MazdaBro
Member
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2020
- Messages
- 34
- Reaction score
- 55
- Points
- 18
Hello ladies and gentlemen! My name is Riley and ive been an auto enthusiast for more than half my life now. I'm an old school kinda guy, which the Stinger keeps just enough guttural feel and attachment to the cars im used to, while offering a luxurious, stylish package at such a deal that will accomodate child seats and/or 4 wheels/tires. I've test driven a GT2 AWD and am currently seeking out any trim CPO AWDv6 with a fair number of miles and price. The unicorn, ofcourse, would be finding a GTS AWD in federation orange lease traded in at my local kia dealership. I've had several options in the colors im looking at (black, white, metal, and orange), that got snapped up day of listing, or before theyre even detailed to be seen in person. Seeing alot of red, blue, and 4 cylinder models, but they are not what im willing to fork out on. I am, however, willing to buy new if it was the GTS that allowed me to autocross in RWD mode! I don't know why more vehicles offer this type of compromise on performance. So while my MAZDASPEED3 continues to depreciate, and so do the CPO versions im considering, the local joint has stated they're getting in a 2021 GTS in "indigo blue".
A bit about my background: I studied auto mechanics for a few years while the school floundered and flopped to become a respectable teaching establishment. I had an 88' 323 GTX at the time, and was doing a turbo II swap into an FC RX7 that belonged to my buddy. The mechanical side of things came easy to me, but i was never able to get the ECU and wiring to work out from a JDM motor. With the Big 3 automakers going under, and my firing from the shop i worked at, it was time to move on from that line of work and school that had seen 2 administration and name changes in as many years. While in community college, I found my passion for food while working part time, and thats where i landed professionally as a Chef. Still working with my hands, and just as strong a love as for cars.
My vehicles(in this approximate order) included a chevy cavalier, which was my senior project in the hay-days of FnF. Family 96 Toyota avalon V6. Saturn SC2 that was mainly bumpstarted. Rally Homologation special: 323 GTX. Several Mazda MX-3 GS that i still own. Another Cavalier, ecotec this time. First MY scion tC that went through my family. Then my current pocket rocket MS3. The Stinger would qualify as the most expensive and biggest vehicle ive owned, fit for hauling the family while maintaining the ability to have fun at a moments notice.
I have been an SCCA member for about 10 years, but racing longer than that. I dont find the money/time/abuse to track my vehicles too often, but on my 30th birthday a few years back, my family bought me an extreme driving experience in a Lamborghini Hurrican on the local track. Best 5 minutes of my life! Also recently done a BMW product test event at the same track where an automatic M235i convertible made a very big impression on me as the best non manual car id ever driven.
Definitey a Mazda brand loyalist, as ive owned 5 now and my senior paper was on the Wankel rotary engine, but they dont really offer something that is an upgrade over my current Speed3. Miata is too small for family and RWD is a no-no in greater Appalachia where im residing. The Stinger hatchback is very sexy, but so is the new Mazda3. Even with the upcoming turbo model of the 3 for 2021, its not a manual and not even as much power as my current hatch. I guess i should take a moment and say how important the manual is to me, and the concession i would be making going with the Stinger and its 8spd auto. Even if the 4cyl premium stingers came with a manual like the G70, i might make the concession on power to keep the driving dynamic a 6 speed provides over the huge power bump the 6cyl provides.
Once i had paid off my Speed3 early, I knew i wanted more power, but i couldnt afford to Zoom-Zoom-Boom that the Speed3 is known for around 400hp. SO began my car research in February as i realized what my finances would bear. Ofcourse, in comes Covid. The Stinger was always a back of the mind option. I didnt think i would be as impressed as i was, but it ended up as the benchmark the other cars i test drove would have to reach. I drove a black 19' GT2 in April, and it was worth the wait and hassle Covid created. I loved the smoked chrome detail lines as well as the functional front scoops and hatch opening design. The performance was undoubtedly comparable to that M235i i had driven not too long before. It was also reminiscent of my friend's scatpack Challenger in its effortlessness to cover ground, braking, and shift its hefty weight with poise and composure. May rolled around and I was able to test an STI, which i was expecting to become #1 easily with driving feel and 15+ years of fine tuning the same motor and chasis. What a let down! The motor was punchy, but my speed3 turbo lag had more thrust at high end. The interior was fine, but the shifter wasnt great and it was a bit too stiff even broken in around 18k miles. Next month, found a Focus RS, which is probably most similar to my speed3 based on Ford's involvement with Mazda before the great recession. I knew going in that that it was a bit smaller inside since i had test drove a Focus ST back to back when i bought my Speed3, and that the sight lines were better for me in my choice. The FoRS did impress more than the STI, but it had about 3K in wheels and tires plus some bolt ons, and as soon as i was in my speed3 again, the claustrophobic nature of the Focus interior and race seats became apparent. It also doesnt offer any sort of warranty, so more points to the Stinger. I've since also ruled out a Civic Type R as just too damn "Boy Racer" even if it does drive like a dream; same goes for the Veloster N. Golf R is just too expensive to maintain and there arent too many VW shops in my area.
