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I asked about dates on the A/C issue because so many have suggested that only the early production models have problems with the A/C?
I never really thought about the value in waiting for the '05'. I just thought that it was best to get a great deal on an '04' at the end of the year.
If all things work out, I plan on keeping this car for quite a while and what z71bill says seems to make sense.
I know that right now Mazda will offer me $500 off because my current vehicle is a Mazda and I wonder if they will keep that offer on the '05's?
I also wonder if there will be a horsepower change in the '05's? It would not make sense to me that Mazda would make a higher horsepower 3 so early on unless it was a Mazdaspeed.
I guess that I really don't know what kind of deal would justify not waiting for an '05' and if the '05's have the A/C problem solved...?
I know it is purely speculation, but I am thinking that the '05's are going to be raised in price at least $500 and that Mazda will not give me the $500 discount for owner loyalty with an '05' and that the '04's are going to be discounted at least $1500, so what do you do with all that? Well, thanks everyone for your input.
"one only"
That always means that even though the ad came out on Friday they sold that one car on Tuesday. The point is - dealers are starting to offer some deep discounts on the 2004 models - the 2005's are coming and no dealer wants to have a lot full of 2004's. Now is a great time to get a good deal - prices should be coming down + the selection is still OK. By The middle of October you may be able to get a lower price on a 2004 - but your choice will be the white 2.0L with no AC or a red hatch that has a dent in the side.
birdman579
Low mileage on a 2 - 3 year old - I would agree -but after 6-7 years if a car has a few thousand less miles is has a very small impact on trade in value. Think about it - a 1996 Mazda Protege has a trade in value of less than $2,000 - if it has 78,000 miles or 86,000 miles how much difference does it make? Maybe $50.
Do family members of a Ford employee get the same discount?
Are you still eligible for rebates on the '04s with the S plan?
Anyone have any ideas?
Anyone seen any other colors not listed on the mazdausa site?
So, bottom, line, if the price is right for an 04 model, go for it. Some people do not seem to find the A/C that much of a problem. Different climatic region and different personal tolerance for environmental comfort?
1) The handling is outstanding, the thing drives like its on rails. It pulls 0.87g on the skidpad, that's better than the BMW 3-series, better than an Acura TSX, and equal to the Infiniti G35 with the summer tires and sport package. This is the 3s with all-season tires. Everyone who rides in my 3 is amazed by the handling. Best handling car I've ever driven; and yes, I've driven the G35 and TSX.
2) The styling is outstanding. This is a subjective subject, but I haven't met someone yet who dislikes the styling of the 3. Everyone says its very modern and one of the best looking cars on the road. Same comments apply to the interior. These comments are coming from people who own Accords, Camrys, Altimas, etc.
3) The quality is outstanding. Exterior panels gaps are tiny, interior trim are soft-touch and high quality. The car is built like a tank and it better be because the ride is more on the sporting side, never harsh, but a less structurally sound car would shake and rattle like crazy.
4) The manual transmission is outstanding. The throws are short and precise. The clutch is extremely easy to modulate thanks to the amazing synchos. The long throws and rubbery feel of the Altima and Accord transmissions cannot compete.
5) Luxury features are available at a price everyone can afford. The previously mentioned Xenon headlights, 17" wheels, and 8 airbags. These options can be had in a $20K car. The Accord and Camry cost thousands more to get these options.
2 Standard - front seats
4 optional - front side-impact (2) side-impact air curtains (2). I know the side curtains do cover both front and rear seats but is the front and back a separate system?
If you get it with the 2.0 engine, it is priced competitively, but not with the 2.3 when compared to others in its class. Unless you are saying this is a car in a class by itself, unlike anything Mazda has ever produced, in other words far exceeding any Civic/Corolla/Focus available today. When you can get a similairly equipped Mazda6 for the same or lower price, which you can, especially with the current incentives, then the lines between car segments are blurred. A civic shouldnt cost more than or the same as an Accord, and a 3 should not cost more than a 6, unless it is truly superior to it. IMO, what will happen is that some of these cars will probably not hold their resale value very well when compared to other cars in the same class. I own a Mazda and know that although they are not as bad as domestic cars on resale, honda/toyota always do better. Now, if the 3 is going to compete with the likes of BMW and Acura, then all the rules have changed.
The head curtain airbags deploy as one system, but its referred do as front and rear. The idea is to differentiate from front only head airbags like in BMWs.
