It doesn't say Gerber anywhere on the AD--and it doesn't mention ACOG either (Which is the one I was assuming it belongs to since the magazine is a mag for Pregnant women..hehee...
On the instructions it said: 1. Go to MazdaUSA.com/Family and provide your information. 2. We'll then email you a special coded Mazda $500 cash back certificate. 3. Bring this ad along with certificate to your local mazda dealer. 4. The $500 Cash back is goon on any Mazda Vehicle.
Someone is auctioning them on Ebay---go do a search "Plum Magazine", it's in that issue that she is auctioning off. KC
I too live in LA and have had mixed results with local dealers. Which dealer did you end up buying from - you can email me the sales person's name as this forum forbids listing it here (ajeep8u@yahoo.com)
My experiences were as follows: Browning Mazda - Large selection, agressive internet prices but the sales team sould not stray far from selling pickup trucks to the local rednecks.
Galpin Mazda - Was emailing the fleet mgr, but when showed up at the dealer, they pulled a bait-and-switch and stuck me with a brainless sales jockey - hea actually told me the car has "4 wheel independent brakes"
Star Mazda - Sales people a bit more informed and none were visibally drooling, but the prices quoted never came close to invoice.
Santa Monica Mazda - Fleet mgr openly advertised all 3's in stock $149 over invoice - but insisted on the $149 regional promotional fee and had only 3 cars in stock.
I have purchased almost a dozen new cars, never on the west coast, but I have never encountered such a collection of incompetent sales kids - that's what happens in the world's largest car market - the sales people need be only slightly smarter than their customers.
Many sales pro's want nothing to do with new cars...add that to a buyer who wants to grind down to invoice and $149 over invoice isnt good enough... no sales pro would get within 3 miles of that deal......they leave those deals for the wet behind the ear greenpeas.
but the time has come that the position of 'sales pro' disappears - for the sake of the entire industry
With the exception of a small percentage of the car buying population most people need help in some way buying a car.....cars are sold they are not bought. The large percentage of cars available today don't sell themselves like the hot car du jour. Even those hot cars become just another car on the lot after the next hot car comes out. So now there are millions of cars sitting around unsold...now what? Perhaps you dont' really care since you have resorted to calling people who make a living in sales names (Professional Monetary Extortionist )
(if you want to continue this, we need to find another section since this isnt related directly to the MZ3)
If a dealer says he will sell a car for "$149. over invoice", what's the problem? You show the potential buyer the "true" invoice sheet, and sell it for what you said...PERIOD! So what am I missing here?
This statement comes from the life insurance business.
Most people don't wake up on Saturday and say to their wife - lets go look at an insurance policy!
Many people actually like to shop for cars.
This "are sold not bought" really does not apply to cars. It has nothing to do with helping a customer decide which cars meet there needs (although that is a part of sales).
Before the internet (not sure about today) - way over 50% of all life insurance was sold - because the sales person went out and found a customer that needed insurance - then sold them some.
Sure some cars are sold based off a cold call - less than 1% I bet- most are the result of a person going to the dealership WANTING to buy a car.
I just bought a 5 speed manual Maada3 hatchback with ABS/ Side & head airbags & a few minor options for $16,850. I got a quote over the Internet & also used a $500 cash back certificate that I got from Mazda over the internet, which came, I think, the next day after I requested it. There was a link to get the coupon that was posted on this forum a while back and I did not need the original ad for the dealer. Thank you! It was a very easy buying experience until I drove the car home!
I drove 80 miles on the freeway from the dealers lot to my home town and was horrified at the road noise. I did test drive it before I bought it, but did not experience the horrible road noise. I am super disappointed. I called the "Customer Service" person & got various answers---"It will get better when the tires are more broken in and softer" "Have undercoating put on for $299." "Get new tires with different treads." Has anyone out there found any of these ideas to be effective? Many thanks for any advice.
They are loud on some roads - but most of the time mine are quiet.
I have bought a few trucks and then drove straight to discount tire and bought new larger tires - because some of the trucks came with very crummy (Firestone or Uniroyal) tires and I like the looks of bigger tires on my trucks anyway.