So that's where i've landed. 4 cyl Stingers just dont make the cut, but the GT models keep getting sold out from under me. As an informed consumer, I really cant justify buying a new car that will depreciate almost 30% in its first 2 years. That being said, I would love to be the first to own a new color and "top racing" trim model that provides such a performance bargain overall.
Thanks for reading and if you know anyone trading in their GTS in the greater Pennsylvania tristate, DM me!
A bit about my background: I studied auto mechanics for a few years while the school floundered and flopped to become a respectable teaching establishment. I had an 88' 323 GTX at the time, and was doing a turbo II swap into an FC RX7 that belonged to my buddy. The mechanical side of things came easy to me, but i was never able to get the ECU and wiring to work out from a JDM motor. With the Big 3 automakers going under, and my firing from the shop i worked at, it was time to move on from that line of work and school that had seen 2 administration and name changes in as many years. While in community college, I found my passion for food while working part time, and thats where i landed professionally as a Chef. Still working with my hands, and just as strong a love as for cars.
My vehicles(in this approximate order) included a chevy cavalier, which was my senior project in the hay-days of FnF. Family 96 Toyota avalon V6. Saturn SC2 that was mainly bumpstarted. Rally Homologation special: 323 GTX. Several Mazda MX-3 GS that i still own. Another Cavalier, ecotec this time. First MY scion tC that went through my family. Then my current pocket rocket MS3. The Stinger would qualify as the most expensive and biggest vehicle ive owned, fit for hauling the family while maintaining the ability to have fun at a moments notice.
I have been an SCCA member for about 10 years, but racing longer than that. I dont find the money/time/abuse to track my vehicles too often, but on my 30th birthday a few years back, my family bought me an extreme driving experience in a Lamborghini Hurrican on the local track. Best 5 minutes of my life! Also recently done a BMW product test event at the same track where an automatic M235i convertible made a very big impression on me as the best non manual car id ever driven.
Definitey a Mazda brand loyalist, as ive owned 5 now and my senior paper was on the Wankel rotary engine, but they dont really offer something that is an upgrade over my current Speed3. Miata is too small for family and RWD is a no-no in greater Appalachia where im residing. The Stinger hatchback is very sexy, but so is the new Mazda3. Even with the upcoming turbo model of the 3 for 2021, its not a manual and not even as much power as my current hatch. I guess i should take a moment and say how important the manual is to me, and the concession i would be making going with the Stinger and its 8spd auto. Even if the 4cyl premium stingers came with a manual like the G70, i might make the concession on power to keep the driving dynamic a 6 speed provides over the huge power bump the 6cyl provides.
Once i had paid off my Speed3 early, I knew i wanted more power, but i couldnt afford to Zoom-Zoom-Boom that the Speed3 is known for around 400hp. SO began my car research in February as i realized what my finances would bear. Ofcourse, in comes Covid. The Stinger was always a back of the mind option. I didnt think i would be as impressed as i was, but it ended up as the benchmark the other cars i test drove would have to reach. I drove a black 19' GT2 in April, and it was worth the wait and hassle Covid created. I loved the smoked chrome detail lines as well as the functional front scoops and hatch opening design. The performance was undoubtedly comparable to that M235i i had driven not too long before. It was also reminiscent of my friend's scatpack Challenger in its effortlessness to cover ground, braking, and shift its hefty weight with poise and composure. May rolled around and I was able to test an STI, which i was expecting to become #1 easily with driving feel and 15+ years of fine tuning the same motor and chasis. What a let down! The motor was punchy, but my speed3 turbo lag had more thrust at high end. The interior was fine, but the shifter wasnt great and it was a bit too stiff even broken in around 18k miles. Next month, found a Focus RS, which is probably most similar to my speed3 based on Ford's involvement with Mazda before the great recession. I knew going in that that it was a bit smaller inside since i had test drove a Focus ST back to back when i bought my Speed3, and that the sight lines were better for me in my choice. The FoRS did impress more than the STI, but it had about 3K in wheels and tires plus some bolt ons, and as soon as i was in my speed3 again, the claustrophobic nature of the Focus interior and race seats became apparent. It also doesnt offer any sort of warranty, so more points to the Stinger. I've since also ruled out a Civic Type R as just too damn "Boy Racer" even if it does drive like a dream; same goes for the Veloster N. Golf R is just too expensive to maintain and there arent too many VW shops in my area.
So that's where i've landed. 4 cyl Stingers just dont make the cut, but the GT models keep getting sold out from under me. As an informed consumer, I really cant justify buying a new car that will depreciate almost 30% in its first 2 years. That being said, I would love to be the first to own a new color and "top racing" trim model that provides such a performance bargain overall.
Thanks for reading and if you know anyone trading in their GTS in the greater Pennsylvania tristate, DM me!
