So I just test drove the Mazda 3 and the Honda Civic ...

[raildogg]

I first went to the Mazda dealership and drove a Mazda 3 hatchback. The interior is not as roomy as I had thought and the road noise is very loud. The handling is extremely sharp however. The car is decent at acceleration. I'm not totally sure about this car.

On to the Civic: I went to the Honda dealership and test drove a Civic EX sedan with Navigation system. The interior is great and the navigation system screen is very large and has great colors. Love it. I also love the digital speedometer - you don't have to look down and look how fast you are going. The acceleration is almost similar to the Mazda 3 and the road noise is less. It is very good at handling as well. Pricewise, both cars are about the same.

I did not except that the Civic would out ahead of the Mazda, but it did.

Now I'm leaning towards the Civic, but I may have another test drive.

*update*: 10/25/06

I just did a second test drive of both cars today and the Mazda 3 felt better than the Civic. The Civic just seems weak in terms of power. On the highway, I had to press the gas pedal very hard and it still had a hard time going over 60 MPH. I would imagine it is not very good on hills.

The Mazda 3 has a nice feeling to it. Love the bright windshield and back windshield - maybe it was just me, but it seemed brigther outside. The feel was great. I did not try the sound system, but is the Bose sound system ok on the Mazda 3 GT?

Right now, I'm leaning towards the Mazda 3, prefebly the GT.

 

[InlineFive]

Try a Mazdaspeed3 or a Volvo C30.

 

[NFS4]

The Goodyear Eagle RS-A's are the reason for the road noise. THOSE TIRES SUCK ASS. I just TODAY replaced my OEM RS-As with Kumho ASX tires and it's like night and day. As for acceleration, there should really be no comparison between the two. The Mazda3 is the quicker car with more torque as well. Handling should also favor the Mazda by a fair margin.

Even when using the automatic, the 3 is a second quicker than the Civic:

http://www.edmunds.com/apps/vdpcontainers/do/vdp/articleId=108601/pageNumber=9

The 3 won that comparo BTW

I just couldn't get over the Civic's interior. Too space-shippy and ugly for me.

 

[Shortcut]

Raildogg - what is your current ride? And how does the road noise in the Civic compare to it?

 

[DeviousTrap]

Originally posted by: InlineFive
Try a Mazdaspeed3 or a Volvo C30.

Has the Mazdaspeed3 hit dealers yet? I'm pretty sure the C30 isn't out yet.

I'd probably go and test drive the GTI as well, just to drive every major competitor in that category.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: DeviousTrap

Originally posted by: InlineFive
Try a Mazdaspeed3 or a Volvo C30.

Has the Mazdaspeed3 hit dealers yet? I'm pretty sure the C30 isn't out yet.

I'd probably go and test drive the GTI as well, just to drive every major competitor in that category.

The C30, GTI and MS3 are all a price class above the Civic EX and Mazda 3s.

More worthy competition would be the new Sentra, Golf/Jetta, Corolla, etc.

 

[compuwiz1]

Tried the Ford Focus? LOL

Seems funny, but when I worked at the Ford store, there were many people who were also looking at Civic's but bought the Focus, saying they liked it better. :shocked:

 

[Imported]

I really don't like some of the exterior cosmetics of the Mazdaspeed 3.. and those wheels are just ick. Saw it in person at the ALMS in Laguna Seca this past weekend. That being said, it'd still be one of the cars I'd look into getting if I was buying a new car in that price range.

 

[DeviousTrap]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: DeviousTrap

Originally posted by: InlineFive
Try a Mazdaspeed3 or a Volvo C30.

Has the Mazdaspeed3 hit dealers yet? I'm pretty sure the C30 isn't out yet.

I'd probably go and test drive the GTI as well, just to drive every major competitor in that category.

The C30, GTI and MS3 are all a price class above the Civic EX and Mazda 3s.

More worthy competition would be the new Sentra, Golf/Jetta, Corolla, etc.

