Anyone test a 4 door GTI vs the Mazda3? 2011 models

[alkemyst]

My wife saw the Mazda3 pic with the :awe: face and thinks it's the cutest thing evar!

I was hoping she wanted the Audi A3 since I'd be driving it on vacations...she thinks the 'butt' looks bad. go figure.

So GTI it was I thought until she stumbled across the new Mazda3 front fascia.

To me it's a bit economy car, we'd be going Touring loaded or Grand Touring loaded. She really doesn't want leather...but wants some of the other options.

It's a lot cheaper than either the GTI or A3, so that's a plus. Not digging driving this on vacations though.


UPDATE: bought a 2012 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring today, ships out of Alabama for hopefully delivery this week. All options except the bumper guard and aero kit. Pearl White exterior and the manual trans. Edmunds mobile app was jacked up so I ended up paying another $700 than I should have though...not going to sweat that but it sucks.

 

[punjabiplaya]

reg 3 is still pretty soft

when i get into my mom's 3 after driving my speed3, it feels like a different car

test drove a gti with a friend and it was def a lot softer than the speed3, but i can't really remember what it felt like compared to a regular 3

you getting a 5 door mz3?

edit: oh snap, I forgot about the new motors in the 2012 mazda3s, maybe you can wait for those? 40mpg

 

[alkemyst]

Mazda3 would be the hatchback

 

[brblx]

i looked at jetta vs 3 sedan.

for the money there is no contest, imo. the jetta is ok but the 3 is better in pretty much every way and you get more for your money.

iirc for 18k- the jetta has a solid rear axle, rear drums...maybe no cruise. it seemed like a lot was missing. the mazda has four wheel disc, IRS, great stereo, imo better interior, cruise, bluetooth...

 

[coxmaster]

i looked at jetta vs 3 sedan.

for the money there is no contest, imo. the jetta is ok but the 3 is better in pretty much every way and you get more for your money.

iirc for 18k- the jetta has a solid rear axle, rear drums...maybe no cruise. it seemed like a lot was missing. the mazda has four wheel disc, IRS, great stereo, imo better interior, cruise, bluetooth...

The 2011 Jetta is absolutely nothing at all like the 2011 GTI. Different engine, suspension, tuning, and of course the Jetta is built in Mexico while the GTI is built in Germany.

 

[Jumpem]

I wouldn't buy either of those. In that size range an Impreza/WRX hatch would be the only option.

 

[theeedude]

Go with the Mazda 3s 6MT.

 

[Mermaidman]

Interior of the Mazda3 feels cheap compared to the GTi, and looks worse too. If your wife likes the Mazda due to its exterior design, she might conversely be turned off by the interior.

 

[brblx]

for the price of a gti, though, you're talking mazdaspeed 3.

the gti is definately nicer than the jetta. but the mazda is still a great car. drive them both.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

I found the rear seat space in the 3 to be abysmal. And the hatch is not very spacious.

The interior needs a significant refresh to be on par with the new Cruze & Focus.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

The focus is a significantly better hatch than the 3, but the GTI/A3 is leaps and bounds better than both of them.

Funny, one of my friends (japanese girl) is looking at the exact same cars and asked me for help this past week, lol.

She likes the Focus the best, followed closely by the GTI. The 40 mpg is driving her to it.

 

[Arkaign]

^^ That's what the Focus ST is for

Focus ST > GTI > Focus SES > Mazda3

 

[PricklyPete]

I test drove both of these with my wife back when we bought her car. The GTI is a much more fun car to drive than the 2.5 Mazda 3, but the Mazda 3 was very nice for that class of car. GTI had more power, felt more polished, and had a nicer interior.

Now the Mazdaspeed 3 is a different story. I have only driven the older model, but it is a lot of fun to drive...I would say more fun than the GTI, but the GTI still feels more solid and has a nicer interior. If it was my money, I'd probably get a GTI.

 

[Zap]

And the hatch is not very spacious.

Taken out of context, how do we know which car you are talking about?

My wife's WRX hatch is miniscule. So is a Volvo C30 hatch area, and a Prius hatch area. Those are the only ones I've looked at in recent months, but with all of them that was my first impression, "OMG tiny hatch area."

 

[Doppel]

Repost

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2148074&highlight=wife

How much longer until you decide? You had the GTI vs Mazda3 discussion fully three months ago!

 

[alkemyst]

Repost

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2148074&highlight=wife

How much longer until you decide? You had the GTI vs Mazda3 discussion fully three months ago!

Won't be until at least July I will be on the road until then. I am in Beaumont Texas now.

I still want her to test a focus titanium.

 

[DivideBYZero]

You'll save a good chunk of money going down-market from the Audi.

 

[alkemyst]

I'd rather drive the Audi but it's not going to be my car.

She doesn't like the way the audi's butt looks.

 

[PricklyPete]

I'd rather drive the Audi but it's not going to be my car.

She doesn't like the way the audi's butt looks.

The GTI drives better than the Audi...and has just as nice an interior...better in some aspects.

 

[alkemyst]

The GTI drives better than the Audi...and has just as nice an interior...better in some aspects.

I don't get this. The Audi has a nicer interior with more options in seating coloring.

The Audi is much more easy to see behind than the GTI.

Neither are race cars and seem to be pretty even in performance.

 

[PricklyPete]

I don't get this. The Audi has a nicer interior with more options in seating coloring.

The Audi is much more easy to see behind than the GTI.

Neither are race cars and seem to be pretty even in performance.

The Audi chassis has not be refreshed for nearly 8 years. The GTI went from generation V to VI in 2010. Now VW calling it a new generation is a bit generous, but the car was thoroughly worked over making it more than just a refresh. After test driving several A3's (not to mention having them several times as rentals while working in Europe)...the 2010 GTI I test drove was an improvement.

The interior quality is not better in the A3. If you want gray or beige seats...than sure...the A3 has more options...but the plaid cloth or black leather is more than enough options for me. To each their own.

I have no idea what you mean regarding your "see behind" comment.

 

[alkemyst]

A3 has to extra windows in back which eliminates blind spots.

Btw my brother owns a '10 gti 2 door so I know the car, sounds like you are a VW fanboi though.

 

[PricklyPete]

A3 has to extra windows in back which eliminates blind spots.

Btw my brother owns a '10 gti 2 door so I know the car, sounds like you are a VW fanboi though.

Yeah...VW fanboi...that's what I am. How old are you? Aren't you in your 40's? Will you ever get over name calling and attempted insults with people trying to help you? You ask for opinions and immediately follow with calling people names and attempt to insult them as soon as they gives you their opinion. Your lack of maturity is astounding.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Yeah...VW fanboi...that's what I am. How old are you? Aren't you in your 40's? Will you ever get over name calling and attempted insults with people trying to help you? You ask for opinions and immediately follow with calling people names and attempt to insult them as soon as they gives you their opinion. Your lack of maturity is astounding.

Just let him be. He's already downscaled after claiming he was getting a diamond studded Veyron, so just let him play in the sandpit on his own. It's tiring trying to discuss anything with it.

 

[alkemyst]

Yeah...VW fanboi...that's what I am. How old are you? Aren't you in your 40's? Will you ever get over name calling and attempted insults with people trying to help you? You ask for opinions and immediately follow with calling people names and attempt to insult them as soon as they gives you their opinion. Your lack of maturity is astounding.

What does me just turning 40 have to do with anything. I haven't seen hardly anywhere or heard in person anything equal year VW > Audi

Don't get what you think is even better since you qualified nothing