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Comments
Just saw a Mazda 3 Sport Hatch in Toronto in silver. I've got one on order, and it just looks fantastic. It's so beautiful looking, I almost don't want to drive it. I could just look at it all day!
g
Do you mind providing any details? I have been hearing for the hatch GT $0 to $600 off MSRP (usually with Air & moonroof) with some extra accessories (usually all weather mats & rust proofing) thrown in for good measure.
Look forward to hearing your response!
I loved the blue outside plus the blue accents on the seats inside. The [non-permissible content removed].gray has the same blue inside, but I was not too wild about it with that ext. colour. The silver has the red accents inside instead, which pick up on the dash lighting, nicer combo for inside IMO - except for a blue ext.
Anyway, I'm stoked. It's our 3rd car, we already have an Envoy & a GTI. It's mainly an alternative to the SUV which I absolutely hate to drive.
The test-drive was the clincher. This car is simply head and shoulders above everything else in its class. Fit & finish, fun to drive, materials - you name it. I have a 2002 VW GTI VR6 that is loaded, and the M3 may be a few ticks slower, but in every other regard it's just as sweet as the GTI - and for around $12k less in Canada, wow!
If anyone has any questions, just let me know...
I pretty much picking up the same car, but in Titanium or Silver (Not too sure yet)! Any details on the sale you want to share, it would really go a long way. Hopefully closing the deal this weekend! (Hopefully this weekend!)
Enjoy your new ride!
strange3: You probably know this already, but just in case... The Prius is neat, but probably not for you unless your don't mind just avg handling and modest acceleration. The 3 is way better in those respects and has a better interior, IMHO. Plus, if you're concerned about cost of ownership, remember that the higher price of the Prius will somewhat offset the savings from the gas.
$740 off MSRP
M3 Sport GT, A/C & Moonroof
Actually I leased mine...
$324 per month (48) - Total due upon delivery $812.89
Oh, and the complimentary XBox didn't hurt either.
And BTW, you did not get that info from me if anyone asks...
zoom, zoom...
PS I have a feeling that the best deals on this car will be had for the next few weeks. Once they start advertising and if it upsets the RX-8 and wins AJAC car of the year in February...Look out - Demand will spike and if supply doesn't keep up, the deals will go bye-bye.
I had one located at port in Vancouver on its way to Toronto.
No AUTO or leather, but it had A/C & Moonroof. That veh should be in the GTA by the 2nd week in January at the latest, if you're interested. In fact, I still have the VIN for that one if you want.
-juice
The Lava Orange color looks really good in person!
I'm not hugely keen on the radio cluster, and they cheaped out on the sunvisor, but other than that, this is the most excited and happy I've ever been about a new car!!
Does this mean that if you buy the base car with the 2.0, you might be able to bolt stuff on? Or does it mean a completely new 2.0 (crankshaft, pistons, etc.)
Wonder how much this car would sell for?
x_typer_pilot did you get your winter tires yet?
Let me know if you want to exchange contact info.
Can't wait to pick up my new ride this Saturday!
The sound quality sucks! & I don't know how easy it is to improve just by changing the speakers. Mazda said they might offer Bose for '05.
When I test drove the 3, I kept the treble to the max, mid-range to the min, & bass around the middle. As you said, it gets too boomy above that.
Hope someone like mazdafun can inform us about his stereo project?
"What is midrange, and what does a midrange control do for tuning music?"
When combined w/ the bass & treble controls, it's the same as having a 3-band equalizer. Nice!
The midrange control is great for boosting talk-radio stations, especially AM, as you can turn down the treble and boost the mid, which boosts the voices and removes most (but not all) of the hiss and static. It also helps to make most of the stock speakers.
And I love the big rotary controls on the audio system. That's one big flaw many aftermarket systems have: tiny, tiny controls so they can make room for some flashy display that only distracts the driver, and many eliminate rotary controls in favor of cheaper tact switches (usually a sub-penny metal dome under a button...and that's for the better ones).
What are you guys doing in Canada or Northern USA? Live in NY state and getting ready for a snowy season.
What does Mazda recommend??
thanks.
SLF
mazdafun: I agree with you again about the rediculous flashy displays on the aftermarket headunits. I want a stereo, not a video game.
I agree, they're kinda cool for a bit, but after some time it might get tired and gimmicky.
No worries, though...When that happens, you can disable them.
I haven't got winter tires yet...Toronto winters aren't usually that bad. However, the Goodyear RS-A's are CRAP in the snow. I figure with full tread-depth since they are still very new, I'll be able to muddle through this winter. Next fall, I'll get a set of 17" winters to put on the alloys. I think the GT gets larger rotors than the lesser models and 16" rims may not fit?
Anyway, I just like the look of alloys - I know the winter is hard on 'em, but I'll just have to buy a RX-8 in a few years when the alloys start to look a bit old.
