Hello,


I've just joined this discussion grp. so that I can perhaps get some
advice and info. about the Mazda 3 which is one of the cars I'm looking
at buying.


I've just returned from my local Mazda dealership where I test-drove a
Mazda 3 S-series. I'm actually more in the market 4 an I-series with
the pwr. pkg.


I had told the salesman that I wouldn't be buying until at least 3 wks.
from now, maybe a month--reason has to do with financing. Anyway, the
car I looked at yesterday was the only I-series they had left, the MSRP
was 17K-something but they were having an "emp. discount" sale which
ended today. Well, they sold "my car" an hr. before I went back to
test-drive today and they only had 1 S-series left on the lot. They had
2 or 3 of the 5-doors left (which I'd prefer to have but can't afford)
but based on how quickly they're selling, I'm sure they'll be gone by
the time I'm ready to by. However, this particular dealership is in
league with other dealerships and can trade inventory so I might still
be able to find exactly what I'm looking for. The saleman then told me
that it wouldn't matter if I bought an '05 or an '06 because the
pricing points were basically going to be the same--he also added that
there is a very small profit margin for selling Mazdas. So if this is
the car I decide on, I think I will go ahead and wait for the '06's.


My question to the group is simple: are you with your Mazda 3's and
would you buy them again if you could do it all over again? Please also
let me know what specifically you like about the cars and how you think
they compare to other compacts (or do they?) on the market. Other cars
I'm considering are the: Kia Rio Cinco, Chevy Cobalt, Chevy Aveo,
Suzuki Reno, Scion xb, Hyundai Accent, Ford Aspire, Ford Festiva,
Suzuki Aerio, Ford Focus, Hundai Elantra, Toyota Matrix and if by some
divine miracle I get ahold of a used one, a Mini Cooper--my dream car.


I've just about decided against the Suzuki's (aren't they actually
Daewoo made & since Daewoo has pulled out of the U.S. parts aren't
avail.?) and the Hyundais just because I'm not a fan of the designs.


Sorry this email is longish--any tips, hints, info would be greatly
appreciated!


Viv

 

Well hope I answer your question... but YES i love my 2004 nordic green Mazda 3 type i!
Its a great buy for sure! I know it holds up alot better to the Toyota Corolla's and Matrix's, Honda Civic's, Ford anything's, chevy's etc.! I used to have an Acura Integra and I thought that was the greatest car ever, lasted forever and was worth the money. Well this car is DEFINITLY WORTH THE MONEY! I love the outside features of the car, especially the projected headlights (which alot of those competitor's DONT have) the side markers, body lines and the paint too! Inside is great also! Very smooth ride steers great , minimizes alot, if not ALL of the roadnoise in that car ! I love everything about the inside and outside of the car so far... would DEFINITLY buy it again any day! I think the type i is just as good as the S.. if not better, atleast for the money anyways... I see this car making me very happy and lasting forever! I would reccommend this car to anyone. I have gotten alot of compliments on it as well . I think its "one of a kind" in it's class ... you just dont get some of the features on the the competitor's like the Mazda 3 has..for the price! (projected headlights, side markers, all the options, rims etc) love it love it LOVE IT! hope that answered your question! If I were you, I would not hesitate at all about it! You won't be dissapointed!

 

oh! This car has more horsepower than the Honda and Toyota's and the Mazda 3 is not cheap looking like all the mass produced #1 selling cars in America (Honda Toyota Kia Ford Chevy etc) it doesn't even operate cheaply! Very upscale for the class it is in and the way it is profiled. Needs more appreciation!

 

Thank you for your input--I think everything you've said has definitely appealed to me, although I did notice road noise (but I'm comparing it to my last car: a '90 Cadillac de Ville which has next NO road noise)...I also noticed that the a/c isn't very powerful and I've heard it cycles excessively. For the full 15 mins. I was in the car the air never did blow out really cold air and didn't blow out anything but warm air until I pushed the button to take it off of internal recycling which I thought was really weird. A powerful a/c is important to me b/c I live in Texas and the summers are just excruciatingly hot. The topic of the weak a/c's has been talked about in other forums I've been to so I know it wasn't just an issue with the particular car I testdrove.

But considering the standard features that come with the car, the horsepower, the design and top quality exterior and interior parts, I do think it's in a class all by itself. I hope the '06's fix the problem with the a/c.

Thanks again

 

Oh hey i am in Texas too! Dallas actually. and yes the a/c is kinda a factor, but not as bad as you think it would be! I have noticed the cycling action on the a/c etc but mine does it real quick and cold air comes out the rest of the time. Plus i just got tint on my car and that helps ALOT! but the a/c is strong.. the full-blast setting helps if u want very cold air. but honestly the car is exceptional for what it is... a/c isnt bad enough to ruin its reputation!

