The replacement

[tbm3fan]

Picked it up today and while some may not approve it does pass my requirements. Those being engine reliability, ease of servicing top and bottom, good reputation, previous experience, and a basic car without an excess of electronics.

When I looked at the car the salesman was surprised when I declined to sit in the car. Surprised when I declined to drive the car as I already knew. I wanted the hood opened and the top removed from the engine to go over it. I then threw a flattened box on the car and laid on top of it to slide under the car. Everything I saw told me I could easily access every component top to bottom and front to rear.

I wanted to standard 16" wheels rather the the 18" most all come with. Tire replacement is $225 more for 18" tires. The car handles well and rides smoother with the 16" tires. Wanted a basic center dash that you don't see on others. The HVAC system used the standard three rotary dials to adjust. There is no touch screen in the car. Wanted fabric interior and not the so called leather one sees. Other colors would have been nice but even though there are two blue and one red choice those cars seem to be few and very far between.

Going back inside I told the manager I knew very well what people were paying for the car before tax, license, and all other fees just like I knew all about the engine specs. MRSP at $21,300 and people were paying $17,500-18,300 before state fees. I wanted to stay below 20K so that was the range in mind. He then told me that he could sell the car for $18,300 all totaled out the door. That meant the car was $16,700 as fees were just over $1,600 to the state. The car is in machine gray which I can live with although the blue is nice.

 

[300rag]

Nothing wrong with them. I had a red 5dr...

And this is what it looks like when the roof is being replaced due to hail damage

 

[CBODY67]

Thanks for the update! I fully understand your orientation on the wheels and such. As things have evolved, less is better, in many cases.

Being the end of the month, there's more "desire" to make deals, all things considered.

CBODY67

 

[Davea Lux]

Picked it up today and while some may not approve it does pass my requirements. Those being engine reliability, ease of servicing top and bottom, good reputation, previous experience, and a basic car without an excess of electronics.

When I looked at the car the salesman was surprised when I declined to sit in the car. Surprised when I declined to drive the car as I already knew. I wanted the hood opened and the top removed from the engine to go over it. I then threw a flattened box on the car and laid on top of it to slide under the car. Everything I saw told me I could easily access every component top to bottom and front to rear.

I wanted to standard 16" wheels rather the the 18" most all come with. Tire replacement is $225 more for 18" tires. The car handles well and rides smoother with the 16" tires. Wanted a basic center dash that you don't see on others. The HVAC system used the standard three rotary dials to adjust. There is no touch screen in the car. Wanted fabric interior and not the so called leather one sees. Other colors would have been nice but even though there are two blue and one red choice those cars seem to be few and very far between.

Going back inside I told the manager I knew very well what people were paying for the car before tax, license, and all other fees just like I knew all about the engine specs. MRSP at $21,300 and people were paying $17,500-18,300 before state fees. I wanted to stay below 20K so that was the range in mind. He then told me that he could sell the car for $18,300 all totaled out the door. That meant the car was $16,700 as fees were just over $1,600 to the state. The car is in machine gray which I can live with although the blue is nice.
View attachment 217084

I agree with your choice to find one without the touch screen, just another electronic gizmo to go haywire later. The units with the navigation system also have a GPS locator built into them, so it is possible for "big brother" to initiate a tracking protocol if you worry about such things.

Dave

 

[FURYGT]

Picked it up today and while some may not approve it does pass my requirements. Those being engine reliability, ease of servicing top and bottom, good reputation, previous experience, and a basic car without an excess of electronics.

When I looked at the car the salesman was surprised when I declined to sit in the car. Surprised when I declined to drive the car as I already knew. I wanted the hood opened and the top removed from the engine to go over it. I then threw a flattened box on the car and laid on top of it to slide under the car. Everything I saw told me I could easily access every component top to bottom and front to rear.

I wanted to standard 16" wheels rather the the 18" most all come with. Tire replacement is $225 more for 18" tires. The car handles well and rides smoother with the 16" tires. Wanted a basic center dash that you don't see on others. The HVAC system used the standard three rotary dials to adjust. There is no touch screen in the car. Wanted fabric interior and not the so called leather one sees. Other colors would have been nice but even though there are two blue and one red choice those cars seem to be few and very far between.

Going back inside I told the manager I knew very well what people were paying for the car before tax, license, and all other fees just like I knew all about the engine specs. MRSP at $21,300 and people were paying $17,500-18,300 before state fees. I wanted to stay below 20K so that was the range in mind. He then told me that he could sell the car for $18,300 all totaled out the door. That meant the car was $16,700 as fees were just over $1,600 to the state. The car is in machine gray which I can live with although the blue is nice.
View attachment 217084

Congrats & a good choice based on co-workers who own Mazdas.

 

[BigblueC]

I'm a Honda man myself but I think you made a decent choice.

and a basic car without an excess of electronics.

Sadly, at least to me, that's where it's getting hard to find a newer vehicle. These new cars are awesome with reliability and efficiency, but damn if they aren't loaded with electronics (expensive) which will fail before the rest of the vehicle.

 

[65sporty]

A customer of mine has one of those, I have never worked on it. He brings me his Volvo when he needs something beyond the basic maintenance he performs himself. I guess he hasn't had any issues with it yet.

 

[Rapidtrans777]

My sister-in-law had a Mazda 3. It didn't give her any problems.

'm a Honda man myself but I think you made a decent choice.

Same here. My wife's 2004 Acura has 277,000 miles on it.

 

[BigblueC]

My wife's 2004 Acura

I looked at a few of those when I was replacing my work vehicle. But I wound up taking my wife's Civic and buying her an '03 Wrangler. My step mother has a '15 Acura V6 AWD. That thing is nice. And for some reason it bothers my old man when I call it a Honda.

 

[Rapidtrans777]

And for some reason it bothers my old man when I call it a Honda.

I would do the same thing, lol.

 

[tbm3fan]

Two of the younger staff, the girl who brought over all the paper work and the guy who drove her over from service, same my 91 626 in customer parking. As I was leaving the two said to me that it was the first 626 they had ever seen and they work at the service dept. half.

 

[saforwardlook]

Good choice. Sky Activ is the best fuel economy technology available today.

Having perhaps this site"s reputation for the most most parsimonious member though, I would not want to be the salesman that had to negotiate with you!

 

[69monaco]

Good choice. Sky Activ is the best fuel economy technology available today.

Having perhaps this site"s reputation for the most most parsimonious member though, I would not want to be the salesman that had to negotiate with you!

For that money he could buy a great cheap silver 69 polara……...

 

[cantflip]

Looks like a good daily beater... hopefully it will give you a few decades of reliable use. Sorry, but zero sex appeal... I'd drive something like it if I was putting on big mileage though.

 

[jct]

for some reason it bothers my old man when I call it a Honda.

I get really annoyed when they call my newport a dodge... Just the other day someone at work called it a poor mans cadillac...

 

[rapidtrans]

I’d have a hard time buying a car myself, family, friends or neighbors didn’t build. Must be a Motor City thing. 40 yrs in the auto industry and i’ve worked in exactly TWO Japanese or Korean plants. The Japanese are still a closed-shop, so to speak.