I normally got a good trade in for the take off tires - like $75 each. But since the Goodyears that are stock on the Mazda3 cost about $160 each - you should be able to get some Kumho ASX for an even trade - they will be much better (less noise). Plus I am not going to make it to 20K miles with these Goodyears - The Kumho's should do 30K +.
BTW - After I rotate my tires on the Mazda3 they are very loud for about 500 or so miles - then they quiet back down.
I think this discussion is very relevant to the 'buying experience' of the Mazda3 (and all cars for that matter). Many more people than visit this site wonder why they will likely pay a different price than the person before them for the same car. I don't recall ever seeing a 'prices paid and buying experience' for dishwashers or televisions.
Amazon.com is a good example of how successful the 'one price for all' model can be. People appreciate and explore equality - it's what propels democracy after all.
Please don't get me wrong, I would never wish for hard working people to lose their jobs. Having grown up in Detroit and having many close relatives, including my father, brother and four uncles in the auto industry, I am all too aware of what affects massive changes in the industry would bring. But the world is changing and we must evolve with it - that has painfully included the manufacturing sector - but the sales sector has remained mostly protected, largely at the expense of the consumer.
It is clear that public opinion places salespeople (especially auto salespeople) near the bottom of the list of people they most trust - near our favorite punching bag, lawyers, for a reason. It's because many of us have been exploited by 'sales pros' to pay more than we should have for a consumer product.
If only the environment were more stable to allow 'sales pros' to be honest with their customers (and customers honest in return), then it is clear, many more people would be happy.
I have reserved a Mazda3 5-door from Thousand Oaks Mazda - I searched their inventory using Mazdausa.com's website (bless them for that feature) and cold called their 'sales pro'. When I clearly told them I wanted that specific car and what was the best price they offer, it took two phone calls back and 3 hours and they still never gave me an actual number. They just kept saying $50 under invoice... which was a lie because we all know what invoice is from Edmunds.
I politely said that all I wanted was a 'sales pro' to process the paperwork, not explain about what a great car this was. Now, I'm sure I am not the average consumer, but there is no other option for people like me (and you likely), we must tredge through the 'sales pro' talk, excuses and outright lies, just like all the others.
The thing is, I don't believe that this experience is unusual. So ultimately, most all dealers are the same - the only thing that matters is how we 'feel' about our sale.
(I know this reply should go to Problems & Solutions forum but don't know how to move it over) Thanks for your suggestion about trading in the Goodyear tires for Kumho's to lessen the awful road noise. Yes, there are 17" tires on my new hatchback. Do you or anyone else think it possible to actually change to 16" tires and wheels from 17" and have a quieter ride?
possible to actually change to 16" tires and wheels from 17" and have a quieter ride?
Yes, this is certainly possible considering the companion sedan uses 16" tires. The question you have to ask yourself is how much are you willing to pay. If you switch to 16" tires, you'll also need 16" wheels, this combination would easily exceed U$1000. Before you do, consider a few alternatives:
1. check the tire pressure of each of your tires to ensure they meet the recommended level (which I believe is 32 psi); a higher pressure (such as 35 psi) provides a stiffer (some would say harsher) ride; some dealers inflate their tires to as high as 50 psi and forget to correct the pressure before handing over the keys to customers; 2. as tires wear down they become softer 3. look for new 17" tires with a higher sidewall; the sidewall number gives you an idea of its cushioning level; a higher number provides a softer ride; the sidewall number is the middle number; so for example, 205/55/17 is much softer than 205/40/17. By replacing just the tires, you will realize a significant saving compared to replacing both tires and rims.
By the way, not everyone would consider this type of ride undesirable; but since this is your car you are the expert on what constitutes a comfortable ride! Best of luck.
If your problem is road noise changing from 17 to 16 may or may not help.
Many people think that 17 inch tires will always be louder than 16 - but that is just not so. The reason is MOST 17 inch tires are geared for performance - and a performance tire tread will cause more noise. If you switch to 16 inch tires and wheels you can still - if you pick a performance tread - end up with loud tire noise.
