I'm a long time Mazda owner (four since 1987 - 3 of them still in my garage) but new to the forum.

On June 14 I took delivery of a Mazda 3, 5-door MT and aftertwo months I have mixed feelings about the car. There is much to like, including Mazda's usual excellent attention to ergonomics, good chassis dynamics, great clutch and shifter, and good seats, but several drivetrain issues threaten to ruin the experience. First and most serious, the 2.3L engine desparately needs another 30+ horsepower. Once past 2nd gear or with AC on and a passenger or two on board, acceleration is imperceptable. That's a slight exageration but not by much. Merging onto an interstate or passing on a two lane road are blood pressure raising experiences. There is no excuse for underpowering a car these days and I shouldn't have to put up the quirks of the turbo in day-to-day use to have adequate performance. (I've owned Mazda turbos in the past and loved them but they had their issues.) To make matters worse, gas mileage with the 2.3 is dismal. It can't match the mpg of my Mx6 V6 which has two additional cylinders and several performance modifications - not good.

Add to this an annoying clutch vibration at the engagement point and a weak air conditioner and I'm beginning to wonder if I made a mistake. There is definately too much Ford in this Mazda but I'm not giving up.....yet. I think there is at least 30 more HP in the 2.3 that I can coax out without going into the internals so I'll see if that (and an HD clutch) solves the problems. Otherwise the car is a delight to drive and is a surprisingly good cruiser once it's up to speed.

Sorry my first post is a bit negative but I've always thought it best to tell it like it is. Besides, someone out there might have solved the same problems and can offer advice.

Thanks for listening.

 

Every car has its problems, but it's good that you're aware of them (and how to deal with said problems, it seems). Welcome to the forum.

Side note: you think your 2.3L needs more power? My Chevy 3.5 really needs about 40 more.

 

Yes, welcome tkb!!
Believe me, you are not the first to think the 2.3 should have 20-30 more ponies though. I would love it myself, but are you consideringthe engine'svery flat torque curve which can make it seem more docile than it really is?
Weak A/C is also a common complaint. I had read that before I bought mine in '04, so no real surprises for me.
As for mileage, I average 25-26 w/A/C- 27-28 w/o A/C in daily driving, but for best mileage aCivic might've been the better choice. [:'(] It's a trade-off. What 'ur ya' gonna do?

 

Thanks - I'll post the results of any "tweaking" I do. To be honest, the 3 grows on you and I find myself driving it most of the time and leaving the Mx6 parked. If this keeps up I might even sell the '6'.

 

You're right, the flat torque curve is deceptive. I'm used to a peaky V6 in the Mx6 (no VVT) so the '3' has taken some getting used to. Overall the car is a gem and with a few tweaks and some good window tinting (to help the AC), it will be great.
As for the mileage - I'll gladly give up a mile or two per gallon for some added performance, that's why I never considered the Civic. With a few thousand more miles onthe engine,themileage should improve a bit although I'll probably lose any gains realized when the performance mods aredone. But then again, maybe not. Either way, if I can stay around 20mpg in town I'll be happy. I'll post the results.

 

As long as you don't have the auto-stick/sport shift, whatever they call it, you should be OK. Some have gotten fair mileage w/those while others complain of <20 in town. My mileage did improve "slightly" after a few thousand miles, +/-1mpg.

 

My feeling is that manual will always be better than matic... I like to feel the torque and acceleration on a manual car. Yes, getting used to the way the mazda 3 handles and drives has been a great experience that I enjoy.

 

I agree, the manual is the only way to go. In fact, I refuse to make payments on an automatic. 4 cylinder engines (and most smaller V6s)in particular need a manual trans to get the most from them. Besides, way more fun. I'm close to 60 and I still won't drive an automatic (except for my wife's Tribute).

 

GOOD FOR YOU, TKB!!! Me too, and it"s good to know that I"m not the only old fart on here anymore.
Check out the 2.5L 4-cyl MTX. You might do better in all aspect with it than w/a V6 ATX.

 

Glad to know there are at least two of us "mature" guys out there. With so many young guys posting I was beginning to think I was talking to my son's friends. No disrespect to the younger fellows intended, it's just that experience does have its advantages and it's good to talk to someone who remembers big blocks, Hurst shifters, and, heaven help us, drum brakes. Yikes! 400hp and no way to stop - I wonder how we survived sometimes. Anyway, my kid (21yrs old) drives an 88 Cadillac and thinks the old GM hulks are the coolest. Actually I wouldn't mind having an old Gran Sport or 442 for fun, but a Cadillac??? Oh well, my father probably thought I was nuts too.