New car - Astra, Mazda 3 or Civic - any thoughts?

pinkteapot

This may be too vague a question but here goes.

We are looking at changing our car in the new year. We were thinking something 'nearly new' - 2 years old say. However, I also want to look at brand new and see what sort of deal we can get and what we can get the price difference down to. Hopefully if we go shopping in Jan with the VAT hike, post Xmas and the way the economy is, we can do some haggling. If we can get the new car premium down a bit, I think it might be worth it for the niceness of having something brand new and the considerably longer warranty than on used. If we went new, it would be an order for March 2011.

Currently have a 52 plate Astra. I absolutely love it. Can't explain why, but I just really get on with it. We're going to look at the new shape Astra but given that we'll be spending a lot of £££ I want to at least consider others.

I know I don't like the Focus (test drove one when I bought my Astra a few years ago and hated the driving position and tiny rear windscreen). I like British or Japanese. I might like German - I don't know - no experience. Have a perception that they're expensive?

It's just hubby and I at the moment but we're thinking about kids in the next few years. The Astra's size really suits us. Big enough for luggage for holidays and future family, but not too big to park easily!

So, I'm thinking of test driving a Mazda 3 and a Civic when the time comes.

My mum had a Y-reg Civic from new when I lived at home and I liked driving that, but my brother claims they are now for old people. Mum now has a Mazda 2 and keeps raving about it, so I thought it can't hurt to try the 3 out.

Any other ideas? And any thoughts on these for those who have had them with little ones?

From using the 'build a car' things on their websites, the list price for similarly specced cars looks about the same for the Astra and Mazda 3 and about £2k more for the Civic.

LandyAndy

I think the Civic looks really dated now and the visibility is apparently very poor for reversing etc. Reliability will be good though.

I am a Mazda fan (have a 6 and a 2). The new shape 2 is a very nice little car. Your mum is right.

The Mazda3 is likely to be very reliable as well.

You need to drive them and take the one you find best.

Lum

The Mazda 3 is basically a Focus isn't it? If it's just the styling and visibility on the Focus that you dislike then it's probably a good alternative.

The Astra you have is a Mk4 and it was a pretty nice car for it's time. Unfortunately the Mk5 that replaced it in 2004 was crap. I believe the 2010 Mk6 Astra is a lot better but having had a few Mk5s as hire cars I certainly wouldn't be considering buying one.

I also agree with the above posts about the Civic being really dated now, though the one I had as a hire car was really nice to drive.

But yeah, my money would be on the Mazda.

johnfarquhar74

I test drove the new shape Mazda 3(well, 18 month old shape) a couple of weeks ago. It was a 1.6 petrol and I was rather disappointed with the road noise. Don't know if it came from the tyres/suspension or just lack of noise damping within the cabin.
I was aiming for the 2.0L Sport, and you do get a lot spec for the money, backed with 0% finance.
However the road noise was too much, suggest you give it a good test drive over differing road surfaces and see how you get on!

pinkteapot

Hmmmm, Astra had been my favourite! What's wrong with the Mk5? Unless we buy new, I doubt we'll get the Mk6. A nearly new would probably be the Mk5.

Obviously test drives will be key, I know. Re the Mazda 3 road noise, this is a big consideration for us as we do a lot of UK holidays. One of the first tests for the new car will be Essex to the Orkney Islands by car (and boat ) next June. My current Astra is pretty noisy. It's a 1.6. I was hoping that either a more modern 1.6 engine or going up to a 1.8 would help with the noise.

I didn't like the Focus rear visibility so not convinced on the Civic but will probably still give it a go just because I liked one so much ten years ago. :rotfl:

Any other similar sized hatchbacks that are worth considering? Are Toyotas even worth touching these days? I'm guessing you can get some good deals if you don't mind taking a chance on things like brakes.

Mr_Saver_2

Have a look at the Toyota corolla - VW Golf - Seat Ibiza, all good cars the Germans are not expensive you get what you pay for very well built, im into my Jap stuff i wouldnot recomend buying a new/nearly new Mazda you lose much money buy just putting your name on the log book.

Lum

Well the Mk5 I had as a hire car I hated. Drove it from Cardiff to Hull and back, and some of the things I found were:

Uncomfortable seats. Seems to be common to most Vauxhalls of that era. I have back problems and was literally in agony by the end of that drive

Poor fuel economy. My hire car arrived with 24 miles on the clock and an MPG of 27.1, which rose to 27.3 after a long night-time motorway drive. This is about the same economy as my old twin-turbo Subaru for comparison.

Poor engine. From the sound, and the performance, of the engine I thought I was driving a fairly competent diesel for most of the trip. Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be poor quality petrol engine instead.

Poor suspension. I could feel every bump and pothole on the road, like on a sports car, but it was still wallowy and full of body roll like a car designed for comfort. The worst of both worlds.

Also it has those annoying indicators, originally introduced on the Vectra, that don't latch and you have to press them half way to cancel them.

All in all a horrible drive and I was glad to get out of the car at the end, even though I was now in Hull.

edit: This was a late registered Mk5 1.8 Elite on a 10 plate.

phead

Lum wrote: »

T
The Astra you have is a Mk4 and it was a pretty nice car for it's time. Unfortunately the Mk5 that replaced it in 2004 was crap. I believe the 2010 Mk6 Astra is a lot better but having had a few Mk5s as hire cars I certainly wouldn't be considering buying one.

The mk5 was miles better than the mk4, just about everything changed, the 6 is almost the same, with a little better mpg, though I would keep the normal parking brake given the choice.

The MPG depends totally on the engine,for a 1.7 diesel I was on 46 ish mpg for the 5 and about 51 for the 6, all none motorway.

Lum

The Mk4 came out in 1998 and was a good car for it's time, which is what I said.

Expectations have moved on since then. The Mk5 may have been good in 2002 when it came out, but the OP is looking at cars of around the 2008 vintage and thus a Mk5 will disappoint.

datostar

Do you really need to change the Astra if you like it and it's still giving you good service? I've had a 2.0 litre petrol Megane since new in 1997 and I just can't find anything to replace it with that really appeals. I might change it next year because my son's after it but I'm not really looking forward to the prospect.

Lum

Make him buy his own bloody car.

That's what I had to do when I was a youngster.