Seriously, the dash board of this car is so ugly!

I love the 3's interior design, someone will probably come out with a kit or something to isntall an aftermarket HU.
 
subject: Seriously, the dash board of this car is so ugly!

umm, no..it looks nice as ****.....but yes u cant do much aftermarket
 
The only solution I see is if you get a tape player adaptor (lowest trim comes with a tape player only I think), or one of those wireless audio adaptors, that you hook up to the Mazda 3 audio system.
Then you use your MP3/CD player as the sound unit.
You could probably add speakers (with some mods)... but... yeah... that's the way I see it.
 
I think less than 5% of owners change their stock radio. Most people dont' need more than a radio and a CD player/CD changer.

Even if everybody changed their radio on the board that's only ~6,000 member out of around 60-70,000 proteges that are made annualy...
 
Some folks in the 6 forums are complaining about the integrated dash as well. I've seen quite extensive threads regarding audio upgrades for the 6.

I'm hoping the quality of the head unit will be OK, so the only major upgrades would involve replacing the speakers, and maybe adding an amp.
 
mcstark said:
I think the new Nissans have an integrated radio as well...looks cool from a design perspective, but totally sucks when you try to personalize your ride. It would be one thing is it was an over the top design that 80% of buyers would be happy with, but I'm sure it's just an "ok" factory unit that will need to be replaced.

For what it's worth, I like my factory 6 disc changer, but am thinking about replacing the speakers and adding an amp to spice it up.

Actualy there are many car audio veterans that are extreamly well respected, that argue: Most factory headunits are as good is not better then damn near ALL aftermarket units for SQ. They don't try to do 300 stupid little thinkgs like have flip faces and video scrolling or 150 useless boosting circuits.

I have David Navone's areticle on this subject if anyone would like it.
 
JAC said:
I love the 3's interior design, someone will probably come out with a kit or something to isntall an aftermarket HU.
If they did expect it to cost several uhndred dollars as it will have to replace the entire center of the dash not to mention reintegrate the heat AC controls.
 
dugrant153 said:
The only solution I see is if you get a tape player adaptor (lowest trim comes with a tape player only I think), or one of those wireless audio adaptors, that you hook up to the Mazda 3 audio system.
Then you use your MP3/CD player as the sound unit.
You could probably add speakers (with some mods)... but... yeah... that's the way I see it.
FM modulator that connects directly to the back of the unit will be likely the best option. Just be thankful its not like a BMW or Mercedes where becuase of the Fiber optic radios you can't even do that.
The speakers will not be a major pain as long as they aren't a funky impedance and run off an outboard amp stuffed in the car somewhere. Even then you'll just need to swap the amp to an aftermarket one while replacing the speakers.
 
has anyone done a Mazda 6 with a new stereo yet? Seems they have the same problem right

And yeah, the dash is one of the main reasons why I didn't wait for the Mazda 3, and just got the speed instead
 
newf said:
has anyone done a Mazda 6 with a new stereo yet? Seems they have the same problem right

And yeah, the dash is one of the main reasons why I didn't wait for the Mazda 3, and just got the speed instead

No, I don't know of anyone who's changed the headunit on their Mazda6. But after the headunit, yes, I know people who have modded both the base and BOSE systems.
 
1st MP3 in NH said:
Actualy there are many car audio veterans that are extreamly well respected, that argue: Most factory headunits are as good is not better then damn near ALL aftermarket units for SQ. They don't try to do 300 stupid little thinkgs like have flip faces and video scrolling or 150 useless boosting circuits.

I have David Navone's areticle on this subject if anyone would like it.

Hey 1st in NH...I would agree with you on the SQ side. I'm just surprised the most factory HU's aren't spec'd with better amps in them. Most aftermarket units put out around 20-25 RMS, while ours is prob. closer to 10. I haven't found any specs on it yet -- any idea on this? By "it" I mean the factory 6 disc changer unit.

I love the design of it, and I also agree with you on the number of buttons and things. I hate the itty bitty buttons on the aftermarket stuff, which is why I might run SL outputs to an amp and replace the factory speakers. I'll ask you about it down the road if I decide to do it.

I'm just not crazy about the idea of Mazda, Nissan, Ford, etc. giving us an HU we can't change out. OR they should give us a number of upgrade options, which I'm surprised they don't. With a manufacturers collective buying power, they could make a nice margin on offering such options. Then you could have the cool looks of the integrated unit with some decent speakers and amps.

Just my .02

Oh, and email/post a link to the article when you get a chance. I'd like to read it.
 
Hopeful, But Wary

The interior appearance of the new Mazda3 is of course subject to individual preferences, but I tend to judge such characteristics by way of the interior's component quality.

