wellesleymazda
Member
- :
- a lot of Mazdas
Just passed 7,000 miles in my 2010 Mazda3 s sendan 6-speed. Here is a second update:
The Good:
I found the car is quieter on highway now, EXCELLENT steering wheel feedback, very precise. A blast to drive on twisty 2-lane road. Beautiful exterior.
Note: I recommend chanigng oil at 3,000 miles; I have noticed significant fuel consumption increase after 3,000 miles, and after changing oil the engine is better and my mpg increased at least 2-3 mile per gallon. My averege mpg went up from 26.9 to 27.2 now.
The Bad:
I am 6'1 and it's hard for me to find a comfortable driving position. Bose sound system is average, I could easily find many stock stereo better than the bose in my Mazda3 (e.g. Mazda CX-9, VW Passat), part of the reason is Mazda sucks at sound deadening. The clutch has a very high & narrow engage point so it's hard to drive smoothly...
The Comparison:
vs. 2010 VW GTI coupe 6-speed
I drove the GTI for about 100 miles only.
GTI wins on awesome interior, higher quality cabin, better sound system, quiet and smooth ride, very comfortable driving position (the sunroof in the GTI takes much less height than the sunroof in the Mazda), stronger engine - the GTI is noticably faster than the Mazda3, but there is turbo lag; better grip than Mazda when taking corners, very stable on highway, very fun to drive, has better mpg than the Mazda3 (though it requires premium gas) in a nut shell it's a better car.
Mazda wins on handling, road connection, and it feels faster than it is. The GTI is more refined but somewhat less lively than the Mazda3. Mazda's headlight is 3 times brighter than the GTI.
Both cars are handsome, the GTI looks muscular and mature, but I personally prefer the unique smiling face of a Mazda3.
If the price difference between the two cars is within 2 grand, I will take the GTI, I will only lease it within warranty because I had horrible experience with a 2.0T VW Passat, VW's reliability sucks.
vs. 2010 Mazdaspeed3
I drove the 2010 Mazdaspeed3 for 50 miles only.
The MS3 has perfect shifter, is louder, is faster. Also I think it can get better mpg if you keep out of the boost range, aka<2k rpm. It has some smoke issue during my 50-mile trip, the turbo doesn't boost as brutal and raw as the older MS3, but it handles better.
The clutch on the MS3 is easier to operate than a regular 3. I also don't like the scoop on the hood for the MS3.
For the same price I would take a 2010 GTI than the MS3.
Conclusion:
I am very happy with my 2010 Mazda3 s, it is truly a driver's car! But becareful with the price, because if you equip the car to within $2,000 range of a GTI 4-dr, definitely test drive a GTI to feel which one do you like better.
The Good:
I found the car is quieter on highway now, EXCELLENT steering wheel feedback, very precise. A blast to drive on twisty 2-lane road. Beautiful exterior.
Note: I recommend chanigng oil at 3,000 miles; I have noticed significant fuel consumption increase after 3,000 miles, and after changing oil the engine is better and my mpg increased at least 2-3 mile per gallon. My averege mpg went up from 26.9 to 27.2 now.
The Bad:
I am 6'1 and it's hard for me to find a comfortable driving position. Bose sound system is average, I could easily find many stock stereo better than the bose in my Mazda3 (e.g. Mazda CX-9, VW Passat), part of the reason is Mazda sucks at sound deadening. The clutch has a very high & narrow engage point so it's hard to drive smoothly...
The Comparison:
vs. 2010 VW GTI coupe 6-speed
I drove the GTI for about 100 miles only.
GTI wins on awesome interior, higher quality cabin, better sound system, quiet and smooth ride, very comfortable driving position (the sunroof in the GTI takes much less height than the sunroof in the Mazda), stronger engine - the GTI is noticably faster than the Mazda3, but there is turbo lag; better grip than Mazda when taking corners, very stable on highway, very fun to drive, has better mpg than the Mazda3 (though it requires premium gas) in a nut shell it's a better car.
Mazda wins on handling, road connection, and it feels faster than it is. The GTI is more refined but somewhat less lively than the Mazda3. Mazda's headlight is 3 times brighter than the GTI.
Both cars are handsome, the GTI looks muscular and mature, but I personally prefer the unique smiling face of a Mazda3.
If the price difference between the two cars is within 2 grand, I will take the GTI, I will only lease it within warranty because I had horrible experience with a 2.0T VW Passat, VW's reliability sucks.
vs. 2010 Mazdaspeed3
I drove the 2010 Mazdaspeed3 for 50 miles only.
The MS3 has perfect shifter, is louder, is faster. Also I think it can get better mpg if you keep out of the boost range, aka<2k rpm. It has some smoke issue during my 50-mile trip, the turbo doesn't boost as brutal and raw as the older MS3, but it handles better.
The clutch on the MS3 is easier to operate than a regular 3. I also don't like the scoop on the hood for the MS3.
For the same price I would take a 2010 GTI than the MS3.
Conclusion:
I am very happy with my 2010 Mazda3 s, it is truly a driver's car! But becareful with the price, because if you equip the car to within $2,000 range of a GTI 4-dr, definitely test drive a GTI to feel which one do you like better.
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