The Elusive 2015 Manual Transmission - Mazda 3

hisgirlhisgirl Member Posts: 2
edited October 2014 in Mazda
After massive research, I have decided the 2015 Mazda 3 HB GT S is the car for us. I have driven the AT but we prefer a manual, as it's typically much more fun! However...I might as well be looking for a solid gold car...it just doesn't exist hardly at all. Not near my home. Not in the colors we want. I found a few, hundreds and hundreds of miles away in white or red. Truth be told, the car I want is in Virginia but it's about 500 miles from me. I sure don't want to drive up to an out of town dealer in a taxi. :wink:

Is there a time of year more mazdas arrive on the ship? Is the fact I want a blue manual, which is apparently as rare as hen's teeth, going to hurt my ability to negotiate OR will the dealer be thinking 'Yay! Finally somebody to take this manual off our hands!"

Thoughts? Thank you!

Comments

  • eoghan1eoghan1 Member Posts: 58
    Your choice mimics mine. According to Mazdausa.com a dealer near me has one but he doesn't show it in his local web site inventory. I am considering a 2014 red auto as there are several available and being discounted. I am wondering if dealers are hiding them to Bargain harder. Sedans with the 2.5 and a stick are around. They are lighter, therefore a little quicker. Driving one helped me persuade my wife to spring for a new one when our 2013 only has 12k on the odo. I have a little concern the red is too noticeable to the PD. Also so many people have red ones.


  • hisgirlhisgirl Member Posts: 2
    Yep, I realize I could change my color choice and find one a bit easier. But...honestly, if I'm willing to pay 25K for a car, I want what I want. :-) I'm willing to wait. I thought the same thing about the red car. I think there is some data showing cops spy the red cars a bit easier. But...you drive the speed limit all the time so that wouldn't be an issue, right? :-)
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 257,450
    hisgirl said:

    Yep, I realize I could change my color choice and find one a bit easier. But...honestly, if I'm willing to pay 25K for a car, I want what I want. :-) I'm willing to wait. I thought the same thing about the red car. I think there is some data showing cops spy the red cars a bit easier. But...you drive the speed limit all the time so that wouldn't be an issue, right? :-)


    I bought a red car in 2010.. didn't really pick the color. It was a used model that I had been searching for and it just happened to be red. I haven't been pulled over yet.. ;-)

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  • only1harryonly1harry Member Posts: 1,140
    I am having the same issue finding a black/black 3 S GT sedan manual. 1 of out of 3 dealers in my area (within 50mi.) has a red S sedan manual which I test drove. They all say it will be about 2 months until a black comes in and they are probably all looking at the same (one) car on their computer screen. The other option would be for my dealer to do a swap with another dealer 100+ miles away. They would drive my car over, but I do NOT want all those miles on my NEW car. I don't know how heavy the driver's foot might be and redline my new engine. I want to be the one breaking in it, not them, not in their way.

    The only other manual I found was an red S GT Hatchback. I like both body styles, but decided to go with the sedan for $1K less.. just because it's cheaper. These 2.5L S cars are expensive to begin with IMO anyway, so going with the Manual and Sedan saves me $2K. But the sticker is still $26K for a sedan S GT manual (not that I would pay sticker for it). I don't know why the HB is another grand $. That's just too much for and additional half a door (Hatch door minus the trunk lid of a sedan) :disappointed: Mazda knew the HB would be popular and priced it much higher. According to Mazda they sold as many HB's as they did sedans for 2014, and the same for 2015 models so far.

    Anyway, because of the availability issue (and the cracking noise and other problems I am reading about), I am considering the Honda Civic Si Sedan 6-sp. manual for about $3K-4K less (basic Si model, no Navi). They can be had for $22K and change. The only thing the Si doesn't have (I think) that I want is heated seats, but the Si has awesome seats. I don't care much about the zenon lights and other stuff. I think I might even look at a "base" Golf GTI manual. I care about handling, braking, acceleration and driving dynamics more than the high-tech options.
    '99 Integra GSR
    '06 Civic LX coupe
    '11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
    '13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
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