Thinking about a Mazda3
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i test drove the mazda 3 with my friend last weekend. The interior is nice and the engine is awesome. i like the tiptonic shift, yes i know its not as good as a real manual but its still a nice feature to have. I can play with the tiptonic shift on straight ways and go back to auto in traffic. I think there the only company that offers HIDS for there econobox cars from the factory, instead of having to buy kits or s2000 headlights then modding them like we have to do with our cars. I agree with everyone else that the trunk looks bad, then again with all new models you just have to get use to it. They grow on you. I dont think you can really go wrong if you pick the 3, a part of me wishes i got the 3, but then the sensible side of me saids i made a good choice with my civic coupe since i do drive 60miles a day.
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Rep Power: 348 http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/mazd...3_features.pdf
There are the features. It weighs 2762 for those who were asking before. Nookie is right, it's no slug. The numbers he showed are for the 5 door, and it's about 200 pounds heavier than the 4 door.
The only thing I'm worried about is the resale value. I know the vic will hold up in that dept. but Mazdas usually drop like a rock.
As for reliability, I had an RX-7 with 160K miles and a 323 with over 300K and never had any real problems with them.
There are the features. It weighs 2762 for those who were asking before. Nookie is right, it's no slug. The numbers he showed are for the 5 door, and it's about 200 pounds heavier than the 4 door.
The only thing I'm worried about is the resale value. I know the vic will hold up in that dept. but Mazdas usually drop like a rock.
As for reliability, I had an RX-7 with 160K miles and a 323 with over 300K and never had any real problems with them.
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From: Tri-State New York
Rep Power: 0 I recently sold my 350z because it had too many issues and found my way into a 2004 civic ex 4dr. I really am impressed with the honda build quality. it is better built than my 2000 Merc slk. I will either get an s2000 or a evo 8 next
However the new mazda 3 is a sweet looking car. especially the 5dr hatch. It is a great competitor and you can get leather and navigation if that floats your boat.
Here is a mazda3 with available Kenstyle body kit and Volk racing wheels.
[IMG]http://www.kenstyle.co.jp/02_LINEUP/AEROPARTS/CARIMAGE/OTHER/AXELA/AXELA_HB_4
.jpg[/IMG]
However the new mazda 3 is a sweet looking car. especially the 5dr hatch. It is a great competitor and you can get leather and navigation if that floats your boat.
Here is a mazda3 with available Kenstyle body kit and Volk racing wheels.
[IMG]http://www.kenstyle.co.jp/02_LINEUP/AEROPARTS/CARIMAGE/OTHER/AXELA/AXELA_HB_4
.jpg[/IMG]
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Rep Power: 328 I'll kill your kittens and shove the rainbow up your ***.
BTW any time you wanna run my "kitten loving rainbow car" I'll be happy to oblige.
Mazda was the only Japanese car manufacturer to win the 24 hour Le Mans endurance championship. Mazda is the only company that directly sponsors teams that drive its cars. Other marques, such as BMW and Acura, pay for good finishes in their cars. For example, win in a BMW and the company rewards you with $4000. But only Mazda directly supports Protégé racers. Four teams, including the tri-point team receive undisclosed dollars from Mazda. The benefit is obvious: Give some realism to the “zoom zoom” ad campaign in a series where its 16,400 car runs with a BMW. Last year, Proteges won three times.
http://www.tripointmotorsports.com/index.html
Mazda has rich road racing heritage. Just because you drive a really really fast civic, doesn't mean that you shouldn't try to appreciate other cars in the automotive world.
Rainbows and kittens huh? I'm guessing this is implying gay.
Tell that to these guys
http://www.mazda.co.jp/mazdaspeed/
BTW any time you wanna run my "kitten loving rainbow car" I'll be happy to oblige.
Mazda was the only Japanese car manufacturer to win the 24 hour Le Mans endurance championship. Mazda is the only company that directly sponsors teams that drive its cars. Other marques, such as BMW and Acura, pay for good finishes in their cars. For example, win in a BMW and the company rewards you with $4000. But only Mazda directly supports Protégé racers. Four teams, including the tri-point team receive undisclosed dollars from Mazda. The benefit is obvious: Give some realism to the “zoom zoom” ad campaign in a series where its 16,400 car runs with a BMW. Last year, Proteges won three times.
http://www.tripointmotorsports.com/index.html
Mazda has rich road racing heritage. Just because you drive a really really fast civic, doesn't mean that you shouldn't try to appreciate other cars in the automotive world.
