I wouldn't buy a Kia. They look nice and much more refined than they used to be, but I've also heard horror stories from everyone I know who has made a recent purchase.

As far as fun factor and performance goes, there should be no competition for the WRX. I don't know too much about the other cars, as I have never heard of them being cross shopped before. Just know that the WRX is more of a performance car than your run of the mill sedan, even if the other two are considered "sports" sedans. If you're not used to this type of car, which can be somewhat stiff and responsive, then look more into the Mazda or grab yourself a nice 'sporty' Toyota Camry.

 

I wouldn't buy a Kia. They look nice and much more refined than they used to be, but I've also heard horror stories from everyone I know who has made a recent purchase.

what do you mean horror stories !?

As far as fun factor and performance goes, there should be no competition for the WRX. I don't know too much about the other cars, as I have never heard of them being cross shopped before. Just know that the WRX is more of a performance car than your run of the mill sedan, even if the other two are considered "sports" sedans. If you're not used to this type of car, which can be somewhat stiff and responsive, then look more into the Mazda or grab yourself a nice 'sporty' Toyota Camry.

For me i Actually like my car to be a little stiff and responsive over being comfortable and soft and not handle will.
I acually like the WRX very much but the reason that made me hesitant is that it is not available with the 18-inch wheels in my country , Because I do not like the 17-inch wheels so much , and the wheels are important to me , This is the only reason for my hesitation hhhh.

thanks for your reply.

 

Buy the WRX. any new car will be nice for a while. Down the road a few years you will still like the WRX. I agree don't buy a Kia.

 

you're right, every car is nice in the beginning , but not every car will stay "nice" for its lifetime.

thank you.

 

The WRX will definitely resell the best out of the three so take that into consideration. Mazdas are also great cars overall so you won't go wrong going that route. Kias have a great warranty but lack quality. Just as a personal example (so take it with a grain of salt) my neighbor bought one in 2013 (I think it was an optima) and a year later the interior was literally falling apart.

 

Kias are improving on quality especially in 2016 , and the good thing about the optima that it offer a lot of value for the money.
My uncle has a Kia carens he bought it in 2012 and it is in good condition until now.
Honestly i don't know which one to buy.

thank you.

 

The Kia may offer a lot of value for the money but that doesn't mean you'll get that money back when it comes time to get another car. The Kia and Mazda don't hold their value as well as a WRX. The WRX has the best resale value in it's category. It's also faster and handles better than the Mazda and Kia. Plus, since it's your first car I know you'll want to tinker with it. The WRX is great for tinkering, double din head unit for changing the head unit and upgrading the audio. Great aftermarket support. You'll regret not getting the WRX if you choose not to.

 

Actually the WRX is #7 out of all cars according to the 2016 KBB report. Not bad.

Kelley Blue Book

 

I've owned both Mazda and Subaru. I prefer Subaru from those choices, but that's only because you didn't mention Honda or Toyota. That'd be much tougher.

 

I looked at a lot of cars some of which
The camry
Sonata turbo
Fusion
Malibu
Even the elantra and civic , but the accord ammm . . . i didn't like it
Originally i wanted to get the VW golf gti but you know the price was too high for me , So I looked at the other cars

 

To make things easier for you, what are your priorities when it comes to a car?

Good gas mileage
Cheap insurance
Sporty ride
So on and so on

 

sporty ride , design , tech , power , Features

 

You can easily buy a set of 18" wheels and tires for the WRX and sell your stock wheels and tires to help make up the difference.

 

When I bought my WRX back in the fall of 2014 I looked around at brand new cars of other brands/models. The Kia Optima turbo version was at least worthy of a test drive and it was okay but didn't rock my world. Had a few more creature comforts than the WRX and had more rear seat room, but 1) didn't have AWD, 2) didn't handle nearly as well, 3) felt much bigger (because it is), 4) past history did not show that it would hold its value like the WRX, 5) didn't come in a manual transmission (the real deal breaker for me on the Kia -- but not for you), and 6) price was nearly the same.

None of the Mazda dealers had a 6 for me to try, but the lack of AWD when it needed to be my year round daily driver in Michigan was a real big deal for me.

Aside from a couple issues that were fixed under warranty, I now have 20K miles on the '15 WRX and have fun driving it daily. It has done everything I want it to do and has given me 28+ mpg overall lifetime and averages 31 mpg highway at 75 mph.

If it is just the 17" wheels, replace them with 18" wheels and tires. The stock tires are pretty good as summer/dry weather tires but you can get better at pretty reasonable costs. Between those 3, I "vote" for the WRX.