I have pretty much decided to replace my 205 50 17 's Goodyears with 215 50 17 Kumho ASX. BTW not all tires that are listed as the same size (205 50 17* - are the same size (although the difference is small)- different brands have different specs.
Wanna buy a 5-door w/ ABS-pckage which is available at a local dealer. Got quotes... teh internet sales manager said, they could install an MP3 Player (I suppose the Mazda one) since they don't have a car with it. what did other people pay for such service?
Mazdausa.com gives an MSRP of 325 $. ouch..... Currently I have a 125 $ JVC car stereo that plays MP3 too and is really great.... unfortunately I can't use it in a "3"..... seems to be a rippoff. Any ideas to save money? I'm currently waiting for the sales manager to give me a quote on the MP3 player to be installed. but I fear it will be close to wha tMazda charges (that'S why they don'T have the AUX input.... otherwise I'd just buy an MP3 Player ans hooke dit up)
It's not always a good idea to change your stock tire size. Not all 17" tires are the same, the stock Goodyear's are not very good tires. Before you spend money on smaller wheels and tires, at least research some other tires in 17".
Start with Tirerack.com, they likely have the largest and most comprehensive tire reviews and info on the net - not to mention best prices.
The Kumho ECSTA ASX is highly rated. The Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S is an excellent all season tire that likely will give you the quiet and comfort and longevity you expect.
Don't always look at low price - remember you just spent 18k on a new car and the tires are the most utilized and important thing on a moving car.
The stock Goodyear Eagle RS-A's are very hard, loud tires. I will say that in the 6,200 miles I've driven my 2005 Mazda3 hatch, I've found some roads to be noisy and some to be quiet. It may just be that your particular freeway and the tires don't get along so well. But if you can put up with it for a while (and you probably will get used to it over time) -- when it comes time to replace your tires, go with a "touring" tire. They're softer and quieter. Of course, if you've got money to burn, go ahead and replace them now -- but I'll bet, after just having bought a new car, you don't have a whole lotta cash in your pocket to replace brand-new tires.
I have a feeling, once you start to realize just how capable a car you have, you'll start ENJOYING the road noise. I hardly ever listen to the stereo in my car; I hate covering up the real entertainment!
Got a quote for the MP3 Player..... way more than 400$. Just to upgrade the standard CD-Player to one that plays MP3 too...... will have to look for better options. With that price I also can get the moonroof/changer package... any ideas to get it cheaper?
Rosenthal, Trussville, and other online discount Mazda parts dealers sell the MP3 player. Looks like it is $275-300 including the trim panel. I have not found a copy of the install instructions online, but it is probably "do able" by most folks. I got the MP3 player from Rosenthal for my RX-8 and installed it myself. A pain in the behind, but not really "hard". It was $252 plus shipping and in the 8 replaces the standard CD player and plays MP3, CDs, and CDs w/text.
Any time they choose to put a non standard stereo in the car, you can be at the mercy of the manufacturer for upgrades. My S2000 uses a standard DIN stereo, so I could replace the OEM unit with a much better aftermarket unit that plays MP3s for less than the cost of the MP3 add-on from Mazda (even at a discount).
The one for the RX-8 will play VBR MP3s. It is an older unit though, and only understands version 1 ID tags though. No WMA, no other audio formats - but the folder, file name, title, track, and artist do display on the red display on top of the stack (in an RX-8) and can be scrolled with the "text" knob.
Any particular reason why they can't just make the standard CD player MP3 compatible? I mean the difference in cost between aftermarket units than play MP3's and units that can't really isn't that much. Certainly should be substantially cheaper than a CD changer and less prone to mechanical problems.
Or would they be slitting their own throat by making the standard CD player MP3 compatible because then no one would pony up for the CD changer option?
