Prius or Mazda3

[Ryland]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Ryland
Does the FIT have any acceleration?</end quote></div>

more than the Prius! it's also quicker through the lane-change than a Corvette.

Almost anything has faster pickup than a Prius it seems.

 

[Ryland]

How is the Mazda3 in the snow?

 

[theeedude]

Originally posted by: Ryland
How is the Mazda3 in the snow?

I am in Cali. But it's FWD and based on same platform as Volvo S40, so it's probably fine.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: senseamp
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: iamwiz82
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Dman877
If you have even an once of driving-enthusiasm, avoid the Prius. It's an aweful excuse for a car. They sacrificed EVERYTHING for fuel economy and to get the price down.</end quote></div>

Such as?</end quote></div>

Underpinnings are from an Echo class vehicle. Tiny wheels, tiny brakes, pathetic acceleration, narrow, suppository shaped body. If Prius wasn't a hybrid, noone would even look at it. My rule of thumb is I wouldn't buy a hybrid version of any car that I wouldn't want without the hybrid.

There are no shared parts between the Prius and Echo.

Tiny wheels are for weight, why would you need bigger ones on an economy car?

Brakes are fine. Within 3 feet of the Civic Si in 60-0.

Acceleration is not great, but what do you expect? It's on par with a Yaris and a few ticks slower than a Versa. It's 2 seconds faster to 60 than an I4 Tribute/Escape, though.

Looks are subjective. You people fondle yourselves over a Mazda3 or 350z, both of which have hips that look like a fat woman riding a bicycle.

 

[BUTCH1]

Originally posted by: exdeath
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: SearchMaster


While I'm sure you're trolling, my FWD Japanese car just passed 160K miles, transmission is still running strong (knock on wood). I don't know personally of anyone with a Japanese FWD automatic transmission who has had to rebuild as early as 100K, though I've known three American car owners who have.

I'm not a Japanese car fanboy or an American car basher, but blanket statements like yours serve no useful purpose.</end quote></div>

Not picking on Japanese cars or trolling, its just typical and not unusual of FWD auto transmissions. Thats the reason I took the extra time to find my Camry in the rare 5 spd configuration. Not sure why though, maybe the small packaging and heat from the engine bay or something. I just know an fwd auto transmission overhaul at ~100k miles is pretty much a matter of when. Not a quality issue or anything, just a fact of life, probably the same thing with domestics too, just the imports are much more expensive.

My last car had a mazda-made auto tranny, I traded it in @171K, never missed a beat
or slipped at all. Just do the fluid-filter changes per Manuel specs and you should be
OK...

 

[HannibalX]

I would go for the Mazda3, they are nice little cars. I am not a fan of Hyrbrids - too many extra things to break down the line.

 

[Ryland]

I think I am going to stick with my Tribute. I checked my records and it is actually getting 21mpg so, at best, I would be gaining 8-9mpg, better handling and a moonroof but would lose the 4x4, towing and storage and owing about $10K more. It just does not seem to make sense.

 

[Pastore]

Originally posted by: Ryland
I think I am going to stick with my Tribute. I checked my records and it is actually getting 21mpg so, at best, I would be gaining 8-9mpg, better handling and a moonroof but would lose the 4x4, towing and storage and owing about $10K more. It just does not seem to make sense.

The only thing I'll disagree with here is the storage. In a hatchback, with the rear seats down it has a ridiculous amount of storage for a compact. Oh and I'm on tilt right now because I'm picking up my 07 Mazda3 Touring Hatchback from the dealer tonight.

 

[Ryland]

I was just reading the Edmunds Tribute forums and am not happy about the number of posts about the Tribute Tranny dying after 50,000 BUT it might be only the Tribute's that don't have the factory installed towing package (which mine has).

 

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: Ryland
I think I am going to stick with my Tribute. I checked my records and it is actually getting 21mpg so, at best, I would be gaining 8-9mpg, better handling and a moonroof but would lose the 4x4, towing and storage and owing about $10K more. It just does not seem to make sense.

I find that most people looking to save money on gas spend $150 a month on a premium cable TV package, more than $100 a month on cell phones with the full suite of services which they never use, etc.

People act like gas prices are absurdly high. They are higher than they need to be due to meddling with the market (a fake market based on speculation, cartels, etc), but when you think about it, it's only costing maybe $20-40 a month more for the average person. Plenty of places to make that up that aren't as important as convenient transportation. Thats *one* night at the movies, or *one* night out for dinner.

And you can still have your 'gas guzzler' and not break a sweat. It also helps to budget a fixed amount for monthly fuel costs, just like you do for natural gas, water, electricity, etc. Can't just figure putting a $5 in the tank out of loose pocket change on the way home for the rest of the week anymore. Figure your typical monthly cost and plan ahead like you do with anything else.

Anyway, there are alternatives to cope with gas prices. Getting in debt with a new car to get 2 mpg more isn't the answer.

