Newbie, give me some insite. Why should I buy a Mazda 3

[auxiliary]

Hi my name is Steve and this is my first post.
Hi Steve
go away Steve
?!

Anyway. I have been doing some reasearch on mazda 3, it caught my eye. Some car huh? I have not test dtove one yet, but I know it is going to be fun.
What I am requesting from you is why I should buy this car. I have read a lot fo bad things with Mazda, but I'm the one who always say who doesn't make a bad car. Right? You always get the guy who bought say a 30K car and has had issues, but doesn't mean they are all junk.

I have been one to stay away from Fords since I know a handful of people that have had transmission rebuilds. I understand that this is from the Focus overseas and not the US....but then again I see that some of you do have tranny issues. Am I letting this get to me guys? Drives me nuts. I need a lower car payment right now. I think i can pull that off with a discount I get from work and some rebates at this dealer ( I doubt they will let me combine them).

Do any of you think that this Mazda is set apart from the other Mazda's that were built before this and why?

Pass 5 years I have thought about the P5, and the MP3. from what i saw the MP3 did not have power when the numbers were released and was what a 1 year deal? The P5 a nice looking car is already going to end production?

This 160HP engine is the same in the lower Mazda 6 right? I have seen the Mazda 6 get great review too.

Try to make me follow the light and prove me wrong.....maybe I join your cult.
If you wonder what I drive, I have a L200 and had a SL2 before that. I have been with Saturn for 8 years I think. I own a Triumph Spitfire and TR6 and man I miss a manual in a daily driver

Steve from RI

 

[Newf]

Hi, I'm Steve too.

Simply put. No other car today in this class can offer what the 3 does in terms of engine, suspension, interior, and options that the 3 can (sedan or hatch) for the price. Not Honda, not toyota, nissan, etc, and definitely not saturn.

Drive it...you'll' see.

 

[MSPinVA]

I drove the 5 door before I bought my MSP, and it was one hell of a car. But, being a boost junkie, I decided to get the MSP over the 3 5 door. Its got a ballsy 2.3 liter, handles REALLY well for a hatch, has a really crisp shifter, has comfortable ass seats, and all around good looks. It has a decent stereo, but that can be easily fixed.

If you want to know about the mazda/ford relationship, you should read the stickied thread at the top of the page.

I say get the 3, or a MSP holdover.....

 

[Loose]

Hi my name is Steve and this is my first post.
Hi Steve
go away Steve
?!

Anyway. I have been doing some reasearch on mazda 3, it caught my eye. Some car huh? I have not test dtove one yet, but I know it is going to be fun.
What I am requesting from you is why I should buy this car. I have read a lot fo bad things with Mazda, but I'm the one who always say who doesn't make a bad car. Right? You always get the guy who bought say a 30K car and has had issues, but doesn't mean they are all junk.

I have been one to stay away from Fords since I know a handful of people that have had transmission rebuilds. I understand that this is from the Focus overseas and not the US....but then again I see that some of you do have tranny issues. Am I letting this get to me guys? Drives me nuts. I need a lower car payment right now. I think i can pull that off with a discount I get from work and some rebates at this dealer ( I doubt they will let me combine them).

Do any of you think that this Mazda is set apart from the other Mazda's that were built before this and why?

Pass 5 years I have thought about the P5, and the MP3. from what i saw the MP3 did not have power when the numbers were released and was what a 1 year deal? The P5 a nice looking car is already going to end production?

This 160HP engine is the same in the lower Mazda 6 right? I have seen the Mazda 6 get great review too.

Try to make me follow the light and prove me wrong.....maybe I join your cult.
If you wonder what I drive, I have a L200 and had a SL2 before that. I have been with Saturn for 8 years I think. I own a Triumph Spitfire and TR6 and man I miss a manual in a daily driver

Steve from RI

I owned a series of domestic vehicles prior to buying my 3 (white, 5 dr, 2.3, cloth 4 spd w/manusuck [cause the wife won't drive a stick in the city],no abs, no side srs). My last vehicle was a 94 Ford Bronco fullsize w/ 170K on it and I still miss it. The 3 has been so much fun though.
key points to take home:
1. tranny problems appear to be in the stick only so far
2. some random cel's, but there is a large population of people on this forum
from all over North America.
3. the sedan 2.0 model is much cheaper that the 5 dr 2.3 and there is a
rumor that the speed version my be a 2.0 anyway. Either way there are
bound to be plenty of mods available for both models.
4. The main point is that majority of us here feel that this Mazda 3 is a great
car. Even the people who have complained have said they loved the car.
The craftmanship as well as the fit and finish are above what is
considered standard for this class of car.

