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?
"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."
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.
I had a Protege (and ex-Protege) meet at my house back in May, and I had borrowed a 2004 Mazda3 wagon (loaded to the gills) that we had available for test-drives among our members. One former Protege owner showed up in a new Vibe, so I got to drive both. The Mazda3 sat much like my 2000 Protege ES -- maybe just a tad higher, but not much -- and the Vibe was more minivan-like, feet-flat-on-the-floor by comparison.
Hi lmp180psu. Guessing from your name, I'm consumering you're a Penn State student or faculty, right? I'm from the Philadelphia area too, actually South Philly. I'm plannning to purchase my mazda 3 either at Mazda Pacifico or John Kennedy Mazda. When I went to differently dealership, every single one tax me differently and I'm not sure why? I asked but they won't give a straight answer. Where did you went to purchase your Mazda 3
Thanks for the info! The Mazda's beltline always looks high when I pull up next to one in my Tercel, so I was worried about that. I'm not that close to buying a car yet, but not having one here on campus gets me thinking about my eventual car way too much.
Seawea: I now live in S. Jersey, but was born & raised in Philly. Please, do yourself a favor and 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
I too had a Tercel -- a really good car !! 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 !! The complaint that I had with the Echo was the suspension that is quite harsh !! I said WAS because now I have a Mazda3 HB and man is it one beautiful car !! The height is right and the suspension is wonderful !! I'm so pleased with the car that I am now negotiation for a sedan for my wife !!
'cause the sedan has less road noise coming from the back, especially if you opt for the 16"s.
"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.
Don't go to Clair for your M3 as I got a price from Rowe in Auburn $850 lower. 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
Just purchased the vehicle on 9/25/04. Paid invoice plus $299 D&H. They took the first offer. I really didn't want the sun-roof, but this was the last hatch with a five-speed. I tried another dealer first, but they seemed to be set in stone on their price (full MSRP).
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).
I'm thinking about getting a 3, but wonder if the Xenon headlights option will signal potential trouble later, as some other cars with specialty headlights (mostly Nissans) have been frequently targeted by thieves.
Has anyone heard about these headlights being stolen?
Yes, I read an article about this problem recently. The Maxima was singled out because apparently the lamps are easy to remove (but not w/o damage to the car) and costly to replace/repair.
I think it depends on where you live.. and.. I don't mean what area of town.. I, too, have read about the thefts (mostly from Maximas and Acuras), but I've never heard one instance of it happening locally (a metro area of over 1 million). I'm sure it has, but I see hundreds of cars every day on my commute with Xenons, and it doesn't seem to be a problem here.
regards, kyfdx (who has Xenons, and recommends them)
Hi - I'm thinking of replacing a 3 year old highlander with a new 3 hatchback. The highlander is great - I just want better than 19-20 mpg around town. How are theses things on gas? I'm leaning towards automatic. Thanks!
I have around 2,200 miles and I've been consistently getting 26-27 mpg with 70% city driving. Oh, I have a manual transmission and tend to have a lead foot off the line every now and then.
Sorry I haven't replied to your post earlier as I have been without internet since Sept 19 ( I moved and finally got some phone service). I graduated from Penn State in May 2003, and now work in the Harrisburg area. I bought my Mazda3 from a Harrisburg area dealer, so can't help you there, but I have heard good things about Faulkner Mazda as well (try the internet sales dept for a quote). I am originally from NE Philly (mom still lives there), and wish my job was in Philly
"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."
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 98 CE Corolla I had would lock the rear brakes first during hard stops. I don't if this was typical, but this never bothered me. I prefer this when driving in winter anyway (steer able). By the way, 85K miles and the original brakes were finally getting worn to the point of needing replacement (the back more than the front?). The 98 Corolla I had was almost balanced with the wider than stock tires when taking an off-ramp corners hard. The car would almost slide all four wheels (lots of body roll and tire screech with a little understeer). The Corolla was a pain is the #ss to drive is heavy cross winds. 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.
To be fair the current Corolla is much better in all respects than the 98 model, whole new generation as of 03. That being said I work in the service dept of a Toyota dealership and have for 33 years. My car is an 04 Mazda 3S sedan.
It's like the Jetta/beetle/Golf, not a beam like the Sentra (one of which I owned and was quite happy with the handling).
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.
"Too bad we can't get the Mazda3 diesel they have in Europe. The gas mileage would rock."
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!!!
