I have been checking some prices online for the Civic and the Mazda 3. I want a Mazda 3 GT, but it costs around $22,000 while a Civic EX costs around $20,000. A Volkswagen Rabbit, which beat both of these vehicles in a C&D comparison test recently, costs around $18,000.
I do not know about this vehicle and haven't seen one on the road yet, I believe. I might go and test drive one, but I really want a Mazda 3 GT. The price of that is a bit high considering the class of the car. The price of over $22,000 for the Mazda 3 is putting me off - with that price, you can look at Passats and Accords.
*Update*:
I test drove the Volkswagen Rabbit today along with the Mazda 3 GT hatchback with navigation system.
The Rabbit is more comfortable, quieter, more powerful and the brakes feel a bit better than the Mazda 3. It feels heavier than the 3. The windshield is a bit small though. The Rabbit handled potholes and bad roads very well, unlike the Mazda 3. The 3 makes you feel that the road is bad while the Rabbit absorbs it and you hardly feel it.
As for exterior, the Rabbit looks better in person than in pictures, but the Mazda 3 is still better. I felt the Rabbit had some hard feeling materials inside but the doors are very well built - nice feel to them. The backseat is a bit congested though. Not a big fan of the stereo system but did not really use it that much.
The one thing that bothered me about the Rabbit was the hard movement of the steering wheel. It takes some effort to turn it and it makes you arm tired - or maybe it was just me, I don't know. The car salesman, who was very nice and very knowledgeble, said the steering wheel gets harder to move as the speed builds up but is very light at slow speeds. I was really impressed by the salesman, he just called me - or maybe it is the end of the month and they want the sale. Either way, he did a great job.
As for the Mazda 3, I really liked the Bose audio system - more oomph than I had expected.The navigation system is not as good as the Honda Civic's. I'm not really a fan of the steering wheel though, it doesn't feel as good as my Honda Accord's. Maybe it is because the Mazda 3's steering wheel is smaller or uses different materials, but I absolutely love my Honda Accord's leather wrapped steering wheel.
The Mazda 3 handled better than the Rabbit but I don't think the brakes felt as good though. It could use more power at highway speeds and it could be quieter.
I still want the Mazda 3 GT. However, they are hard to find (the Rabbits are also few in number). I can't even come close to finding the Mazda 3 GT that I want. I don't know how long till new cars come in.
*second update*:
I am looking at prices and figure I can get a Civic Hybrid for around $22,000, which is not a bad price for a hybrid. The Mazda 3 GT, which I want, costs about the same. If you do the math, I would save $600 over the Mazda 3 GT in fuel savings each year. So if I keep this car, I would save $3,000 over a 5 year period.
I have test driven the Civic, but not the Civic Hybrid. I will do this. But for some reason, I still want the Mazda 3. I do not want the Rabbit, however.
Please, what you think of this.
I do not know about this vehicle and haven't seen one on the road yet, I believe. I might go and test drive one, but I really want a Mazda 3 GT. The price of that is a bit high considering the class of the car. The price of over $22,000 for the Mazda 3 is putting me off - with that price, you can look at Passats and Accords.
*Update*:
I test drove the Volkswagen Rabbit today along with the Mazda 3 GT hatchback with navigation system.
The Rabbit is more comfortable, quieter, more powerful and the brakes feel a bit better than the Mazda 3. It feels heavier than the 3. The windshield is a bit small though. The Rabbit handled potholes and bad roads very well, unlike the Mazda 3. The 3 makes you feel that the road is bad while the Rabbit absorbs it and you hardly feel it.
As for exterior, the Rabbit looks better in person than in pictures, but the Mazda 3 is still better. I felt the Rabbit had some hard feeling materials inside but the doors are very well built - nice feel to them. The backseat is a bit congested though. Not a big fan of the stereo system but did not really use it that much.
The one thing that bothered me about the Rabbit was the hard movement of the steering wheel. It takes some effort to turn it and it makes you arm tired - or maybe it was just me, I don't know. The car salesman, who was very nice and very knowledgeble, said the steering wheel gets harder to move as the speed builds up but is very light at slow speeds. I was really impressed by the salesman, he just called me - or maybe it is the end of the month and they want the sale. Either way, he did a great job.
As for the Mazda 3, I really liked the Bose audio system - more oomph than I had expected.The navigation system is not as good as the Honda Civic's. I'm not really a fan of the steering wheel though, it doesn't feel as good as my Honda Accord's. Maybe it is because the Mazda 3's steering wheel is smaller or uses different materials, but I absolutely love my Honda Accord's leather wrapped steering wheel.
The Mazda 3 handled better than the Rabbit but I don't think the brakes felt as good though. It could use more power at highway speeds and it could be quieter.
I still want the Mazda 3 GT. However, they are hard to find (the Rabbits are also few in number). I can't even come close to finding the Mazda 3 GT that I want. I don't know how long till new cars come in.
*second update*:
I am looking at prices and figure I can get a Civic Hybrid for around $22,000, which is not a bad price for a hybrid. The Mazda 3 GT, which I want, costs about the same. If you do the math, I would save $600 over the Mazda 3 GT in fuel savings each year. So if I keep this car, I would save $3,000 over a 5 year period.
I have test driven the Civic, but not the Civic Hybrid. I will do this. But for some reason, I still want the Mazda 3. I do not want the Rabbit, however.
Please, what you think of this.