test drove a mazda 3...finally.

[wishingfora ms3]

so i finally got the time and guts to go and test drive a mazda 3 hatch back. it was not a new model. it was a 2004, in silver with the automatic trasmission. i first asked to drive the new speed three but they sold out of it and said they probably wouldn't be getting another one for the rest of the year. so i said i would like to drive a regular 3 to see how it drove and what not. actually let me take that back. the guy pretty much threw the car at me and said please give me your licence so we can drive it. haha. i was like ok and gladly lent him my licence.
we got in the car and began our drive. the car first off was very comfortable. loved the 5 door idea. the guages were awesome and the driving position kept me seeing over the hood, and not feeling like i was swimming in the engine bay. the throttle was pretty easy going, not too overwhelming but enough punch to get me to speed. the brakes which i used alot in traffic were pretty good. not great but good. the steering was great. and the over all feel of the car felt solid. not like the mazda 6 which i test drove with my parents which was flimsey feeling. i really liked the car and am seriously considering buying this kind of car in the very near future.

 

[tsunami]

hold out for the ms3... at least i would

 

[gar777]

bottom line is you can't really beat a 3 for the price, even a non-MS 3. it is a great car and crushes the competition from Honda, Nissan, Toyota, etc.

with all of the fanfare around the MS3, the regular 3 may look like the ugly sister but it's like Ginger and Maryann--they're both hot

 

[tsunami]

true... i love my regular 3s for sure... but had i been in the market now (2+ years later) i would have been more inclined for the ms3 at the price its at it really is a killer deal!! only 5k more then a reasonably equiped 3s gets you into a base model ms3...

 

[wishingfora ms3]

i figured i dont need to be charging doen the road at illegal speeds anymore. i like the nice easy ride but it still has some punch to it, believe it or not. i really liked the car and its really affordable. i cant afford to be buying a rare car thats marked up bc or its rareity. the dealer was telling me that they are going for about 27k now bc there was only one other ms3 on that lot. these cars are really rare, and i wish i had one but i dont really need it. thanks for the advice though normally i would hold out but i dont think they will have the ms3 when i have the money for it. long time from now. haha. we'll see what mazda comes out with though in the next couple years.

 

[SwampAss]

My speed 3 drives exactly like the regular mazda3 95% of the time. It's the 5% when I am laying into it that makes the difference. Might matter to some, might not to others. It's all in what you want out of a car. I like the non-speed3 all the same. It's really a nice car for the money.

 

[gar777]

true... i love my regular 3s for sure... but had i been in the market now (2+ years later) i would have been more inclined for the ms3 at the price its at it really is a killer deal!! only 5k more then a reasonably equiped 3s gets you into a base model ms3...

Actually, based on MSRPs from Edmunds.com, the MS3 Sport is only around $2,500 more than a 3s Grand Touring Wagon (which is the non-MS 3 most comparable to the MS3). I test drove them both today and I would say that is $2,500 well spent. You get better seats, suspension and the engine is a dream. Only downsides are worse fuel economy, higher insurance and the extra speeding tickets. MS3 is guaranteed to have higher resale value so it's not like you're really losing that extra $2,500, just paying more and getting more. New vs. New, it's a no-brainer, get the Speed.

But since you are looking at an 2004, your pricing may be good enough to pass on the MS3 for now and get the used 3 to hold you over.

Also, you can definitely get MS3s for MSRP or even below and my guess is that they will be making them in 2008 and beyond.

 

[dread]

I pay less insurance on my speed 3 than my 04 3

 

[gar777]

I pay less insurance on my speed 3 than my 04 3

That's surprising. Three reasons I can think of:
(1) newer model
(2) MS3 has more safety features (side and side curtain airbags, ABS, DSC, EBD, etc.) than your 3
(3) the car is new and they haven't figured it out yet

does #2 apply?

 

[BKK Jack]

That's surprising. Three reasons I can think of:
(1) newer model
(2) MS3 has more safety features (side and side curtain airbags, ABS, DSC, EBD, etc.) than your 3
(3) the car is new and they haven't figured it out yet

does #2 apply?

Potential reason #4: You are two years older, and might have hit some magic age, reducing your premiums (that's just a shot in the dark).

The 3s may not be the wild child, but it is no Poindexter, either. I have been driving mine a week now, and am still impressed by how adequate the scoot is.

 

[wishingfora ms3]

Actually, based on MSRPs from Edmunds.com, the MS3 Sport is only around $2,500 more than a 3s Grand Touring Wagon (which is the non-MS 3 most comparable to the MS3). I test drove them both today and I would say that is $2,500 well spent. You get better seats, suspension and the engine is a dream. Only downsides are worse fuel economy, higher insurance and the extra speeding tickets. MS3 is guaranteed to have higher resale value so it's not like you're really losing that extra $2,500, just paying more and getting more. New vs. New, it's a no-brainer, get the Speed.

But since you are looking at an 2004, your pricing may be good enough to pass on the MS3 for now and get the used 3 to hold you over.

Also, you can definitely get MS3s for MSRP or even below and my guess is that they will be making them in 2008 and beyond.

yeah im not going to get the car now i have alot of saving up to do and speeding tickets to pay off before i can consider buying another car. im not a bad driver its just that the cops suck down here. believe me though i would have traded mt 3000gt for that 3 in a heart beat. i really loved the way it drove. what would be the best way to go about buying a new or newer car from a dealer? is buying out right better or should i take out a loan from the bank?

 

[mazdadude]

...i have alot of saving up to do and speeding tickets to pay off before i can consider buying another car. im not a bad driver its just that the cops suck down here...

Those darn cop suckers! (poke)

There is something to be said for driving a car that blends in and looks "harmless" like the MS3 can.

Keep Zooming!

 

[gar777]

is buying out right better or should i take out a loan from the bank?

if you have the $, you can't beat buying outright. cars are depreciating assets and you don't want to get stuck making payments forever or owing more than the car is worth.

 

[wishingfora ms3]

true, im going to try the lottery and hope for the best. haha. oh and i wish i was zooming but for now im still stuck in the mitsubishi. made by dsm and is breaking like one too. ill never buy one again unless the warrany out lasts the vehicles existance. thanks for the help though guys i really appreciate the reponse.