Happy Friday! We’re going to cap off our week of all imports with a nice, simple runoff vote. No weird scenarios, no qualifications, just a straightforward declaration of your favorite. Why complicate things?
Our convertible battle yesterday ended in a familiar result: the Saab won. The defunct Swedish marque remains undefeated here on the Showdown, which begs the question: Why did they go out of business? Oh right; we aren’t a true representative sample of the car-buying public. The lunatic fringe often loves something that the normies don’t understand.
That Viggen is pretty cool, but the Mini would fit better into my life (and garage). Besides, Saab is one of those car brands that isn’t just an automotive choice; it’s a lifestyle choice, and having escaped from one such all-consuming automotive subculture, I think I’d rather have something that’s a more casual ownership experience.
So that brings our field today to two Mazdas, one Saab, and one Volkswagen. Three of them have manual transmissions, all of them are front-wheel-drive, and they have an average of 4.75 cylinders and 5.25 seats. The largest one has the lowest published horsepower (by 1 hp), and the highest horsepower one has the most headroom (when the top is down). None of these facts and figures are likely to be of any help in making your choice, so let’s recap, and I’ll tell you what I like and don’t like about each one.
1989 Mazda MX-6, probably an LX – $3,450
What I like: I’m a big fan of Mazda in general, and this platform specifically. It’s not a serious canyon-carver, but it can hold its own in most situations, and it’s comfy enough for commuting. This one is in very good shape, it looks like. I suspect it’s just an LX with optional wheels and a spoiler, but there’s a chance it’s a GT model, in which case, bonus.
What I don’t like: It has been sitting for an undisclosed length of time, which probably means it needs a bunch of hoses and gaskets and belts (oh my!) replaced. And the faded plastic parts of the interior are ugly.
1993 Volkswagen EuroVan MV – $2,500
What I like: I’ve always liked the styling of these. And it seems like a lot more useable vehicle than the old Vanagon. It’s a good size, too: a little bit bigger than a typical minivan, but not as big and ungainly as an Econoline or something.
What I don’t like: The automatic. European cars aren’t meant to have automatics, and they don’t typically do them well. This van would be better to drive, more reliable, and truer to its nature with a manual transmission.
2006 Mazda 6s Liftback – $4,500
What I like: The Mazda 6 is a nice car to drive. Comfy, too. I’ve driven a V6, and a manual, but never a V6 manual. I can imagine, though. It’s also the liftback model, which makes its trunk a lot more practical than the basic sedan.
What I don’t like: Someone felt the need to lower it and install a loud exhaust, effectively ruining its niceness. All that can be undone, but it shouldn’t have to be.
2001 Saab 9-3 Viggen Convertible – $4,495
What I like: Saabs are great cars to drive. There is some weirdness you have to get used to, but it’s minor stuff like the ignition switch location. All the Saabs I’ve driven have been rock-steady on the road, and the ergonomics inside are first-class.
What I don’t like: I don’t need a rare, special-edition car with extra power. It’s lost on me. If I wanted a Saab convertible, I’d rather look for an ordinary 9-3 for less money, and leave this Viggen for someone who would appreciate it more. Besides, I don’t like red. I prefer that nice sage green that Saab sold.
So I’ve made my choice. But what’s yours? You’ve got all weekend to figure it out. I’ll see you back here on Monday with – well, I don’t know what yet, but something cool.
I had a Mazda6 wagon that looked just like the liftback. Automatic with the V6. One of the best cars I’ve ever owned.
I am glad enough of you voted for the Saab that it’s at least leading at the moment,but with this competition I just can’t bring myself to vote for a red convertible.
I find it hard to choose between the Mazdas,but the Mx-6 gets my vote this time.
For me, it’s the Mazda 6 liftback with the V6 and the manual. The Saab would be in 3rd place behind the MX-6.
And the Eurovan would be in last place because I’m biased against VAG products.
As a former Saab owner, I have to go with the Viggen… As a second car. If it’s for DD purposes, then the Mazda 6.
Whoa, a week where all the cars I voted for won. Weird I voted for that Viggen. It just looks too damn sharp.
I had to rule our the Mazdas straight away because I would need to do work (belts, hoses, seals etc. and yanking off that fart can and fixing the suspension) right away on them to set them right. The van, while cool, would have a limited use for me. Mostly road trips because daily driving it around town would get a little old. So that leaves the Saab and that is just perfect today. I feel like cruising around with the top down.
Normally I would have gone for the newer 6, but the mods suggest that it has led a rather “spirted” life. That leaves me with the oh-so-late-80’s MX-6, and it’s not a bad place to be, IMO. Yeah, it’s got that weird stripe and strangely aged interior plastics, but whatever. It would be fun with that 5-speed, wouldn’t be terribly hard to keep going, and it’s got that amazing looking stereo with the graphic equalizer to play with.
You had me second guessing picking the 6. That mx6 does look like fun, and everyone in town would know it was you. But, sport sedan is always the way for me.
The MX-6 is the only one that really interests me. I bet the interior will clean up pretty well.