Newb with legit question...
- Thread starter RTexasF
- Start date
tiagotiago
Member
- :
- 2008.5 Mazdaspeed 3
I usually do 100% inner city driving, and so far my absolute worst tank has been 16 MPG, and that was on the first tank. Since then, I get around 17.5 MPG-20 MPG, depending on how careful I am with the throttle.
There have been several threads where milage pops up and my numbers are below average. If I remember correctly, most people average what ///M Compact states.
30 MPG on the highway is doable, but it depends on ambient conditions, not just on careful driving
There have been several threads where milage pops up and my numbers are below average. If I remember correctly, most people average what ///M Compact states.
30 MPG on the highway is doable, but it depends on ambient conditions, not just on careful driving
THAT is music to my ears, I'm only a couple of years behind him and live in a similar climate.
Any problem finding premium fuel in Mexico? Matamoros is just the other side of town from me, I'm in Brownsville.
Super Unique
Member
- :
- 2008.5 Mazdaspeed 3 Black Mica
I have a black mica speed3 , 2008.5 gt version, I live in central florida and during the hottest part of summer, it is merely adequate, certainly NOT as good as my previous vehicle, a soft top jeep wrangler with a/c that was awesome. Before everyone freaks out on my opinion, the a/c in the mazda is clearly not up to par of some other common vehicles I have ridden in. It does work, but just enough to cool down gradually. On a short trip, you will definitely notice its weakness.
tiagotiago
Member
- :
- 2008.5 Mazdaspeed 3
I've had no problems so far with fuel availability, nor problems with the fuel's quality that have thrown up a check engine light or something; so far everything's been ok, I hope it stays that way!!
Have any of the folks that think their air conditioning system is marginal to poor been back to the dealership with a complaint? If so did any good come of it? Undercharged/overcharged maybe?
If you live in an area when July is near 100F and the humidity is 85+% you certainly understand why I'm inquiring about this. If you don't live anywhere like that you only need to experience it once to figure out why cold A/C is paramount.
If you live in an area when July is near 100F and the humidity is 85+% you certainly understand why I'm inquiring about this. If you don't live anywhere like that you only need to experience it once to figure out why cold A/C is paramount.
serialtoon
Member
- :
- 2008 Mazdaspeed 3
Id skip this car, it has the weakest A/C ive ever had. buy yourself a lexus is350....those are meat locker approved 
18psiWhiteMS3
Banned
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- 2009 MazdaSpeed3
im in PA, it was in the 40s today. felt like summer
Id skip this car, it has the weakest A/C ive ever had. buy yourself a lexus is350....those are meat locker approved
Yeah, that's only another ten bucks or so right?
Thank you one and all for your help. Test drive is tomorrow.
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Super Unique
Member
- :
- 2008.5 Mazdaspeed 3 Black Mica
You will likely have to try it for yourself on a hot day to really get a feel for the a/c....
BillTheCat
Member
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- 2009 Mazdaspeed3 Sport
RTF... I track my mileage on www.fueleconomy.gov all the time. Mind you, I am in FL where virtually all gas is 10% ethanol, which reduces mileage, and I drive with A/C on 11 months or so out of the year. And for the other month, it's still probably 50% A/C usage. So my mileage is probably a tiny bit low.
My best tank so far has been on a round trip from Tampa to Orlando, about 250 miles total, including some in-town driving. I was just shy of 25mpg. My worst was just under 21mpg on a tankful with a higher amount of in town driving (more like 40/60 instead of my usual 70/30 highway commuting tanks). I also drove it HARD on that tankful, just to see how low it would go.
Since September, when I bought the car, my overall average, which is usually a 70/30 hwy/city mix with A/C on 90% of the time, is 23mpg.
At the moment, since it appears the weather has cooled as much as it is going to for a while, I am 2 days into a tankful where I am trying to drive gently, cruise as lower speeds, and not use the A/C except to defog the windshield. I just want to see how high the mileage will go.
Side note: I have a friend with an MS6 (same engine, but AWD) who says he has gotten 27 out of his on occasion. His daily round trip commute is in excess of 100 miles, whereas mine is just 55-60. He also has a decent amount of mods, but I forget if he has any engine management or A/F mods. Was planning to ask him after I get this tank's mileage results.
And I gotta say.. man, it is hard driving like a granny. I'm nowhere near true hypermiling, as I do NOT have that kind of patience, but I'm driving the MS3 like a frakking K-car on a grocery run right now. I oughtta be drugged.
My best tank so far has been on a round trip from Tampa to Orlando, about 250 miles total, including some in-town driving. I was just shy of 25mpg. My worst was just under 21mpg on a tankful with a higher amount of in town driving (more like 40/60 instead of my usual 70/30 highway commuting tanks). I also drove it HARD on that tankful, just to see how low it would go.
Since September, when I bought the car, my overall average, which is usually a 70/30 hwy/city mix with A/C on 90% of the time, is 23mpg.
At the moment, since it appears the weather has cooled as much as it is going to for a while, I am 2 days into a tankful where I am trying to drive gently, cruise as lower speeds, and not use the A/C except to defog the windshield. I just want to see how high the mileage will go.