Rainbows and kittens huh? I'm guessing this is implying gay.
Tell that to these guys
http://www.mazda.co.jp/mazdaspeed/
Last edited by nookiemonster; Feb 20, 2004 at 12:20 AM.
Autocross Junky
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Rep Power: 380 excluding all other things, at least it would be fun to drive. 
and I have to ask..... whats the smallest wheel you can fit over the calipers? (Its the autocrosser in me )
and to support nookiemonster.....
autocross: Miatas are the best car for C-stock
Road racing: NASA runs Spec RX7 and Speck Miata (the miata has been described as the best british roadster EVER by the very people who race it)
More Road racing: the Miata is the best car for Showroom Stock C
Mazda has tried Very hard to put Performance above all else, but unlike companys like Dodge and their SRT-4, Mazda Values a balance of power and handling.
nookiemonster, the Mazdaspeed Protege is a bad *** little car, and the only thing holding it back from doing Very well in autocross is the fact that it comes with 17s stock
Oh well. It would be doing so much better if it came with smaller wheels.
and I have to ask..... whats the smallest wheel you can fit over the calipers? (Its the autocrosser in me
)and to support nookiemonster.....
autocross: Miatas are the best car for C-stock
Road racing: NASA runs Spec RX7 and Speck Miata (the miata has been described as the best british roadster EVER by the very people who race it)
More Road racing: the Miata is the best car for Showroom Stock C
Mazda has tried Very hard to put Performance above all else, but unlike companys like Dodge and their SRT-4, Mazda Values a balance of power and handling.
nookiemonster, the Mazdaspeed Protege is a bad *** little car, and the only thing holding it back from doing Very well in autocross is the fact that it comes with 17s stock
Oh well. It would be doing so much better if it came with smaller wheels. Last edited by Zzyzx; Feb 20, 2004 at 12:33 AM.
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Rep Power: 328 I know what you mean, but I got some 15" Rotas in my future plans...
But I gotta admit...the 17's look great for the street...aint no denying that...
Thanks for the compliments bro!...we still haven't met up here in vegas man...I'd like to go to one of the local auto x events...I've only been a couple times...definitely addicting...
But I gotta admit...the 17's look great for the street...aint no denying that...
Thanks for the compliments bro!...we still haven't met up here in vegas man...I'd like to go to one of the local auto x events...I've only been a couple times...definitely addicting...
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From: Duluth, MN
Rep Power: 394 Originally posted by nookiemonster
I'll kill your kittens and shove the rainbow up your ***.
I'll kill your kittens and shove the rainbow up your ***.
Thats funny. But seriously. I drove by and checked out the Mazda 3 sedan, I like the looks of it and for a stikcer of 20,000, with stock HID's and stock 17"s its a good deal. Havent had a chance to test drive one, but people I have spoke to, have said they are great little cars. And by the looks of the pics posted, you can make them look badass. If I was in the position to purchase I new I would definiatly look at the Mazda 3. 
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i like the sedan but the hatchback is a no. which are you looking at?
mazda's a really good feel to them, like the doors feel solid when you shut them. they are not long-term cars though i dont think, from my friends of mine have experienced (high mileage becomes an issue). also being owned by ford kinda scares me after all the problems we have had with the explorer and mustang.
but thats just my opinion, just make sure its what you really want.
i like the sedan but the hatchback is a no. which are you looking at?
mazda's a really good feel to them, like the doors feel solid when you shut them. they are not long-term cars though i dont think, from my friends of mine have experienced (high mileage becomes an issue). also being owned by ford kinda scares me after all the problems we have had with the explorer and mustang.
but thats just my opinion, just make sure its what you really want.
I say go for it! We were really hyped up about the sedan, but couldn't wait until January to buy a car.
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From: Between the woods and mountains
Rep Power: 0 Mazda 3 is nice, but they still don't have a coupe.