 

[Pastore]

Originally posted by: exdeath

Originally posted by: Ryland
I think I am going to stick with my Tribute. I checked my records and it is actually getting 21mpg so, at best, I would be gaining 8-9mpg, better handling and a moonroof but would lose the 4x4, towing and storage and owing about $10K more. It just does not seem to make sense.

I find that most people looking to save money on gas spend $150 a month on a premium cable TV package, more than $100 a month on cell phones with the full suite of services which they never use, etc.

People act like gas prices are absurdly high. They are higher than they need to be due to meddling with the market (a fake market based on speculation, cartels, etc), but when you think about it, it's only costing maybe $20-40 a month more for the average person. Plenty of places to make that up that aren't as important as convenient transportation. Thats *one* night at the movies, or *one* night out for dinner.

And you can still have your 'gas guzzler' and not break a sweat. It also helps to budget a fixed amount for monthly fuel costs, just like you do for natural gas, water, electricity, etc. Can't just figure putting a $5 in the tank out of loose pocket change on the way home for the rest of the week anymore. Figure your typical monthly cost and plan ahead like you do with anything else.

Anyway, there are alternatives to cope with gas prices. Getting in debt with a new car to get 2 mpg more isn't the answer.

You mean like starting a thread about saving 1-2 MPG then turning around and starting a thread about where to get an aftermarket moonroof installed?

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: Ryland
How is the Mazda3 in the snow?

stock tires suck monkey balls in the snow. actually, they suck period for the price (talking about the eagle RSA's)

 

[WolverineGator]

Last 11 tanks, 2006 Mazda3s hatch 5 speed, stock everything, tow hitch. 42psi tires, cheapest gas I can find (usually racetrack), 100% synthetic oil. Driving about 25 - 50 meters above sea level and mostly flat land. 90% highway driving. $18.2 out the door. $300/6 months for insurance.

Miles - Gal - Price - mpg - 3 tank AVG
--------------------------------------
424.2 - 11.11 - 2.33 - 38.2 - 35.5 <- best! hypermiling methods: coasting,gentle accel.
138.0 - 4.77 - 2.499 - 28.9 - 35.9 <- release from driving like granny on last tank
324.3 - 10.21 - 2.49 - 31.8 - 34.4
325.3 - 10.85 - 2.61 - 30.0 - 30.5
298.8 - 9.97 - 2.699 - 30.0 - 30.6
372.3 - 11.68 - 2.64 - 31.9 - 30.7
104.9 - 4.06 - 2.799 - 25.8 - 30.3
462.1 - 12.27 - 2.89 - 37.7 - 34.0
308.9 - 9.89 - 3.019 - 31.2 - 34.0
341.7 - 10.85 - 3.09 - 31.5 - 34.0
302.6 - 8.10 - 3.019 - 37.3 - 33.3

I have carried: washer, dryer, bikes, mulch bags. I almost never achieve less than 30mpg. With a small trailer ($400 off craigslist) I could carry plywood sheets, pool tables, oversized items, etc. Who needs a truck or SUV? Zero problems to date.

Edited to add: lifetime average speed according to trip computer = 42 mph (this is very fast).

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: exdeath

Originally posted by: SearchMaster


While I'm sure you're trolling, my FWD Japanese car just passed 160K miles, transmission is still running strong (knock on wood). I don't know personally of anyone with a Japanese FWD automatic transmission who has had to rebuild as early as 100K, though I've known three American car owners who have.

I'm not a Japanese car fanboy or an American car basher, but blanket statements like yours serve no useful purpose.

Not picking on Japanese cars or trolling, its just typical and not unusual of FWD auto transmissions. Thats the reason I took the extra time to find my Camry in the rare 5 spd configuration. Not sure why though, maybe the small packaging and heat from the engine bay or something. I just know an fwd auto transmission overhaul at ~100k miles is pretty much a matter of when. Not a quality issue or anything, just a fact of life, probably the same thing with domestics too, just the imports are much more expensive.

Dumbest thing I've ever heard unless your definition of "overhaul" is changing the transmission fluid which you can do yourself for $10. Even with sealed transmissions, they last forever. My '92 Camry has the original transmission and was driven by me then my sister to 290K miles before it was given to a needy family who is still driving it on the original transmission and engine...no idea what the miles are.

 

[theeedude]

Originally posted by: WolverineGator
Last 11 tanks, 2006 Mazda3s hatch 5 speed, stock everything, tow hitch. 42psi tires, cheapest gas I can find (usually racetrack), 100% synthetic oil. Driving about 25 - 50 meters above sea level and mostly flat land. 90% highway driving. $18.2 out the door. $300/6 months for insurance.