Nevermind then, the new Sentra and Corolla are both boring in comparison, and the only VWs that I'd want to drive are the GTI/GLI.

 

[Strk]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: DeviousTrap

Originally posted by: InlineFive
Try a Mazdaspeed3 or a Volvo C30.

Has the Mazdaspeed3 hit dealers yet? I'm pretty sure the C30 isn't out yet.

I'd probably go and test drive the GTI as well, just to drive every major competitor in that category.

The C30, GTI and MS3 are all a price class above the Civic EX and Mazda 3s.

More worthy competition would be the new Sentra, Golf/Jetta, Corolla, etc.

Do dealers have the new Sentras already?

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: compuwiz1
Tried the Ford Focus? LOL

Seems funny, but when I worked at the Ford store, there were many people who were also looking at Civic's but bought the Focus, saying they liked it better. :shocked:

it is cheaper and the ford focus isn't a bad car. however its engine would now be considered to buzzy and under-powered.

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: sniperruff

Originally posted by: compuwiz1
Tried the Ford Focus? LOL

Seems funny, but when I worked at the Ford store, there were many people who were also looking at Civic's but bought the Focus, saying they liked it better. :shocked:

it is cheaper and the ford focus isn't a bad car. however its engine would now be considered to buzzy and under-powered.

Its not really too bad for a small car. I was very suprised for how nice a focus is for a normal a to b small commuter car. It does feel a bit underpowered but otherwise it is very relaxing and easy to drive. excellent visibility, easy small turning circle, predictable handling and conforting ride at 5/10s(didnt push it, had to give a customer a ride).

Just imagine how cheap those are out the door considering how hard dealers will bargain with you to get you in the car.

 

[sswingle]

Originally posted by: raildogg

I did not except that the Civic would out ahead of the Mazda, but it did.

Am I the only one trying to figure this sentence out?

 

[fbrdphreak]

My gf owns an 06 Civic and I've driven it extensively as well. Let me tell you a few things about Honda's nifty 140HP 1.8L: it doesn't pull worth sh!t above 80mph. If you want to move above 40mph, plan on dropping several gears and getting the revs above 4K. Road noise isn't great at high speeds, but probably better than most. Handling is compliant and smooth, but not tight or sharp. Steering is very sharp, but somewhat numb. Interior quality is pretty good, but you will get rattles & noises pretty quickly. She's getting a noise from the front-right suspension right now (I think ~6K miles) and needs to have it looked at. Mileage is disappointing. Everything I'd read about Accord's & the 2.4L I-4 in there was great; owners were getting 28MPG+ city, 34MPG+ highway and didn't matter how they drove it for the most part. This car is very disappointing. Driving conservatively, she's lucky to get 27MPG city; more often 25-27. She's never seen 30 in the city, but she also doesn't grandma. Highway mileage is very disappointing. We did do a highway run at 70-80mph with mostly cruise on and I think got a best of 37-38MPG. But most highway driving (aggressively of course) got 34-35MPG. For a car with no guts, not getting at least EPA mileage (which Honda's usually do), it is very disappointing. She has the 5-speed auto BTW.

Get the Mazda3 if you enjoy driving your car at all. The larger, higher-output engine will be much better to drive and the two weigh about the same. The handling will be tons better. And from what I've read, you should get upper 20's MPG city and mid-30's MPG highway, near what the Civic gets in real life. Not to mention with Ford in the hole, they're probly ready to move 'em.

EDIT Feel free to PM me with specific questions about the Civic. She has an 06 Ex with everything but Navi.