If they'd JUST offer an input jack for iPods, this would all be moot......
when I bought my current "regular" car stereo the difference between Cd-only and CD-MP3 version was 10$. Teh unit was 130 (JVC with 4x30 W)I suppose the same is true for the Mazda one. but so they charge 325$ for a 10 $ piece. that how manufacturers make money. not with the car itself. I never bothered CD-changers. In MP3 form a disc will hold 10 regular discs. No changer needed anymore :-) Well, we bought the Mazda 3 yesterday (at innvoice) and it will be in the country end of August (we got a 5-door, black, ABS-package, moonroof/CD-changer, Xenon/TPMS package and dealerinstalled heated seats) looking forward to it. my wife loved driving one (they only had one w/o Xenon there.. but driving is the same, except for nighttime when you actually see something :-)
More and more cars are coming with MP3 capable stereos - and more are getting aux in jacks as well. It does not really cost them much more to add this and it does make the car more appealing to younger drivers or old fogies like me who use MP3 by choice.
An aux in can be easier to add since there are devices for many cars that take the place of the OEM changer for this. ipod CONTROL and display is not as common.
If they put a standard DIN radio in the cars it would make it easy and cheap to swap out. I put MP3 decks in my snow day Subaru and "to the dump" pickup truck for about $100 each.
Many thanks to autonomous, cindery, z71Bill & Meade for your insights and comments on Tires & Road Noise in my brand new M3 hatchback! This forum is so very, very helpful!
I checked the tire pressure, as you recommended, and found one tire at 37, one at 35, one at 33 and one at 32 1/2 ! On my one freeway drive from dealer to home, in addition to bad road noise, the car also pulled right. With all tires at 32, there is now no more pulling. I did get a price $476 under invoice and the salesperson had to do absolutely nothing to sell me the car as I did the work on the internet--but still, one would think they could at least have the tire pressure right before I drove it off the lot.
Bill--are you getting 215/50/17 Kumho ASX replacement tires because you want a wider tire or because that is really very close to the 205 size in the Goodyear's? The owners manual (I actually started reading that! I never say so many warnings! )makes it sound as though one is only supposed to use size 205/50 tires for everything to work right---can this be true?
I will be driving to the coast tomorrow on very twisty mountain roads (Oregon) so that should be fun with this car & much more pleasant than freeway driving----maybe I won't notice the road noise. Meade--Happy Road Trip to you.
Reason for the 215 50 17 size Kumho is they are closer to the 205 50 17 Goodyears in overall diameter - 25.5 inches VS 25.4 inches for the Goodyears. The 205 50 17 Kumho are 25.1 inches in diameter. The size is not a big deal - but the 205 50 17 Kumho are only available in a EXTRA load tire. Which has a stiffer sidewall - The Stock Goodyears are rated for 1235 pounds VS 1356 For the 215 50 17 Kumho - The 205 50 17 Kumho are rated at 1433 pounds.
I don't mind the ride now - but sure don't want to go with anything that would make the ride even harsher.
The extra width - 1/4 inch on each side will not make much difference.
driving to the coast tomorrow on very twisty mountain roads (Oregon) so that should be fun with this car & much more pleasant than freeway driving
Sounds perfect for you to get a real feel for your Mazda3 ... let us know how you fare and keep track of the good stretches so that we can test them out, too!
A reporter is hoping to talk with someone who bought a new vehicle (or more than one new vehicle) recently primarily for style reasons. Did you choose your car to match your wardrobe or personal sense of style? The reporter writes, "I'm probably looking for people who are on the waiting list for a Solstice, or choose a Mazda 3 over the Honda Civic for fashion reasons, or picked an Infiniti over a Lexus because of Infiniti's superior design. Or a mom who drives a Mustang, even though it's a tight squeeze for her kids in the backseat." If this describes you, please respond to jfallon@edmunds.com no later than Tuesday, August 16, 2005 with your daytime contact info and a few words about your choice. Please put the word "style" in the subject line of your e-mail.
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name. 2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h) Review your vehicle
Hello, I am interested in buying your plum magazine if you still have it, if you already sold it, would you be kink enough to tell me how to buy one. Thank you for your time and answer.
I still have it, but the post got deleted (can't sell on the board..which is understandable)--You can do a search on ebay for mazda coupon or Plum magazine. Hope it helps! KC
I just purchased a Velocity Red Mazda3 from Browning motors. No problems at all using the Gerber coupon. I have an extra coupon that I can send to you or you can just go to Gerber.com, registar and ask for one. Mine came in about 5 days.