Oh please, there are plenty of gas stations where the diesel is in the same pump units as regular gasoline. In the Baltimore/DC area I would say that at least 1/4 and maybe as many as 1/3 stations have diesel. Both the stations I reguraly fill up at have diesel.
Sorry, I was making a joke based on the comments of a highly popular comedian right now. It flew over ye -- my apologies!
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.
I read through a couple of the forums and didn't see anyone else posting the same quandry so either I'm being a complete idiot or just bad at searching.
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!
"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.
I've heard of early-life problems on Mazda3s. I've heard of more on Golfs and Jettas.
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 had a 2000 Golf GLS. Not a bad car, but it turned out to be a lemon and VW bought it back 6 months later.
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.
I bought a Mazda3 5spd. hatchback after condsidering many cars, including the Golf. My problem with VW is reliability. Not major things, but still, things (plural) that would take me back to the dealer many times. With 2k on the 3, my only complaint is the rear defogger is slow, but big deal. I have not felt the early build a/c deficiency people talk about. Mine was built in June. This car is a gem for the money and you can tell Mazda has gone to great lengths to improve quality, fit, finish, and NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) while VW is still working on it after the move to Mexico. Daryl.
I had a Golf (briefly- totaled by someone who didn't see me coming- Grey, like my M3- I'll definitely run the lights more often this time!)and then had a Fox for a number of years. Didn't have motor problems, but electrical problems and things fell apart on the interior. I've just had the Mazda for a week+ and like it a lot- my brother, who knows substantially more than I do about cars, was very impressed when he took it out.
And it's been great! Titanium gray metallic, auto, SAC/SAB. Sure - a bit more road noise than the Highlander, but what a ball to drive! Even with the auto tranny, this car pulls away quite smartly. And the big bonus: 28.3 mpg on my first tank (about 70-75% around-town), filled at same pump, stopped at shut-off. Quite pleased so far.
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 agree that the auto pick up is still impressive- I haven't had as good gas mileage so far. I don't know anything about snow tires, but was reluctant to leave driving a Subaru behind and am thinking about buying them for an added sense of security in the snow. Do they add that much over what the all seasons will give me? Any drawbacks or things to watch out for in weather other than snow? How much would I have to spend to get a tire worth switching to? Thanks.
I am seriously looking at purchasing a new 2005 Mazda3 Hatchback. I have considered the Toyota Matrix XRS, (Nice Room, okay body style, but the 1.8L Engine was simply underpowered) and I even thought about the Protege5 last year, but the interior seemed a little cheap.
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
A lot depends on where you live. Everything's a trade-off; You may do ok on all season tires in the snow, and when the roads are clear you have all that great handling that the "normal" tires give you.
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).
This car handles well and accelerates quickly once it's going (some lag time to start). The interior is cool looking and the height above the road, with the ability to elevate the seat and apparently elevated cabin, make for a driving experience I enjoy.
Sounds like I'll be testing the all seasons this year. What do you mean by "mounted on their own wheels"(yes, this is snow tires for dummies)? Thanks, again!
I went to look at the mazda3 hatchback yesterday, test drove a 2005 model that they had just gotten in, and took home the brochure to read and look to see what might be different from the 2004. The brochure lists a "special edition" model that is listed as "late availability". Does anybody know when we will be seeing these at the dealer. this looks like exactly what I want, heated seats, auto headlights, bose audio system, etc. I wanted to get a new car now, before I put too many more miles on my Honda Accord, but will I kick myself if I don't wait for the special edition? I'm a gadget person, the more "stuff", the better......
If you get snow tires, buy an extra set of dedicated rims just for those tires.. That makes swapping them out twice a year a lot easier, and also saves wear and tear on both sets of tires from being mounted and dismounted each time.
Thanks for the info. I went to my local dealer today and they had one on order that now has my name on it. Estimated build date 1st week Dec. I figure, worst case, end of January??
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.
I think $22K for a Mazda 3 is way too expensive. With all the incentives and/or rebates, there are many other choices. You can get a WRX ($22-24K ?), S40, Saab 9-3 (fully-loaded Linear for < $25K), Jetta, and other cars for about the same price (maybe $1000-$2000 more for some). Maybe $19-$20K is more reasonable.
Not to be inflamatory, because that is not my intent - but please tell me what car you can get that has a decent engine, navigation system, heated seats, 6 airbags, moonroof, automatic lights, satellite radio, and all the other "stuff" that you find in a fully loaded Mazda3 for less than 24K. I couldnt' find one. I probably would have ended up with a lexus or comparable car just to get the options I wanted.
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.
Comments
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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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.