New mazda 3 for 18th birthday.!!!

[hawkins1988]

Hey guys, first time poster..
I am about to turn 18 years old, and my parents have agreed to buy me a new car.
i am looking at and loving the mazda 3, but they are more leaning towards a 06 civic because of the high crash test ratings. any body have both or have drivin both, what car do you like better..
or any information would be helpful about anything.
plus, can you get side curtain airbags in the mazda 3???
well i hope to hear from some of you
and i hope to be enjoying my new mazda some time soon. (first)

 

[illusis]

plus, can you get side curtain airbags in the mazda 3???

yes you can i have them in my 06 3 gt 5 door. i love my car just recently got into an accident and held up a lot better then i ever thought it would. actually not very many dents on the bumper really just scratches but still had to be replaced and the sides of the car held up real nice. i love my car. it handels great and has great accelaterion. read some reviews and go test drive the 2 cars. see what has a better feel to you and what you like better for a everyday ride. give it some gas and see what you like better about the 2 and make your decision on what you like more over what we can tell you. but my car has had no mech damage due to the accident. good luck with your choice, hope this helps. if you have anymore questions feel free to pm me if you would like. enjoy your choice

 

[Rennoc]

the civic will be cheaper to fix if you do crash it but the mazda definitely has some ups the civic just cant compare with. Like illusis said drive both before you decide

 

[JOMO]

Cobalt.

 

[Zano]

This was a silly poll to put in a Mazda forum lol. I'd go with the 3. Yes, the Hondas are easier to fix because they are cookie cutter cars, but you just can't beat the drivability of the 3.

 

[JCell]

3 for teh powa!!

 

[silla3]

love mine, more HP & torque than the honda...

 

[keleko]

3 for teh powa!!

coming from YOU?!


LMAO

 

[tsunami]

i thought the 3 did very well in the crash test ratings with the side curtian option?

since mom and dad are paying for it (lucky bastard) get the car you want but use the side curtain air bag option as the safety factor cause i believe all 3 come with it either stock or as an option.

 

[illusis]

its a 350 option in the 3 sedan so im assuming its the same in the 5 door as well...looked it up real quick but didnt look up the 5 doors. anway they higher the model you get the more things you get in the price. but its deff an option. and forget the cheeper to fix an accident is expensive no matter what you do pretty much thats why you have insurance, lol.

 

[know_no_limits]

Cobalt.

What??? Why???

 

[bdd]

Go for the 3. I have friends that have had rental cars of the, compact variety, and the ones that have gotten the 3 rave about it compared to the others. As for a cobalt, I had one of those while I was getting my homelink mirror put on .. and that was almost a slap in the face. Never ridden in a car you can actually hear the plastic rubbing together over bumps.


If the parents are paying for it, make sure you get a 2.3 S model. The best for saftey without getting the top model is get the S Touring. Dual front seat-mounted side-impact air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) and Front & rear side air curtains, come standard at that point. Plus it was only about $500 more than the S.

Hope that helps. (I have kids, that is why I am so into the saftey stuff)

 

[BradC]

Neither, get the cheap piece of s*** car you deserve. You are just going to crash either one anyways, you don't even pay attention to the ******* words you type...I can only image how you drive

 

[goldwing2000]

Neither, get the cheap piece of s*** car you deserve. You are just going to crash either one anyways, you don't even pay attention to the ******* words you type...I can only image how you drive

That's enough of that. Be civil or don't post.

 

[Hughes412]

Cobalt, just because no one likes it. But me I would go with the 3 wagon (or 5 door as some call it). That little car just looks good. Try to get it with the factory MS flywheel and suspention.

 

[hawkins1988]

Thanks guys

Thank you everyone for the help, i really hope ill be getting the mazda 3..
i appreciate all the info especially abotu the air bags.. that will help me make my decision..
cant wait..
thanks
bye
nick

 

[BradC]

That's enough of that. Be civil or don't post.

Apologies. Good luck with whatever you get.

 

[Alpinejwl]

mazda3 all the way. I had both the civic and the mazda3 and the civic was way gone after I get the 3.

 

[racer x 3]

my personal opinion say go with the three.... i must say i am heavily biased as i love my three and have had a vendetta against civics for years now, BUT, consider this:

although the three's popularity is going up quickly, which is good for us if we want any more aftermarket support, it is still not as abuntantly present as the civic (also good for us).

sure honda has hit reliability and safety across the boards, but the compromise, if any is well worth driving a more attractive, less common, and quicker (if not Si) car.

just ask yourself one question, and only you can answer it:

"do i want to be a honda guy? .... or would i rather be associated with mazda's heritage (rx-7, rx-8, mx3, mx6, 3, 6, miata)...?"

your call man... but if its not an Si, the three STOMPS the civic. if it is Si, well then i guess i have to get over myself...

good luck

 

[gwai1o]

I actually just compared the cars yesterday. I drove an LX Civic coupe (top model before the Si) and a base 3s 5 door.

I am currently shopping for a car (for the end of the year). The Civic, if you havn't seen the interior in person, is quite surprisingly nice. The seats are among the most comfortable I have ever sat in for a car in this price range. The digital dash display is not as cheesy as you might expect and the whole interior is (for my tastes) fantastic.

The 3 is a lot more fun to drive imo. (manual) It handles better. Keep in mind I was driving the 5 door, which is basically a midget wagon, and it was a lot peppier than the civic and I felt a lot more in control.

If you price out a 3sGT and a Civic LX the 3 may be a little more expensive but I would take it over the Civic (personally). However. I did not expect to like the Civic as much as I did (even @ all) because my gf drives a 98 HX coupe and I hate it. I also just don't like the ricer association you get with owning a honda, especially a civic. That being said, I highly recommend EITHER. They are both very solid looking and feeling cars.

Now the Si vs. Mazdaspeed3... I would take the 3 if it stays true to its "well under $25K" rumor. torque steer and all

my $0.02

Good luck!

gwai1o