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: compuwiz1
Tried the Ford Focus? LOL

Seems funny, but when I worked at the Ford store, there were many people who were also looking at Civic's but bought the Focus, saying they liked it better. :shocked:

I have a 2003 hatchback Focus. The 06-07 are a little long in the tooth. They have been getting away without any major changes since 2000.
I think the ride is awesome, drives like a bigger car. Quiet interior, no buzzes, rattles, squeeks, handling is superb, even on the stock tires. I can't wait for an SVT kit.
The Mazda 3 and Honda Civic are all new, fresh designs. Even though the Focus holds up well, a lot has advanced in chassis design.
I would love to replace my daily driver with a mazda 3.

 

[raildogg]

Yes, I currently drive a 2001 Honda Accord V6 EX. The road noise is about the same as the new 2007 Civic and less than the Mazda 3, which was very loud. About the wheels as stated above, I will look into it, thank you very much.

But the reason why I want to get the Civic over the Mazda 3 is that, to me, both cars drove somewhat similarly. I was not blown away by the Mazda 3 in terms of fun factor. I had expected more, although turns and handling are very nice - extremely tight. The interior of the Mazda 3 is very darkish and the front just seems a bit congested. The Civic on the other hand seems more light in terms of interior appearance and just a little bit more roomy up front. Also, visibility is greater in the Civic than in the Mazda 3.

I have looked at the comparison between these two cars and have driven them both as well. The Civic's higher gas mileage also is an advantage. A lot of people will say otherwise, but I love the Civic's speedometer and the nav system. What I will do is test drive both of them again - maybe I was wrong this time, who knows.

As for the Mazda Speed 3, it is just not good for gas so it is out of the question.

Maybe I will give the Jetta a look. But the TDI diesel engine is not available anymore and the other engines get about the same mileage as the Mazda 3, which is probably a better car. What do you think?

 

[edro]

I recommend the Hyundai Accent. It has better handling, acceleration, style, reliability and resale value than the Civic and Mazda 3.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: raildogg
I first went to the Mazda dealership and drove a Mazda 3 hatchback. The interior is not as roomy as I had thought and the road noise is very loud. The handling is extremely sharp however. The car is decent at acceleration. I'm not totally sure about this car.

On to the Civic: I went to the Honda dealership and test drove a Civic EX sedan with Navigation system. The interior is great and the navigation system screen is very large and has great colors. Love it. I also love the digital speedometer - you don't have to look down and look how fast you are going. The acceleration is almost similar to the Mazda 3 and the road noise is less. It is very good at handling as well. Pricewise, both cars are about the same.

I did not except that the Civic would out ahead of the Mazda, but it did.

Now I'm leaning towards the Civic, but I may have another test drive.

geez.. if you're going to spend that kidna $ on overpriced civics, might as well go for an accord

 

[d3n]

The road noise in the Mazda could be noisy tires. Look em up on tirerack.

 

[raildogg]

Originally posted by: JEDI

Originally posted by: raildogg
I first went to the Mazda dealership and drove a Mazda 3 hatchback. The interior is not as roomy as I had thought and the road noise is very loud. The handling is extremely sharp however. The car is decent at acceleration. I'm not totally sure about this car.

On to the Civic: I went to the Honda dealership and test drove a Civic EX sedan with Navigation system. The interior is great and the navigation system screen is very large and has great colors. Love it. I also love the digital speedometer - you don't have to look down and look how fast you are going. The acceleration is almost similar to the Mazda 3 and the road noise is less. It is very good at handling as well. Pricewise, both cars are about the same.

I did not except that the Civic would out ahead of the Mazda, but it did.

Now I'm leaning towards the Civic, but I may have another test drive.

geez.. if you're going to spend that kidna $ on overpriced civics, might as well go for an accord

Please, how is it overpriced? It is competively priced the last time I checked. I already have an Accord so I'm looking at something cheaper for gas, insurance and something compact.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: d3n
The road noise in the Mazda could be noisy tires. Look em up on tirerack.

Yeah, I mentioned that above. The stock RS-As are junk. They are rated VERY poorly at TireRack.

