Mazda3 S vs. New Jetta

[Mazda3Rookie]

Mazda3 vs. New Jetta

A friend of mine at work just got the new Jetta Value Edition. I didn't drive it, but I did a walkaround in our office parking lor during the lunch break.

Nice car and decently finished and equipped (despite what the lousy name may inspire), but it still looks and feels like a glorified Corolla.....

The only "feature" that got my attention was the huge trunk (hey, I'm married with three young kids...).

However, I still have plenty of cargo room in my 1-month old M3 S Hatch and the car goes along very well with the bad boy in me (headbang)

It will be interesting to see how reliable this Jetta will prove to be vs. my M3.

Sorry VW, I can't see myself driving a Jetta...

Go Mazda................. (first)

 

[03MzdSpdSTP]

VW and reliable does not go together. Good luck to the first year VW thats made in mexico.

 

[Replica]

It'll be a close race in reliability...but 3's haven't been around long enough so...i dunno

 

[jflo]

i read in motor trend (or maybe car and driver ?) that the mazda3 has the highest satisfaction among buyers and that the quality is pretty top notch. i haven't read any reviews for the new jetta yet though

 

[03MzdSpdSTP]

It'll be a close race in reliability...but 3's haven't been around long enough so...i dunno

Its built in Hiroshima, Japan. I expect it to be built to tighter and with more pride then a mexican built jetta.

 

[Replica]

Its built in Hiroshima, Japan. I expect it to be built to tighter and with more pride then a mexican built jetta.

We'll see. The Protege was built in Hiroshima and it wasn't an amazing steed....

 

[03MzdSpdSTP]

We'll see. The Protege was built in Hiroshima and it wasn't an amazing steed....

other then the callaway designed turbo and cheap racing beat parts the protege has been perfect. both were designed in the US with penny pinchers.
You see alot of VWs with their taillights out.......its not the bulb. The relays go bad on them.

 

[Replica]

other then the callaway designed turbo and cheap racing beat parts the protege has been perfect. both were designed in the US with penny pinchers.
You see alot of VWs with their taillights out.......its not the bulb. The relays go bad on them.

VW's are hit or miss. Coil packs....power windows...etc. Not sure about this new Jetta...

 

[RHAGEL]

I know what you mean. You walk around the Jetta and it is decent. Way overpriced though. I was looking at a GLI with the turbo and it came out to $28k fully loaded. I would much rather have a Legacy GT for that price. VW is not doing so good right now and it is pretty obvious why. The have a poor reliablity record and all of their cars are overpriced. Thats too bad, the new GTI looks pretty cool.

 

[Mazda3Rookie]

VW must not be doing very well indeed. My friend got the Jetta several hundred dollars below invoice and with a 48 months financing at 2.9%...... He got it for less than I paid for my M3 S hatch and I snatched it at invoice. He told me the dealer still had a gazillion 2005 Jettas on the lot.

I tried to persuade him to get a Mazda3 i sedan and he even talked to the dealer were I got mine. However, during the weekend he saw the ad on the newspaper for the Jetta and went for it.

If he doesn't have too many problems he'll be happy. He is a more sedated driver than I am.... (lol2)

 

[RHAGEL]

Some of VW's executives have been accused of fraud and illegally transfering funds. There has been substantial amounts of stock sold in the past year. I think VW just has a poor strategy. As I said before, the prices of their cars a rediculous. I like the new Passat but at $40k, I would much rather have a a BMW or save some money and get a Acura TL or Infinity G35. The designs of their cars are boring, and their "Geman Engineering" is a disgrace to Germany, poor reliability and so-so performance. Look at the R32, $35 grand and you still cant compete with and STI or an Evo. Hopefully in the next few years they can get back on their feet, the have put out some pretty good cars in the past. The new E05 (or whatever its called) convertable is debuting at detroit this year so it should be interesting on how it holds up.

 

[Replica]

Sadly....the sticker on an Acura TL is only $33,000.

It'll be sad the day VW goes under.

 

[RHAGEL]

Sadly....the sticker on an Acura TL is only $33,000.

It'll be sad the day VW goes under.

Thats what I'm saying, who the **** is going to pay $7k more for a Passat. Though VW won't ever go under, they will just restructure and cut the number of models they offer. Kind of like what GM is doing now. We can all say good bye to Buick and Pontiac, they will most likely become a one car company or just dissolve completely.

 

[Dmack_901]

The only "feature" that got my attention was the huge trunk (hey, I'm married with three young kids...).

(boom01)

Please no!!!

 

[Chibana]

The new Jetta is also much heavier than the Mazda3. It's a porker. I'm just not interested in it, and VW has had tons of quality issues lately, and they're also expensive to maintain (as all German cars are).

 

[Puckpimp71]

For the GLI or TL, I'll have the 'speed 6 thank you. It's better than the LAGacy GT, too and right around the same price.

 

[JOS3]

the jetta is slow as balls. if i recall correctly, it did 0-60 in about 9.5 seconds. definite deal breaker right there.

 

[Mazda3Rookie]

Knowing my "passion" for cars, my friend wants for me to drive his Jetta one of these days. I guess it may drive as a Corolla, in addition to looking like one.... (lol)

I know it's heavy, so although the engine has bigger displacement and more torque than the 2.3L in my MZ3, I do not expect anything peppy.

At least is a manual....