Probably not. I had the E-mail (with certificate number) from Mazda at time of purchase - but didn't have the coupon from Gerber. The dealer accepted the E-mail and took $500 off the purchase price. The following week the finance office called looking for the Gerber coupon. I then provided it to them. I at least had the E-mail at time of purchase. Guess the answer is that it depends on the dealer.
My dealer took the 500 rebate from email. I noticed that they had paperwork and on it, it says "rebate via email." I guess it depends on how picky the dealership is.
Im shopping in NYC dealer for mazda 3 hatchback, new and used. a dealer quote a new 3 hatchback with leather seat+ abs 18K. and another dealer quote about 18500 for base + ABS package. , nd said he may able to lower to 18K if i really want to buy it. In both cases, i didnt negoatia much because i havent get my finance done yet.
On the other hand, I also checking few used 2004 3 hatchback, a dealer quote 15350 just base(with spolier) but no abs or moonroof. milage is ok around 16K. I think i able to get it to15K but i havent really bargain with the dealer. The car is in good condition, only 1 very littele scratch and the interior is like brand new.
I dont have much experience in buying car, how is these pricing? also, the new car is 3K different from the used, is the used better value? Thanks
Opinions on pricing are a lot easier, if you include the MSRP of the vehicle you are looking at... Not too many of us are going to look up the exact price of the model you are asking about..
i am not sure this forum allow people to post dealer recommendation. I decide to get a mazda3 instead of matrix, Now i like to know anyone has good experience with any New york metro area dealer? thanks
a dealer quote a new 3 hatchback with leather seat+ abs 18K
Is this AT or MT? I was shopping around for a Mazda3 hatchback, base+AT+ABS package, and got internet quotes around $18,400. So, your price sounds pretty good. I ended up buying a Mazda5 (for the same price!), but the Mazda3 hatch was a close second choice for me.
The used car you're talking about doesn't have the ABS package (an $800 option). So, maybe it's priced ~$2,000 less than a comparable new Mazda3. There was no redesign between the 2004 and 2005 model years, so there's no significant difference between the cars. Your choice really depends on how much the $2000 means to you, how important the ABS package is to you (my wife wouldn't let me buy a car without it), how important the excitement of getting a brand new car is to you, and whether or not it's important to you that in the future you'll probably need to replace the used one sooner than the new one. If it was me, I'd go for the new one. But if money's really tight for you, the used one's not such a bad deal. Good luck!
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name. 2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h) Review your vehicle
See message # 1369 in this forum on this web site for info on signing up with Gerber.
I signed up at the Gerber web site earlier this week and then requested they mail me the ad insert. I received an email back the next day saying they would mail me one. I have not received it yet. (Have ad insert now...took about 1 week). You have to sign up and become a "memeber" of the Gerber web site.
fill out the form and request the certificate from Mazda.
I have not requested the certificate from Mazda yet as it says at the bottom of that web page that the certificate expires 60 days after issue from Mazda. Since no dealers with in 100 miles of me has a model I want yet (M5, auto Touring, no Nav, color undecided until I see Phantom Blue in person), I am waiting to apply for the certificate until there are at least some of those in my part of the state.
If anybody knows when Mazda might pull this offer, it would be nice to know, so I and others might know when the 60 day clock starts ticking.
Comments
On the instructions it said:
1. Go to MazdaUSA.com/Family and provide your information. 2. We'll then email you a special coded Mazda $500 cash back certificate. 3. Bring this ad along with certificate to your local mazda dealer. 4. The $500 Cash back is goon on any Mazda Vehicle.
Someone is auctioning them on Ebay---go do a search "Plum Magazine", it's in that issue that she is auctioning off.
KC
Which dealer did you end up buying from - you can email me the sales person's name as this forum forbids listing it here (ajeep8u@yahoo.com)
My experiences were as follows:
Browning Mazda - Large selection, agressive internet prices but the sales team sould not stray far from selling pickup trucks to the local rednecks.
Galpin Mazda - Was emailing the fleet mgr, but when showed up at the dealer, they pulled a bait-and-switch and stuck me with a brainless sales jockey - hea actually told me the car has "4 wheel independent brakes"
Star Mazda - Sales people a bit more informed and none were visibally drooling, but the prices quoted never came close to invoice.
