2008 Mazda3i AT. Quick Rental Report (from a Mazda5 owner)

[coolmazda5]

Well, I've been lucky lately on getting decent car rentals. Last week I got a Mazda3i (2thumbs) so I wanted to give it a quick Mazda5 comparo report

• Now I know where the Mazda5 gets its tight-n-fun to drive experience and its tricycle close turning ratio
• It feels with less body roll than the Mazda5, dunno why, LOL (lol2).
• OK, all OEM tires kind of suck, but at least the Goodyear Eagle-RS this guy comes with felt much better in rain and sleet than the Toyos
• Glad the Mazda5 got the 2.3L in NA. While there is no extreme difference 2.0L vs. 2.3L, the 2.0L asks for higher RPMs to start providing decent power (and talk about uphills). I wish I would have gotten a Mazda3s (2.3L) instead.
• The Mazda3i comes with a 4AT. The only thing that called my attention is the RPM at 75MPH, it was only around 3000RPM, not bad for cruising, although less peppier when accelerating of course
• Did not like the key separated from the remote (dunno)
• I got a popular color as you can see (galaxy gray)
• Being a rental I tried to take off the mats from the central console cup holders, and yeah, confirmed, the glue sucks
• I like the central console, the Aux input and power are nicely located too.

liked the car, but 2.3L FTW. Next time, I'll try to rent a MazdaSPEED3

 

[mrbwa1]

I had a 2007 Mazda3i AT for a week when our 5 was in the shop. Really not a bad car. I can pretty much concur with your results. The real surprise was that the 2.0L did not give up hardly anything other than a little off-the-line grunt. My dad was look at getting a 3 at the time so it was put through its paces (he live on that fringe between suburbia and the country, so there are some very very nice back country roads.

The handling of the 3, even with the 16-inchers is simply phenomenal. Not up to dad 88 RX7 GTU, but noticeably sharper than the 5 and better than most anything else. His only real complaint was a little lack of power, but that was getting on the gas going through S-bends at about 55 MPH; accelerating up to about 65-70.

My only real issue was that it handled so sharply, I have a very hard time driving it gently. Also, egress from the back seat is a bit tight. All things said, I felt that a 3i would make a great commuter car, especially if there are any twisty roads in your drive. For me, I'll live with the 5. Not as sharp, but more grunt and I dig the higher seating position.

 

[coolmazda5]

I dig the higher seating position.

True, I forgot to mention that. I'm used to the higher position now, so felt weird to seat "low", especially when you first get into the car... WTH?

Good to know that I'm not the only one perceiving the "power" difference, it is not critical (i.e. of course the Mazda5 is "heavier" than a Mazda3, so the 2.3L would only be considered a compensation for it) but is still felt (possibly is just the higher torque and the higher RPM-Gear ratio (dunno)).

 

[wmzda5]

I got a rental Mazda3 sedan right now, my wmzda5 is in the shop for paint buffing. Is it a 2.0 thats why its so slow I mean less power than the 5. Havent tried it on winding roads yet but yes I notice it to be stiffer than the 5 on normal turns. I already am missing my 5....(drive)(sad1)