Rented a Mazda 3 today
 

So far I'm very impressed. Granted this is all within the context of the car being what it is and costing what it does. But it sure looks, feels and drives like a more expensive car than it is.

Short list of things that especially impressed me:

-Interior layout/design (instruments and steering wheel especially)
-Seat fabric (very nice cloth - reminds me of the cloth in my '97 A4)
-Fast-shifting manumatic tranny (unless my recollection is really faulty, I swear it shifts significantly quicker than the Steptronic in my dad's E39 - I actually did not just give up on it and leave it in"D" as I always end up doing in his E39).
-Ride quality (very communicative while still being quiet and well-damped - reminded me of the E46's feel - a bit too soft but nice)
-Handsome exterior styling

It didn't have enough power to make the FWD nature of the car all that noticeable. And I didn't fling it vigorously enough to bring forth the handling limitations we all know it has. But for an enthusiast-friendly commuter, I could definitely live with it. And if I was looking for a car in it's price-range, it seems like a really solid pick.

are you out of town or do you have a car being serviced?

Re: Rented a Mazda 3 today
 

Let us know how it dfoes in the snow on the way home

The Saab is in for service. As it is supposed to snow today, I took the rental and left the BMWs warm and inside the garage.

Re: Rented a Mazda 3 today
 

It's FWD and wearing all-seasons. I'm sure it'll do fine. Hell, the Saab did fine last winter wearing summer performance tires (it's got all-seasons on it now, though).

He had to rent a car for the snow storm since his M3 has performance tires.

:lol:


J/K

And if I did that, say, 5 times a year, it would cost me <$200 for that season. It rarely snows more than that around here. As a typical winter wheel/tire set runs $1500-2000, that's 7-10 years worth of rentals.

Today cost me nothing as it was technically a loaner. And on any other day, I'd probably just take the Saab. But even if I had to rent every time it snowed, I'd still be way ahead over buying a winter wheel/tire set.

Especially since the nearest Enterprise location is a short walk from the house.

Bah, I was just kidding.

But I disagree with you that renting is cheaper. Your discarding the value of the wheels and or tires when you sell them later. But I say we skip it. Get back to the mazda 3.

but you'd have to do that every year

I'd still rather rent for those 5 days than be stuck on winter tires on dry roads for 3-4 months.

Plus, if some invincible moron in an SUV careens into me, I'm not in my own car.