Tires...I'm considering Blizzak LM-22's and Dunlop Winter Sport M2's - They are both available in the 205/50R17 size and HR speed rating. Hopefully, the Dunlop Sport M3's will be available in my size by next fall.
Re: contact info, my wife is kinda paranoid with internet meetings, etc. So I'll just say that I live in Richmond Hill for now, where are you?
If anyone else has experience with the 17" in snow or know what MAZDA recommneds, (NOT personal opinions of what looks "cool", please relate your knowledge base.
For those of you who want to read an objective article, reference Consumer Reports Jan 04 on tires.
abfisch
My opinion was not based only on "what looks cool", the RS-A's are not good in the snow, period. If you happen to be a great snow driver, you'll know how to compensate for that - if not, have fun.
My assumption was that the GT cars have larger front rotors, and possibly minus one (aka 16" rims) might not fit. I had the same problem with my Integra Type R. So I just used the stock alloys for winter & summer tires. Granted, the alloys look better than those steel rims - but I used them more out of necessity than preference.
BTW, I've only been driving for 20 years, so I would consider my opinion of the RS-a's inability to handle winter snow a valid one.
Also, going plus one or two would mean 18" or 19" rims from 17". I think you were referring to going minus one or two. Minus one might work (I'm just not sure - it's close), but going minus two (15") is out of the question due to space constraints inside the wheel (front rotors).
Thanks for your 2 cents though, keep me on my toes.
PS My opinion to use the stock alloys is based due to some factors. 1 Winters aren't historically that bad in Toronto. 2 Winter tires should be mounted for 6-7 months here and I'm not prepared to look at those ugly steel rims half the time. 3 I only keep my cars 3-4 years, so the wear & tear on the rim from changing tires twice a year & raod salt in the winter is not a concern for me.
You are correct with minus sizing when referring to snow tires, although the Consumer Reports article was about plus sizing. Nevertheless, the rotor diameter would make a difference.
Thanks for your expertise. "Feed the forums"
abfisch
It's not true! The GS comes with 16" wheel and have the same brake as the GT. The 16" will fit the Canada GT as well as US s-trim, and the 15" won't fit. That's totally confirmed!
btw, the 16" OEM tire is as large as the 17" tire: 205mm. Both 16 and 17" wheels have substantially the same diameter/circumference, only the side walls differ.
16" winter rim/tire will be less expensive than 17", many owner chose the 16" to save $$$.
If you want to have better snow traction, you could chose narrower tires, e.g., 195mm.
Ditto the BMW 330 -- Another reason to stay away from from it & get the comfier-riding smaller-brakes 325i.
But in the meantime, my car did arrive a over a week ago, and is it sweet!
To break it down, I went to a couple of dealerships, and the most I was able to get was $500 off, with an awful trade-in value on my other car (a Camry).
But as I am member of the APA (Automobile Protection Agency), I decided to use their "pre-set price" service, whereby you purchase the car at a non-negotiatable discount. Now in some cases, you can get a little more by yourself if that model is not selling well. But for a new car like this? APA got me FAR more. They ask us not to publicize how much, but let's say discounts from $800-$1000 on a purchase are not unusual for this TYPE of hot car. Without APA, I could only negotiate $500 discount (and I'm a decent negotiator). So no-brainer, I took the APA quote.
For something boring, like a Buick Lesabre, the APA can get you WAY more.
Anyhow, my car looks like this:
*Mazda 3 GT Hatchback (That's "Mazda 3 s" to our USA friends)
*Silver, Auto
*Sunroof, Leather, AC
*purchased (not leased); financing available at 2.9%, I believe, but only for 36 mos. term;
*made in Japan, shipped through Port of Vancouver, British Columbia, and transported by rail to Toronto.
*came with just 4 KM;
You can tell this car was co-designed by Volvo. I have driven them, and this FEELS like one in terms of its "solidness" and body rigidity.
Yet it's as agile as a cat. The steering has BMW precision, and the engine is beautiful.
One thing though, this is not a car geared for highway cruising at low RPMs. If you buy the 2.3L Hatchback, your RPMs will be at 2800 or so at 100km/hr (58mph)! This is much *higher* than the revs for the smaller 2.0L engine (which is about 2300 rpm at 100kph).
Why?
The reason is on the hatchback, the designers have deliberately spaced their gears so that the top gear (4th for auto, 5th for manual) is a "non-cruising" gear. In other words, the top gear deliberately revs high on the freeway, and so if you need more power at high speeds, your car doesn't have to downshift. The engine easily stays in top gear, and boom, you're rocketing.
Obviously, this is not great for fuel economy, but it actually consumes gas at about the same rate as a 1998-2002 Honda Accord.
The higher revs also aren't idea for engine life either (goes to 3200 RPM at 120kph). At any rate, I plan on using synthetic oil, once the break-in period is over, to ensure my baby last a long time.
