I agree with the others. I just want some good normal headlights and that's it. HID is expensive to replace and is not worth the risk of some thief tearing up your car to get at them. Can someone tell me though that if HID is offered on the Mazda3 would an inexperienced thief be able to tell if your Mazda3 has HID or not?
Seriously, check the Max threads for some seriously peeved owners. One guy put a new lock mechanism dealers now sell, and the thieves just banged up his 1/4 panels instead. The damage was worse than if he'd lost the HIDs!
Sorry for being out of the loop, but do you have insider information on the Mazda3? If so can you tell me if the dimensions of the sedan posted in the other thread match up with what you have? Also a couple of pages back you stated the Mazda3 interior is on par with anything VW has done to date. Have you seen the production interior in person or did you get this from word-of-mouth from people who have? I find it strange that the Mazda3 will be on par with VW interiors but the Mazda6 interior isn't compared to VW. Why would the Mazda3 have HID and a better interior than the more expensive Mazda6? Isn't Mazda shooting themselves in the foot by doing this?
I was wondering though, is it possible to tell if someone has HID compared to someone who doesn't simply by looking? I would assume an experienced thief could tell the difference, I was just curious if it was easy to tell the difference between HID and non-HID.
I've seen pictures of it and IMO it is on par with VW. I haven't actually sat in it though.
I find it strange that the Mazda3 will be on par with VW interiors but the Mazda6 interior isn't compared to VW.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I've read many very favorable reviews of the interior of the 6. I agree with the positive reviews. I find the materials and finish to be just as good as VW.
Perhaps HID is on tap for the 6 in 2004? Maybe. Anyway, I don't think HID would make the 3 a 6 killer. They are completely different vehicles. When the 6 wagon and 5 door arrive, they won't be cross-shopped. Like I said, dimensions I've read are very close but, not what I have. (My info could be wrong but, I don't think so.) I like Mazda. And I like my job. I can't give you more than that.
I notice the lamps on my wife's P5 are MUCH better than those on my Protege, and I think those are fine.
The P5 performed best out of 41 vehicles CR tested (31 with halogens, 10 with HID, I think). It lit up their 600 foot marker without blinding opposing "traffic". The average distance illuminated sufficiently was 335feet. It's all in their April 2003 issue (the "car" issue), pages 14-16.
The Audi TT lit only up to their 200ft marker. As I thought, the Sebring (I rented out a Stratus last summer while in LA) had very weak and uneven output.
Chrysler's headlights, before the last revision, were terrible -- not much better than parking lights. Same thing for the Chevy Cammaro's headlights when they looked like the parking lights.
"Form follows function" has long been ignored by car designers. Now, look at all the new cars with round reflectors! That's more like it. They can make the headlights any shape as long as they follow the rules of how light reflects. Same thing applies to taillights, many can't be seen until you are right up on them. I have been behind many cars and SUVs, on a clear day, I would hate to be behind in heavy fog.
As for HID lights, North Carolina and many other states are beginning to outlaw them. If they do, all car companies will have to provide both kinds of lamps.
When you buy a flashlight (hand torch) do you look for a square one or a round one?
By the way those smaller MagLites are great to carry in your glovebox when out on the road at night, if you have a problem. They can be focused.
I sent a email to MAZDA and this is what they said:
I am pleased to hear of your interest in the MAZDA3! At this time Mazda has not made an official price announcement on the MAZDA3. There is tentative information that the price of this vehicle will be in the range of $14,000-18,000 for the standard models. Please keep in mind this information is subject to change.
I was able to obtain some early information on the options that will be available on the MAZDA3. Again, please keep in mind this information is not finalized and there could still be changes. Currently it looks like the MAZDA3 is going to have available as optional equipment: side air bags and curtains, navigation system, Xenon headlights and, tire-pressure monitor.
At this time Mazda does not have plans to include rain-sensing wipers, auto light control, or two-tone cloth sport seats as optional equipment on the MAZDA3.
"As for HID lights, North Carolina and many other states are beginning to outlaw them."
That didn't pass IIRC. The legislature decided that it would put an unfair burden on the automobile owners. They would have to pay to get existing HID lamps changed. New residents would have to do the same to pass inspection when they brought their cars into the state, and non-HID lamps are unavailable on certain models.
Personally, if they are going to consider burdening the NC residents with anything, I wish it would be emissions testing for the counties that currently do not require it. Too many vehicles that would obviously fail make their way into my part of the state which does require emissions testing. Of course, having SC and TN right next door doesn't help as those states do not even have safety inspections, let alone emissions.
