully for Mazda, that's from the waist down, if you know what I mean.

jerseyhoya wrote:

The Red Tornado wrote:

TenuredVulture wrote:Thought it would be a good idea to provide consumer advice here. Anyway, with the current economic panic, I thought it might be a good weekend to go and play real hardball with area car dealers.

The two cars we're considering are the Mazda 5 (a smallish mini-van looking thing) and the Saturn Astra (a Euro-style hatch wagon). Anyone with experience or thoughts about these vehicles?

Both suck, go foreign

Is Japan in America?

Mazda in the US is mostly run by Ford and uses alot of Ford parts/platforms, etc

I believe the Mazda 5, unlike (for instance) the 6, is actually manufactured in Japan.

Does Saturn still have the no haggling policy?

Are you buying outright? If not I've heard anecdotes around the office that dealerships are turning people away more often than not over the past two weeks, and offer high APR for those that do qualify.

VoxOrion wrote:Are you buying outright? If not I've heard anecdotes around the office that dealerships are turning people away more often than not over the past two weeks, and offer high APR for those that do qualify.

We'd have to finance. If the dealer won't finance us at very favorable terms, we might either go for a bank loan (Decisions made right here in Magnolia!) or just not buy a car. Our credit is rock solid.

And I appreciate Woody's advice, but Mrs. Vulture likes new cars.

what do you need in a car?

list the features you need-

4 doors, trunk space, etc

Let me put this a different way.

HAVEN'T YOU HEARD WE'VE BEEN IN A RECESSION SINCE THE FIRST DAY OF THE DEMOCRATIC DEBATES AND NOW WE'RE ON THE VERGE OF A DEPRESSION.

See, this is the thing, we don't really need a car at all. It would be convenient to have a second car, but it's not a need.

The vehicle would be Mrs. Vulture's drive around town car, which would involve groceries, hauling perhaps 3 children and 2 adults around, and periodically used for long out of town overnight car trips that involve more luggage than you'd think three people really need. Highway gas mileage is therefore important, and we don't want to get killed with around town mileage.

Mrs. Vulture is concerned the Saturn would be too small, I think it'd be just right.

VoxOrion wrote:Let me put this a different way.

HAVEN'T YOU HEARD WE'VE BEEN IN A RECESSION SINCE THE FIRST DAY OF THE DEMOCRATIC DEBATES AND NOW WE'RE ON THE VERGE OF A DEPRESSION.

I believe in America. I believe in Hope and Change. I hope I can buy a car with my spare change.

RICHEST ONE PERCET AND HE'S A TEACHER TOO.

jerseyhoya wrote:

Woody wrote:Mazda is 33.6% American (Ford)

Hopefully for Mazda, that's from the waist down, if you know what I mean.

I haven't owned a car since early 96 ...

If I were to get a new one now? If money and fuel consumption was no object, purely on design, I like those convertible thunderbirds with the semi-retro look. I've always like Alfa Romeo.

If practical was in play, Mazda 3's I've rented a few an dated a woman wh ohad one, and it was easy to drive, had a little pep.

I really don't like the look of many cars and many start to blur together ...

I like good vision, nice handling, a little pep off the line... comfortable seat and control panel...

Got a late start, decided to skip car shopping. Skipped Home Depot as well. Had some barbecue. Not bad. B+. Almost went to Taco Beuno, but Mrs. Vulture didn't want fast food.