First Drive: 2004 Mazda 3

[GTaudiophile]

Hmmm...seems a little squished. How about a wagon version?

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Not bad. For the first time ever Mazda has recently introduced some cars (6 and rx8 so far) that would actually make me consider the mazda name. Before this they've been interminably boring. Still needs some power though.

Miata = boring, skoorbie?

Edit: Anyone have any pictures of the rear of the 3 hatchback?

http://www.youngbabez.com/mazda/mazda3/pic02.jpg

F*&kin' SWEET

There is no way I'm hitting a link from work with "youngbabez" in the name.

 

[isekii]

Damn i like the hatchback

looks sweet in the front and back

WHy don't they make a 2 door hatch ?

 

[Bullhonkie]

I think the hatch looks pretty freakin sweet. The sedan is definitely nice too. And with very respectable power numbers for its class.

 

[dcdomain]

:Q Woah... hello hello Mazda.

 

[Cooljt1]

i want i want i want...looks sweet...i wonder what the 0-60 is

 

[NFS4]

More sedan pics:

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/mazda3/swf/images/gallery/mz3_gallery_big18.jpg
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/mazda3/swf/images/gallery/mz3_gallery_big19.jpg
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/mazda3/swf/images/gallery/mz3_gallery_big20.jpg <-- FAWKING HOT!
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/mazda3/swf/images/gallery/mz3_gallery_big21.jpg
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/mazda3/swf/images/gallery/mz3_gallery_big22.jpg
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/mazda3/swf/images/gallery/mz3_gallery_big23.jpg
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/mazda3/swf/images/gallery/mz3_gallery_big35.jpg <-- SWEET

 

[Cfour]

The hatch is lame... although there isn't a hatch that I like form any manufacturer.

All that needs to be said is that the sedan pwns j00!

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Cfour
The hatch is lame... although there isn't a hatch that I like form any manufacturer.

All that needs to be said is that the sedan pwns j00!

Hehe, the hatch looks like a baby Nissan Murano

 

[Cfour]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Cfour
The hatch is lame... although there isn't a hatch that I like form any manufacturer.

All that needs to be said is that the sedan pwns j00!

Hehe, the hatch looks like a baby Nissan Murano

Murano/FX45 own. I should clarify that I don't like hatches on smaller cars (i.e.: old Protoge, Civic Hatch,, etc...) I just don't like that "full hatch" look, I don't mind the ones that loook like trunks like on 94-01 Integras.

 

[SWScorch]

Okay, I lied. It's not ugly. It's FUGLY!

 

[Thump553]

The first new car I ever owned was a GLC, which truly was a great little car. I drove it for 150,000+ miles through many Wisconsin winters and sold it only because I was moving across country.

It looks like (but I'm not sure) the 3 has a feature several of my Mazdas have had, and none of my other cars. In the center vent panel there is a button to push to make the air deflectors swivel, an effect like an oscillating fan. Its a great comfort feature and has to be pretty cheap. I'm surprised other manufacturers never adopted this.

Maybe when my current Saab dies (another five years or so) I will be moving back to Mazdas.

I always found Mazdas very well engineered, easy to work on, highly reliable and lots more fun than a Toyota or (shudder) Honda. I never really understood why their sales didn't take off.

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: NFS4
More sedan pics:

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/mazda3/swf/images/gallery/mz3_gallery_big18.jpg
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/mazda3/swf/images/gallery/mz3_gallery_big19.jpg
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/mazda3/swf/images/gallery/mz3_gallery_big20.jpg <-- FAWKING HOT!
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/mazda3/swf/images/gallery/mz3_gallery_big21.jpg
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/mazda3/swf/images/gallery/mz3_gallery_big22.jpg
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/mazda3/swf/images/gallery/mz3_gallery_big23.jpg
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/mazda3/swf/images/gallery/mz3_gallery_big35.jpg <-- SWEET

WW!

I'm thinking sedan is the one!

One of those shots from the right-rear view...the 3 resembles an older BMW 3-series' lines.

(Big_19.jpg)


That hatch shot resembles too much Ford Escort/Focus the more I look at it.

 

[BCYL]

Any pricing information on this car? except for the ballpark figures I've been seeing...

 

[loup garou]

Beautiful little car. Respecable amount of power as well. I'd like to see how much they top out at pricewise.

 

[digitalsm]

Theres only one flaw in that car, that I can see, and its that freaking thing in the interior. Why go and ugly it up with that stupid thing. Not to mention its probably going to make the 3, the hardest car to put in an aftermarket head unit.

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: digitalsm
Theres only one flaw in that car, that I can see, and its that freaking thing in the interior. Why go and ugly it up with that stupid thing. Not to mention its probably going to make the 3, the hardest car to put in an aftermarket head unit.

As long as it's capable of playing MP3 CDs or has inputs for a player, I'm fine!

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: digitalsm
Theres only one flaw in that car, that I can see, and its that freaking thing in the interior. Why go and ugly it up with that stupid thing. Not to mention its probably going to make the 3, the hardest car to put in an aftermarket head unit.

Who freakin' cares. As long as it has a 6-disc in-dash, I'm fine

 

[SuperTool]

If headroom is adequate (without sunroof), and price is in 14K range, this might be my next car

 

[BCYL]

I'll hold my judgement until I see the car in person... I used to think the Mazda6 is the sh!t before it came out (from all the reviews and photos), until I saw the interior in person...

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: Thump553
The first new car I ever owned was a GLC, which truly was a great little car. I drove it for 150,000+ miles through many Wisconsin winters and sold it only because I was moving across country.

It looks like (but I'm not sure) the 3 has a feature several of my Mazdas have had, and none of my other cars. In the center vent panel there is a button to push to make the air deflectors swivel, an effect like an oscillating fan. Its a great comfort feature and has to be pretty cheap. I'm surprised other manufacturers never adopted this.

I remember that from a 626 I rented a while ago. I thought the same thing. It was a cool feature and I wondered why no one else put it in their cars.

 

[sniperruff]

design is good but most expensive model with 160hp won't do it

i say if it comes close to 200hp and under $20k, then mazda might have a case...

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: sniperruff
design is good but most expensive model with 160hp won't do it

i say if it comes close to 200hp and under $20k, then mazda might have a case...

WTH dude? How many cars in this class come with 200HP????? ONE!!!! The Dodge Neon SRT-4. All the rest have between 130 - 175 HP.

And Mazdas have NEVER been about horsepower...it all has to do with handling.

 

[vi edit]

i say if it comes close to 200hp and under $20k, then mazda might have a case...

WHAT? This competing with the civic, focus, elantra, and sentra, all of which have at a minimum 20 less HP.

 

[KhoiFather]

Damnit, the only thing that will avoid me from buying this car is the dash board. It is so fugly and I can't even install an aftermarket head unit I bet without some major modifications. Tell you one thing for sure, you're not gonna be able to cruise down the road bumping with 12" subs with that stock head unit.