Test drove Mazda3, Nice.

[dxkj]

Test Drove the Mazda 3. Now I pretty much have my mind set on it unless the Toyota Matrix test drive blows me away. The Mazda 3 is one sweet ride. (Especially compared to my previous 3 cars.. 1984 Ford Tempo, 1988 Honda Civic, 1991 Chevy Cavalier. All under 100 hp I believe.


Trying to figure out what options to get now . Leather is tempting but doesnt really add a whole lot. Not going to waste money on HID's and Tire pressure Monitor Sensor. Plus to get those you have to add ABS and additional airbags. (ABS can suck me, Ive used them before in other cars and they just make it harder for me to control because Im not usd to using them). The auto-dimming mirror/compass/temp option is fairly cheap but maybe not neccessary either.


Any mazda 3 owners out there with a list of their options and comments? I think we are definitely going to get the moonroof/6cd package.

 

[StageLeft]

Yeah it's pretty nice. I would think carefully about paying a lot to upgrade the car in options, because before you know it you're paying the same price as a base model much nicer car. I think that people frequently err by choosing an inexpensive car and decking it out, bringing its price up to orbit, oblivious to the fact that for that money they could have bought themselves into the base model of something much nicer.

Are you going to get the low or high HP version?

 

[GTaudiophile]

I'm seeing more and more on the road, and every time I see one, I think to myself, "That's a solid car." I think I need to test drive one too.

 

Yeah, once you get up to the $18,000 range with the 3, it actually becomes worth it to spend a BIT more and get a Mazda 6s with Sport Package. Much nicer, larger and more powerful with a V6.

 

[dxkj]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Yeah it's pretty nice. I would think carefully about paying a lot to upgrade the car in options, because before you know it you're paying the same price as a base model much nicer car. I think that people frequently err by choosing an inexpensive car and decking it out, bringing its price up to orbit, oblivious to the fact that for that money they could have bought themselves into the base model of something much nicer.

Are you going to get the low or high HP version?

Hatchback, so high horsepower is the only choice.

 

[dxkj]

Originally posted by: jumpr
Yeah, once you get up to the $18,000 range with the 3, it actually becomes worth it to spend a BIT more and get a Mazda 6s with Sport Package. Much nicer, larger and more powerful with a V6.

Problem is the mazda 6 hatchback is a bit above that. I do see what you mean though.


But there is more to it than a V6 vs a 4 cylinder. If you can deck out a Mazda 3, and get better gas mileage than a base model 6, why go to the larger vehicle?




Edit:

Mazda6 base sedan is 18,895. And that is with the same engine as the highend mazda3. You need to hit 21.5k to get the mazda6 base with v6 it looks.

 

[abaez]

I want one of these too. It have my choices down to the mazda 3 hatch, subaru wrx hatch, or the saab 9-2x hatch.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: jumpr
Yeah, once you get up to the $18,000 range with the 3, it actually becomes worth it to spend a BIT more and get a Mazda 6s with Sport Package. Much nicer, larger and more powerful with a V6.

Not when you testdrove a Mazda 6 (V6, Loaded, MT) and came away unimpressed.

 

[dxkj]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: jumpr
Yeah, once you get up to the $18,000 range with the 3, it actually becomes worth it to spend a BIT more and get a Mazda 6s with Sport Package. Much nicer, larger and more powerful with a V6.

Not when you testdrove a Mazda 6 (V6, Loaded, MT) and came away unimpressed.

I havnt test driven the Mazda 6, but for the $$ the Mazda 3 takes you a lot further IMO.

 

[StageLeft]

If you can get a v6 mazda 6 for only 2.5k more than the 3 (even if the 6 isn't decked out), I'd go that route. The 3 has a price premium now, and remember the 6 will have better resale later too.

 

[dxkj]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
If you can get a v6 mazda 6 for only 2.5k more than the 3 (even if the 6 isn't decked out), I'd go that route. The 3 has a price premium now, and remember the 6 will have better resale later too.

I'm definitely after a hatchback vs a sedan for storage capacity.


Hatchback Mazda 3 w/ Moonroof = 17,800 msrp
Mazda 6 sedan w/ V6 = 22,300 msrp


4.5k difference, for a bigger engine with worse gas mileage and less options.

I will check but Im pretty sure the depreciation of the protege5 hatchback was less than the mazda 6.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Possible advantages of the 3 over the 6?

Built in Japan instead of Michigan.
Smaller, tighter, more nible.
160hp S version maybe more fun AND more efficient.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
If you can get a v6 mazda 6 for only 2.5k more than the 3 (even if the 6 isn't decked out), I'd go that route. The 3 has a price premium now, and remember the 6 will have better resale later too.