Side note: I have a friend with an MS6 (same engine, but AWD) who says he has gotten 27 out of his on occasion. His daily round trip commute is in excess of 100 miles, whereas mine is just 55-60. He also has a decent amount of mods, but I forget if he has any engine management or A/F mods. Was planning to ask him after I get this tank's mileage results.
And I gotta say.. man, it is hard driving like a granny. I'm nowhere near true hypermiling, as I do NOT have that kind of patience, but I'm driving the MS3 like a frakking K-car on a grocery run right now. I oughtta be drugged.
I'm surprised no one else from Texas has replied. I drive back and forth between Houston and Dallas a couple times a year, and I know the temps are probably not quite as bad as it gets where the OP lives, but it's still freaking hot and humid.
I got my '08 GT model back in June and during the summer I had the automatic climate control set around 68 to 70. The AC would blow full blast a couple minutes, maybe 4 or 5 at the most, and the car would be pretty cool by then. I was also surprised that the leather seats didn't really bother me during those 100+ degree days.
You should definitely get the windows tinted. Also suggest keeping a cloth in your center console/glovebox for the shiftknob on hot days.
I got my '08 GT model back in June and during the summer I had the automatic climate control set around 68 to 70. The AC would blow full blast a couple minutes, maybe 4 or 5 at the most, and the car would be pretty cool by then. I was also surprised that the leather seats didn't really bother me during those 100+ degree days.
You should definitely get the windows tinted. Also suggest keeping a cloth in your center console/glovebox for the shiftknob on hot days.
OK FOLKS HERE'S THE SCOOP.
It's a no go and here's why.....................
The seat base is way too short and not high enough so zero thigh support. About halfway through the test drive my legs began to ache and I knew the outcome. When we returned to the dealership I sat in the Accord for comparison and it was like night and day. It was like a favorite chair as opposed to one you could barely sit in. I traded in a new & paid for 2003 Corolla in about six months (on the Accord) for the same reason. I wasn't going through that again.
Rear seat was totally useless except for small children....don't got none, don't want none. Figured that out already since it's a compact, no biggie.
On the plus side...........
*Handled like a slot car.
*Major go anywhere in any gear at any time.
*Enough torque to take off in 2nd or even 3rd with no chatter or vibration or smelly clutch slippage.
*Bad roads were not gut wrenching, suspension stiff but not over the top. Just very taut overall.
*Pass someone right now in 6th gear above 35 MPH, just awesome in that respect with A/C on 100% of the time.
*Not a great test (temps 75) but A/C seemed up to the task.
In short: had the seat fit me (in the bottom section) I would have bought the car but not from those folks. Didn't like them one friggin bit. Useless lying bastards, and they thought I had no clue. I've had more time in commission only sales than these pups have had birthdays so we didn't get along well. No honor, no integrity whatsoever and it didn't take long to figure it out. None of that matters though 'cause if your ass don't fit the seat then what good is the car?
That's the way it stands for now.
I can not offer enough thanks to those that contributed to my questions. I would really like to be the newest owner on this forum but it doesn't look that way currently.
It's a no go and here's why.....................
The seat base is way too short and not high enough so zero thigh support. About halfway through the test drive my legs began to ache and I knew the outcome. When we returned to the dealership I sat in the Accord for comparison and it was like night and day. It was like a favorite chair as opposed to one you could barely sit in. I traded in a new & paid for 2003 Corolla in about six months (on the Accord) for the same reason. I wasn't going through that again.
Rear seat was totally useless except for small children....don't got none, don't want none. Figured that out already since it's a compact, no biggie.
On the plus side...........
*Handled like a slot car.
*Major go anywhere in any gear at any time.
*Enough torque to take off in 2nd or even 3rd with no chatter or vibration or smelly clutch slippage.
*Bad roads were not gut wrenching, suspension stiff but not over the top. Just very taut overall.
*Pass someone right now in 6th gear above 35 MPH, just awesome in that respect with A/C on 100% of the time.
*Not a great test (temps 75) but A/C seemed up to the task.
In short: had the seat fit me (in the bottom section) I would have bought the car but not from those folks. Didn't like them one friggin bit. Useless lying bastards, and they thought I had no clue. I've had more time in commission only sales than these pups have had birthdays so we didn't get along well. No honor, no integrity whatsoever and it didn't take long to figure it out. None of that matters though 'cause if your ass don't fit the seat then what good is the car?
That's the way it stands for now.
I can not offer enough thanks to those that contributed to my questions. I would really like to be the newest owner on this forum but it doesn't look that way currently.
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BillTheCat
Member
- :
- 2009 Mazdaspeed3 Sport
Sorry to hear that, RTF. But one of the reasons I decided not to buy a VW GTI was that the seatback bolsters were like a pair of 2x4's, and my lard butt self was slightly wider than the bolsters. Made for an uncomfortable seating situation.
Just curious... were you in a GT or a Sport model? I don't know if the seat design differs, other than surface materials, but the seats in my MS3 Sport seem fairly supportive. (Granted, everyone's experience with comfort will differ)
I certainly hope you find something just as fun that seats you comfortably.
Just curious... were you in a GT or a Sport model? I don't know if the seat design differs, other than surface materials, but the seats in my MS3 Sport seem fairly supportive. (Granted, everyone's experience with comfort will differ)
I certainly hope you find something just as fun that seats you comfortably.
