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Comments
T-Gray is very nice. I have always loved Silver.
I live in TO. You will likely see around, as I travel into Mississauga all the time.
I bought snows today, 16inch Pirelli 210 sport. With our weather lately, not sure if I really need em for the rest of the season.
I love hatchbacks and felt this M3 was the right choice. Almost bought the P5, which is a very good car.
Good luck with your new ride!
If you go the Winter-Tire route, go with 16" rims. I've already hit 5 big potholes on the highway, and thanked my lucky stars that I didn't have the expensive 17" rims on.
Congratulations, once again!
I also had a few sleepless nights debating between titanium & silver. Both are great colours. In fact, I think this car looks great in any colour.
Anyways, enjoy!
Oh BTW, I live in Richmond Hill - don't get out to Mississauga all that often, but I'll keep an eye out for a titanium hatch.
zoom-zoom
a) In the snow - How's the traction for accel & braking?
b) When the roads are clear and dry - Do they feel mushy? How's the tire/road noise?
Thank in advance.
zoom-zoom
I just got mine too, last night! A silver hb in 5sp, with everything but nav. I just love it!
Nice way to bring in the new year!
Enjoy...
zoom-zoom
I've found the best way to make use of the hatchback's space, is to take off the trunk cover. It frees up a lot of upright space, but it also makes everything in the trunk visible for thieves to see (and think "that would look good in my living room/closet/kitchen, etc.")
So I'm thinking about tinting my car windows. I'd have to shell out $250 CDN, but it would hopefully make it hard to see in there.
Here's the problem.
By law in Ontario, Canada, we are allowed to tint the hatch and 2 rear passengers windows to a VERY dark shade, but the side windows upfront have to be lighter in shade. The front windshield can't be tinted at all. The idea is to allow pedestrians and other motorists to see the driver's face.
So the question is, would you:
1) tint ALL your windows to a "lighter" shade (looks uniform but provides less privacy) OR
2) instead make the back windows very dark (and have a lighter tint up front) - but this might not look as good/uniform.
The other issue is whether a very dark tint makes it hard for the driver to see out his own back windows at night.
Ted
I would assume Canadian Mazda3 have DRL (Daytime Running Lights). In USA, they do not. Are they running DRL's off the high beams (9005's ) or off the low beams???? Do you people have the HID option??? If so, are they running the DRL's off of that or the high beam halogens???
Thanks.
abfisch
Judging from the few photos I've seen, the cargo area on the V50 looks longer than and taller than that in the 3 hatch. Good room for hauling stuff, no apparent change for rear passenger room.
I like the way the V50 looks (solid, yet trim). Plus, the latch for the hatch is elevated, above the license plate recess, as it should be, not way down at bumper-level, like it is on the Mazda3 hatch.
Thanks, again.
Not counting the M3 Sports on the Mazda dealership lots, I have yet to see any in my travels in the GTA - besides mine that is.
I've seen 4 or 5 sedans, mostly GS models.
What gives? Wierd...whatever
zoom-zoom
test drove the 5-door, loved almost everything, except not enough engine note in the cabin, instead way too much tire rumble and roar. And Honda's stick shift is better - shorter, more positive throws, less play.
The LEDs on the dash I would definitely get tired of, but I saw someone post that you can turn them off or something?
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
They would rather call it a "wagon", "lift-back", or "5-door". What is the reason?
I presume it had to do with some sort of bad-quality vehicles in the 70's that were 3-door hatchbacks.
But in my experience, we in Canada (and I think generally in Europe) aren't scared of that term.
(Deep breath, and controversial question unleashed)
Why do *some* companies think Americans will be FOOLED by euphemisms for "hatchback"? A hatchback is a hatchback is a hatchback. Surely, the companies don't think U.S. consumers aren't smart enough to figure that out.
In fact, I suspect most Americans aren't bothered by the term at all. Or am I mistaken? Why not just "hatchback"?