I have one of those Mag Lites you can focus, the small ones. I've used the really big ones, too. They're awesome. Same idea behing well designed halogen headlights, aim the light where you need it.
Xenons should, at a minimum, be required to be re-aimed whenever the vehicle is inspected, no more than every 2 years.
I thought the sedan uses the combination high/low beam bulbs which would be different from the P5 which has separate bulbs for high and low beam and therefore a different head lamp design than the sedan.
but I thought at one time Mazda was talking about releasing a 3 door hatch of this vehicle. Does anyone remember that? This would be the version I think I would find most appealing. I want a GTI, but that danged VW reliability is too poor.
Can anyone else remember that? Maybe I'm just wishfully thinking. . .
His is the reason why the headroom spec is not so great; from Mazda press release:
[... The driver hip point is set relatively high, allowing easier vehicle entry and exit and also placing the eye point higher for greater field of view. ...]
Well, actually Edmunds (yes the board that you are currently lurking) states the existence of the 3-door. That having said, I don't believe them either.
Did you know a short-deck BMW 3-series wagon has more cargo space than an expensive, tall & stiff-riding BMW X5? Not to mention the back-breaking higher loading deck. Stupid SUVs.
It's the 5-dr Mazda3's job to "clean up" the road by disguising itself as an ugly SUV-look-alike hopefully to replace the SUV sales for the non-off-roaders. Poor Mazda3.
but not mine. If the Axela gets the piano-black panel, then I'm gonna put it in my 3 & rebadge it as Axela so people know that I don't got that ugly grey dash panel.
Now is it just me or does the 3 have a way better interior than the 6? Mazda is going to have to up-grade the interior in the 6. I'm not saying the interior in the 6 is that bad but the interior materials in the 3 is just that much better than the 6. The interior of the 3 is just as good as the interior materials of the current Honda Accord and thats a compliment.
Next, again whats with the front end of this car? If Mazda is going to release like that its not going to sell at all. Everything else looks good for the hatch but the front end. The front end of the 3 sedan also suffers from looking awkward. Mazda has got something for the younger people and I just don't want to see them mess it up with a front end of a car when everything else on the 3 looks so promising. One thing going for Mazda right now is they appeal to the 20 year old, 40 year old, 60 year old and even the 80 year old. What other car company has that right now?
Thats like a special option in a car. I guess Mazda with the 6 decided the Us version didn't need the accident avoidance system hence the 5 star crash test rating. The headrests in the rear seats could be standard I'll agree with that.
"I guess Mazda with the 6 decided the Us version didn't need the accident avoidance system hence the 5 star crash test rating."
I guess w/ several stars of crash-test rating, you're not getting your $ worth if you don't crash your car sometime during the period owning it.
I'll rather avoid any accident all together. I also survived in a jumbo 747 airplane crash on the way to Los Angeles in 2000, but I lost my valuable irreplaceable luggage...
I think he's referring to the overall quality of the interior more than what will be in it. A navigation system won't enhance the interior quality, same with ESP. I doubt we'll see either unless Mazda has plans to release the same things on the Mazda6 in the very near future. But you're right, we'll have to wait and see the interior in person before any judgements can be made. I'm with carguy58 on this one, the interior does look better, even the dull gray one on the MazdaUSA site with no black gloss. That's because though I'm not a big fan of carbon-trim. That will be standard on the s trim probably so it'll be interesting to see how it compares to the Mazda6.
Also about the Mazda6 not having those things, since it's built outside of Japan in a different factory it's a little easier to make it different from the Japanese versions. If the Mazda3 was built in NA it probably wouldn't have rear headrests or navigation or ESP either. Since it'll be built alongside the rest of the world's Mazda3's then it may be easier for them to simply leave the rear headrests on, or to add Navigation, or to add ESP or something else. Even still it's likely they may leave all these things off, we'll find out soon enough.
"Have you seen the side impact insurance ratings for the Mazda6? They are not pretty, to say the least."
This concerns me. Does the chassis have anything to do with how well a car does in side-impact tests or is it simply how the door is built and designed? Isn't Mazda going to design the door and stuff, so Ford and Volvo won't have any input on how the Mazda3 side crash test will go correct? So if the Mazda6 did poorly, what are the chances of the Mazda3 doing poorly as well?
"'Have you seen the side impact insurance ratings for the Mazda6? They are not pretty, to say the least.'
This concerns me. Does the chassis have anything to do with how well a car does in side-impact tests or is it simply how the door is built and designed? Isn't Mazda going to design the door and stuff, so Ford and Volvo won't have any input on how the Mazda3 side crash test will go correct?"