Mine stickered out at 19,450 and I never thought I'd even consider buying a Corolla sized car for that price. Then I drove it and noted the bank vault solidity of the thing, the excellent ride/handling equation, the total lack of engine vibration and muted exhaust sound. The easiest and most responsive manual trans car I've ever driven with engine flexibility that lets you putter around town and never exceed 3,000 rpm yet will accelerate 0-60 in 7.6 seconds.
I've had it a month now and still have an uncontrollable grin on my face every time I get out of it. In that month it's never had a single rattle, squeak, buzz, nothing! ever!
This thing is sized like a Corolla but is far more refined than a comparably priced Camry or Altima.
I bought a Corolla sized car that had a sticker price of 19,500, and it drives like 27,000. I think I got one hell of a bargain.
But then the Corolla S does have VVTi too. Maybe the Civic EX also?
Matter of fact they do..the Corolla S has VVT, just like the other Corollas, except the XRS, which gets VVTi. The Civic EX and HX get VTEC. Even the Hyundai Elantra has variable valve timing..I think they call it VTI. Does Mitsubishi have it's version (MIVEC) on the Lancers? Seems like the only ones that DON'T have some sort of variable valve timing are the domestics, and Nissan's 1.8 (the 2.5 gets variable in the Altima; don't know about the Sentra).
So yeah, variable valve timing isn't that important, nor is it a big deal. Unless you're coming from a domestic.
I did, incidentally, and like it better than Corolla's VVT though.
I think where a potential problem will arise is when you resell them later. Perception is everything in the car business, and even though as an owner you feel this car is worth more, a used car buyer may not. Three years from now, will that $21k car be worth $14k, or $10k?? Yes, it is more fun to drive and perhaps more solid than a civic, but how much is that worth? On resale, you may be dissapointed. Total cost of ownership comes into question.
I don't know if it is in a class by itself, but it is a brand new design, and that naturally puts it ahead of its competitors for now. I drove an S model, and I would definitely pay the premium over the Civic or Corolla.
regards,
kyfdx
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On the other hand, I have been trying to sell the Civic without success for 3 months. NOBODY wants to even get close (within $2k) to either the KBB or Edmunds TMV for a private party sale. So much for Honda's lengendary resale value! I do admit, though. Every time I drive the Civic, I realize why no one wants to buy that piece of #$%^&.
I don't much care if my Mazda 3 is worth a thousand or two less than a Corolla in 5 years, I will have had a heckuva lot more than 2k worth of extra enjoyment out of it.
I also have no use for Xenon lights, nav systems (learned to read maps 30 years ago), ABS, or side airbags. Of the 20 plus cars I've owned only 1 had ABS, in the three years I owned it the ABS kicked in exactly twice--both times as I was coming to a stop anyway and the tires hit slick crosswalk paint. I can see just fine with the standard headlights, and two airbags in front is plenty for me.
I've got leather and moonroof, 17" wheels, and 6 disc cd instead of useless "safety" junk.
My first car had the transmission overhauled twice, both times it cost more than the car was worth to have it rebuilt. The fact was that although the trans cost more to rebuild than the car was worth, I knew the condition of the rest of the car--engine, brakes, suspension, body, and could not have purchased another car in comparable condition for less than twice what the trans overhaul (the only thing it needed) was going to cost. I also loved the way that car drove. Both trans failures were my fault for stupidly putting it in reverse at 35 mph (the old Corvair powerglides didn't like that) by accidentally hitting the shifter, which was a lever growing out of the dash to the right of the steering column, with my knee.
I own a car with xenons and one with traditional lights. Once you've driven on a dark night with the xenons, you'll never want to go back. It's like the difference between 15 inch tires and 18s. Some think it's all bling-bling but once you experience it, the old style can't compare.
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My apologies for striking any nerves, guys. Did boost the post count though, lol.
I'm not gonna live forever anyway. I smoke 2 packs a day, eat real butter, drink half a pot of strong coffee a day and work at a job that exposes me to more toxic waste and environmental hazards than 90% of the population. I don't figure to make it much past 75 or 80 (54 now) so plan on enjoying what time I have to the fullest possible.
I also don't drink alcohol or do drugs, don't use a cellphone, eat, or read the newspaper while driving. I am a firm believer in defensive driving and being as aware of all the surrounding traffic and potential problems as possible. I leave a safe distance in front even though invariably some clown pulls into my cushion. I don't have any kids to distract me while driving. I figure these factors alone are more of a contribution to my overall safety while driving than side airbags or abs.
Granted, all the defensive sober driving in the world is not going to help if broadsided by a big SUV running a light, but by being sober and aware of my surroundings I stand a lot better chance of seeing the SUV coming and avoiding the crash and any injury in the first place.
