Give me your opinion on the 2006 Mazda 3

[BigToque]

It's a few extra K, but I actually like this car more than the 2006 Ion.

What are your thoughts on this as my first car?

 

[randomlinh]

I love my 2005. Biggest complaint though would be the AC... if you have the climate control, I hear it helps quite a bit. but otherwise.. the ride rocks, and looks sleek Mazdaspeed3 coming up too

 

[theNEOone]

i dig it. but i'm a mazda fan - they have a nice lineup of cars.


=|

 

[Patt]

I have a Mazda 6 SportWagon ... and I'd buy a Mazda 3 in a second for a commuter car if my old Cavalier dies.

 

[Shawn]

they are nice cars!

 

[43st]

I love my 2004 3 hatch. Just flipped 30K this weekend and it's going strong. It's fun to drive, has great utility, and fair fuel economy (30-32MPG).

I did the AC update by adding the filter element and it fixed the weak AC issues. The 2005 and newer have the update though.

BTW, that ship that over turned last week was full of Mazda3's and the new Mazda CX SUV thing.

 

[fbrdphreak]

They look like fun to drive, inexpensive, and fuel efficient cars. I'm considering one as a commuter/daily driver next year. That or the Mazdaspeed3 :evil:

 

[ebaycj]

mazda3 4-door i touring :

Wow.

Overall a really nice, fuel efficient, affordable car.

WAY more interior space than civic.

Not the fastest on the road, but it's not designed for that (wait for mazdaspeed3).

 

[SZLiao214]

A lot of people consider the 3 to be a very fun car to drive. At first i thought the body style was a little to feminin but it looks really good to me now. For a commuter car the 3 seems perfect. I dont own one but i did test drive one.

 

[NFS4]

I have an '06 3s GT Hatch and absolutely love it. I regularly get 35MPG on the highway and around 27-30 combined. And unlike others, I don't need to bitch about the A/C. Works perfectly fine in 90 degree weather.

And the Ion is a dreadful piece of sh&% compared to the 3

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: Thera
I did the AC update by adding the filter element and it fixed the weak AC issues. The 2005 and newer have the update though.

meh, my 05 had the diffuser plate.. didn't do anything.

Originally posted by: NFS4
I have an '06 3s GT Hatch and absolutely love it. I regularly get 35MPG on the highway and around 27-30 combined. And unlike others, I don't need to bitch about the A/C. Works perfectly fine in 90 degree weather.

And the Ion is a dreadful piece of sh&% compared to the 3

Out of curiousity, how's it compare to your 95 camry you had? I too had that before it got rear ended... It was a good deal better than the AC in my 3 now. My complaint on the AC is more for when I have > 2 ppl in the car in the and 90+ humidity... just for point of reference.

I tend to drive w/ the windows down anyway.. I like the wind

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: randomlinh

Originally posted by: Thera
I did the AC update by adding the filter element and it fixed the weak AC issues. The 2005 and newer have the update though.

meh, my 05 had the diffuser plate.. didn't do anything.

Originally posted by: NFS4
I have an '06 3s GT Hatch and absolutely love it. I regularly get 35MPG on the highway and around 27-30 combined. And unlike others, I don't need to bitch about the A/C. Works perfectly fine in 90 degree weather.

And the Ion is a dreadful piece of sh&% compared to the 3

Out of curiousity, how's it compare to your 95 camry you had? I too had that before it got rear ended... It was a good deal better than the AC in my 3 now. My complaint on the AC is more for when I have > 2 ppl in the car in the and 90+ humidity... just for point of reference.

I tend to drive w/ the windows down anyway.. I like the wind

A/C seems at least equal to the A/C in my '95 Camry. My GF gets hot easily and she is always blabbing about "It's too hot" "I'm hot" "Bla bla bla" but she actually gets pretty cold in my car with the A/C on and has to close the passenger side vent. I normally leave the auto climate control at 72 or drop it to 68 if I'm really hot.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: NFS4
A/C seems at least equal to the A/C in my '95 Camry. My GF gets hot easily and she is always blabbing about "It's too hot" "I'm hot" "Bla bla bla" but she actually gets pretty cold in my car with the A/C on and has to close the passenger side vent. I normally leave the auto climate control at 72 or drop it to 68 if I'm really hot.

that auto-climate thing seems to be the key.. heh. my mom's 06 mazda6 is great when that's on and just set to like 76 (yes, I realize it's a completely different comparison...).

 

[SearchMaster]

Originally posted by: randomlinh

Originally posted by: NFS4
A/C seems at least equal to the A/C in my '95 Camry. My GF gets hot easily and she is always blabbing about "It's too hot" "I'm hot" "Bla bla bla" but she actually gets pretty cold in my car with the A/C on and has to close the passenger side vent. I normally leave the auto climate control at 72 or drop it to 68 if I'm really hot.

that auto-climate thing seems to be the key.. heh. my mom's 06 mazda6 is great when that's on and just set to like 76 (yes, I realize it's a completely different comparison...).

