Corolla vs. Mazda3 ?

[judgeroy]

I need to buy a relatively inexpensive small car that gets good mileage, but is reliable enough for a 75 mile daily commute.

I think I've narrowed it down to the Mazda3 or the Corolla.

Any good/bad experiences you've had with either? Other suggestions welcome...

Thanks!

 

[BNB]

I test drove a Mazda3, as I had a protoge in college in 91 and loved it , until I totaled it. The Mazda3 was a lot of fun to drive and the one with the bigger engine is actually faster than the Mazda6 I got with a V6. It was too small for me, but other than that I would have gotten one. I think mazda just does a good job of making cars that are fun to drive.

Oh and if your in Austin I've had nothing but great experiences with Roger Beasley.

 

[tropheus]

I drove a Geo Prism 100 miles per day for 3 years commuting back and forth between Waco and Austin. Sounds unrelated to your car choice except for the fact that the engine was a corolla engine. I was terrible to that car and it never once gave me problems other than routine maintenance issues (tune-up, oil changes, etc.). Started at 130K miles and ended somewhere around 200K.

The corolla engine is as reliable as they come.

 

[ERhine]

I have had my Corolla for over four years now, bought it new back in 2000. I haven't had any problems with it.

 

[MilkmanDan]

Nothing current on either one, but I had an '88 Corolla (bought in '94, sold in '99) that was more reliable and needed less work after 10 years than my '97 Mazda MX-6 required beginning at 3 years of age.

 

[Mobyhorn]

Dollar for dollar, I don't think you can beat a Corolla. Remember that Ford owns Mazda. The Mazda transmissions are not what they should be and are used in other Ford owned products.

 

[Ankf00]

the mazdas, despite ford's 33 or 35% controlling stake in the company, are very very solid.

however, a corolla is bulletproof...

can't go wrong w/ either imo

 

[judgeroy]

I be thankin' ya all for yer smart replies ! I'll be gettin the Yugo.

 

[zzzz]

The Corolla is the "best-selling car in the world." By that, they mean it has been in production for so long that more of them have been sold worldwide than any other car.

When you consider how relatively few complaints are heard about Corollas, that says a lot.

 

[GHoward]

Civic?

 

[OrangeFairway]

My GF bought the 3. (Coupe)

A damn impressive car for the $.