The person with a one or two social drinks or whose had a couple of glasses of wine with dinner is much less likely to see that SUV, or be able to react appropriately even if they do see it,and despite the presence of side airbags is going to stand a higher risk of injury than if they were able to see and react to the danger in the first place.
I am a strong believer in active safety--using the seatbelts, driving defensively and being aware of all one's surroundings, and driving a car with good handling, braking, and accelerative capability, and knowing the limits of that car and one's own driving ability and never exceeding those limits.
Studies done in the early 90s showed that people with the then-new airbags and abs tended not to drive as carefully, drove faster, tailgated more, due to overconfidence in these safety features.
While I have no problem with things like side/curtain bags, abs, skid control, etc. being available for those who want them, I think in the US overall safety would be perhaps better served by better driver education and training, more stringent licensing requirements, and other measures that would increase the skill level of average drivers (present company are, of course, well above average!)
It's far too easy to get a license in the US these days. No real practical knowledge of the limitations of vehicle dynamics is required nor is any real familiarity with good driving practice other than the most rudimentary knowledge of the rules of the road.
Here in Fresno we don't get snow, but it doesn't rain all summer. The first rain of the season mixes water with about 5 months worth of accumulated dust and oil drippings on the road and results in extremely slick conditions.
In years past, people were aware of this and slowed down and were much more careful on the newly wet streets until the rain had a chance to wash the crap away and traction improve.
In recent years I see newer, younger drivers who've had no real driver training driving in these slick conditions as if the pavement were totally dry--I see 2 or 3 pickups driven by young folks spin out making left turns in the first week of the rainy season.
What I'm trying to say is that taken as a whole societal cost, at a certain point, better drivers are cheaper and more effective than adding still more safety devices to our automobiles, that there comes a point at which preventing crashes in the first place is more effective than trying to insure that the car will protect the occupants in any and all crash situations.
As a whole, I think perhaps the good driver paying attention and non-impaired in a good well maintained car is safer overall than a distracted-by-screaming-kids soccer mom yakking on a cellphone while applying makeup and driving a shiny minivan or suv with underinflated tires but equipped with ABS and side airbags.
Anyway, I then went to John Hine Mazda. A very relaxed salesman explained their no haggle pricing policy--3% over invoice was what they claimed to charge, and this matched up fairly well with my on-line research.
The only disagreeable thing was that in order to get some options I wanted, like side airbags and moonroof, I also had to pay for xenon headlights, tire pressure monitoring, etc. They looked into getting a vehicle from another dealership, but none were available. Apparently, these cars are selling well.
The test drive won me over. Having ruled out the RSX (not just because of the dealer), I was between the Mazda and the Civic Si (I drove my girlfriend's from VA to CA and liked it a lot). The Mazda is a more refined ride: Tight suspension, but you don't feel every pebble like in the Si. It has beautiful handling. The transmission is great, too, although it took a little while to win me over, because I love the rally style shifter on the Si.
The price, not including taxes and fees (which are high in CA, as many of you know), was about $18,500. This was for a new model, with 2 miles on it, leather seats, all the safety stuff, moonroof, in-dash 6 disc changer, xenon lights and other stuff I forget and probably didn't need. It was a tiny bit more than I intended to spend, but within my budget, and I left very happy with the whole experience.
Two months later, I'm still very happy. Its really a great car, combining spirited performance with a modern, refined look. I got just under 27 mpg from the last tank, in a combination of city and highway driving.
The only real drawback I can come up with is that it's hard to see directly behind you when you turn your head, because the passenger's head rest blocks the view. I actually took that one out and put it in the trunk. Oh, and loading CD's takes a little patience--maybe I'm just used to my old single shot.
So there you have it--a hearty endorsement from a careful shopper! Thanks for reading.
I don't know what part of the county you're in, but as of 9-1, Hoehn in Carlsbad is the newest dealer in S.D. They have a very good reputation for customer service and will be sharing the service bay with Acura. My neighbor was very pleased to hear that, in case he should have warranty issues. They also accept S-plan pricing.
By the way, how did your A/C work this past weekend?
Thanks.
There's a very good chance the dealer actually sublets this to one of the local independents anyway.
The only reason I can see to go thru the dealer is if you want to include the cost in the purchase price of the car, in which case it's gonna be whatever they can get out of you. Having quotes on applying the film from an independent shop or two that you can show the dealer may help in the negotiations.
Thanks!
These guys that go for power and think horsepower is everything often forget the rest of the car. Mazda understands that the rest of the car is just as important, if not more. A 500 horsepower engine isn't worth much if the suspension and steering are so primitive that you can't take a turn at high speed.
Is this a good deal? Can I do better?