mazda 3... great car

nb_351 · 10-04-2006, 09:35 PM

i know i might get shot for this, but i believe they are the best small car ever made... and theyre big for a small car... how many people on here think this? or if you have had an experience with one, what was it like?
my girlfriend bought one about three weeks ago... and i tell you, its more enjoyable than my ghia to drive cause its a manual... and is just so smooth and quiet... and so refined... needs a 6 speed though... hehe, and a turbo... or a 6... even better...

Redrum · 10-04-2006, 09:40 PM

Drove a SP23, was alright, they look good. Heaps getting around, must be hurting Astra and Focus sales...

The Monty · 10-04-2006, 09:43 PM

I think they look awesome. I have never actually been in one, but from the outside, the build quality looks fairly good as well. Thumbs up to Mazda for pulling there proverbial finger out.

Steffo · 10-04-2006, 09:47 PM

They've very, very, very nice cars.

For that size though, I'd probably (no - definitley) rather buy a MkV Golf.

RPO83 · 10-04-2006, 09:50 PM

We have a Mazda3 Maxx Sport 5sp manual, its a great car and we've had absolutely nothing go wrong with it. A little harsh on some road surfaces and the interior lighting is a bit too funky for me but that's all I can fault with it.

nb_351 · 10-04-2006, 09:52 PM

yeah theyre nice cars aswell... bit more expensive to maintain... but theyre smaller, i know cause i work on them... they are very nice cars though... the mazda should be in the same market... wait for the mps to compete with the gti golf though... should run all over it i think... with the 2.3 turbo 4 from the mazda 6, just fwd though, not all paw... sadly.. could be a sierra cosworth type car... and a rally champ i think... but yes they are an excellent looking car, and ive never looked twice at mazdas before... theyve done well... would love an mps eventually...

nb_351 · 10-04-2006, 09:53 PM

oh yeah, love the interior... especially the lights... and the stereo fro a 25odd grand stock car is pretty decent...

MickyB · 10-04-2006, 09:58 PM

I want the upcoming Mazda 3 MPS, slightly detuned version of the 6 MPS' engine in the smaller body, torque steering fun, here we come.

ZH_302 · 10-04-2006, 09:58 PM

Bought one for the wife 2 years ago now. Very impressed with it. It's pretty quick, handles like it's on rails, looks great and had no problems with it.
Only complaint I have is cabin noise, not as bad as some of the magazines have said but on coarse bitumen it can get pretty loud.

Overall I'd agree with you - best small car ever made except perhaps the new VW Golf (but that costs a fair bit more)

Pedro · 10-04-2006, 10:05 PM

My wife has had an SP23 sedan for 12 months now and done 18,000km. It's a good car but a little harsh in the ride and makes a lot of road noise. Also lets you know it's a front driver under fast acceleration and rear vision is poor. Probably the hatch has better vision.

bjr22n_ · 10-04-2006, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPO83

We have a Mazda3 Maxx Sport 5sp manual, its a great car and we've had absolutely nothing go wrong with it. A little harsh on some road surfaces and the interior lighting is a bit too funky for me but that's all I can fault with it.

my mum and dad has one in blue.

i love driving it, such fun.

how deep is the glove box? it goes forever.

and roomy, very very nice smooth car. easy to drive, tho i have noticed the dash is all red. i would of like to see another colour like a blue on the tahco or something, just to break up the red abit, but other then that. UNREAL

Teki04 · 11-04-2006, 12:18 AM

My family friend bought one, two work collegues have one, and a friend from uni has one also. ALL of them are Mazda3 Maxx Sports

I was about to purchase one before I got the Fiesta Zetec (which I have sold).

I'll tell you that they are VERY nice cars. Reliable, easy to drive, look nice (in sedan... ratio is 2sedans per hatch sold!), and have great features for what you pay. However, in saying that I would love the seats to be of a higher standard. Would love an SP23... but then power gains are minimal. The MPS is just going to be out of this world. Direct competitor with the XR5T....

However, In saying the Maxx Sport is a good car, I would rather purchase a Focus Zetec; bigger wheels, handles better, more power, nicer looks (In my opinion) and you can probably get a better deal. Not to mention the servicing would also be cheaper!

**Charliewool** · 11-04-2006, 08:38 AM

My wife gave up the XR6T for a Mazda 3 (poor misguided thing, she is) And loves it!
The few times I've ever been allowed to drive it, it appeared ok.. But a little noisy (road noise) Do like the sexy orange dash lights, and they are suprisingly "zippy" for a 2 litre.
Value wise AND resale, they are fantastic! I think I paid 24, 25k O/R, and 18 months later they're still pulling 18, 19k s/hand.

**Mechan1k** · 11-04-2006, 08:42 AM

Here's some useless information ... the Mazda 3 is 30mm shorter than the Mazda 6 ... not much in size difference.

