Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Next time I will wave HI on the way by, lol.
When the air gets thinner, the engine is also producing less vacuum. So some energy is saved.
& w/ auto, the 2.0's wider-ratio gearing will only make it more obvious.
But the 2.3's balance shafts should waste up to about 6 hp of energy.
They don't remove the balance shafts for the dyno test to determine hp anyway, moot point even if credible.
They don't remove the balance shafts for the dyno test to determine hp anyway, moot point even if credible."
Someone posted 6hp gain w/ balance shafts removed on a 2.5 Altima engine a while ago when dyno tested.
So why not just upgrade to a 6-cyl engine & forget about the balance shafts? Well, just check out the nose heaviness of the V6 on the Mazda6. CR found its handling less agile than the 4-cyl model even w/ the harsher-riding 17"-wheel upgrade.
Only a RWD car w/ the front axle located far forward such as the BMW 3-series can afford to.
But even the RWD Miata's engine compartment is kept under 2.0 maybe just to remain balance-shaft free.
Where are you in Virginia? I'm in Richmond and wouldn't mind comparing notes on dealers.
Meade
Hmm let me think...
... waxing my 3? ..no...
... vaccuuming the house? .nope...
... work a little? ... nah...
... bike ride... ? .. later...
... check my 9 other email accounts and 12 other car forums I belong to?... Now here something worth doing...
[sic]
Pet
No, 2.0's weaker low end becomes more obvious when combined w/ the auto's taller gearing.
When compare 3 of the gas engines -- 1.6, 2.0 & 2.3 -- available for the Mazda3, the 2.0 got the least low-end-torque-bias tuning.
But since the energy-wasting balance shafts are needed for the larger & thus more-vibrating 2.3, its overall output above the 2.0's may not be as dramatic as someone might expected.
The 3 is a heavy little car though, something close to 2800 lbs vs 2500 for the typical new Corolla or Civic. It shows in the solid feel of the car--mine is 100% rattle and buzz free in 6 weeks of ownership. 87 thru 91 Camrys weighed about the same, had 130 hp on the 4 cyl. models.
Consumer Reports, not a performance oriented bunch, got the 148hp 2.0 sedan to do 0-60 in 8.0 seconds with a stick, Car and Driver's 2.3 hatch took 7.7, not a huge difference really and the hatch is not hugely heavier.
But 0-60 times on a car that will hit 60 at redline in 2nd gear are accomplished with high rpm horsepower, not low end torque. The engine with only 12 more peak hp but a more generous low end torque curve will handle an automatic a lot better and with either transmission will be more tractable and accellerate noticeably better in less than all-out situations.
And the reason why you don't see many Mazdas is because they're a relatively small manufacturer. The 3 is not a very high production car, plus it's nearly brand new. That said, they've had to increase production because, despite the lack of rebates and special financing, 3s are flying off lots as fast as Mazda can get them there. That could be because it's the best car in its class, or it could be because there are lots of stupid people that buy overpriced, unreliable cars from a company with poor customer service. Hmm, I wonder which it is.
I live in S Cal & there's also hardly any Le Sabre or Thunderbird. Why? Maybe these superficial S Californians only go for the Honda/Acura Toyota/Lexus badges despite the Japanese-built Mazda's decent reliability.
No, seriously, Mazda's tend to produce just a tad too much road/tire noise in the long & tedious drives on S California's noisy-surface concrete fwys. & all my local Mazda dealers kept disappearing since '90 -- Torrance, Hawthorne, Garden Grove, Carson... 1/2 of all dealers/service I experimented were excellent, the others sucked real bad.
Still, the 3 is selling around here. I have been considering a new 3s hatchback to replace my '86 323 and have been casually watching the local inventory. It is not particularly large, so either the cars are selling quickly or not many cars are being shipped her. Within a 50 mile radius, there are only about 25 hatchbacks (down from about 70 in mid summer) in the current inventory of about 5 dealers. That isn't a large selection and given the number of cars on local roads, it takes a while to find them.
However, when you see one, you do notice it. I had a 3 sedan come up behind me at a light this morning. I was so busy looking in the rear view mirror that I almost missed the change to green.
The U.S. isn't fueling the production increase.
"The U.S. isn't fueling the production increase"
So your saying the MZ3 isnt exceeding US sales projections?
http://media.ford.com/mazda/article_display.cfm?article_id=18915
There are much larger increases in other markets such as the UK.
http://www.carpages.co.uk/mazda/mazda_all_new_mazda3_extends_popu- larity_of_brand_with_fleets_part_1_18_08_04.asp
Mazda also announced a 50% increase in production. If North America wasnt a big part, they wouldnt increase so much...so let's not try to turn this into your typical slam of mazda.
b) Let's not turn this into yet another pointless recitation of sales statistics.