I just talked to my friend who for some reason is thinking about getting rid of his 99 Maxima SE, and is looking for of all things an SUV!! He wants to lower his monthly payments, but I told him there is not any used SUV he probably would be happy with that is less than 15K. He doesn't carry more than one passenger all that often, so I told him he should be looking for a smaller car, with a 4 cyl to save on gas. But his WANTS are clouding his mind for what he NEEDS.
I certainly don't mind the term hatchback, as I appreciate the utility of the hatchback setup. I personally like the styling of the Mazda3 sedan slightly more than the hatch, but I wouldn't rule it out as a buyer, just because it is called a hatchback. I think people have an bigger aversion to the term "wagon", than hatchback. Just look at all the companies naming their "wagon-type" vehicles anything but the name wagon, like the Pacifica, FX35/45, and especially the Lancer Sportback ( which is the perfect example of a wagon), etc.
I would rather have a vehicles called a "hatchback" than a "wagon" though. I'm glad they didn't call the 5 door, a wagon
However, people soon found that after putting a few miles on these cars that many of the hatchbacks were plagued with so many rattles & squeeks from the hatch, not to mention the extra "road noise" that it would drive them nuts. Then there were also the problems many people had with the struts on their hatches that would give out and cost a small fortune to replace. I remember riding in the back of these cars as a kid, and I can tell you the "symphony" of noise going on back there quickly became annoying.
Within a few years the hatchbacks had gained a less than stellar reputation based on those problems and most people drifted back to their comfortable & familar sedans. So most of the mfr's quit making them, fearing nobody would buy them anymore.
I can't believe it's been close to 25 years and they're just now beginning to test the waters with hatches in the USA again. Bring 'em on! I'm ready now. However, I have to admit, I think a lot of older people who experienced hatches back then still have an aversion to the hatchback. It's certainly not going to fool anybody by calling it a 5-door or sport wagon, but I suppose they figure it sounds more palatable for now. I think Americans are ready for them though, especially the younger generations who never knew any of those 70's hatches and their problems.
Now the "station wagon".....that's a whole different story!
"I think people have an bigger aversion to the term "wagon", than hatchback."
That may be true. I have heard the term "Sport Wagon" though. On the other hand, I've the terms "Cross-Over-Vehicle" and "Sport-Activity Vehicle" way too many times.
autohound1 said:
"However, I have to admit, I think a lot of older people who experienced hatches back then still have an aversion to the hatchback"
I think it may indeed be the older generation that's got the hangup. Boy, if they spent any recent time in Europe though, they'd see how cool and sophisticated some of these "hatchbacks" are.
European folks have a wider variety of cool small cars, in part due to the smaller roads and crazy petrol/gas prices. Yet they want utility. That's where the "hatchbacks" come in, and they fill the role very well.
Unfortunately, in Canada, we usually just end up getting what is sold in the U.S. (with an exception here and there like the Toyota Echo Hatchback - which is essentially Europe's very popular Toyota Yaris).
It's too bad some of the older generation can't get over the connotation of "hatchback" being "bad".
Logically, it makes no sense.
A high quality BMW being built at the factory doesn't suddenly become horse manure when a lift-back door is added.
On the other hand, hopefully U.S. companies don't repeat the sins of the 70's and reserve 5-doors for their worst models.
X-typer,
A definite trend I HAVE noticed (in the past 8 years) is that most auto manufacterers (foreign or domestic) weren't selling many small-to-mid size wagons in the U.S. WHy? ...because they WANT people to buy the more profitable expensive SUV.
Want utility? Had to buy an SUV. Very hard to find a 5-door hatch. Until recently, there was the Ford Taurus, the Subarus, what else? Not much else. Obviously many Americans want the utility. Now combine that with the sexy appeal of ruggedness & enhanced crash protection, and SUVs have become the modern station wagon, albeit, stations wagons so big and bloated, most people don't need them. I hate seeing them used as summer commuter vehicles.
Thank goodness, finaly, we're seing more small family wagons. Toyota Matrix is a bell-weather car because it's a semi-spacious affordable hatch with more than 3 doors that presumably is fairly high quality (despite some 1st year assembly issues). Having said that, it's hurt Rav4 sales.
