Originally Posted by
TMonk
. Mazdaspeed 3, Focus ST, Civic Si, something like that.
big john do you have an recommendations for models like that???
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All of my actual experience since 1995 has been GM only. I can say people love all of those cars and Mazda does things other makers don't do. A friend had a Mazda based on the 323 but it was all wheel drive with center differential lock and turbocharged 1.5 and 5 speed. I drove it in the snow and it was a blast. As my friend said, they are "proud of their parts" so the parts are expensive. The GTI gets good reviews and Honda is well known for reliability. Like all cars, if you beat them up and neglect them they will turn to crap, so beware the used car market. Turbocharged engines demand clean oil with their little turbos spinning 1000s of rpm on a small bearing. A friend had a used Subaru and the turbo grenaded, metal traveled through the engine so the engine blew up soon after the turbo was replaced. A money pit.