Santa Monica Mazda - Fleet mgr openly advertised all 3's in stock $149 over invoice - but insisted on the $149 regional promotional fee and had only 3 cars in stock.
I have purchased almost a dozen new cars, never on the west coast, but I have never encountered such a collection of incompetent sales kids - that's what happens in the world's largest car market - the sales people need be only slightly smarter than their customers.
Happy zoomin' --
Meade
With the exception of a small percentage of the car buying population most people need help in some way buying a car.....cars are sold they are not bought. The large percentage of cars available today don't sell themselves like the hot car du jour. Even those hot cars become just another car on the lot after the next hot car comes out. So now there are millions of cars sitting around unsold...now what? Perhaps you dont' really care since you have resorted to calling people who make a living in sales names (Professional Monetary Extortionist )
(if you want to continue this, we need to find another section since this isnt related directly to the MZ3)
So what am I missing here?
The Sandman :confuse:
Most people don't wake up on Saturday and say to their wife - lets go look at an insurance policy!
Many people actually like to shop for cars.
This "are sold not bought" really does not apply to cars. It has nothing to do with helping a customer decide which cars meet there needs (although that is a part of sales).
Before the internet (not sure about today) - way over 50% of all life insurance was sold - because the sales person went out and found a customer that needed insurance - then sold them some.
Sure some cars are sold based off a cold call - less than 1% I bet- most are the result of a person going to the dealership WANTING to buy a car.
Big difference -
I drove 80 miles on the freeway from the dealers lot to my home town and was horrified at the road noise. I did test drive it before I bought it, but did not experience the horrible road noise. I am super disappointed. I called the "Customer Service" person & got various answers---"It will get better when the tires are more broken in and softer" "Have undercoating put on for $299." "Get new tires with different treads." Has anyone out there found any of these ideas to be effective? Many thanks for any advice.
They are loud on some roads - but most of the time mine are quiet.
I have bought a few trucks and then drove straight to discount tire and bought new larger tires - because some of the trucks came with very crummy (Firestone or Uniroyal) tires and I like the looks of bigger tires on my trucks anyway.
I normally got a good trade in for the take off tires - like $75 each. But since the Goodyears that are stock on the Mazda3 cost about $160 each - you should be able to get some Kumho ASX for an even trade - they will be much better (less noise). Plus I am not going to make it to 20K miles with these Goodyears - The Kumho's should do 30K +.
BTW - After I rotate my tires on the Mazda3 they are very loud for about 500 or so miles - then they quiet back down.
Amazon.com is a good example of how successful the 'one price for all' model can be. People appreciate and explore equality - it's what propels democracy after all.
Please don't get me wrong, I would never wish for hard working people to lose their jobs. Having grown up in Detroit and having many close relatives, including my father, brother and four uncles in the auto industry, I am all too aware of what affects massive changes in the industry would bring. But the world is changing and we must evolve with it - that has painfully included the manufacturing sector - but the sales sector has remained mostly protected, largely at the expense of the consumer.
It is clear that public opinion places salespeople (especially auto salespeople) near the bottom of the list of people they most trust - near our favorite punching bag, lawyers, for a reason. It's because many of us have been exploited by 'sales pros' to pay more than we should have for a consumer product.
If only the environment were more stable to allow 'sales pros' to be honest with their customers (and customers honest in return), then it is clear, many more people would be happy.
I politely said that all I wanted was a 'sales pro' to process the paperwork, not explain about what a great car this was. Now, I'm sure I am not the average consumer, but there is no other option for people like me (and you likely), we must tredge through the 'sales pro' talk, excuses and outright lies, just like all the others.
The thing is, I don't believe that this experience is unusual. So ultimately, most all dealers are the same - the only thing that matters is how we 'feel' about our sale.
Thanks for your suggestion about trading in the Goodyear tires for Kumho's to lessen the awful road noise. Yes, there are 17" tires on my new hatchback. Do you or anyone else think it possible to actually change to 16" tires and wheels from 17" and have a quieter ride?