As for the reviews of the 6, I haven't seen to many that solely test the 2.3.
As for the Saturn, My Mom and sister are both on their third. They love'm.

 

[3Chick]

Before I chose the 3, I drove a Toyota Corolla s, Nissian SpecV, Honda Civic and the 6. The Mazdas, by far, are much nicer cars than the others. They felt cheep, the seats were uncomfortable and were not nice riding cars. They didnt have the handling, exceleration (with the exception of the Spec V) or smoothness of the 3 and 6. You can't touch the amenities in the 3 with any other car without going into a much higher price range. I liked the 6 alot, but for the price of the base 6, I got a fully loaded (minus navi) 3, and Im tight and didnt want to up my payments or give up any of the things I wanted so I stuck with the 3. The 6 is geared (to me) to the more "family" car person, the interior feels more "mature" ( I guess this is a good way to put it, Im in no way implying that 3 owners are immature though). As far as the tranny, I havent had any problems with mine (5 speed) so far (1058 miles)yes reverse is sometimes a bit harder to get into, but like others have said you just put it in first and then into reverse, I had the same issue with my esscort so to me is not a "problem".

 

[auxiliary]

If you want to know about the mazda/ford relationship, you should read the stickied thread at the top of the page.
I say get the 3, or a MSP holdover.....

This a pretty good gui if you want to call it by Jelsoft Enterprises Lt. I have a forum myself and this is one of the best I have seen. I love the drop down menus at the top. I'm getting around now.
I did clicl on the Sticky and read a few but started to read other things. I didn't know that I was reading the last post...well I found out how to fix that.
It was a great post. it did fill in some of the holes. One of the holes I had was the engine, now I have learned these are new engines, not the same technology that they were using in say a 95' 626.
So what happen to the Ztec engines? I heard they were great engines, able to handle a lot of HP. So I guess they know these are better then the Ztec?
I read on the carseverything website "2.3-liter with Mazda's Sequential Valve Timing (S-VT)" So does this mean that Mazda has borrowed the SVT technology that they used in th Focus SVT or in general Ford SVT motors?

Keep the comments rolling, please.

Steve
from RI

 

[Loose]

This a pretty good gui if you want to call it by Jelsoft Enterprises Lt. I have a forum myself and this is one of the best I have seen. I love the drop down menus at the top. I'm getting around now.
I did clicl on the Sticky and read a few but started to read other things. I didn't know that I was reading the last post...well I found out how to fix that.
It was a great post. it did fill in some of the holes. One of the holes I had was the engine, now I have learned these are new engines, not the same technology that they were using in say a 95' 626.
So what happen to the Ztec engines? I heard they were great engines, able to handle a lot of HP. So I guess they know these are better then the Ztec?
I read on the carseverything website "2.3-liter with Mazda's Sequential Valve Timing (S-VT)" So does this mean that Mazda has borrowed the SVT technology that they used in th Focus SVT or in general Ford SVT motors?

Keep the comments rolling, please.

Steve
from RI

SVT Ford = Special Vehicle Team
SVT Mazda = Sequential Valve Timing

 

[PeteyBoy3K]

...

I read on the carseverything website "2.3-liter with Mazda's Sequential Valve Timing (S-VT)" So does this mean that Mazda has borrowed the SVT technology that they used in th Focus SVT or in general Ford SVT motors?

Keep the comments rolling, please.

Steve
from RI

well, I've been reading the forums for a month since I got my 3hatchwagon.. I'll give a go...

