Any Mazda3 owners here?

[aerog]

I'm itching to buy a new Mazda3 5-door. I've been looking awhile now - anybody here driving a newer one care to comment on their experiences?

 

[NutmegCT]

Scott - no Mazda3 here. But I owned a Mazda Protege (Mazda3 predecessor) for over ten years. Best car I ever had. Just sold it when I got the Nissan in June.

If I recall, Consumer Reports says good points for the Mazda3 5 speed hatchback are handling, powertrain, fuel economy, turning circle, crash-test results.

Low points - Road noise, braking, rear seat space.

Tom

 

[Nunyas]

No Mazda3 5door here either. I looked at them when I was in the market, but couldn't get past their ridiculous grinning faces.

I ended up settling on a Lancer GTS sedan until the Lancer Ralliart Sportback (5-door) became available, which is what I'm in now.

 

[DrEntropy]

It is REALLY good to have you back here, Rob.

...jus' sayin'...

:thumbsup:

 

[JPSmit]

Maybe not an issue there but am disappointed by the amount of rust on my mazda 6 and the fact that mazda didn't do squat. Other than that i love it!

 

[NutmegCT]

Maybe not an issue there but am disappointed by the amount of rust on my mazda 6 and the fact that mazda didn't do squat. Other than that i love it!

JP - I had originally thought of buying a Mazda6, but Consumer Reports didn't recommend it this year. That's a big reason why I went for the Nissan Altima, which was highly recommended by CR.

T.

 

[aerog]

No Mazda3 5door here either. I looked at them when I was in the market, but couldn't get past their ridiculous grinning faces.

The redesign of the sides/fenders wasn't an advancement in looks either. They went from a nice semi-sport look to a slab-side with some lines in it.

I agree about the grin (most people do), but the good news is if you use a bra on it the front end looks almost the same as the old style. That sounds lame but I use a bra 75% of the time for the lovebugs, grasshoppers, and other things. That could change depending on how I store whatever car I get though.

 

[aerog]

Maybe not an issue there but am disappointed by the amount of rust on my mazda 6 and the fact that mazda didn't do squat. Other than that i love it!

I don't think they're doing the wagon anymore - besides, I want a smaller car. I got a ride in a Mazdaspeed 6 (sedan) a few years ago and was really impressed with it.

 

[aerog]

Scott - no Mazda3 here. But I owned a Mazda Protege (Mazda3 predecessor) for over ten years. Best car I ever had. Just sold it when I got the Nissan in June.

If I recall, Consumer Reports says good points for the Mazda3 5 speed hatchback are handling, powertrain, fuel economy, turning circle, crash-test results.

Low points - Road noise, braking, rear seat space.

Tom

I've heard similar.

I don't think any of the smaller Mazdas are known for being quiet, and the rear-seat thing is both well known and obvious. My daily driver for the past 8 years has been a Miata so the mere existence of a back seat is a difference

 

[AngliaGT]

We looked at a Mazda 3 when we went to replace the Wife's Protege.
It was smaller on the inside.Ended up with a Ford Fusion - 4cylinder,5spd.
Great car,handles really well,great gas milage,good power,& a trunk as big
as a Grand Marquis.
It's basicly the same car as the Mazda 6,except the Mazda handles
better.

- Doug

 

[Nunyas]

Those new Ford Fiestas are kind of funky/sporty'ish looking for 5 doors. Not sure if you want to go that small though.

Mitsubishi Lancer Sportbacks are about the same size as the Mazda3s, you can get a lot of kit for not much money on them too...

 

[aerog]

Those new Ford Fiestas are kind of funky/sporty'ish looking for 5 doors. Not sure if you want to go that small though.

Nope. I don't think I even want to <span style="font-style: italic">rent</span> a Fiesta. The Focus is closer but it looks like a scaled-down minivan to me, the interior is hideous, and it still comes standard with rear drum brakes? Gee. I did a build-up of one on Ford's site and the price for everything I want in it (which isn't much, to be honest) was roughly the same price as what I want in a Mazda-3.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Mitsubishi Lancer Sportbacks are about the same size as the Mazda3s, you can get a lot of kit for not much money on them too... [/QUOTE]

I don't think I've ever seen one of those. I just got done driving a new Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder for 4 days. I was less than impressed. I don't know if it's a model or brand thing though. It was a great rental car but my 8 year-old Miata is light years better (albeit a lot smaller inside). It was also an automatic, which didn't help.

I'm shopping though - thanks for the hints/suggestions.

 

[aerog]

Update: Read up on the Sportback. All things considered it's not bad - and it can be had with a 5-speed.

One site nailed my first complaint about the Mitsubishi - the interior is garbage. They used the cheapest hard-plastic material they could get, and it shows. Apparently that's the rule on the cars (not sure about the SUVs) from what I've seen in the reviews.

A read several reviews on a couple of my "possible" cars and one site (Car & Driver I think) summed it up: they're all "ok" but if you want a good performing and driving, and fun-to-drive car then go get the Mazda.

Interesting.

Unfortunately manual transmission Mazda 3 hatchbacks (5 doors) are extremely hard to find with the trim level I want. I found <span style="font-style: italic">one</span> in Texas that has everything I want, and one in Florida that comes sort of close. I hope the 2012s start trickling in soon.

 

[Nunyas]

wow...

I totally agree w/ the cheap hard plastics. It seems to be the standard in the lower price ranges. So, I don't really pay it any mind.

VW's have a nice interior. I have a friend that has a "slightly older" Jetta. The plastics have what seems to be a rubberized coating on them. To take the edge off the harshness I assume. It's a nice environment, but not what I consider "fun". They do have a wagon available now w/ optional turbo diesel for 42mpg highway and 30 city, but you pay through the nose for that engine. It comes with a lot of standard options...

As far as being a good drive goes, everything I've seen seems to agree. The Mazda 3 is the king of the "fun" cars in that price range.

 

[aerog]

As far as being a good drive goes, everything I've seen seems to agree. The Mazda 3 is the king of the "fun" cars in that price range.

I've read quite a bit that says that too. Some people say it's noisy - when I drove a new one I didn't think it was particularly noisy at all. Maybe that's because I'm used to the Miata.

Anyway, an update is in order I guess. I've looked all over for one that has everything I want, which isn't much really: manual transmission, one of 2-3 possible colors, and a sunroof.

The local dealer insisted it wasn't a problem finding what I wanted. I said, "want to bet?" - so he went and looked. Sure enough, manuals are <span style="font-style: italic">extremely rare</span> - to the point that the dealers aren't too willing to swap and trade stock for them.

The best way to get the sunroof is to get the touring version and they <span style="font-style: italic">absolutely</span> aren't available - unless you start buying 500+ miles away (and then there are only a couple).

Bottom line: I drove it, I like it, but if I'm going to spend that much money I'm going to get what I want. The 2012s are already starting to trickle onto the stock lists so - maybe next month!

 

[drooartz]

Buy new, get what you want. When I bought my Honda Fit Sport in 2008 I went 400 miles away to find one with a manual transmission. No other choices closer, and no regrets on getting what I wanted.

Good luck!

 

[aerog]

That's how I got my Miata too Drew. I put a 250 mile limit on it though.

I don't think the manual transmission 3s are normally all that "rare", but at the end of the model-year they've dwindled to nothing. There were a couple of people looking at the one I drove too, I wouldn't be surprised if it's gone this week.