Also the Mazda 6 needs PULP whereas the Mazda 3 doesn't (hence the 3-odd ke power drop for the Mazda 3 SP23)

kcbworth · 11-04-2006, 09:04 AM

personally prefer the focus than the mazda 3. don't like the look of the mazda 3 that much, and when i parked my focus next to a 3 the other day it was pretty obvious the the focus looked better. there's a heap of them going round tho hey :s

b2tf · 11-04-2006, 09:07 AM

would love to have an SP23 Hatch, very tempted to buy one but the price was just a little more than i was willing to pay at the time. next time around though....

Mark351 · 11-04-2006, 09:13 AM

Isn't the Mazda 3 a Focus-based car, in the same way a Ford Laser was based on the Mazda 323?

RPO83 · 11-04-2006, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeathXR

Isn't the Mazda 3 a Focus-based car, in the same way a Ford Laser was based on the Mazda 323?

If anything the Focus is a Mazda based car as Mazda had a little more to do than Ford and Volvo in the development of the C1 platform.

Obviously something is lacking on behalf of the Focus, whether its a design issue or a pricing issue it seems that the car is moderately unpopular even in the current small car boom. If it wasn't for the Focus, Ford would have been right on Holden's toes if not surpassing them in sales.

Deadman · 11-04-2006, 11:46 AM

Mazda 3 SP23's are definately the pick of the small/medium car market, closely followed by the new Focus IMO (obviously due to platform development etc).

The new Mazda 3 MPS looks like it will s**t all over the Focus XR5 though :( Time will tell. Both great cars and I'm doing all I can to resist buying an XR5 or MPS over a Falcon next time round...

crusher · 11-04-2006, 11:47 AM

Dad has a 3 maxx sport. Awesome car to drive. Very quick. Handles well. LOTS of room. The boot is massive! 6 stack is good and the speakers are pretty damn good for stockers.

I drive dads car all the time keeping the kms up as its a lease car. I love driving it. Comfy, easy to drive, cruises nicely. I cant really fault the car. Its just very simple and good to drive.

Mazda have built a good car. And every one knows it too. They are constantly sold out and dont advertise them on tv as there are none and everyone has to wait.

The old man was given a 6 for the day when his was in for its service and he reckons they dont drive as nice and arent as good as the 3. Although hes a little bias, thats a pretty good acheivement for a lower model car.

**FTE217** · 11-04-2006, 12:06 PM

Great looking little toy thats for sure....
I have loved the Mazda 6 since it came out, have come close getting the new 6Turbo but sticking to the Blue Oval due to size.

4.9 EF Futura · 11-04-2006, 12:14 PM

They are nice runabout cars. I was a little disappointed with the power. I realise its not a horsepower oriented vehicle but was struggling to accelerate to 100 going up a reasonable incline... maybe just because it was auto??

Very nice styling, nice interior etc.

Needs a rotary engine

brenx · 11-04-2006, 12:25 PM

I've got an 02 Astina. I'm reasonably happy with it. It goes very well for a 1.8 4cyl. The build quality is good but it lacks in these areas:

1) paint is thin and chips easily
2) road noise
3) frontend issues

Expanding on 3 it suffers the same fate my EL does. Wears the insides of the tyres before the outer. I'm pretty sure Ford owns Mazda. I find it funny they suffer the same issue.

Fairlane · 11-04-2006, 03:18 PM

I think the 3 is an impressive vehicle, but it aint cheap. Dealers do not bargain on these much due to demand.

Ive driven the 2 however and the older 2001 Ford Laser (323) and i think they were both impressive cars, good chasis, fine handling and good quality interiors.

Deadman · 11-04-2006, 03:25 PM

I think you'll find the 3 is substantially improved on the 323 that it replaced. Not just in go, but quality, handling, ride and all other areas that matter

Rev28K · 11-04-2006, 03:36 PM

I’ve got a friend with a sequential shift MP23 who keeps on insisting on a drag for pink slips with my Integra.

The magazines say that I will still beat it in 0-60 and 400m but I think that his 2.3 litre will kill my 1.8 litre for in-gear times.

MAGPIE · 11-04-2006, 04:30 PM

I'm a big fan of the SP23, but the MPS will be in another league altogether, 187 kW / 380 nm torque in that size car will be awesome.

**Falcon Coupe** · 11-04-2006, 04:38 PM

I tried to talk my sister into a Focus when she was looking at the Mazda 3, after she bought the 3 i could see why, it's a great little car.

**Polyal** · 11-04-2006, 04:43 PM

yeah every car off that platform is great. But the road noise is a shocker, espically coarse roads.

Mada is riding a huge wave at the moment!

LethalLeigh · 11-04-2006, 04:53 PM

Mazda have really turned around in the past 5 or so years. Their styling and dynamics have leapt forward. I'm not a big fan of the hatch styling of the 3 though, the C-pillar is far too big.

I drove my aunty's 2003 323 though and the handling really turned me off. It felt really nervous to me but I guess that's in comparison to my then daily driver Falcon. I'm trying to convince my girlfriend's dad to buy a 6 MPS over a Honda Accord V6 too.