So, I leased a Dodge Caravan for 4 years for $366 a month. Best value for a mini van at the time even today. Dodge is offering to lease me their 2008/9 Caravan for 2 years for around that price which is still best value in minivan market. Honda, Toyota, Nissan all ended up costing over $500+taxes for 4 years.
Anyhow, I only used it 25000kms out of allowable 80000kms.
Now debating maybe I should just go buy another car.
So it comes down to :
2008 Caravan leased another 2 years at ~$350 per month
or
2008 Mazda 3 ~ $30000 include taxes
or
2008 Nissan Versa ~ $25000 include taxes
So, I leased a Dodge Caravan for 4 years for $366 a month. Best value for a mini van at the time even today. Dodge is offering to lease me their 2008/9 Caravan for 2 years for around that price which is still best value in minivan market. Honda, Toyota, Nissan all ended up costing over $500+taxes for 4 years.
Anyhow, I only used it 25000kms out of allowable 80000kms.
Now debating maybe I should just go buy another car.
So it comes down to :
2008 Caravan leased another 2 years at ~$350 per month
or
2008 Mazda 3 ~ $30000 include taxes
or
2008 Nissan Versa ~ $25000 include taxes
What are you takes on these cars and van?
$366x24 is still almost $9000 to drive the caravan for 2 years.. that is a really good deal imo for such a pratical vehicle, just sucks driving it. If you need space this is definately the best way to go.
the mazda3 has a iirc 1.9%lease rates on the 08 models (not 08.5) & 0% financing up to 60 mos. i think the offer ends Mar 31. for a GT sport, you're looking at $400 month~ to lease which is a 'good deal' for a japanese compact but a rip off compare to the dodge minivan.
After taxes & everything, you're looking at about $28000 for a GT sport w/o leather. It should be a bit under $30. The mazdas however drops in value pretty quickly (not as bad as nissan but close)
If the nissan versa cost $25k out the door I wouldn't get it, altho comfy, it feels cheap and strange inside plus nissans don't hold value well. for $25k you can almost get a caliber SRT that will blow the doors off anything on the road with a few mods OR a mazda 5 which is $5000 cheaper.
I have a mazda3 and imo that car is small, you should be looking at the mazda5 not the 3 for a minivan replacement.
the 5 is a real good deal right now, mazda of toronto has a couple 07 mazda5 GS (power window, power lock etc..) now which is $20000 OUT THE DOOR after taxes!.. they have big rebates on the 07 models. Its no longer then a 5th gen maxima, avaliable in manual, can fit 6 and has a decent interior.
__________________
.
Last edited by costcowholesale; 03-26-2008 at 07:25 AM.
Only reason Versa is in there is because of CVT transmission. Perhaps 2 more years of leasing isn't a bad idea. But to think another $8500 drop for 10000kms of driving...
Its for the wife. I don't like used cars for some reason... wait, my last two used Nissan Pulsar and Nissan Maxima '96, all decided to die on me lol...
Leaning towards Mazda 3 fully loaded... for about $30k~
What about the Mazda 5? I drove one the other day, and it was VERY pleasant surprise. If I get a minivan, that is at the top of my list. It shares some components with the Mazda 3 as well (i.e. springs, etc.) so if you ever decide to modify it, you've got a base to work with.
the altima i4 will cheaper on gas than the mazda (suprising) .. it depends on what you want, a almost-full size sedan or a compact hatch... if your wife wants a big sedan you might as well give him your maxima and buy yourself a fun toy haha.
+1 with what renny said, the mazda 5 is a bargain becuase they aren't selling too well & dealer is willing to discount them. It has most of the driving dynamics of the 3, just a slower bigger version. The mazda 3 don't have much utility, the hatch will pretty much be full with just one stroller in the back. The mazda 3 is the 2nd best selling compact in Canada and they cant move in price as much.
I actually tried to convince her to take my 6 speed. But she refused. Also went to the dealership to inquire about the GTR, but the snobs wanted a resume and 1 hour interview wtf. They ended showing me the boss' Z roadster that his son learned how to drive stick with... totally gay.
Even asked her again to take my car before even reading your comment heh... She said fat chance that she is driving a stick.
Thought about Atima, but I want a hatchback style so we get little more room when we need. Only one time I really used the van was to buy and picked up a freezer and was a big one too So figure we will just rent a van when that ever happens again.
i think the altima i4 gets around 25MPG in the city on 87 which is amazing for a car that size considering todays gasoline prices, this is really attractive
__________________
Toronto Maxima Enthusiasts Club (TMEC)
Keepin' it all JBL
I actually tried to convince her to take my 6 speed. But she refused. Also went to the dealership to inquire about the GTR, but the snobs wanted a resume and 1 hour interview wtf. They ended showing me the boss' Z roadster that his son learned how to drive stick with... totally gay.
Even asked her again to take my car before even reading your comment heh... She said fat chance that she is driving a stick.
Thought about Atima, but I want a hatchback style so we get little more room when we need. Only one time I really used the van was to buy and picked up a freezer and was a big one too So figure we will just rent a van when that ever happens again.
welcome to the mazda 3 club then haha! get the crystal white pearl. That color is hot.
Theres only two negative things about the mazda 3 I can think of are cargo capcity is disappointing consider how big the car is on the outside. It is over 10 inches longer than a rabbit but the trunks are the same size.
2nd thing will be the duratec 2.3 ford engine's gas mileage. You'll be driving 5000km year.. so this car will cost you maybe $50 more a year to run than a civic/corolla lol. Other than that this car is the funnest to drive out of all his competitors and has awesome features like adjustable HID, DSC etc..
ive had a lot of road time behind the wheels of 2 mazda 3 hatchback GT's, both drove really well (one auto for most of the time, the other was a 5 speed)...great handling cars, a bit slow, but overall very nimble and versatile. oddly enough i found the driver's area to be a bit cramped, compared to my G. overall, great car.
__________________ Current:
G35 M6 Coupe Previous:
5th gen Maxima SE 4AT
4th gen Maxima GXE 5MT
5th gen Civic CX 5MT
ive had a lot of road time behind the wheels of 2 mazda 3 hatchback GT's, both drove really well (one auto for most of the time, the other was a 5 speed)...great handling cars, a bit slow, but overall very nimble and versatile. oddly enough i found the driver's area to be a bit cramped, compared to my G. overall, great car.
I agree the regular ones are quite slow thats why they have a speed3 .. and you forgot to mention their manual gearbox is a very notchy annoying unit It drive good for a $20k economy car.. strange, I found the G35 I drove more cramped width wise with the high center console & dashboard.
You two have similar body size and mass. Need to go on a diet...
I think we have made our decision to go with fully loaded Mazda 5 for about $30k.
One problem is our Caravan has 1 fender bender on door area, minor scratches, airbag warning light and needs new brakes. But has only 25000kms. I suspect the repair would costs from $1000 to $2000. Do you think I should just go to the dealership as is and see if they would waiver the cost to fixing it? If they waiver it, I would just go pick up another van for 2 more years. Or should I just fix the body regardless and spend about $1000 and just dump it at the dealership?
So figure we will just rent a van when that ever happens again.
.. and you forgot to mention their manual gearbox is a very notchy annoying unit 
It drive good for a $20k economy car.. strange, I found the G35 I drove more cramped width wise with the high center console & dashboard.
Linear Mode
