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When comes to ride/handling compromise, it's the suspension. & Mazda3's suspension is German engineered. This is not one of those Isuzu or Proton w/ Japanese-engineered suspension tagged w/ a "Tuned by Lotus" logo on it.
You got to agree w/ me that our Escort since '91 has a Japanese-engineered suspension from the '90-94 Protege.
If it's as high as say, the Pontiac Vibe I once drove, I'll probably stop thinking about it. It's not that high, is it?"
W/ the optional cushion-height adjustment, I think your butt sits higher in the "Toyota" Vibe, but your thigh sits higher in the Mazda3. Get the picture?
I must admit I WAS wondering why Mazda had seemingly tossed its unique and excellent "twin-trapezoidal-link rear suspension" out the window on this car ...
"You got to agree w/ me that our Escort since '91 has a Japanese-engineered suspension from the '90-94 Protege."
Oh, no disagreement at all! It's nice to see Ford and others utilize Mazda's knowhow to improve their designs.
Meade
Don't worry. Minivan-wannabe it ain't.
Meade
Thank you very much
make the trip to Faulkner Mazda [Roosevelt Blvd.].
They are, by FAR, the classiest Mazda Dealership in the Delaware Valley. I, myself, have bought 5 cars from them & rate both their sales and service Departments as A++++. Good luck
Bill Herrmann, Delran, NJ
"About 4 years ago I progressed to a Toyota Echo and really enjoyed the increased height !! For one thing your legs are much more comfortable !!"
Some of these Japanese-design high chairs are still only good for short legs, & uncomfortable for my 5'11" frame such as the Corolla/Matrix/Vibe or even the CRV, which only raises the butt height & not the thigh height. The German-car-derived Mazda3 raises both, but the Volvo version of the Mazda3 -- the new S40 -- can also tilt up the thigh.
"The complaint that I had with the Echo was the suspension that is quite harsh !!"
What a loser! It's already much more unstable than the comfy-riding tall Focus. Japanese technology just can't provide a tall small car that rides comfortably & still stable laterally such as during cross wind.
I love the new S40 T5 w/o moonroof. It allows me to sit all the way high while resting my elbow on the high door armrest. & the stability & ride(w/o the optional sport suspension) are superb!
Other tall little German-design cars that never made to our shores were the Smart & Mercedes A-class. They, too, suck in ride comfort, especially after they fixed the A-class' roll-over problem.
So how many high-chair cars out there got good ride & handling? Obviously not the SUV's.
Even the low-chair Germans like the Mini Cooper & BMW 1-series don't got comfy ride.
However, in Nh @ seacoast I got them to beat Rowe by$300.00 . Yhey even called NH. So I bought in NH and just paid the ME sales Tax $975.00 as you pay tax on sticker not what you paid for it.
I think the excise was375.00
I looked at the Toyota Martix, and Elantra GT also. I never test drove either one of these vehicles (both were automatics). Test drove a new Toyota Corolla with the 180 hp engine. I think my old 98 Corolla has more guts. My old car is much lighter with smaller 14" wheels, and doesn't need to be wound-up to 7000 rpms to get it to move. It's a no wonder this new Corolla needs a six speed transmit ion. I can't believe Toyota wants over 20K for this car. Plus I am kind of tired of driving a small sedan - needed something different. I hated the Matrix looks when they first came out, but for some reason they started to grow on me. I was surprised how roomy the Geo-Metro looking vehicle was. Although truck space is sacrificed. I just don't think either of the engines offered with the Matrix would have made me happy.
I didn't even know Mazda had a new hatch on the market until I started reading car comparisons. I test drove a new Mazda 3 hatch about a week ago, which was later followed up with reading several car reviews. Test drove the car again with the family. The Mazda seemed a perfect match for the car it would replace. Only this Mazda 3 can corner hard enough to make yours guts hurt. My kids loved it! Very smooth\quiet engine, smooth clutch, good low end torque, easy shifting, and its looks sold the vehicle for me. We bought the car the next day.
The only things I miss from the old car, are the auto light-on feature, and the excellent gas mileage (37mpg since day one). I never once turned on or off the headlights the entire six years we owed the car. I dam near got into a wreck during the test drive with the Mazda 3. We were approaching a one lane bridge, and the other vehicle did not see us, and I had to hit the brakes hard to avoid a head-on. It turns out that just because the instrument lights are doesn't mean the head lights are on. I now know to turn on my headlights (blue background).
Has anyone heard about these headlights being stolen?
-Steven-
regards,
kyfdx
(who has Xenons, and recommends them)
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Good luck with your search!!
Isn't the Highlander coming out w/ an hybrid-powered AWD model?
