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

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: 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?

We get snow here in NC. Almost every year we get at least a couple inches of snow or ice. About 7 years ago, we got about 18 inches in the matter of hours. Just a couple of years ago, we had about 6 inches.

But regardless, snow and ice is still an issue here.

 

[dotcom173]

07 civic Si ftmfw!!!

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: ScottSwingleComputers

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?

Switch the 'c' and the 'p' in the bolded word. Add 'come' between 'would' and 'out' if you need to.

 

[BMdoobieW]

Mazda3 FTW.

 

[merlocka]

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

I'll give an alternate opinion.

Tirerack says the RSA's are stock on a Civic too along with Bridgestones which are also poorly reviewed. So I imagine the Civic would probably benefit equally from the upgraded shoes.

I didn't drive em, but I sat in both. Dunno about pictures, but in real life the Civic seemed much cleaner and higher quality.

Edmuds editors picked Mazda mainly on performance merits, and then a host of subjective metrics. But, in the long run, one is a Honda and one isn't (grain of salt included, for the honda haters).

And if performance is your thing, are either of these cars really your first pick?

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: merlocka

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

I'll give an alternate opinion.

Tirerack says the RSA's are stock on a Civic too along with Bridgestones which are also poorly reviewed. So I imagine the Civic would probably benefit equally from the upgraded shoes.

I didn't drive em, but I sat in both. Dunno about pictures, but in real life the Civic seemed much cleaner and higher quality.

Edmuds editors picked Mazda mainly on performance merits, and then a host of subjective metrics. But, in the long run, one is a Honda and one isn't (grain of salt included, for the honda haters).

And if performance is your thing, are either of these cars really your first pick?

The Honda "gotta have it factor" doesn't really play on this one. The Mazda 3 is a highly reliable vehicle with high resale value.

As for the performance factor. Not everyone wants an economy car that drives and handles like one. The Mazda3 is the standout in this crowd when it comes to this. Honda has it fuel efficiency, and nobody tops Mazda in the fun factor at moderate prices across the entire model range.

Driving my GF's sewing-machine-esque Civic EX is tiresome compared to the effortless thrust of my 3s. It has plenty of power down low whereas my GF's Civic has to sing its heart out to create any thrust.

As for the interiors, quality is pretty much dead even. It's just a matter of design preference.

 

[raildogg]

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.

 

[freebee]

The Civic is unfortunately a better car.

It's unfortunate because the Mazda 3 is more fun to drive. Its nimble, quick, and rides fairly well. I tested with the Mazda 3 for a few weeks, mostly commuting, and enjoyed my time with it.

However, the Civic has a certain level of refinement and build quality that seem lacking in the Mazda. The smells, sensations, and tactile responses in the Honda were more pleasant. What it lacks in sport, it makes up in comfort.

Granted these are both small, inexpensive sedans. In general, manufacturers assume the buyers of these vehicles are not automotive enthusiasts but merely seeking transportation from A to B. And in that regard, the Honda is a superior vehicle. YMMV.

*I should note, as an enthusiast, NFS4 should have bought a MINI.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: freebee
The Civic is unfortunately a better car.

It's unfortunate because the Mazda 3 is more fun to drive. Its nimble, quick, and rides fairly well. I tested with the Mazda 3 for a few weeks, mostly commuting, and enjoyed my time with it.

However, the Civic has a certain level of refinement and build quality that seem lacking in the Mazda. The smells, sensations, and tactile responses in the Honda were more pleasant. What it lacks in sport, it makes up in comfort.

Granted these are both small, inexpensive sedans. In general, manufacturers assume the buyers of these vehicles are not automotive enthusiasts but merely seeking transportation from A to B. And in that regard, the Honda is a superior vehicle. YMMV.

*I should note, as an enthusiast, NFS4 should have bought a MINI.

A Mini isn't a comfortable cruiser that can carry 5 people along with some cargo. The reason for me getting the 3s Hatch was for its versatility.

As for the build quality/refinement area. The Honda is "quieter" but build quality/materials is quite equal IMHO.

But you are right, as a basic appliance, the Honda fits the bill.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Drive the Civic Si.

 

[Wag]

Check out the Subaru Impreza Sport Wagon. I bought a '06 model last year and I love it.

 

[abaez]

Yea, I just bought a 07 impreza wagon. I love it too but the road noise is killer. NSF4 and his tires makes me want to look into some better ones but I have no idea where to look.

 

[Wag]

The road noise isn't that bad. If the sound botehers you that much you should ask your dealership about a different brand of tire.

Still, I have to say, for $19k you're getting a hell of alot of car. 173hp AWD, etc, etc. No other car comes close. I live in NE so I'm jaded. Every other car here is a Subaru.

 

[Mellman]

if you're getting a mazda 3, get nothing less than a 3s GT, its an amazing car, if i wasn't getting a mazdaspeed 3 i'd have grabbed an 06 new with the incentives they were offering...

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: raildogg
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.

Bingo. If you need to pass on the highway, you must have lots of time to do so and plant your foot to the floor. My gf does 80+ on the highway, so it really pisses her off. Her "old" Saturn L200 2.2L 145HP/145TQ automatic would rape the Civic up & down with performance, and get near the same mileage. She got 24-25MPG city and ~30MPG highway in that car.

Get the Mazda 3, you will regret the Civic.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Linux23
Don't you live down south NFS4? Why put on all season's when you could get a damn nice set of summer tires?

We get snow here in NC. Almost every year we get at least a couple inches of snow or ice. About 7 years ago, we got about 18 inches in the matter of hours. Just a couple of years ago, we had about 6 inches.

But regardless, snow and ice is still an issue here.

All-seasons are good for more than just ice and snow. Summer tires generally don't work well in temperatures below 50F, especially in the wet. And the newest generation of UHP M&S tires are almost as good as summer-only tires in the dry.
Personally, I'd have gotten the Pirellis, but they do cost a little more IIRC and I hear nothing but good things about the Kumhos.

On topic, I'd call it a toss-up between the 3 and the Civic. Personally, I'd go with the 3 for performance reasons and because the Civic interior is hideous in design IMO. Reliability isn't really an issue anymore -- all new cars are reliable for the most part.