Oh, and one more thing. The ads have mostly been showing the cars in "Winning Blue" and "Sunset/Lava Orange", because they photograph the best in these colors. But this car looks FANTASTIC in Silver and Titanium. I can't tell you how much better Silver looks in real life than the few photos (with silver) I have seen. This car is turning heads, left, right, & center. When I leave my car, and then come back, some dude is always leaning over the driver side, looking in, or checking out the back and front. This is a stunning automobile.
Verdict: Great car, Great car
Gearing: here is the table of cruising RPM for different versions of Mazda3: http://groups.msn.com/BrunoLuong/transmissionspec.msnw
When the break-in period is over (1000 km), make sure you don't flush out any special break-in oil (ask your dealer and please let us know). In any case, it's not recommened to switch to earlier to the synthetic oil.
Anyhow, I bought steel rims and nice-looking Mazda covers, and covered them with 205-55-16's Pirelli WS 210 winter tires. These are consistently rated as 3rd best in consumer surveys in terms of winter performance, and 1st-4th for dry performance (for a winter tire). In other words, an excellent compromise in areas where snow is intermittent and unpredictable.
On the other hand, they're not cheap either. Probably $165/tire at the 205-55-16 size. But they are worth it, if you're a parent like me, or if you simply just worry about the knucklehead "let's speed-then-suddenly-break" drivers who don't know how to drive in the ice or snow. Your stock Goodyears won't be so useful trying trying to avoid them when it's snowy-icy.
If you live where snow is frequent, go for the Dunlop Graspic SP-1's. Not so great on dry roads, but they're cheap, and have *excellent* snow and ice traction. I wouldn't buy these in Toronto though, unless it's going to be a very heavy winter. It's not worth the trade-off in performance handling, otherwise.
Just my 2 cents.
I hope for future Mazda 3's, though, that they add a 5 speed auto, or a 6 speed manual. I like cruising at low RPM.
2 Questions... Is the bra available yet? And are there any performance / aftermarket part available?
Thanks for your input,
Ken
MotorWeek recommended using a kind of clear-shield invisible bra instead to protect against stone chips & "tan lines".
Looking forward to meeting everyone!
KarenS
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Cheers All!
In the end, I liked both exterior colours equally, but preferred the red trim inside the Silver over the blue that came with the Titanium. IMHO, the red seat trim goes better with the predominantly red dash illumination.
Just my 2 cents
Hopefully this winter will be an easy one. We have a spare vehicle for inclement weather - 2002 Envoy SLT. I'm hoping that I'll be able to get my hands on a set of 17" Dunlop Winter Sport M3's for next winter. They're already available in 205/55-16. They are a great tire, offering good snow and wet capabilities - plus there great in the dry too. (For a snow tire that is)
Here's a link to them on Tire Rack's website
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Dunlop&tireM- odel=Winter+Sport+M3
The Dunlop Winter Sport M2's are already available in 205/50-17, but I'm hoping the M3's will have expanded sizing for next year.
In short, if I did not have the truck to fall back on, I'd already have bought a set of snows.
Edit: I mean I would choose silver, duh!
We've got a silver hatch too. Had it almost two weeks, nothing but praise for the car so far.
Hope you enjoy yours as much as we've enjoyed ours.
zoom-zoom
It’s too bad that I didn’t know about the APA before purchasing my car, but I was able to negotiate a pretty good deal under MSRP without a trade in (Good thing I didn’t tell them about the grade rebate I’m eligible for, it would have killed my negotiate power). They also threw in a couple of accessories and Rust/Undercoat protection for good measure.
The Car
* Mazda 3 GT Hatchback
* Titanium
* Auto, Moonroof, and A/C
* Purchased
* With 20 km on delivery
* Didn’t go with the leather because I wanted heated seats if I did
Still in the break in mode, but one thing I can add is that the suspension is great! Driving the car in downtown Toronto can really take a toll, but the suspension handles the bumps and uneven pavement easily. It also helps that the steering is quick and responsive to avoid that hidden pothole or that idiot that decides to J-walk last minute! I just need to be careful of those stinking potholes, can’t afford to bend those 17 inch rims!
As for the winter tires thanks for advice! I don’t plan to drive the car that much during this winter, but the winters tires are a must. Still haven’t decided which brand or size to go with. I guess x_typer_pilot you’re holding out till next year. If anyone hasn’t purchased their winters yet and is looking to do a group buy count me in maybe we can get a nice discount.
guskim and x_typer_pilot, I’m in Mississauga. I have only seen one other Mazda 3 in Mississauga and it was a Silver GFX. Where are you from carbonkers?
Well as for the car color I wanted a darker color (that wasn’t black or blue). Seeing the Titanium Hatchback after it’s been detailed in the show room before I picked it up I knew I made the right choice.
My verdict: It’s simply a great car. Thanks for all the input and hope to meet up with other Mazda 3 owners in the GTA!