RSAs:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp...7RSA&fromCompare1=yes&minSpeedRating=H

Kumhos I just bought:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp...ing=WR&speed_rating=YR&speed_rating=ZR

As for the interiors. I just couldn't look at this day in and day out (that steering wheel is pure puke):

http://paultan.org/wp-content/interior_main.jpg

I much prefer this all business interior vs the cartoony Honda:

http://www.edmunds.com/media/2003/frankfurt/04.mazda.3/04.mazda.3.int.500.jpg

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: d3n
The road noise in the Mazda could be noisy tires. Look em up on tirerack.

Yeah, I mentioned that above. The stock RS-As are junk. They are rated VERY poorly at TireRack.

RSAs:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp...7RSA&fromCompare1=yes&minSpeedRating=H

Kumhos I just bought:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp...ing=WR&speed_rating=YR&speed_rating=ZR

As for the interiors. I just couldn't look at this day in and day out (that steering wheel is pure puke):

http://paultan.org/wp-content/interior_main.jpg

I much prefer this all business interior vs the cartoony Honda:

http://www.edmunds.com/media/2003/frankfurt/04.mazda.3/04.mazda.3.int.500.jpg

Why Kumho's instead of BF Goodrich Traction T/A's (available from Walmart)?

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: JEDI

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: d3n
The road noise in the Mazda could be noisy tires. Look em up on tirerack.

Yeah, I mentioned that above. The stock RS-As are junk. They are rated VERY poorly at TireRack.

RSAs:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp...7RSA&fromCompare1=yes&minSpeedRating=H

Kumhos I just bought:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp...ing=WR&speed_rating=YR&speed_rating=ZR

As for the interiors. I just couldn't look at this day in and day out (that steering wheel is pure puke):

http://paultan.org/wp-content/interior_main.jpg

I much prefer this all business interior vs the cartoony Honda:

http://www.edmunds.com/media/2003/frankfurt/04.mazda.3/04.mazda.3.int.500.jpg

Why Kumho's instead of BF Goodrich Traction T/A's (available from Walmart)?

B/C the Kumho ASXs were rated highly by nearly everyone on the Mazda3 Forums and they have high ratings on TireRack. And at $89 a tire, it's a good value for a high-performance all-season tire.

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: d3n
The road noise in the Mazda could be noisy tires. Look em up on tirerack.

Yeah, I mentioned that above. The stock RS-As are junk. They are rated VERY poorly at TireRack.

RSAs:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp...7RSA&fromCompare1=yes&minSpeedRating=H

Kumhos I just bought:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp...ing=WR&speed_rating=YR&speed_rating=ZR

As for the interiors. I just couldn't look at this day in and day out (that steering wheel is pure puke):

http://paultan.org/wp-content/interior_main.jpg

I much prefer this all business interior vs the cartoony Honda:

http://www.edmunds.com/media/2003/frankfurt/04.mazda.3/04.mazda.3.int.500.jpg

good research there.

 

[Linux23]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: JEDI

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: d3n
The road noise in the Mazda could be noisy tires. Look em up on tirerack.

Yeah, I mentioned that above. The stock RS-As are junk. They are rated VERY poorly at TireRack.

RSAs:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp...7RSA&fromCompare1=yes&minSpeedRating=H

Kumhos I just bought:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp...ing=WR&speed_rating=YR&speed_rating=ZR

As for the interiors. I just couldn't look at this day in and day out (that steering wheel is pure puke):

http://paultan.org/wp-content/interior_main.jpg

I much prefer this all business interior vs the cartoony Honda:

http://www.edmunds.com/media/2003/frankfurt/04.mazda.3/04.mazda.3.int.500.jpg

Why Kumho's instead of BF Goodrich Traction T/A's (available from Walmart)?

B/C the Kumho ASXs were rated highly by nearly everyone on the Mazda3 Forums and they have high ratings on TireRack. And at $89 a tire, it's a good value for a high-performance all-season tire.

Don't you live down south NFS4? Why put on all season's when you could get a damn nice set of summer tires?