The 3 is a sports car compare to the family-wagon Highlander. Toss it around, & you'll see why.
Ditto the 200-peak-hp Acura TSX. Peak hp doesn't mean much in everyday driving.
By the way, the '98 Corolla 1.8 has the fattest low-end-torque tuning of all Corollas. My '98 LE 5-sp gets excellent mpg(40 on the hwy) & everyday power. Does yours have an excessively-easy-to-lock front brakes on slick surface?
"Plus I am kind of tired of driving a small sedan - needed something different."
You're right, the Mazda3 hatch does look like 1/2-a-size bigger than a small car, especially the cramped '98 Corolla.
"The only things I miss from the old car, are the auto light-on feature..."
I hate my auto light-on. It took too long to respond, & I ended up w/ just the day-time running lights on at first when entering the traffic. Besides, I can't turn if off intermittently to warn other drivers who forgot to turn on their headlights.
The Mazda 3 stays put in cross winds and hard corners. Plus I can actually use the arm rests in this car. The drivers seat feels more comfortable the more I drive this Mazda 3. Just the opposite in the 98 Corolla. The back seat in the Corolla is the only place to sit on long trips.
Back to the German-suspension 4-wheel-disc Mazda3...
So technically it's cheaper and less sophisticated than the setup on the 98-02 gen. Corollas.
In practice the suspension's been stiffened noticeably so the car actually will handle better than the 98-02 generation.
We're seeing a new trend in the Civic/Corolla/Sentra/etc. class of cars.
Previously they were pretty much scaled down versions of the mid-size models like Accord, Camry, et al. Proportions were the same as the bigger cars as far as height-length-width ratios, making them relatively cramped inside. They also tried to emulate the soft ride of the bigger cars resulting in mediocre handling. One exception was the Protege, which while still a mini-626 in proportions was much more firmly sprung.
Cars like the Toyota Echo and Ford Focus proved one could have a much roomier car in the same footprint by raising the roof a few inches and moving the rear wheels back without lengthening the car.
The current Civic, Corolla, and even the Mazda 3 are noticeably taller than previous models were. The Sentra lags in that it hasn't adopted the new proportions. Wheelbases are also stretching without increasing overall length--rear overhang is less. The MZ3's wheelbase is about the same as that of the 98 Camry, but it has a lot less rear overhang. Longer wheelbase improves ride quality. Mazda's concern for zoom-zoom styling has somewhat limited rear seat room compared to Corolla, but it's a heckuva a lot better looking.
For the most part this class of car also has a noticeably firmer suspension than previous models, most noticeably the Corolla. The mfgs have gotten wise to the fact that a compact should not wallow like a LeSabre or Avalon.
Yesssss ... but then imagine how cruddy your floor mats would look from having to stand in all that mess while filling up your Zoom-mobile at the local truckstop!!!
I will say this though -- I've NEVER seen diesel in the same pump with the other stuff, because the nozzle is a different size (not to mention all the crud that's in diesel and left in the hose after someone uses diesel -- I wouldn't dare stick that nozzle in my non-diesel car and pull the trigger. Talk about your clogged injectors!!!). Every gas station I've seen with diesel has a separate pump for diesel -- and the diesel has a green pump handle to distinguish it from the other stuff.
And yes, I do have to admit that there's usually a horrible grease spot right there at the diesel pump, for the simple fact of the matter that more trucks and construction equipment fill up at that pump than at the unleaded pumps.
And trucks and construction equipment LEAK!!!
Meade
I'm trying to decide between a Mazda3 and Golf GLS. I have a '94 Golf now and likes how it handles but the Mazda was okay in the 1st road test.
Two questions:
1) For a more conservative drive (not likely to push the limits) would the low end torque be more useful?
2) Any opinions on the overall VW reliability vs Mazda 1st year reliability issues? My current Golf hasn't been bad, but I've heard some horror stories.
Only a couple more days to decide. The brakes on my current car are going fast!
& then the VW 1.8 is a turbo, which always gives you some delay throttle response even w/o much of turbo lag.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/previews/previews_story.php?id=47646
"The main advantage that the turbo has over its
naturally aspirated sibling is its added pulling
power. With 220Nm of torque available from 2,000rpm,
overtaking is easy, with no need to change down, which
is just as well as the sloppy gearbox isn't very
pleasing to use."
Since its sloppy manual gearbox doesn't feel that good
to change gears, you're not gonna find driving the
present VW's stick as rewarding as some other sticks.
"However, there is a downside to this power delivery.
Around town, the delayed throttle response can be a
pain, and although slower overall, the 2.0-litre car
actually feels nippier through traffic."