 

Thank you , your reply has been helpful
I'll think about it

 

I know they've probably changed . . . but I remember a co-worker having a Kia Sephia from Korea (try saying that five times fast) and even though it had a nice, long warranty she had to buy several things for it over time . . . which is expected for some things such as the battery, but I remember the battery was pretty specifically sized to the Kia so she couldn't buy after-market at the time.

I like the looks of Mazdas and there is a lot of good write ups on Mazdas . . . but a Mazda 6 is still a far cry from a WRX . . . although they look mighty sharp to my eye. I suspect most folks cross shopping a Mazda 6 would also be looking at Honda Accords . . . maybe even Toyota Camrys.

You mention the size of the wheels on the WRX are an issue. Personally, where I live with lots of frost heaves, pot holes, etc. I like the 17s and never really saw a huge difference with the 18s . . . but as others have mentioned you can always buy 18 wheels . . . and if you live in an area that is snowy you will most likely want to get a second set of wheels and tires anyway with the WRX.

In your first post you mentioned some criteria:

Practicality: I suspect any of the cars listed are "practical" . . . although this is largely a subjective term. I will say having AWD for me with the WRX vs. front wheel drive or rear wheel drive was a "practical" selling point which was pretty significant for me. However, AWD and the often noticed decrease in gas mileage may be considered not practical for some folks who may never see snow.

Price: I suspect the WRX is the priciest of the three . . . but to be fair you're looking at something that even you admit is a bit different from the other two choices. As mentioned, Subaru cars -- particularly the WRX and STI -- tend to hold their values quite well.

Safety: Not sure how the others fair, but Subaru is pretty big on the safety aspect of their cars -- in fact I would say it is one of their major selling points.

Tech: Yeah . . . Subaru is most definitely not going to win this one . . . and it doesn't take much for just about any other car manufacturer to win this one. However, for me, tech was not high on my "must have" list . . . in fact I am just the opposite . . . I am more about the ride than the cool, "gee whiz" tech. I still have a flip phone -- which should tell you what I think about new tech.

Performance: WRX . . . all the way . . . when compared to the others you list. It is not the end-all, be-all car however like some folks (not here at this site) make it out to be. But it is a good performance car in all weather.

Handling: WRX. I ride sleds in the winter (well I try to . . . this past winter meant only two rides for me) and the WRX is the closest thing with four wheels to riding a sled.

Fun Factor: I've had my car for almost a year now. I still take it out every time I can . . . and in fact yesterday I purposefully drove a hour out of my way since I was enjoying the drive. I'm not sure you will get that same feeling with the other two cars you list.

 

LOL, these are exactly what i was GOING to drive and compare, right up to the point when i drove the 2016 WRX. I didn't even make it to Mazda or Kia. I just signed on the dotted line.
I don't regret it one bit! the WRX is dead sexy, fast, and corners like no other.

Don't do what i did, drive them all, but in the end we already know your decision.

 

thank you Firefighterjake and dorsodurojohn.

All your replies make me wanna get the WRX.
I'll test drive the three , and i suspect my decision will be the WRX.

Note (I am sorry for my English if there were mistakes, this is the first time that i have a conversation in English).

If I got a WRX I'll come back to this site and I'll share with you her photos.

thank you all.

 

Definitely test drive several cars . . . I test drove several, but as soon as I drove a WRX I knew it was "the one" . . . or at least the right car for me. It may or may not be the right car for you depending on your needs, wants and particular circumstances, money, etc.

As for your English . . . not sure if you ever said where you are right now or your nationality . . . but I can assure you that your English written here is 100% better than what I could write or speak in your native language (unless you speak French . . . in which case I can ask where the bathroom is located and give a few choice swears!

 

If this is your first car, I will make an assumption and suggest that you are very young.

If this assumption is correct, there are other factors to consider here:
1. Insurance premium
2. Price and operating costs
3. WRX is a performance car and you are an exceptionally inexperienced driver.

The last point is not really an issue if you remain a responsible driver, which many teenagers do not.

 

I'm 20, and i have been driving my father's car(a mercury grand marquis) for while now.
you're right, and yes i have considered these things.

1.The Insurance on the optima and mazda is cheaper than the wrx.
2.price, optima and WRX are almost the same, the mazda is the cheapest.
The last point, yes i'm actually a responsible driver.

 

You listed technology as an area of importance in your car selection. If by this you want to have a great stereo system in the car, the WRX may disappoint you. In my '15 I took out the stock and put in a Pioneer 7" touch screen and it is vastly superior. Better sound, better tuner, integrates with Android Auto...