Are dealers charging out the A$$ for the 3 now?

 

[dxkj]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: Skoorb
If you can get a v6 mazda 6 for only 2.5k more than the 3 (even if the 6 isn't decked out), I'd go that route. The 3 has a price premium now, and remember the 6 will have better resale later too.

Are dealers charging out the A$$ for the 3 now?

Not that I know of, and they negotiate well on the price. I think 17k-18k for a new decently loaded mazda 3 is a pretty good deal for the car.

 

[beyonddc]

I own a Mazda 3 S Sedan w/ ABS, Moonroof/6 CD changer and sport package.

I say the sport package, xeon light package and the leather option is not a must, but the ABS, I think that might be good to have. The ABS in the 3 is not that bad. I know what you mean by not getting control over the car, but so far I haven't have any problem. My previous car which is a 95 sentra doesn't have ABS either. At first, I did have a little problem w/ it, but once you get use to it, you'll start to like it. That's how I experience it.

I don't think the navigation system is a must either, but that's good to have if you go on a lot of trip or you don't know how to read map, eh!

 

[NFS4]

I just priced a Mazda 3s sedan:

4-speed auto
ABS package
Sport package

$18,665 including destination fee. I'll most likely be getting on in the fall after the rebates and incentives come out. Mazda already has a $2,500 cash rebate on their other models.

 

[dxkj]

Originally posted by: NFS4
I just priced a Mazda 3s sedan:

4-speed auto
ABS package
Sport package

$18,665 including destination fee. I'll most likely be getting on in the fall after the rebates and incentives come out. Mazda already has a $2,500 cash rebate on their other models.

Heh, wish I could wait for that but having no car right now has its disadvantages.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: dxkj

Originally posted by: NFS4
I just priced a Mazda 3s sedan:

4-speed auto
ABS package
Sport package

$18,665 including destination fee. I'll most likely be getting on in the fall after the rebates and incentives come out. Mazda already has a $2,500 cash rebate on their other models.

Heh, wish I could wait for that but having no car right now has its disadvantages.

Yeah that's true. I have a '95 Camry LE that has 140,000 miles on it and has been practically trouble free. It pains me to have to pick up car payments again by going to a new car, but I don't want to keep this car forever.

 

[StageLeft]

All i know is that when I was looking at a 3 in december the price difference between the 3 and the 6 was about $1500. The 3 had just hit the lots and the dealer was trying to offload some older 6s. Plus the 6 had a much better incentive deal at the time.

 

[dxkj]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
All i know is that when I was looking at a 3 in december the price difference between the 3 and the 6 was about $1500. The 3 had just hit the lots and the dealer was trying to offload some older 6s. Plus the 6 had a much better incentive deal at the time.

Yeah they were probably trying to offload the previous year 6's. I dont like buying in the middle of the year because that puts me at a disadvantage in maximum deals.

 

[KingNothing]

I can't imagine buying a car without ABS, especially a new car. It really is a nice feature to have.

 

[GTaudiophile]

A loaded Mazda 3 is my "plan B" no-sweat option. I'm still waiting to see how much the 2005 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT and 3.0R Spec B models will cost. If I can get the latter around $30K, that's what I'll get. A test drive of the "3" in the mean time still isn't a bad idea.

 

[CrackaLackaZe]

The 3 is a driver?s car, and will be scooped up by the aftermarket and general driving enthusiasts. Mazda engineers grin when they say this chassis can take ?a lot more horsepower.? The multilink rear suspension configuration is adopted from the Mazda 6 as well?which in turn borrowed it from the Focus?and its firm damper settings and wide stance make for a relatively wallow-free drive. We would have liked greater available front suspension travel, as we bottomed out a few times in both cars in situations where we were not expecting anything of the sort. For Mazda, this is the most important car in every market in its product offensive. Globally, the compact segment is the single largest segment, with 2.4 million cars sold per year in North America alone. Mazda plans call for a three-door, wagon and convertible 3, and MazdaSpeed, MPS and all-wheel-drive versions available by the end of calendar year 2005.

Text

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: KingNothing
I can't imagine buying a car without ABS, especially a new car. It really is a nice feature to have.

I don't really care for ABS myself, the pulsing in the brake pedal doesn't create confidence in braking despite the fact that's supposed to happen.

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: KingNothing
I can't imagine buying a car without ABS, especially a new car. It really is a nice feature to have.

I don't really care for ABS myself, the pulsing in the brake pedal doesn't create confidence in braking despite the fact that's supposed to happen.

More modern ABS systems are designed to have almost no pulse feedback in the pedal. Many newer european cars like Audi and BMW do this to their ABS systems.