The 2.3 litre engine (in 6 "i" the 3 sedan "s" and in all 3 hatchbacks) seems to be a mazda-only engine. The "Variable" tricks it uses include a hemholtz resonator (the intake equivalent of a slide whistle) that pulls the torque band into lower parts of the engine (giving it 90% of the 150 ft/lb max torque at 3000 RPM) and makes the engine quieter (which is why lots of people like to take them out). There is a VCTS system which basically uses a butterfly valve leading into the intake chamber to churn up the fuel/air mixture for more efficient burning below ~3400 RPM, giving it pretty good mileage if you are conservative. lastly, the standard variable valve timing that kicks in right around 5000 RPM to help cram as much gas as possible into the cylinders (much to the decrease of mileage and increase of grin (naughty) ).

I got most of this information by reading Goldwing2000's posts and reading this: A really good (p)review of the mazda3 by urbanracer

As for other gleanings from the forum: the main complaints I've seen:
- weak A/C, but I think it's just a perception resulting as a side effect of having a black dash/trimmings to help suck heat up. It can usually be circumvented by creative use of recirculate, the tilt moonroof, and opening the windows for the first bits of your trip. Within 5 minutes it's the usual "hmmm, now my neck is freezing" effect.
- "shifter" problems... trouble getting into third, and reverse... I dunno, this has been one of the smoothest shifting cars I've owned (other cars: an '88 camry and a '99 golf). I just think that sometimes it's easy to miss third when you are getting used to a new car... and reverse is always persnickity (mainly because of the extra gear-bits involved) and you might have to waggle the shifter back and forth and try again occasionally.
- chipping front paint... apparently, people have had to use their free touch-up paint quite a bit... I think that means you just tailgate people less on gravel. But, there are clearbra kits out there for the 3 sedan and wagon if you are worried about this.
- 2.3 litre engine has odd cartridge oil filter (but there is an adaptor that lets one use the regular screw-on kind)

the main compliments:
- handles like a dream
- comfy, smooth, nooks/crannies styled as if from a dream
- powerful, and lots of mods seem to be coming out for it.
- new/different looks
- valuable... competes more with mid-size sedans for quality/power/style but at compact prices.
- Wagon completely different style than sedan
- I haven't seen any "and then the engine just fell out" type horrer stories

happy fun car (do not taunt)

 

[auxiliary]

I am a gear head, and when I read http://www.carseverything.com/content/previews/mazda/article/1346.3/ I understood 95% of what they were talking about regarding the 3.0.I was getting very excited. I think this calmed me down and told me that, this car is the SH*T. Mazda has put the best into this car.

I know the engine has been out sicen 2001, did other cas used the engine and tranny? If so what ones?

Steve

 

[Tonys3]

I am a big motorcycle person, I would just drive my old work truck when it was cold or raining, But ever since i bought the 3 thats has changed. The car is fun as s*** to drive !

 

[bigo711]

yeah~mazda3's interior, exterior, engine...etc is awesome and much better than civic, sentra, corolla....etc

however, if u r buying 2.3L mazda3s , maybe u can wait a bit to compare with 2005 corolla XRS~
cuz it is coming and the price is at about the same range~~
its around..CND$24000, moon roof, sport seats,170HP VVTL-i, 6 speed!!!!!, engine immobilizer, new audio face plate, lowered and even tire pressure monitor system!..etc
infomation on rolla XRS see below
http://www.toyota.ca/cgi-bin/WebObj...8FRWgnTmp7BI2QoqQg/7.7?ticker_detail_3_e.html


i personally think its gonna be a good option too.

 

[speedmaster]

IT IS FUN AS HELL !!! GO FOR IT !!!!! (bike)

 

[auxiliary]

See ya everyone (outie)
I have decided not to go with a 3 (sad2).
I went to one two dealers, I don't tink I can get what I want for my car. I felt like doing this to the Mazda dealer (chair)

Anyway, maybe I'll be back. See if the 2005 gets the bugs out and by then my car payoff will be cheaper. Maybe save some money or something.
(rockon)

Steve
from RI

 

[blizz81]

See ya everyone (outie)
I have decided not to go with a 3 (sad2).
I went to one two dealers, I don't tink I can get what I want for my car.

Steve
from RI

well....it IS a saturn...can't blame the dealership