We are here to talk about the car itself. Meeting sales goals - or lack of same - has nothing to do with how owners are getting along with their 3s, nor does that have much to do with potential buyers' interests.
Unless people want to buy a vehicle that all of their neighbors and aunts and uncles own, that is. And for the most part, that sort of mentality does not describe the average TH member.
Leave it be.
Anyone know anything about this?
Make : MAZDA Model : MAZDA3 Year : 2004
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 04V468000 Recall Date : SEP 23, 2004
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 42000
Summary:
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, WATER CAN GET INTO THE SENSOR AND CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT DUE TO A CRACK IN THE HOUSING OF THE AIRBAG CRASH ZONE SENSOR. THIS WILL ILLUMINATE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT.
Consequence:
UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS REMEDIED, THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AS REQUIRED IN A FRONTAL CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF ADDITIONAL INJURY TO A SEAT OCCUPANT. WHILE THE OCCUPANT IS DRIVING AND THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES, IT CAN DISTRACT THE OCCUPANT AND COULD CAUSE A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE HOUSING OF THE AIR BAG CRASH ZONE SENSOR. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.
Notes:
MAZDA RECALL NO. 2304J. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
I am considering the purchase of a 3i 5 speed primarily because it should get better gas mileage than the 3s. I am interested to hear what owners' experience has been regarding gas mileage on both models. Please post your mpg and tell everyone which car you drive and your driving habits, like this:
S (Sedan/Hatchback) or i, 5-speed or Automatic, MPG, %City/%Highway
For example:
S Sedan, 5-speed, 29MPG, 15% City/85% Highway
I'm sure many will find this feedback helpful.
The U.S. isn't fueling the production increase.
?????????????????
At my local three brand huge California dealership the Mazda3 is the best selling vehicle, period!
The salespeople are begging Mazda for more sedans. The inventory is so low, it's ridiculous.
They had no sedans left in inventory, NONE, as recently as the last week.
And the customers were still coming....
too bad they force you to buy needless options to get ABS/SAB on the 3i. the 3i is nicer to me, because you can get it in dark green with beige cloth. much classier than black/blue/red cloth. also, if they are going to offer leather, where is the heated seat option?
i think once they get their option packages in check, and make ABS and airbags standard, they could have a runaway hit on their hands. and offer the S in dark green, and let beige be one of the interior colors on the S too!
Gee35,
I merely wanted to point out, in the interests of truth and fairness, that your link to the July 2004 Mazda3 sales was brilliant...a truth that yet still manages to hide the facts.
The July and August 2004 Mazda3 sales were a low spot (by a little) for the Mazda3 since March. Every other month, including September, they have been higher than the Protege, sometimes by nearly 35%. Even though they only started selling in earnest in January, and started advertising in March, the total yearly sales is still up by almost 5000 units over the Protege.
All that without rebates as another very astute poster pointed out.
Once again I apologize to Pat, but that will be the last I have to say on that topic. If one cannot clearly look at the facts, then nothing I can post will change anything (it just helps me feel better!) (-;
Any reason why that puppy can't easily be slid into the Mazdaspeed3 with the AWD bits?
I am certainly salivating...if they will only hurry up and my Protege will last a few more years...
http://wardsauto.com/ar/auto_mazda_production_increase/
Allocation problems may be why some dealerships aren't getting the cars they want/need, but some areas of the country have plenty.
More up to date...
http://media.ford.com/mazda/article_display.cfm?article_id=19326
Another article..
http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=100763
What I DO see in various discussion is a certain poster using various sales figures to try to prove heaven knows what, over and over, to the point where the discussion becomes completely non-productive.
That was my point.
Do you want what everybody else is buying or do you want a unique ride everybody is looking at?
fowler3
Read both #43 & #44:
creakid1 "Ford Focus 2005 release date" Oct 6, 2004 5:01pm
http://www.nasva.go.jp/assess/html2004e/type/09_rx-8.html
Notice how the RX-8 is actually better in every area. This is surprising considering the RX-8 has no B-pillar. The rotary probably does give it a bigger crumple-zone in the front though which can explain that. I guess that's another advantage to the rotary besides ride comfort and handling.
I was waiting to check out at the store this morning and the girl in front of me got a call and it was ringing 'zoom~zoom'...so I asked her where she got it and told me mazdausa.
Before the past few months the Mazda 3 was rolling of lots in NJ. When I was on my trip in June to Virgina I see more Mazda 3's than new Chrysler 300's. Mazda needs to keep production rolling of the 3. Its Mazda's bread and butter just like the Accord and 3 Series are Honda's and BMW's bread and butter. The 3 is Mazda's low budget 3 Series. I am still wondering about the dealer discount on the 3 Sedan though. I wonder how the 3 is doing on dealer lots in NJ.