Automatic or Manual Transmissions

[ArchAngelRacer]

Hey guys. I've been reading this forum for a while now and i've finally decided to get a Mazda 3. I'm going to get the 5 door so i can have more capability then my current car. Now to my question, is the automatic very good in this car or are you losing alot of performance with it. A friends car has the manual automatic option, not a mazda, and it takes so long for the computer to recognize that you have shifted. I love to drive stick but the person who i'm sharing this car with dosen't but is willing to learn, on another car (yippy). I'm just trying to figure out if it is worth that person to learn or should i just use the automatics manual function. I love to drive fast and sticks have always been the answer. Any help any ideas before i go out and buy a 3? Thanks

 

[Dexter]

Manual.

Yes, that person should learn. Otherwise just cut off thier left foot, what good is it for?

 

[ArchAngelRacer]

ok but they would still be new to driving the manual during the brake in period and i'm scared that they might mess up the car during that part. I wouldn't drive it as often right now but would in the future.
thanks Dexter

 

[goldwing2000]

It shouldn't be that difficult to teach them on this car. The clutch is very forgiving and the trans shifts smoothly and easily.

I haven't driven the manumatic but I do know that it will cost you 10-20 HP.

 

[jersey_emt]

Definitely go for the manual. The Mazda3 clutch like others mentioned is easy to learn on.

I've taught 3 of my friends how to drive stick in my MSP. No clutch problems at all after those lessons and 20K miles of HARD driving.

 

[Loose]

Regrets

I drive the Manumatic and I wish I had got the stick....

 

[ArchAngelRacer]

Thanks so much guys

hey thank you so much fro you're input. I'll talk the person into driving the stick, especially because i'm not willing to part with 10-20 hp. Plus i talked to the dealer that if something goes wrong with the system the warrenty will cover it, i need to remember i have that, or will have that. Thanks so much for you're imput i should have my car by the end of next month. (drinks).
i can't wait to have the car parked outside my door. Long live the 3 (yippy)

 

[RenzoMSP]

Ive been driving manual for a few months and im glad that my car is a manual.

 

[RonH]

hey thank you so much fro you're input. I'll talk the person into driving the stick, especially because i'm not willing to part with 10-20 hp. Plus i talked to the dealer that if something goes wrong with the system the warrenty will cover it, i need to remember i have that, or will have that. Thanks so much for you're imput i should have my car by the end of next month. (drinks).
i can't wait to have the car parked outside my door. Long live the 3 (yippy)

I hope you have better luck talking the other driver into a 5 speed than I did. A few years ago I bought a new Ranger 5 speed, thinking my wife will learn how to drive it. Wrong! I tried for months but she had this mental block against having to shift gears. I ended up having to trade it for another Ranger with the Automatic, and had to pay a few thousand more. I should have bought the ATX in the first place and saved a lot of dough. My wife has been driving for 46 years and she's not about to shift gears after all these years driving automatics.

 

[lasermp5]

First car... manual... never gonna change... not if I can help it

 

[ArchAngelRacer]

Got my car

Hey guys i just got my Mazda last night. I didn't end up with stick because i would have to wait for an 05 and i need a vechicle... but it ok i think the manual in the automatic will be safer for the other driver. I'm happy though because the lack of stick was a perfect barganing tool, since i drove 70 miles just to get to the dealer with a promise of a stick waiting for me when i got there. the cars package puts it at ~19,850 but i only payed 17,540 and it has the zenon headlights so i can't complain. They also gave me a good deal on my trade in which i was very happy about, i can't wait to see if they can get that car resold i hated every minute of it. Thanks for everybodys help i'm going to go remove the resonator tonight and then CAI for me. thanks very much to everybody that had the input, i agree that i should of gone stick but almost 6 months to wait is to long. i checked and there won't be any sticks comming in, is it that way all across the country? NM mazda owners need to get together and start getting organized if the numbers i was told were true. I'm in albuquerque so lets get started people.
thanks everyone and like i said long live the 3 (yippy)

 

[goldwing2000]

Did you try any other dealers?? There has to be more than one Mazda dealer in Albuquerque!

What was your trade-in?

 

[ArchAngelRacer]

my trade in was an 2001 audi a4, but the car was starting to lose its warrenty, in fact next month the warrenty will be over, and the car is starting to fall apart because the audi technicians in town can't seem to do even basic things right, they left out a bolt of the brakes and i lost all brake power to the entire system, they also had not flushed the master cylinder so there was an air pocket, that ruined me keeping the audi. I checked all the dealers in town are out of sticks and then they won't be getting any in, you lucky b******ds in califonia have all the sticks ordered. So then i went to the only other dealer in the state and thats in Santa Fe. They have the same thing no sticks comming in and none on the lot although they said they had one but i saw the person drive off with it 4 minutes after i got there. I'm happy though the car halls ass and i didn't really have to pay for the automatic, they cut me a great deal.

 

[PeteyBoy3K]

VW/Audi suckage?

What? a VW/Audi that was losing it's warranty and falling apart at the seams with relatively low miles!? (shocked)

I have no faith in that group of cars at all. I don't care if you can chip a 1.8t to 14 psi without blowing the engine... it don't do much good if the wheels keep falling off.

I guess Mz3 is becoming more and more the jetta-killer

whoops, thread-jacking

Glad you like the 3, and that you got a good deal on the auto.