I actually did tested one of the car there and do have the same sound. But my friend have one mazda 2005 5-door and don't have the sound.

What is a heatshield?

 

a heat shielf protects the car from the converter and exhaust pipes etc.

 

Id be willing to bet this is your starter not dissengaging fast enough. This happens when you turn the key to the starting position for too long or the spring on your started doesnt have enough resiliance to pull the gear back out. The engine starts up and grinds on it before it has a chance to get out. I almost gaurantee if the noise doesn't happen EVERY start.

 

i test drove my 06 3i last may and made the mistake not driving it on the freeway before taking it home. Guess what...my 3 now makes a weird sound every time going over 80 mph, its more like a high pitched squeeking noise coming from the center console area. The dealer told me not to drive over 80mph...wtf. i will not buy another mazda vehicle again.

 

regarding the above mentioned noise coming from the center console....i might have solved the problem myself last night, i unhooked two of those plastic trim pieces(driver side & passenger side)off underneath the center sonsole. Wahla....the noise is gone for now. i enjoy driving my Mazda 3 again. Hopefully the whistle is gone for good. Mazda customer support sucks.

No good...i took it over 85mph tonight....disappointed to hear the whistle again.

 

In your area unfortunately yes, it does but my dealership and service gives me no trouble. then again my car was made before Ford stuck their heads into Mazda's business.

 

FYI, I just brought home my new Mz3 today, and it does have a "tinny" sound when I start it. However, so did the 2005 Mz3 loaner I used while my 2006 was getting its finishing touches. My husband recognized it right away, and I noticed it in my new car today. So, Im beginning to think that it really is Mazda, and not the individual car. Im going to do somemore research on it though.

 

In regards to the original noise being talked about, the metal scratching noise that you only here when you start the car, I also have that noise, and I am planning on going back to the dealership in the next week, if they tell me something different then I will let you guys know...but I am guessing after reading all these posts, that it might be somewhat normal, and is probably the heatsheild or some other loose metal just around the starter or engine....ill let you know tho

 

Ok So I have an '05 Mazda 6 and No that sound is not normal. I have it too and I know exactly what you're talking about. I've been told by numerous people its the starter taking too long to disengage. Don't let a dealer tell you its normal. Trust me its not. I want to have my starter replaced as soon as I get the money but its not the price of the actual starter its the install which could range anywhere from 50 to 600 depending on where its located.

--Cameron