I was unfortunately most disappointed by the interior quality of the Mazda6-- I found the plastics hard and of poor feel, particularly the steering wheel assembly, which appears too flat and featureless. Control movements also lacked the precise action found in the new Accord or Toyota Camry, in my opinion, and this meant for a most dissatisfied analysis.

I hope very much that Mazda doesn't follow suit with the Mazda3, but judgment will have to be reserved until I can see one in person.

So far, I haven't ever seen or experienced auto interiors better than what Volkswagen is currently building, although their reliability leaves all other things to be desired. Most wretched, to be sure.

Oh yeah! Mazda must get rid of the text, "POS" on their navigational control unit, next to the shifter. What kind of moron would release something of this nature in a culture that already has a clear and known acronym for this term? How is it possible in Gods name that someone at Mazda North American Operations hasnt told someone at Mazda Japan what POS means, here? Is it really that difficult? Such doesnt endear Mazda at all, and they need to either spell out the entire word, Position, which by itself has other, much more appealing implications, (and theres plenty of room to fit that text on the unit), or figure some other abbreviation out. Its admittedly cosmetic and of no consequence to fundamental operation, but Mazda doesnt need to exacerbate its situation by seemingly self admitting to their car being a Piece Of s***. What a bunch of imbeciles.
 
Also posted on mazda3forums.com:

Taken from the Mazda Canada webpage:

Modular construction offers easy system expansion with future media.

Easy-to-use piano style-buttons and knobs can be operated without looking away from the road.

A light bar of LEDs mounted on either side of the volume control knob responds to operations, giving a visual impression that the car is interacting with you.

Steering wheel mounted audio switches provide easy, safe operation while driving. (Standard on GS and GT models and available with convenience package on GX model.)

Up to six speakers to deliver superior sound quality throughout the vehicle.

Most interesting (I added the emphasis). All this talk about the car seeming to interacti with you sounds cool.

So... the Mazda 3 has a modular stereo system... does that mean that we CAN put an aftermarket stereo system AND add speakers on our own?... while still having the funky LEDs?
 
replace the whole dash? WTF are you smoking?
the center dash piece is SEPARATE from the dash itself.. who the hell would make a dash like that? All you have to do is remove the s*** and you can get a dash kit to install your beloved aftermarket radio, DUH... and the radio portion of the dashboard is SEPARATE from the fan controls too, DUH... do you see those little gap lines around that part of the dash? yes, those are separate plastic pieces... naw really?

and anyone who owns a mazda6 and bitches about how they can't change their radio is a fucktard... mazda at least SELLS the ******* dash kit to let you put in an aftermarket radio!


oh and if you think the dashboard is ugly, when was the last time you looked at a cavalier's dashboard?

oh I forgot... you smoke crack, nevermind
 
with all these integrated radios in the dashes it would jsut look ugly to take out the stock radio and replace it with an aftermarket. I think aftermarket manufacturers are giong to have to start making special headunits for cars now just because of this
 
That section(s) of the dash, and yes it not the entire dash, can be removed. However you willl need a blank or totaly non cut replacement peices (there are 2 parts to the radio afterall) and then you can put in a new radio.
However the radios readout is to the LCD display above which will go dead without the facotry radio.

Given the size and shape, not to mention the finish of the dash, I highly doubt any one will both making a kit for this car for atleast a good year to put in a new radio. Hell it took them a year to make a wireharness adapter for the new style protege plug.

The 3 will be easier to replace then the 6's radio although not by much.
 
you doubt? how come mazda started selling their dash kits the first day the mazda6 came out?

1st MP3 in NH said:
That section(s) of the dash, and yes it not the entire dash, can be removed. However you willl need a blank or totaly non cut replacement peices (there are 2 parts to the radio afterall) and then you can put in a new radio.
However the radios readout is to the LCD display above which will go dead without the facotry radio.

Given the size and shape, not to mention the finish of the dash, I highly doubt any one will both making a kit for this car for atleast a good year to put in a new radio. Hell it took them a year to make a wireharness adapter for the new style protege plug.

The 3 will be easier to replace then the 6's radio although not by much.
 
I really hope that Mazda comes out with a stereo kit for aftermarket stereos for the Mazda 3... and a body kit, and a turbo kit... hehehe :D :D :D

If I end up with the CDN GX trim, I get a tape player and 2 speakers.... even my 1985 car has more speakers than that!!

Question:
-Is it possible to add more speakers yourself?
-Will some trims not have places for 3rd and 4th and 6th speakers?
-And yeah, what to do with the LCD screen??
 
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