On the '15 it was relatively easy to do. On the '16 it is significantly more difficult -- need additional parts ('15 bezzel) and if the car has the EyeSight system I have heard it is integrated into the stereo and I have not heard of an aftermarket setup that can preserve it.

If the stereo is important, then make sure to test it on the WRX and compare it to the other cars.

 

You listed technology as an area of importance in your car selection. If by this you want to have a great stereo system in the car, the WRX may disappoint you. In my '15 I took out the stock and put in a Pioneer 7" touch screen and it is vastly superior. Better sound, better tuner, integrates with Android Auto...

On the '15 it was relatively easy to do. On the '16 it is significantly more difficult -- need additional parts ('15 bezzel) and if the car has the EyeSight system I have heard it is integrated into the stereo and I have not heard of an aftermarket setup that can preserve it.

If the stereo is important, then make sure to test it on the WRX and compare it to the other cars.

Thank you for telling me about this, i'll pay attention to this point.

 

It is of my opinion that you have first to drive all three of these vehicles to get the fit and feel to your physical being. Reach for all the control knobs and seat adjustments. Are the pedals comfortable to you? Does it have the power of lack of power that you feel you need in a new car?
Start a comparison sheet of your like's and dislike's. After all you are going to be shelling out approx. $30,000+
over the life of the sales agreement. But most of all make sure you have a big "s**t eat'in smile" on your face after driving the ONE!

Good hunting my friend.....

 

Thanks for the advice, I'll do that.

 

I would say none of the above. If you are considering all those features, get Golf R.
It's faster, more tech features, great handling, 10/10 fun factor, and has dual clutch DSG which functions like automatic. Built quality is far better than wrx.

 

As i said, i originally wanted to get a golf GTI, i like it very much, and it has all the features that i want, but i can't afford the price, it is actually higher than the WRX, and much higher than the mazda or the optima.
And the golf R, as you know is even more expensive than the GTI, to be exact, the GTI is 120,000 SR (32k USD), the R is about 170,000 SR (45k USD).

 

MSR,

Don't what's going on in your world but when the "Bank" opens for the 2017 Subaru WRX, I'm putting my
money down cause to me there is no other vehicle like it. I've been around for 68 years and this is the one.

 

Theres no way I'd spend more for a gti over a wrx.
The Golf R is overpriced as well. I'm probably biased but I like my STi over the golf R in my apartment complex.
That said, I'm not big for the CVT WRX, or any auto for that matter.
The HUD and audio is pretty ****. Last year, the kit for the 2016 HUD wasn't out yet. It should be out now, but I haven't checked yet. Swap out with android auto and you should be good.

I've heard horror stories about Kia. they mainly focus on how the company tries to squirm out of warranty claims. Kia is a budget brand. BMW, Mercedes, and up will usually accommodate the customer, but part of how cheaper brands make margins is by cheaping out on their warranty. Kia just seems to be worse than the others.

I don't have a good answer for you. Sorry.

 

If you are still evaluating I can offer my experience with the 16 WRX tech (Navigation large screen package); it is a little better than the 15 but not much.The Starlink system allows a direct connection with some phone applications (Pandora, IHeartAuto, Sticher, Aha Radio) which means I can see my preset stations/radios from the app on a list in the head unit screen and can change channels without messing with my phone.

The Starlink system also offers news and weather by location but it is much too slow and the interface has too many layers to be useful. It would really only be used by a passenger who is really bored or just messing around with the car before asking "What's the point of this starlink thing?"

There is a 'mirrorlink' application but I think it only works on andriod devices so I don't know how well it works.

The 17 Impreza has Apple carplay which I think will be better than the Starlink system (although current reviews still indicate it is kind of limited) so for that reason we are waiting until probably 2018 to buy a Outback/Forester rather than buying it sooner.

 

No to Kia! Kia and hyundais are look alike cars.. It seems like they copy other cars body styles... Great warranty though...


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No to Kia! Kia and hyundais are look alike cars.. It seems like they copy other cars body styles... Great warranty though...


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Kia and hyundai both leave quite a bit to be desired as far as quality goes. Kia in particular feels extremely cheap.

That being said I know a lot of folks who drive both vehicles and are very happy with them.

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We have a Kia and it definitely doesn't feel that cheap. Depends on the Kia.

Our Sportage EX has full leather interior and Nav. It's a $28k car. My friend's Kia Rio has roll-up Windows and no power locks. The interior is as cheap as they come. It's a car that cost $12,700 new. All manufacturers have a spectrum.

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That could be. There was something about the tactility of the buttons and surfaces that just put me off. However I wasn't in a 30k Kia either.

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