Furthers my theory...
My car is up at Mazda only for a tire rotation and the service manager gave me loaner to see if I could get it to do the same problems.
It doesn't but holy crap doe it have a shitload of it's own problems!
The loaner I got, I rolled over 8300 miles, it's a silver 2008 (not .5) Mazda3 Sedan S Touring with only the sunroof/6cd option.
It must be CA or something but this car has suspension like I have never felt on this car...more like mine when the car was brand new.
The transmission shifts smooth and doesn't jerk/grind/hesitate/stick.
So far it hasn't stalled on me.
The brakes don't burn.
The steering is weirder than mine but idk about that.
it pulls through turns better than mine...partially because the suspension is stiffer?
It's gear ratio seems to be better...my car does around 3250 at 80MPH, this does just under 3K at 80MPH.
I am getting much better mileage!!! Got about 24.8 average coming back from the dealer on the freeway (I activated the trip computer for them lol) and I'm getting about 21 in the city. This is up from 20av freeway and 17.5 city.
It's front tires have more trad than mine!!! Mine only have 5K on them!!! WTF?!?!?!?!??
The loaner car has problems though, even though it's a loaner I still noticed (besides it being absolutely FILTHY):
It grinds when you hit the gas from a stop. Just anytime it grinds.
there is a popping coming from the front end when you hit the gas in reverse. Pops when you turn, pops until you start going forward again. (should I be worried for my safety?)
The dashboard rattles. I think it's the glove box door.
The steering wheel is coming apart at its seam.
Engine clunks when you start it. Every time when it's been warmed up previously...interesting.
There was something else but I don't remember it.
I guess it isn't just my Mazda3 that has issues...I mean a couple of those seem pretty legitimate to me. I'm not gonna care though, I get my car back soon and get to share with them my newly found knowledge.
I still have to see how it starts in the morning from the garage and the driveway so I might have it for a few days...not totally sure though. This car makes me miss mine. I couldn't even get the 99 Volvo to make me miss my 3. Oh well, when you have the highest end 3, anything lower is just, eh.
Bottom line is that this proves my car has issues that need to be addressed. Although this car has issues that need to be addressed they are ALL different from my car.
(I also had a wonderful customer service experience while I was there. *note the sarcasm*)