Whats more fun, the Mazda3 with the stick, or the auto?

[acelesson]

Also, does the auto have that feature like the VW's have that can turn it into a stick? Is it called Tiptronic? or Shifttronic??

 

[ZoomZoomH]

the 3 has one of the best 5 speed manual in its class, so yes it is more fun to get the 3 in manual transmission

the automatic 3 does have the 'manual shift mode' that is popular in many cars today, but in the end it is still just an automatic

 

[acelesson]

Does it have performance differences? Kinda like the RX8 has more HP in the manual than in the automatic?

 

[ZoomZoomH]

the engine's the same, but in general the automatic lose more power through drivetrain loss than manuals (by almost 10% IIRC)

 

[ChopstickHero]

after driving an auto for many years, a manual is alot more fun.

 

[fam]

the 5 speed has slightly more zoom zoom at take off and low rpm. You will never be miserable with the auto, but if youre really asking his question, get the 5 speed. Have you SEEN gas prices lately? The 3S auto only can get 29 mpg because of horrible gearing while the 5 speed has better gears!

 

[warrier04]

to me, manuals were always more fun.

 

[stuckclboy]

manual is more fun

 

[FemGearHead]

It all boils down to personal preference, but for me there never was any questions - stick.

 

[mobomelter]

automatics are for people who can't drive clutch. and if you can't drive clutch you need to learn.

 

[MidnightSpeeder]

As a driver of an auto - I yearn for the day when I do a tranny swap on the car. Get a manual - have fun.

 

[rodslinger]

automatics are for people who can't drive clutch. and if you can't drive clutch you need to learn.

Not necessarily. Autos can be for people that always have a woman in the car with them and want to keep that hand free for other activities. (boobs)

 

[fam]

I had to get an auto for the sole purpose of letting my wife drive the car when she needed it. Little did I know she would end up getting a 05 3i rendering my logic useless and yearning for another 5 speed like my mustangs and focus zx3s) and now i have to get a mazda5 that she will also need to drive from time to time=automatic. Sometime its life that we have to have automatics :-(

 

[Brad]

i'm just going to teach my girlfriend how to drive a stick...

 

[hworth18]

5 speed is sooooo much more fun to drive... (burnout)

 

[16902]

Go 5 speed. I'm teaching the wife to drive it. Chicks who drive sticks are sexy!!!! (2thumbs)

 

[DallasMz3]

Go Stick

Nothing is more engaging and entertaining than a Mazda3 with a stick. I drove the Volvo S40 T5 w/auto and then immediately drove the Mz3 with a 5 speed. I immediately bought the Mazda3. The Volvo is refined and a nice car, but the Mazda puts FUN in my daily commute.

 

[peepsalot]

Stick you fool!

 

[J dragon]

A stick is Murder in traffic...don't forget to warn him of that, and if you get a manual you better know how to drive it...Burn your clutch and you'll be spending money to get it fixed....Manuals are a hassle, but fun.

 

[peepsalot]

A stick is Murder in traffic...don't forget to warn him of that, and if you get a manual you better know how to drive it...Burn your clutch and you'll be spending money to get it fixed....Manuals are a hassle, but fun.

It never really bothers me.
Then again my driving style is basically that I try to never stop completely if I can help it. It's more efficient to cruise at a very low speed, then to stop and go constantly. Even stop lights, i'll just slow down before the light and slowly approach it until it's green again.