 

viv, I am in the same boat you are; I'm even in Fort Worth. The employee pricing promotion is in effect at "that dealer on Bryant Irvin" until Sept. 6 at least, although you have to ask for it. I went through Edmunds.com where you can request a quote for a dealer and Joan contacted me from that dealer the same day and got me in for a test drive, and she told me that, at least through the internet, you can still get the employee price promotion through the beginning of Sept. Also on Edmunds.com, you can find the Invoice Price. The employee price (according to the dealer) is Invoice + Advertising Fee (which runds about $300). So don't let them pressure you into making a quick decision.

The big difference between our situations is that I *need* a 5 door, so I can't get the i model. The 5 door starts with s. I've driven most of the same cars you have. If you liked the Rio Cinco at all, you should know they are coming out with a redesigned version THIS month; you can get a peek at kia.com. Ford Aspire and Festiva have been out of production for a long time (I know; I drive an Aspire right now). Also, a slight correction on the Suzukis: The Aerio is a true Suzuki, built by Suzuki in Japan. The Reno is built by GM-Daewoo in South Korea (as is the Chevy Aveo, by the way). I think much of the bad press about Daewoo is related to their bankruptcy and buyout by GM. I think their cars may be fine, but it is too early to know for sure how things will work out under GM.

Prior to driving the Mazda3, I thought the Suzuki Reno had the best ride of all the cars I've driven. It feels glued to the road alright, but doesn't transmit the harshness of the road into the cabin. It did have some body roll in tight corners, though. If Suzuki can get the fuel economy and/or power up just a bit, they could have a big winner on their hands; otherwise the nameplate will fade into obscurity. The Elantra's handling was similar to the Reno, but didn't feel quite as glued to the road. The Scion and the Kia Spectra5 had good road feel but also were harsher than I like. I may settle for a Focus, but it really does nothing for me, especially in the interior styling.

I haven't been quite satisfied with anything and had stayed away from Mazda because of the price, figuring there's no way it could be worth that much more. After driving the Mazda3 5 door, IT'S WORTH IT. It had the very best handling, yet none of the harshness of road imperfections came into the cabin. I have no earlthly idea how they do that. Compared to other cars I've tested I felt the road noise was minimal, and to compensate for what little there is, they have the auto volume control on the stereo that turns it up slightly when your speed increases. No other car I've tested even offers that. I didn't notice the a/c as being lacking at all; it was invisible as far as I was concerned (which is a good thing).

Now I just need to decide if my budget will bear the 15-20% higher car payment for the Mazda3. I may have to wait several more months if that's the car I decide to go with.

*sigh*

Paul H.

 

I am buying a titanium grey Mazda 3 5-door tomorrow and I have been looking for a new car for almost two months and was researching them months before that. The Mazda 3 is the best value-oriented sporty compact car right now. I was planning on getting the Mazda 3i but then I drove a 5-door and I love how it looks. After price haggling with 5 Mazda dealers in my area I got the lowest price for $18,320 out the door for a 2005 Mazda 3 hatcback with the ABS/Safety package and the 5 speed transmission. For a Mazda 3i with A/C and the sport package the same dealer quoted me $14,206 out the door. Both of the prices are lower than the E-Plan prices they give.

Here's my impression of some other cars I drove...


Toyota Corolla - Looks boring, but they're supposed to be reliable, and it was slow

Hyundai Elantra - This was a great car, it felt faster than the Mazda 3, and it was cheap (about $16,000 out the door), not to mention it has a 10-year 100k mile warranty. If I wasn't 21 years old and I was looking for a car with less styling then I would probably get the Elantra.

Hyundai Accent - Looks like an old mans car, drives like an old mans car, everything felt cheap

Scion Xa - Looks cool, but the speedometer in the middle of the dash looks bad, the interior was just a turn-off for me

Honda Civic - It didn't handle as well as the Mazda, didn't feel as fast, and it didn't look as good. Not to mention there are so many Civics that you just can't stand out in one these days.

 

Anyone buying a new car i got this coupon...

https://www.mazdaforum.com/m_3805/mp...y_/tm.htm#3805

my email is shiftliquid@hotmail.com

 

That's what I ended up going with. I wasn't crazy about the styling at first, but it grows on you. It's got very classic lines. The hatch (which I bought) is especially reminiscent of the old SAAB 5-door hatchbacks. I paid just under $14k out the door.

A new Elantra is coming out in 07, which means the 06s will soon be seeing deep discounts.

 

I looked at the Elanta also. It was atleast 2K cheaper for the 5 door GT that also included leather and a moon roof. I just didnt like the style as much. Handling was not near as tight, Mazda had better brakes and ride and the shifter on the Elentra was bulky and not as smooth. I didn't know the 06 was going to be the last year for the Elentra body style so i am glad I got the 3. Color blends in with the masses and the shape looks like a dozen other cars. I am thinking of taking the badges off for more stealth. Got 32 MPG on the first tank and drove it very hard for the first 1/2 tank. Wife drove the rest in town and on the highways around Seattle. Not 70 with the cruise on. I was hoping for 28 and would have not been surpised with 25 with the new motor and hard driving. Car is a bit of a sleeper with the stick and handles much better then I expected. Been a while since a had a front wheel drive car but it comes back fast. Toyos have good grip and don't protest to much.
Not bad in the rain. Car is an over achiever.