Miles - Gal - Price - mpg - 3 tank AVG
--------------------------------------
424.2 - 11.11 - 2.33 - 38.2 - 35.5 <- best! hypermiling methods: coasting,gentle accel.
138.0 - 4.77 - 2.499 - 28.9 - 35.9 <- release from driving like granny on last tank
324.3 - 10.21 - 2.49 - 31.8 - 34.4
325.3 - 10.85 - 2.61 - 30.0 - 30.5
298.8 - 9.97 - 2.699 - 30.0 - 30.6
372.3 - 11.68 - 2.64 - 31.9 - 30.7
104.9 - 4.06 - 2.799 - 25.8 - 30.3
462.1 - 12.27 - 2.89 - 37.7 - 34.0
308.9 - 9.89 - 3.019 - 31.2 - 34.0
341.7 - 10.85 - 3.09 - 31.5 - 34.0
302.6 - 8.10 - 3.019 - 37.3 - 33.3

I have carried: washer, dryer, bikes, mulch bags. I almost never achieve less than 30mpg. With a small trailer ($400 off craigslist) I could carry plywood sheets, pool tables, oversized items, etc. Who needs a truck or SUV? Zero problems to date.

Edited to add: lifetime average speed according to trip computer = 42 mph (this is very fast).

That is consistent with what I am getting with identical setup. Oh yeah, I have a mountian bike in the back of mine with both wheels on and both front seats in their normal position.

 

[Riverhound777]

Originally posted by: WolverineGator
Last 11 tanks, 2006 Mazda3s hatch 5 speed, stock everything, tow hitch. 42psi tires, cheapest gas I can find (usually racetrack), 100% synthetic oil. Driving about 25 - 50 meters above sea level and mostly flat land. 90% highway driving. $18.2 out the door. $300/6 months for insurance.

Miles - Gal - Price - mpg - 3 tank AVG
--------------------------------------
424.2 - 11.11 - 2.33 - 38.2 - 35.5 <- best! hypermiling methods: coasting,gentle accel.
138.0 - 4.77 - 2.499 - 28.9 - 35.9 <- release from driving like granny on last tank
324.3 - 10.21 - 2.49 - 31.8 - 34.4
325.3 - 10.85 - 2.61 - 30.0 - 30.5
298.8 - 9.97 - 2.699 - 30.0 - 30.6
372.3 - 11.68 - 2.64 - 31.9 - 30.7
104.9 - 4.06 - 2.799 - 25.8 - 30.3
462.1 - 12.27 - 2.89 - 37.7 - 34.0
308.9 - 9.89 - 3.019 - 31.2 - 34.0
341.7 - 10.85 - 3.09 - 31.5 - 34.0
302.6 - 8.10 - 3.019 - 37.3 - 33.3

I have carried: washer, dryer, bikes, mulch bags. I almost never achieve less than 30mpg. With a small trailer ($400 off craigslist) I could carry plywood sheets, pool tables, oversized items, etc. Who needs a truck or SUV? Zero problems to date.

Edited to add: lifetime average speed according to trip computer = 42 mph (this is very fast).

My trip computer has my lifetime avg speed at 38mph. And I also have left the mileage for the lifetime of the vehicle. 28.6mpg over 30,700 miles. Not bad.

 

[Ryland]

Actually I was looking to get 10+MPG better, not 1-2 and with all of the incentives that Mazda and the dealership were giving to clear the lot of 2007's along with noticing various things were starting to go wrong with the Tribute I traded in my Tribute for a 3. I just got back from the first trip and was able to get 31mpg without actually trying and in the first 300 miles before the engine is broken in which is about 10mpg better than I would have gotten in my Tribute. It also helped that it would have cost me $1100 to get a sunroof installed into the Tribute that would have been a really bad idea.

 

[Tyrant222]

Congrats ryland. Did you go with a 2.3s sedan or hatch? what options?

Im sure you will love it, have not seen a 3 owner who wasn't happy with their purchase.

 

[theeedude]

Congrats. Now get yourself on mazda3forums.com
I am guessing you got the touring version with sunroof? That's what I have.
BTW, one nice thing you may not know is that a mountain bike fits with both wheels on if you fold the rear seats.
http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/3967/img1108zz3.jpg

 

[Ryland]

I got a 2007 True Red Touring 2.3L hatchback (for some reason I just do not like the looks of the trunk) with the moonroof package. I have not tried folding the rear seats yet. The breakdown was as follows:

Invoice price (no local marketing tacked on )
$1000 Tribute owner loyalty rebate
$300 rebate for it being a 2007
0.0% financing
The dealer threw in the all weather mats, rear bumper guard, cargo tray and cargo mat.

I think I did decently

 

[Ryland]

has anybody found mudflaps for the touring?

 

[ValValline]

Grats!

 

[theeedude]

Originally posted by: Ryland
has anybody found mudflaps for the touring?

What exactly is difference in mud flaps between touring and others?
I have an 06 touring with moonroof. Pretty much what you have, except silver, though sometimes the attention whore in me wishes I got a red one too

 

[Ryland]

No clue but I have not found any mudflaps for the Touring edition.