Hopefully, the Protege5 (still too small a trunk), Mazda3s (still too small a trunk), Ford Focus Wagon, Hyundai Elantra, etc will be the continuation of a long trend towards hatchbacks again, er, I mean, 5-doors.
Is the Hyundai/Kia Rio wagon a real wagon? ;-) I don't see how much esteem you can have while driving the little ugly uncomfortable Suzuki Esteem, or how charismatic you are by driving the poor-dynamic sad-looking Mitsubishi Carisma(old Volvo S40/V40's ugly origin), &, back in the '80's, there was definitely no adVantage stepping up to the Astin Martin Vantage over it's cheaper but same-platform version of...(I forgot the name).
By the way, I don't know if the Rio wagon is available in N.A.
I'm just afraid that w/ Hyundai/Kia's unsophisticated suspension technology, this car will spin on a damp road when the cargo bay is fully loaded.
Haha. Maybe not a real wagon, but it IS a hatchback.
Trevor Hoffman of the Canadian Auto Press wrote me back, and said the numbers of
0-100KM (0-62mph) of 8.9 sec were provided to him by Mazda Canada.
However, he said Mazda USA and others are clocking much faster times, at least for the 0-60mph (e.g. Car & Driver says 0-60 in 7.3sec). He's not sure what accounts for the difference.
Could reaching from 60mph to 62mph really take 1.6 sec more?
Ted
Let's face it everybody, the 2.3L is nice and smooth, but it doesn't have 200hp, isn't a six banger, and doesn't have a turbo. It is what it is...
I'm not sure if Mazda Canada's number are "raw" or adjusted.
I do know that Trevor Hoffman's article was referring to a 5-spd 2.3L Mazda3 Sedan. He didn't do a timed speed test himself. He just got that figure from Mazda Canada.
Perhaps he or the company mistakenly gave out a time which referred to the 2.0L Sedan. But I'm not sure.
But I have a question for the hatch owners out there. Has anyone tried installing a kids car seat on the hatch?
I've just tried installing a baby car seat in the middle rear seat (over the back armrest- folded up of course), and am encountering some difficulty.
There's lots of room for the baby car-seat "base", and the seat fits too. But there's no room for the seat's lockable "arm-handle". Either the front seats or the front centre storage console interfere.
Question for Mazda 3 Moms & Dads: Where do you place your kid?
(I may have to move my car-seat closer to the doors where there is more room, but I understand the centre position is the safest)
Cheers.
Are you using the latch and tether for the kids car seat?
I personally think the middle seat is the safest, it's the main reason I'm looking at the sedan over the hatchback. I too prefer the hatchback.
Thanks
Using just the baby seat alone in the middle will present no problems in terms of room. But I run out of room...when trying to use a "base" with a detatchable seat. The arm-handle has no room to be put into into "drive" position.
BTW which child car seat are you using?
It comes with a base, which can be secured using the Latch system or through seatbelts. the chair itself also can just use the seatbelts, although we prefer using the base, because it will be a lot more convenient if we can just "lift" the child, along with the baby seat right out of the car.
Before I talk to this guy again, I'd sure feel a lot better if someone who has a rack could confirm that it actually does exist.
Or, if you have a rack and it's not factory, which brand and model do you have, and how is it working out for you?
Not having a rack would be a deal breaker for me. I do far too many things that require a roof rack.
Thanks,
Rick
You said that there was a picture of one in the back of the viewbook. I'm not exactly sure what the viewbook is, but I'll go search for it on the Thule site.
Thanks,
Rick
Thanks
Rick
Ha Ha, just like a lazy old pig. How "modest" it looks!
& that tunnel rear vision... Is the notchback coupe or sedan w/ better rear visibility gonna come out so late even after the new E90 3-series?
The Mazda3 is ready to compete anytime as a red-gauge "night" rider.
This makes it look really stupid. I've heard that they let them drink beer during work in Germany. Maybe that explains it. Or maybe they just wanted the car to look like their bellies.