Controlo,..........Neither one! Keep the tC or get a scooby!!! Lol. For real though, if I was to choose between the two you're looking at, I would say get the Mazda speed3.

 

For performance I'd say the Mazda is clearly superior to the VW. Too bad the 3 doesn't come in a 2dr, I might seriously consider it then, but I'd still get it over the gti if they were priced the same.

 

keep em coming. i've driven them both and the mazdaspeed is pretty damn fast. i'm not used to driving a car that fast so maybe its just me. the vw has pretty good performance too. the shifter is amazingly smooth, the interior is really nice and there is practically no turbo lag. i can say that the vw is faster than the new civic si as well... does anyone have another positive association with VW? i enjoyed driving both cars so it ultimately comes down to price and service. i've been to lancaster mazda and valencia and they both were _______s. "we'll just sell it to someone else for 5,000 over sticker" cool. i could've gotten the one in lancaster for msrp but it was black with 1,000 little kids handprints on it and various scratches and paint flaws from keeping it outside. morons.

 

are u a costco memeber? cuz u get cars for a certain X amount of dollars over invoice. i have not driven ether but i always hear about reliability issues with vw and the inside smells like crayons...

 

Mazda = Ford. Ford = No Thanks! Tough choice. GL with your decision.

 

get the VW if you like electrical problems.

the mazdaspeed 3 would be much cooler if it was AWD like the big brother speed6

 

However, Mazda does not always = Ford. Sometimes Ford has products based on a Mazda model, and in that case I'd agree with you, because Ford seems to somehow screw them up before putting their badge on. Going the other direction, I don't recall any Ford design being used as the basis for a Mazda, and that's certainly not the case in this instance.

There's no Ford in the Mazda3, so no worries in this scenario.

 

Like I said........WRX. I test drove the '07 WRX (turbo'd) and the only word I have to describe it is, WOW! (the sales rep was a young guy so he was a little more extensive in his, um.. mashing, er uh.... test drive of the car. haha. There's no way I'd buy that particular car because at 20 miles on the odometer, I know you're not supposed to be hittin' 6,000 RPM!) Lol. But if you're looking for something in the area of $25K price range with a turbo, reliable and has tons of aftermarket parts available (Oh and AWD!), that's the route I'd suggest. Depends on whether or not your a fan of its looks though.

 

Ford is a turd. You ca't polish a turd....a turd is a turd and a mazda is a FORD so the food chain goes turd, ford, mazda.

I am sure they are nice, and fast, and purty but it's still a ford.

Stick with the tc if I were you!

 

yeah, i'd love to have a wrx. but with the mazdaspeed being comparable, i'd rather have that. this city is flooded with sti's and wrx's and i've only seen 1 mazdaspeed 3. they don't sell them in bakersfield. besides that, i'm already pushing it by buying this car at $22,900. my payments are gonna be $372 a month. ouch. good thing my insurance is $1 cheaper than the tC. do you know if the costco discount applies for the mazdaspeed 3? my friend used to work at mazda and he told me about that too, but they don't carry mazdaspeeds. we have a costco card... ))

 

 

actually the mazda 3's are a very reliable car. not sure exactly on the speed3 but i know that the 2.3 is a very good motor.

 

I second the cries to stay away from VW. Putting aside the horrible electrical failings, the customer service is horrid. I hated dealing with them.

Stick with the Scion, but I really like the speed3.

 

i would turbo the tc...

but if you're not up for that I would go with the VW.. it looks nicer and if you throw a chip on its pretty damn fast...

 

yeah, thats an option too. the chip is undetectable by the dealership and it adds something like 50whp. its already quick, thats not the problem. i like the performance of the vw. i like them both. i dont know why people say the interior of the mazdaspeed 3 is cheap plastic when they have much better interior materials and styling than the car i've loved for the past 19 months. the scion tC.

 

based on my personal experiences with friends and what not, Mazda > VW. My friend own's a 3 that's a year old and she hasn't had any problems, other than her tire blowing out on the interstate, but you can't blame the car, she got crap tires put on and she's a chick (jk jk). My best friend has a Jetta and like someone else was saying, he has a boat load of problems with his. Although mainly electrical, they are such a pain to fix. I would personally go with the MS3. It's quick, rare (for the most part), and could end up with less problems. Either way, it's not going to be a day and night decision, so weigh the +'s and -'s carefully and go with what you feel the most satisfied with.

 

thanks for all your input guys. keep it coming. i'm leaning toward the mazdaspeed 3. it seems like much more car for the money. it also seems to be more reliable. the vw does have rear ac and a cooler in the glove box though. and plaid seats. its all about them both being hatches to me. gotta have that room in the back. i'm a musician.

 

Id rather have the tc..but if u must i like mazda

 

mazda, go read some recent articles, maybe rent one for a week and see how u like it. on a side note i almost traded in the tC for an 03 s2k (that was fun!) but then i got back in my tC and went "aaaw, i think i may be starting to love you)
sign up on some of their forums, go to some of their meets, see what ppl's experiences are and what they're trading in for...
i'd stick with a honda or toyota though b/c u can beat the heck out of them and their engines still outlast the bodies.

 

Both are FWD, correct?

Uhh, pass.