04 - 05 Civic Si, Mazda Wagon or Neither??? HELP!!

Question

O.K. guys, I am a college student in Northern Jersey with some needed advice. I need a new car and am not trying to kill myself with a top-model brandy-new car and get killed each month by high payments (due to my age and where I live.) I currently own a 2001 Jetta (POS) and am desperately trying to get rid of it. I have found in my area a 2005 Honda Civic Si (ep3). Is it worth buying? I know how much faster and better the knew ones are but I don't have $300 a month for a new car right now. The Mazda3's are cheaper than the new Si's but don't if it's worth it compared to the 05 EP3. I just want a decent car with decent hp/tq for commuting and the occasional rip. What do you guys think I should do? (I will not buy another VW due to high maintenance costs - it's insane what they're are charging for the hour!!)

Answer 1

If I had to pick from those I would choose the Honda over the Mazda any day because they are proven vehicles and most all Mazda vehicles will start to burn oil at or around 60,000 miles.

As for the maintenance, the VW is out of the roof but both of the cars that you have selected cost a lot to maintain as well but not as bad as the VW....