Yes, this is certainly possible considering the companion sedan uses 16" tires. The question you have to ask yourself is how much are you willing to pay. If you switch to 16" tires, you'll also need 16" wheels, this combination would easily exceed U$1000. Before you do, consider a few alternatives:
1. check the tire pressure of each of your tires to ensure they meet the recommended level (which I believe is 32 psi); a higher pressure (such as 35 psi) provides a stiffer (some would say harsher) ride; some dealers inflate their tires to as high as 50 psi and forget to correct the pressure before handing over the keys to customers;
2. as tires wear down they become softer
3. look for new 17" tires with a higher sidewall; the sidewall number gives you an idea of its cushioning level; a higher number provides a softer ride; the sidewall number is the middle number; so for example, 205/55/17 is much softer than 205/40/17. By replacing just the tires, you will realize a significant saving compared to replacing both tires and rims.
By the way, not everyone would consider this type of ride undesirable; but since this is your car you are the expert on what constitutes a comfortable ride! Best of luck.
Many people think that 17 inch tires will always be louder than 16 - but that is just not so. The reason is MOST 17 inch tires are geared for performance - and a performance tire tread will cause more noise. If you switch to 16 inch tires and wheels you can still - if you pick a performance tread - end up with loud tire noise.
I have pretty much decided to replace my 205 50 17 's Goodyears with 215 50 17 Kumho ASX. BTW not all tires that are listed as the same size (205 50 17* - are the same size (although the difference is small)- different brands have different specs.
teh internet sales manager said, they could install an MP3 Player (I suppose the Mazda one) since they don't have a car with it. what did other people pay for such service?
Mazdausa.com gives an MSRP of 325 $. ouch.....
Currently I have a 125 $ JVC car stereo that plays MP3 too and is really great.... unfortunately I can't use it in a "3"..... seems to be a rippoff.
Any ideas to save money?
I'm currently waiting for the sales manager to give me a quote on the MP3 player to be installed. but I fear it will be close to wha tMazda charges (that'S why they don'T have the AUX input.... otherwise I'd just buy an MP3 Player ans hooke dit up)
Start with Tirerack.com, they likely have the largest and most comprehensive tire reviews and info on the net - not to mention best prices.
The Kumho ECSTA ASX is highly rated. The Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S is an excellent all season tire that likely will give you the quiet and comfort and longevity you expect.
Don't always look at low price - remember you just spent 18k on a new car and the tires are the most utilized and important thing on a moving car.
I have a feeling, once you start to realize just how capable a car you have, you'll start ENJOYING the road noise. I hardly ever listen to the stereo in my car; I hate covering up the real entertainment!
Meade
any ideas to get it cheaper?
Any time they choose to put a non standard stereo in the car, you can be at the mercy of the manufacturer for upgrades. My S2000 uses a standard DIN stereo, so I could replace the OEM unit with a much better aftermarket unit that plays MP3s for less than the cost of the MP3 add-on from Mazda (even at a discount).
Dennis
can it play MP3 with variable bitrate? Or just constant bitrate?
Dennis
Or would they be slitting their own throat by making the standard CD player MP3 compatible because then no one would pony up for the CD changer option?
If they'd JUST offer an input jack for iPods, this would all be moot......
I never bothered CD-changers. In MP3 form a disc will hold 10 regular discs. No changer needed anymore :-)
Well, we bought the Mazda 3 yesterday (at innvoice) and it will be in the country end of August (we got a 5-door, black, ABS-package, moonroof/CD-changer, Xenon/TPMS package and dealerinstalled heated seats) looking forward to it. my wife loved driving one (they only had one w/o Xenon there.. but driving is the same, except for nighttime when you actually see something :-)
An aux in can be easier to add since there are devices for many cars that take the place of the OEM changer for this. ipod CONTROL and display is not as common.
If they put a standard DIN radio in the cars it would make it easy and cheap to swap out. I put MP3 decks in my snow day Subaru and "to the dump" pickup truck for about $100 each.