I generally leave my Mazda6's CC at 80-82, just so I don't freeze myself out of the car. I often wonder if it's taking its cabin temp readings from outside the car and getting confused, because it likes to stay chilly.

 

[BW86]

Originally posted by: Shawn
they are nice cars!

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: SearchMaster

Originally posted by: randomlinh
that auto-climate thing seems to be the key.. heh. my mom's 06 mazda6 is great when that's on and just set to like 76 (yes, I realize it's a completely different comparison...).

I generally leave my Mazda6's CC at 80-82, just so I don't freeze myself out of the car. I often wonder if it's taking its cabin temp readings from outside the car and getting confused, because it likes to stay chilly.

well, to be honest, haven't had too many long car rides in it (mom's 6), so can't say too much. However, it's all relatively unfortunately... which complicates this "issue."

I do believe this is all moot because the OP stated in another thread he couldn't afford the car..

 

[Dacalo]

I love my 3GT hatchback. It has around 700 miles on it now. The only gripe I have is no aux in, but this can be modified. I also don't like the fact that my golf bag barely fits in the back without folding down the seats.

 

[CraigRT]

I like the 3.. If it wasn't for the fact you can get more of your moneys worth buying a used car with a warranty, I would have considered a 3s GT.

 

[Baked]

The 6 sedan looks sooooo much better. The 3 looks meh.

 

[JEDI]

oh, and if you're going to get a 06 mazda3, get one with auto climate control. heard the a/c problems of the 04/05 mazda3 were fixed on the 06 w/auto climate.

Note:
Those 06 mazda3 w/o autoclimate may still have the a/c problems tho.

 

[quikah]

Originally posted by: JEDI
oh, and if you're going to get a 06 mazda3, get one with auto climate control. heard the a/c problems of the 04/05 mazda3 were fixed on the 06 w/auto climate.

Note:
Those 06 mazda3 w/o autoclimate may still have the a/c problems tho.

The only 3 with auto-climate control is the GT, can't get it in any other trim level.

BTW does anyone know when the 2007 model comes out?

 

[aphex]

I have a fully loaded 2005 Mazda3s which i commute both to school and work every day with... I got the car on May 9th, 2005 and as of today, i now have slighly over 40,000 miles in slightly under one year and 3 months. Talk about putting a car to the test

2005 Mazda3s Black Mica Sedan, Auto, Black Leather, Navigation, HID Xenon Headlamps, 6-Disc CD Changer, Sunroof, 17" Wheels w/ TPMS, Side Sill Extensions, ABS, Side Airbags
Sticker was 24k, i was out the door at under 21k

To be honest, i could not be happier with the car. Coming from three VW's, the reliability of this car is really a pleasure. I get right around 29mpg most of the time (26-32 i would say). My commute is roughly 1-2 hours each way depending on traffic, and the car is very comfortable to sit it for that length of time (much more so than my VW Passat where i used to get back cramps).

The only small complaints i have about the car; 1) road noise is higher than i would prefer, 2) backseat can be a tiny bit small for larger people or when 4 people are in the car (no different than my old Jetta though)

It is a VERY fun car to drive, plenty of power, and the only thing ive had to do in the 40k miles is change the oil and rotate the tires. The navigation is a joy to use. I've even gone through, gutted the audio system with my own stuff, added a remote start, hardwired a bunch of electronics, and it still works like a charm. If i even so much as looked at my old VW funny, it would give me fits.

I can, without a doubt, recommend this car to ANYONE looking for a quality sedan or hatch, at a reasonable price, with excellent options and look.

Obligatory car shot i took right after i got her;
http://www.aphexii.com/pics/mybaby.jpg

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: aphex
The only small complaints i have about the car; 1) road noise is higher than i would prefer

I would say that also is the only GLARING problem with my 3s. On the highway, on asphalt isn't so bad...but highway + concrete = argh!!! But I just turn up the radio to compensate

My '95 Camry was tomb-like in comparison.

 

[randomlinh]

road noise???? hahahaha, try driving on BFG KDW-2's (they're loud, really really loud)

 

[Dacalo]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: aphex
The only small complaints i have about the car; 1) road noise is higher than i would prefer

I would say that also is the only GLARING problem with my 3s. On the highway, on asphalt isn't so bad...but highway + concrete = argh!!! But I just turn up the radio to compensate

My '95 Camry was tomb-like in comparison.

But the 3 is much more quiet than my G35 coupe (sports suspension, 19" rim), damn Infiniti is loud as hell.