I know it's sort of backwards right? I couldn't believe that the center console was real wood from Japan. I've always liked Mazda but hopefully what they are doing with quality and design will start to push other manufacturers to up their's as well.

It's called something different in Canada but I started that 6 years ago when my 1st daughter was born :)

APR is quite an impressive company. They make the VAG 2 liter into whatever level beast you can afford. Stage 3 is good for 10 second quarter miles and the 2 APR test mules (Golf R and S3) are on stock internals. Just a stage 1 tune puts you into the sub 4 second 0-60 club.


Given the OP's circumstances, I think a lightly used S3 hits the bulls eye. Now if you want to spend a little more then an RS3 sedan is just about a year away from US availability.



http://i68.tinypic.com/hv1644.jpg

The only thing I can't stand about the Mazda lineup is how their radio looks like a stick on afterthought. I don't know why they're doing it across the lineup, but it is enough to sway me from future mazda products.


We got lucky with the 16 CX-5 and it being a traditional, nice, integrated head unit.


I know there is some science behind their placement, but to me it is horrid.

Yeah I've always respected how APR does a lot of track testing with their products. I've seen them at a few track days bringing out their cars and putting down some fast laps without overheating or breaking anything. They're also involved in some professional level race builds from what I understand.

I actually love the tablet look. It allows them to lower the dash and makes the inside seem much more modern in my opinion. I've always hated how tall the center console needs to be when you have an integrated nav screen. The 6 just made this change and I think it looks great as well.

2015 vs 2016 Mazda 6 interior comparison:

https://store.donanimhaber.com/0c/0b...28610008e3.jpg

https://di-uploads-pod1.s3.amazonaws...6-1024x576.jpg

It looks pretty cheesy, lol. The tablet design seems out dated to me already. It is even worse in vehicles like the MX-5 and 3, but in a premium trim level product, I'd expect a premium design.

lol okay well if you don't like the pop up tablet look in general (Audi, BMW, etc.) that's a whole other thing. I think Mazda makes it look better than how Audi executes (especially on the S3), but BMW does it better in my opinion.


The only cool thing about the Audi one is that it goes up and down.


http://fourtitude.com/wp-content/upl...ype-8v-102.jpg

Yeah, if it retracts I think It would be better, but its still just an oddball design. Hopefully it is an experimental phase and they do something better in the future across all the "tablet" designs.

http://static.usnews.rankingsandrevi..._dashboard.jpg

Actually I think this looks better than that audi interior!! Mazda has come along way for sure.

S3 is DSG only in Canada, that's a deal breaker for me. Otherwise it looks like a great option.

I would have opted for the DSG even if there was a manual option. I loved the DSG in my 2011 GTI so that part doesn't bother me.

i've been thinking hard about trading the frs for the s3 or golf R. but yeah the dsg only transmission is kind of a bummer on the audi. That and the tranny is fwd biased, its not the quattro system like the s4 and higher models.