The whole structure is done by Volvo, although the Volvo version might have even more protection such as longer overhang/bumper. I don't think Mazda designed the doors except the styling, which is only skin deep literally, & is required to disguise it from looking(& sounding) identical to rest of the triplets.
These C-platform cars got high chairs somewhat minivan like, & that should also help the side impact protection a little.
The Mazda3 features the latest evolution of Mazda Advanced Impact Distribution and Absorption System body, dual stage opening SRS front airbags. Some (NA?) models are equipped with side curtains and seat mounted front side airbags.
"Have you seen the side impact insurance ratings for the Mazda6? They are not pretty, to say the least. "
I couldn't find the IIHS test results at hwysafety.org, but in the govt. test it got 3 stars for the driver and 4 for the passenger, but they do not indicate whether the one they tested had the optional side airbags.
West Virginia has a strong safety inspection program.
Contrary to popular opinion, there is intelligent life and caring people in West Virginia. If we can't talk about Asian influenced hot rodders' cars as r*ce, we certainly should not expect to talk about West Virginians as if they are third worlders.
And no, though I live here, I am not a native West Virginian. I am proud to call it home, though.
Comments
Microsoft Windows?
It costs more, requires more memory, and comes with its very own set of brand new bugs! :-)
-juice
I don't think anyone will be disappointed.
Seriously, check the Max threads for some seriously peeved owners. One guy put a new lock mechanism dealers now sell, and the thieves just banged up his 1/4 panels instead. The damage was worse than if he'd lost the HIDs!
-juice
Just design good headlights. Use the same supplier as the P5, even try to keep the reflectors similarly shaped.
-juice
I find it strange that the Mazda3 will be on par with VW interiors but the Mazda6 interior isn't compared to VW.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I've read many very favorable reviews of the interior of the 6. I agree with the positive reviews. I find the materials and finish to be just as good as VW.
Perhaps HID is on tap for the 6 in 2004? Maybe. Anyway, I don't think HID would make the 3 a 6 killer. They are completely different vehicles. When the 6 wagon and 5 door arrive, they won't be cross-shopped. Like I said, dimensions I've read are very close but, not what I have. (My info could be wrong but, I don't think so.) I like Mazda. And I like my job. I can't give you more than that.
The P5 performed best out of 41 vehicles CR tested (31 with halogens, 10 with HID, I think). It lit up their 600 foot marker without blinding opposing "traffic". The average distance illuminated sufficiently was 335feet. It's all in their April 2003 issue (the "car" issue), pages 14-16.
The Audi TT lit only up to their 200ft marker. As I thought, the Sebring (I rented out a Stratus last summer while in LA) had very weak and uneven output.
They pretty much all use the same 55/60 watt Halogen bulbs, yet you see huge differences in effective light output.
-juice
Chryslers of late have been very poor. Of course, the stylists making them very narrow doesn't make the lamp designer's job any easier.
"Form follows function" has long been ignored by car designers. Now, look at all the new cars with round reflectors! That's more like it. They can make the headlights any shape as long as they follow the rules of how light reflects. Same thing applies to taillights, many can't be seen until you are right up on them. I have been behind many cars and SUVs, on a clear day, I would hate to be behind in heavy fog.
As for HID lights, North Carolina and many other states are beginning to outlaw them. If they do, all car companies will have to provide both kinds of lamps.
When you buy a flashlight (hand torch) do you look for a square one or a round one?
By the way those smaller MagLites are great to carry in your glovebox when out on the road at night, if you have a problem. They can be focused.
fowler3
I am pleased to hear of your interest in the MAZDA3! At this time
Mazda has not made an official price announcement on the MAZDA3. There
is tentative information that the price of this vehicle will be in the
range of $14,000-18,000 for the standard models. Please keep in mind
this information is subject to change.
I was able to obtain some early information on the options that will be
available on the MAZDA3. Again, please keep in mind this information
is not finalized and there could still be changes. Currently it looks
like the MAZDA3 is going to have available as optional equipment: side
air bags and curtains, navigation system, Xenon headlights and,
tire-pressure monitor.
At this time Mazda does not have plans to include rain-sensing wipers,
auto light control, or two-tone cloth sport seats as optional equipment
on the MAZDA3.
Allen
That didn't pass IIRC. The legislature decided that it would put an unfair burden on the automobile owners. They would have to pay to get existing HID lamps changed. New residents would have to do the same to pass inspection when they brought their cars into the state, and non-HID lamps are unavailable on certain models.
Personally, if they are going to consider burdening the NC residents with anything, I wish it would be emissions testing for the counties that currently do not require it. Too many vehicles that would obviously fail make their way into my part of the state which does require emissions testing. Of course, having SC and TN right next door doesn't help as those states do not even have safety inspections, let alone emissions.