Dennis
I checked the tire pressure, as you recommended, and found one tire at 37, one at 35, one at 33 and one at 32 1/2 ! On my one freeway drive from dealer to home, in addition to bad road noise, the car also pulled right. With all tires at 32, there is now no more pulling. I did get a price $476 under invoice and the salesperson had to do absolutely nothing to sell me the car as I did the work on the internet--but still, one would think they could at least have the tire pressure right before I drove it off the lot.
Bill--are you getting 215/50/17 Kumho ASX replacement tires because you want a wider tire or because that is really very close to the 205 size in the Goodyear's?
The owners manual (I actually started reading that! I never say so many warnings! )makes it sound as though one is only supposed to use size 205/50 tires for everything to work right---can this be true?
I will be driving to the coast tomorrow on very twisty mountain roads (Oregon) so that should be fun with this car & much more pleasant than freeway driving----maybe I won't notice the road noise.
Meade--Happy Road Trip to you.
I don't mind the ride now - but sure don't want to go with anything that would make the ride even harsher.
The extra width - 1/4 inch on each side will not make much difference.
Sounds perfect for you to get a real feel for your Mazda3 ... let us know how you fare and keep track of the good stretches so that we can test them out, too!
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
I am interested in buying your plum magazine if you still have it, if you already sold it, would you be kink enough to tell me how to buy one.
Thank you for your time and answer.
Hope it helps!
KC
I just purchased a Velocity Red Mazda3 from Browning motors. No problems at all using the Gerber coupon. I have an extra coupon that I can send to you or you can just go to Gerber.com, registar and ask for one. Mine came in about 5 days.
I had the E-mail (with certificate number) from Mazda at time of purchase - but didn't have the coupon from Gerber. The dealer accepted the E-mail and took $500 off the purchase price. The following week the finance office called looking for the Gerber coupon. I then provided it to them.
I at least had the E-mail at time of purchase.
Guess the answer is that it depends on the dealer.
On the other hand, I also checking few used 2004 3 hatchback, a dealer quote 15350 just base(with spolier) but no abs or moonroof. milage is ok around 16K. I think i able to get it to15K but i havent really bargain with the dealer. The car is in good condition, only 1 very littele scratch and the interior is like brand new.
I dont have much experience in buying car, how is these pricing? also, the new car is 3K different from the used, is the used better value? Thanks
regards,
kyfdx
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
Is this AT or MT? I was shopping around for a Mazda3 hatchback, base+AT+ABS package, and got internet quotes around $18,400. So, your price sounds pretty good. I ended up buying a Mazda5 (for the same price!), but the Mazda3 hatch was a close second choice for me.
The used car you're talking about doesn't have the ABS package (an $800 option). So, maybe it's priced ~$2,000 less than a comparable new Mazda3. There was no redesign between the 2004 and 2005 model years, so there's no significant difference between the cars. Your choice really depends on how much the $2000 means to you, how important the ABS package is to you (my wife wouldn't let me buy a car without it), how important the excitement of getting a brand new car is to you, and whether or not it's important to you that in the future you'll probably need to replace the used one sooner than the new one. If it was me, I'd go for the new one. But if money's really tight for you, the used one's not such a bad deal. Good luck!
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
kirstie_h
Roving Host
Host, Future Vehicles & Smart Shopper discussions
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
Manchester, CT
See message # 1369 in this forum on this web site for info on signing up with Gerber.
I signed up at the Gerber web site earlier this week and then requested they mail me the ad insert. I received an email back the next day saying they would mail me one. I have not received it yet. (Have ad insert now...took about 1 week). You have to sign up and become a "memeber" of the Gerber web site.
Once you have the ad insert, go here:
http://www.irv-silverpop.com/mazda/gerber/
fill out the form and request the certificate from Mazda.
I have not requested the certificate from Mazda yet as it says at the bottom of that web page that the certificate expires 60 days after issue from Mazda. Since no dealers with in 100 miles of me has a model I want yet (M5, auto Touring, no Nav, color undecided until I see Phantom Blue in person), I am waiting to apply for the certificate until there are at least some of those in my part of the state.
If anybody knows when Mazda might pull this offer, it would be nice to know, so I and others might know when the 60 day clock starts ticking.