good compromise

Last labor day weekend I blew out the head gasket of my old Mazda, and thought that it was a perfect time to catch a sale. I was surprised that most of the local dealers were not offering much off the models I was interested in. But I spotted an ad for the S40 for just under $20k, not much more than some of the economy sedans I was looking at.

I was hoping that the car would border on the lower edge of quiet luxury. I was quite taken aback at its nimbleness. You may not want to push it into a corner like a Miata with after-market Konis, but the little tank does take to curves like a duck to water. And I've yet to experience the power hungry "rasp" that afflicted Consumer Reports. The engine is smooth and appropriate.

I was hoping to rustle the car's tranquility with some new stereo components, as the base stereo is rather lame. Popping in the Boston Acoustic splits into the door panels was no problem, but I was alarmed to discover that the wiring behind the dash is so integrated as to make the addition of a decent amplifier nearly impossible. (The dealership recommended a specialist who thinks he's spotted a good lead in the wiring diagram. However, given the stories about electrical issues with this model, I'll have to think about it a little.)

Otherwise, nothing but positives. For a round mound, it's pretty stylish. The seats are very comfortable. (We only use the front and have removed the headrests from the back to improve the very narrow rear view.) Another compromise, I like to stick my legs out when driving, but found the clutch pedal throw a little long. Initially I tried hunching up to the wheel, while conversely lowering the seat to make the most of the window space. However, adjusting the steering column allowed me to find a comfort zone where I really feel like I'm in a good position to throw the thing around.

Is it an entry luxury, a luxury sports sedan, a front wheel drive econobox with a little more pizzaz? I don't know. But as long as it hold together, is suits me just fine.