2013 Civic EX vs 2014 Mazda3 hatchback

[Alexator]

Man, the Canadian model naming is confusing. Here's the rundown :

Sedan GX and GS = 2.0
Sedan GT = 2.5
Hatch GX = 2.0
Hatch GS and GT = 2.5
Speed3 = Turbo 2.3

Can only agree.

 

[Alexator]

Just came to know about the vw Jetta with 1.8 TSI turbo engine (170hp!) what do you guys think about it ? VW certainly gives less for one's bucks but is it worth conidering/comparing with the Mazda 3 (canadian 2.0 engine GS model).

Anyone test-drove both ?

 

[NutBucket]

VW...not even once.

 

[Arkaign]

As a short-term lease, it might not be bad. I'm not a VW fan. 170HP sounds like lot, but the Jetta isn't as light as it used to be either. It's going to be pretty tame. As for how the car 'feels' to you? Definitely test drive it, cars are so personal in choice, you may love it or not love it.

You'd do yourself a disservice not testing the 2.5L 3 though

 

[Alexator]

Planning a test drive of the Jetta 1.8TSI and the Mazda 2.5L. Will post my feedback.

 

[ipown1337]

I drive a 2008 Civic Si, and it's not a bad car but i can definitely attest that it hasn't been as reliable as i thought it would be.

Some of the major or annoying issues.

Crows foot on paint (roof) started to appear late 2011, the car was parked on a garage monday-friday on from 2008 to mid 2011, after some fuss i got Honda to fix it by paying a 50 dollar deductible, they tried to reimburse me but i never sent in the paper work.

Clutch master Cylinder is of a bad design (plastic piston)

Cruise control button went, (think of this as a pc power button, you click it and it sticks, you click it again and it unsticks) basically it would not catch, i bought a new cable/button $100 replaced it and took the old one apart i didn't like what i found very cheaply designed (made to look and feel nice on the part that you see and touch but the inside is shockingly cheap)

I have noises coming from what seems to be the steering rack, it appears that the bolts were not torqued correctly, I'll probably tackle that soon.

I have always had a tock tock tock sound from the dash board, never been able to figure it comes from.

The seats were loose when the car was delivered

Honda battery failed within one year

There are a couple of other issues that i have personally had which i do not remember. I haven't owned a Mazda yet, but just wanted to share my civic owning experience.

 

[vshah]

to contrast the above: my 2007 Si sedan has been flawless going on 80k miles. just oil changes. original battery lasted 5 years parked outside.

i got a notice recently for the crows feet on the hood/roof but my car hasn't exhibited those problems. honda said they would pay for the repair.

still worth ~%50 of original value and gets 33mpg highway.

don't ask about city MPG

 

[tortillasoup]

to contrast the above: my 2007 Si sedan has been flawless going on 80k miles. just oil changes. original battery lasted 5 years parked outside.

i got a notice recently for the crows feet on the hood/roof but my car hasn't exhibited those problems. honda said they would pay for the repair.

still worth ~%50 of original value and gets 33mpg highway.

don't ask about city MPG

You only get 33mpg on the highway? I drive an '07 ES350 and at 60mph, I can average 40mpg with the correct throttle input (TPS=19). Apparently the V6 in the '07 Camry/ES350 has a "super highway mode" much like the Prius does. If I used cruise control, I'd only average like 33mpg, same as your Si.

 

[vshah]

You only get 33mpg on the highway? I drive an '07 ES350 and at 60mph, I can average 40mpg with the correct throttle input (TPS=19). Apparently the V6 in the '07 Camry/ES350 has a "super highway mode" much like the Prius does. If I used cruise control, I'd only average like 33mpg, same as your Si.

the Si has very short gearing. 70mph in 6th is something like 3500rpm.

 

[ipown1337]

to contrast the above: my 2007 Si sedan has been flawless going on 80k miles. just oil changes. original battery lasted 5 years parked outside.

i got a notice recently for the crows feet on the hood/roof but my car hasn't exhibited those problems. honda said they would pay for the repair.

still worth ~%50 of original value and gets 33mpg highway.

don't ask about city MPG

Thanks for sharing your experience!

I hope that I can keep my car for a very long time, I try my best to keep in good working order. Just replaced spark plugs at around 56k, and planning on doing a coolant flush/lower rad hose replacement in the next two weeks (one of the brackets seems a little out of place, I think I removed it at one point) for 15 bucks I might as well replace the hose and bracket. Also planning on changing the tranny fluid at 60k, I enjoy doing my own work and I also try to replace stuff before it breaks (if it's relatively cheap).