Just saying hey

[Cheapskate]

Hi guys and gals,

I am a large fan of the Mazda 323 Astina, (numerous friends have owned them), but don't currently own my own car yet, due to my learner licence. Thus, I am stuck with my Dad's Toyota Avalon for now, while I look for a car for myself. I am thinking of a BA Astina, with the BP and (at least one) airbag. I am also looking at Ford's range though, the KJ Laser (especially the Lynx) sounds good, as does the LR Focus, but they're nowhere near as interesting as the Astina.

Thank you

[pyromaniac11]

ford = fail!
wait..first of all..
HI! :D welcome to the site (am i allowed to say that? being new myself? :P)
anyway, personally..the astina is a very attractive car, with very attractive mazda parts...
The ford is less attractive..with less "mazda-ish" parts! Thus...mazda ftw

What sort of year are you looking at?...Lol, and how long till those hours are done?

[Cheapskate]

What sort of year are you looking at?...Lol, and how long till those hours are done?

I'm not sure what year to look for, but I heard stories about the BA series 2 uses a Kia-built engine, but I'd probably be looking at a Series 3, as they seem to be the most common.

Luckily for me (an ACT resident), logging hours is optional, and only 50 hours is recommended, but I've been driving automatic regularly (in Dad's Avalon), and am sorting out competencies with driving instructors, (7 out of 22 done). All I need to do is to wait until late February, and I'll be ready to grab my Ps.

The reason why I brought up the Focus, was that it is rumoured to have very good handling, does an Astina handle well?

Edit: Found a car to look at (http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/dealer/details.aspx?R=7924317&__sid=11F311D9B366&__Qpb=true&Cr=2&__Ns=pCar_PriceSort_Decimal|0||pCar_RankSort_Int32 |1||pCar_Make_String|0||pCar_Model_String|0&keywords=&__N=1216%201247%201252%204294965340%204294964064%2 0897&seot=1&__Nne=15&trecs=8&silo=1011)

[RHINO145]

good to see someone from canberra :D
i drove an astina BA hatch, 95 i think? anyway it was one of the best cars ive ever driven. handled VERY well and packs a punch for a little 1.8 dohc

[Rupewrecht]

Welcome to AGT :)

[mikey_something]

50 hours? wow! i had to 120. only two of them with an instructor the rest with mum and dad god bless their patience and commitment.

heard that in queensland, driving instructor hours count as 3 hours.

anyway, my 96 astina handles quite nicely.
it feels sporty through the corners, nice and low into them.
others have complained that the steering is quite heavy, but i havent noticed it or maybe i got used to it quite quickly. definately take one for a spin though :)

[marcs_sp20]

welcome to agt!

[pyromaniac11]

handling on these beasts is totally phat!
haha my car is completely stock and it still feels absolutely sweet. You can feel it happily taking corners which other cars would weep over the abuse you give them...not these cars :)

BA series 3 hardtops are quite attractive btw...just thought i'd add that little note :P Perhaps you should swing your eyes in their direction :D

50hrs is so unfair too! I did over 100 (and yea in QLD - driver hours are 3x...but i only got like 3 or 4 lessons...)
It is tedious work - logging hours...But febuary ain't too far off, so thats cool news. Glad to have you on the aussie roads, fellow astina admirer..

[70NYD]

hi why r u set on the series3? if u are ever going to make any performance mods then series 1 is the way to go, it has the best gearbox, series 2 has the apparent kia built engines, i have one, no complains really my oil rings feel like they are letting go but they will hold for long enough till this car gets a new engine, and series 3 has the update in a few things, main diff is the interior, all black but its not as kewl as s1/2 interior, its much more conventional where as the previous ones were more different than average (mainly doorcard wise)

[RustyKaos]

Welcome to the forum. From my memory the first series had a more greener interior whereas the older ones had more black.

[NaughtyGT]

A big Welcome.

All Asti's are :cool: Pick one that delivers what you want. A little more research into the pros/cons would be a good idea ;) Tony makes good points.

In the end, how it scrubs up to your likeing plays a part too.

Don't dismiss mileage, body condition & all the norm either as important considerations. Most of all, enjoy it ;)

[Cheapskate]

hi why r u set on the series3? if u are ever going to make any performance mods then series 1 is the way to go, it has the best gearbox, series 2 has the apparent kia built engines, i have one, no complains really my oil rings feel like they are letting go but they will hold for long enough till this car gets a new engine, and series 3 has the update in a few things, main diff is the interior, all black but its not as kewl as s1/2 interior, its much more conventional where as the previous ones were more different than average (mainly doorcard wise)

It all depends what I find, but I will probably need the airbag (Dad would be nervous if I didn't have it), and AFAIK the series 3 has it standard.

[pyromaniac11]

also.. I would suggest looking for one with milage around or under 150 000kms...
thats my general rule of thumb when buying second hand cars... (considering the age of these cars..if the kms are legit..then the car will most likely have been used quite sparingly throughout its life..because its got lower Kms, for a longer life...)

[chazmurphy]

yeahh do it, get a BA....i just got one about 2months ago, first car...i love it.
make sure you really sus it out before buying and dont get emotionally attached, a lot of people were trying to sell pieces of sh!te when i was looking.

[so fresh]

yeah welcome to agt mate:D:D:D

[pyromaniac11]

yeahh do it, get a BA....i just got one about 2months ago, first car...i love it.
make sure you really sus it out before buying and dont get emotionally attached, a lot of people were trying to sell pieces of sh!te when i was looking.

lol i went to one guy to look at a BJ...turned out he was a wholesale car seller, and the one we looked at was a cut+shut
130k km...but drove likea 330k km :P
lol and the number plate was almost completely unscrewed on the back? :\

We said no to buying it, and he raged haha it was funny...he told us to "get lost", saying we "had no idea" :P
*wipes tear from eye* Good ol vultures

[project.r.racing]

hello and welcome to agt.

series 3 most likey to have fewer kays. i personally think the interior is better as it is more simple in the S3, versus S1 and S2. then green S1 version being the worse.

both S1 and S2 models came with drivers airbag as optional also. so you may find one of those out there.