My cousin leased a Passat automatic w/ the
same 1.8 turbo engine, & he was pretty annoyed by the
delay response of power at the beginning every time he
steps on the gas. So once he decided not to let go the
gas & continued stepping on it as soon as he saw more
open space ahead. Then he realized there was a stopped
vehicle ahead too close for him to brake on time! So
he had to change lane to the left & cut someone off
despite knowing that a cop car was just ahead. So the
cop car purposely tried to slow down in order to pull over
the Passat driver, who then slowed down just as much in order
keep the cop car ahead of him. & as soon as he found a
FWY entrance to the right, he took advantage of his
Passat's sharp turning radius, stepped on the gas
continuously again to let the turbo build up the boost
& flew off into the FWY like an escaping convict so
typical in southern California...(Boy, I can't go to
jail. I got a family to feed.)
Unlike a noisy-to-rev Volvo S40 2.4i(non-turbo), 4-cyl cars like the Mazda 3S & Acura TSX will rev nearly silently so you can always keep the rev higher to compensate for the lack of low end.
I would avoid the present Golf/Jetta IV, as the upcoming series V got a much more intelligent Control-Blade suspension design borrowed from the Focus/Mazda3/S40 for better ride/handling compromise than the present Golf/Jetta.
The current Golf has lost some liveliness over the previous generations... it's heavy and soft. I'd either wait to try out the new one, or just go for the Mazda. To know which engine is best for unspirited driving, you'd really have to look at a torque curve plot, which you can usually only find in tuner magazines. The Golf GTi will have a better curve, but its throttle is laggy and might annoy you. The Mazda3, with the 2.3L engine, wouldn't be bad... better than the non-GTi Golf, I'm sure, especially given that car's weight.
We now have a Mazda3 hatch. So far so good and we enjoy it very much. Smooth engine, good manual transmission, and a firm suspension add up to a nice package for us. Your personal taste may be different, though.
Daryl.
Also, just pulled the trigger on a set of Dunlop WinterSport M2's, mounted on Sport Edition Tekno wheels from Tirerack. Went with the 205/55HR-16's for a bit taller profile. The Teknos are kinda similar to the Mazda alloys. I'll be stickin' these on in early December, unless Mother Nature has other plans and winter arrives earlier...
A couple years ago I learned just how good these dedicated winter-type tires are; A set of Kumho Izens made my wife's old Camry better in the snow than my AWD Highlander was with the stock Bridgestone Duellers.
I was curious about what people thought about the Mazda3 Hatchback Interior/and Road Performance. I like the Mazda 3 design, (from the outside) and although it doesn't have all the room I want, it has more than a traditional hatchback. I am going to test drive it tomorrow, and a little nervous about spending 20k on a car. So before I do anything rash, I thought I would post here
Thanks.
A set of Blizzaks will probably make your car better than an all wheel drive in snow & ice, but dry handling ain't quite the same. Some dedicated winter tires can come pretty close to the ability of the Blizzaks, and still handle pretty decently when the roads are dry. These are the kind that I like for the 3.
It's good to get a set (of 4, of course) mounted on their own wheels, so that you can easily change back & forth. You can spend from around $500 (mounted on steel wheels), to over $1000 (alloys).
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thanks.
Special Edition: Unique Carbon Gray exterior color; 17" alloy wheels; side sill extensions; Bose audio system with 7 speakers including powered subwoofer, EQ, and in-dasy 6-disc CD changer; saddle brown or black leather-trimmed seats; heated front seats; rain-sensing wipers; auto-headlights; A/C pollen filter and LED tailights.
According to the dealer literature, it also includes ABS/SAB/SAC & Xenon & TPMS Package as standard in the SP23.
"my" car has a, moonroof, nav system and a few other misc. accessories - msrp about 23,600. I read on another forum somebody had a msrp of about $22,280 including destination, without the Nav system. (search mazda3s special edition and you will find the other forum discussion)
Definitely not an "inexpensive" car, but you can get most of the upscale options available on a luxury car, for about 15K less, and you are not driving a car meant for your grandmother. (not that lexus isn't a very nice car, but I don't want to spend almost 40k for a car.
and before you go off on Nav systems (I've seen some of the posts - waste of money, yada yada), I drive alot for my job, to various places that may not be the nicest areas, over many miles and having a nav system not only makes the drive much easier, but makes me, as a woman driving alone thru sometimes very bad areas, feel much better about things, knowing that I won't get lost if a street is closed or mapquest is wrong or something. I currently have a gps/nav system for my pda and love it. the only problem with it is that my car looks like the back of your average tv set with cables and cords everywhere. It's worth the money for me to get rid of this.