Xenons should, at a minimum, be required to be re-aimed whenever the vehicle is inspected, no more than every 2 years.
-juice
The P5 02-03 uses 9006(HB4) for low beams and 9005(HB3) for high beams.
The lamp assemblies are different as well, with the P5 missing the corner marker lamp since it is on the bumper.
http://wardsauto.com/ar/auto_volvos_allnew_showcase/index.htm
Up to 220 ponies a 5 and 6 speed or a CVT.
Dinu
Actually, the 3 benefits from sharing a platform designed to work on a near-luxury car. Think about it.
-juice
http://www.axela.mazda.co.jp/product03.html
Movie -
http://www.axela.mazda.co.jp/movie01.html
Wallpaper and Screensaver -
http://www.axela.mazda.co.jp/present01.html
Can anyone else remember that? Maybe I'm just wishfully thinking. . .
http://www.auto123.com/en/info/news/news,view.spy?artid=13907
[... The driver hip point is set relatively high, allowing easier vehicle entry and exit and also placing the eye point higher for greater field of view. ...]
Bruno
http://www.edmunds.com/future/2005/mazda/3/100278520/preview.html- - ?tid=edmunds.f.typemindex.content..0.Mazda*
Did you know a Focus wagon has more interior space than a BMW 5 series wagon? EPA even calls it a mid-size. Square shapes have real benefits.
-juice
It's the 5-dr Mazda3's job to "clean up" the road by disguising itself as an ugly SUV-look-alike hopefully to replace the SUV sales for the non-off-roaders. Poor Mazda3.
but not mine. If the Axela gets the piano-black panel, then I'm gonna put it in my 3 & rebadge it as Axela so people know that I don't got that ugly grey dash panel.
Next, again whats with the front end of this car? If Mazda is going to release like that its not going to sell at all. Everything else looks good for the hatch but the front end. The front end of the 3 sedan also suffers from looking awkward. Mazda has got something for the younger people and I just don't want to see them mess it up with a front end of a car when everything else on the 3 looks so promising. One thing going for Mazda right now is they appeal to the 20 year old, 40 year old, 60 year old and even the 80 year old. What other car company has that right now?
Remember the nav center in the Euro6? The rear headrests? The accident avoidance system?
Where are those things on the US 6?
Hmmmm...
History may well repeat itself, if not well...
I guess w/ several stars of crash-test rating, you're not getting your $ worth if you don't crash your car sometime during the period owning it.
I'll rather avoid any accident all together. I also survived in a jumbo 747 airplane crash on the way to Los Angeles in 2000, but I lost my valuable irreplaceable luggage...
Also about the Mazda6 not having those things, since it's built outside of Japan in a different factory it's a little easier to make it different from the Japanese versions. If the Mazda3 was built in NA it probably wouldn't have rear headrests or navigation or ESP either. Since it'll be built alongside the rest of the world's Mazda3's then it may be easier for them to simply leave the rear headrests on, or to add Navigation, or to add ESP or something else. Even still it's likely they may leave all these things off, we'll find out soon enough.
This concerns me. Does the chassis have anything to do with how well a car does in side-impact tests or is it simply how the door is built and designed? Isn't Mazda going to design the door and stuff, so Ford and Volvo won't have any input on how the Mazda3 side crash test will go correct? So if the Mazda6 did poorly, what are the chances of the Mazda3 doing poorly as well?
This concerns me. Does the chassis have anything to do with how well a car does in side-impact tests or is it simply how the door is built and designed? Isn't Mazda going to design the door and stuff, so Ford and Volvo won't have any input on how the Mazda3 side crash test will go correct?"
The whole structure is done by Volvo, although the Volvo version might have even more protection such as longer overhang/bumper. I don't think Mazda designed the doors except the styling, which is only skin deep literally, & is required to disguise it from looking(& sounding) identical to rest of the triplets.
These C-platform cars got high chairs somewhat minivan like, & that should also help the side impact protection a little.
Bruno
I couldn't find the IIHS test results at hwysafety.org, but in the govt. test it got 3 stars for the driver and 4 for the passenger, but they do not indicate whether the one they tested had the optional side airbags.
Ah, those Third World countries are closer than you think, don't forget W.VA.!
fowler3
West Virginia has a strong safety inspection program.
Contrary to popular opinion, there is intelligent life and caring people in West Virginia. If we can't talk about Asian influenced hot rodders' cars as r*ce, we certainly should not expect to talk about West Virginians as if they are third worlders.
And no, though I live here, I am not a native West Virginian. I am proud to call it home, though.
Now back to things Mazda3...