I wonder with Ford having a large stake in Mazda, how would that affect the vehicles in the long term (i.e. resale value). More Mazda parts will also show up in Ford vehicles. not sure if that's good or not.
I wonder with Ford having a large stake in Mazda, how would that affect the vehicles in the long term (i.e. resale value). More Mazda parts will also show up in Ford vehicles. not sure if that's good or not.
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Rep Power: 328 It's good for Ford, and everyone else. Less broke down Ford's to avoid hitting on the street haha...
But in all seriousness, Ford has a 33% share in Mazda. It also owns controlling shares in Range Rover, Jaguar, and the acclaimed Aston Martin (the James Bond car manufacturer.) I don't see value going down in any of those companies, and Ford has made it clear that they all operate independent of the Parent company (Ford.)
This is a smart move for Ford. Why try to cut out the competition, when you can just own a piece of them and get large cuts of the profits. Ford knows that if they messed with the R&D of any of its daughter companies, it would indefinitely jeopardize its own profits. By operating in this way, they have a piece of the American, Japanese, and European market. Ford's market strategy and funding is what made such cars as the RX-8, Aston Martin V12 Vanquish, new Mazda 3 and 6 such a success. Now these companies have the funding to develop some truly impressive cars.
So why bash them being partly owned by Ford? Don't forget that Subaru is partly owned by GM, Mitsu partly owned by Daimler Chrysler, and let's not forget the Nissan-Renault alliance.
But in all seriousness, Ford has a 33% share in Mazda. It also owns controlling shares in Range Rover, Jaguar, and the acclaimed Aston Martin (the James Bond car manufacturer.) I don't see value going down in any of those companies, and Ford has made it clear that they all operate independent of the Parent company (Ford.)
This is a smart move for Ford. Why try to cut out the competition, when you can just own a piece of them and get large cuts of the profits. Ford knows that if they messed with the R&D of any of its daughter companies, it would indefinitely jeopardize its own profits. By operating in this way, they have a piece of the American, Japanese, and European market. Ford's market strategy and funding is what made such cars as the RX-8, Aston Martin V12 Vanquish, new Mazda 3 and 6 such a success. Now these companies have the funding to develop some truly impressive cars.
So why bash them being partly owned by Ford? Don't forget that Subaru is partly owned by GM, Mitsu partly owned by Daimler Chrysler, and let's not forget the Nissan-Renault alliance.
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Rep Power: 328 I didn't say that GM was the parent company of Subaru, but simply that they hold considerable shares in the company's stock. Go look it up sometime, it's pretty surprising how the automotive industry cannablizes itself. Seems like they should just all combine like the power rangers or something and make one huge damn company.
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From: Between the woods and mountains
Rep Power: 0 Obviously I did not not "bash" Ford, just asking what would happen? A lot of people are concerned when GM and Ford start to own percentages of other auto makers (i.e., the danger of monopoly). They may be big but their vehicles aren't great, so if their management starts to mess with these automakers, who knows what would happen.
The word is still out on Nissan. Sure new cars are coming and they are different and nice looking, but only a couple of years later will we know the quality of such cars.
The word is still out on Nissan. Sure new cars are coming and they are different and nice looking, but only a couple of years later will we know the quality of such cars.
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From: Philadelphia
Rep Power: 291 Yea sorry Nookie...it's just that a lot of people I saw driving older gen Mazdas around here seemed to be in the kitten and rainbow set.
The new 3 looks good (those pics of the blue hatch looked a little ricy) but what about the 6? isn't the extra power you get from the 6 a better deal than the Mazda 3?
btw....vw's are for leftwing pinkos too...I used to drive a Golf!
The new 3 looks good (those pics of the blue hatch looked a little ricy) but what about the 6? isn't the extra power you get from the 6 a better deal than the Mazda 3?
btw....vw's are for leftwing pinkos too...I used to drive a Golf!
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Rep Power: 328 It's cool bro
I think the 6s, puts up some pretty good numbers, but the 4 banger is a bit sluggish for its weight.
The 3 has an available 160 HP engine, and weighs considerably less than the 6.
It's kinda similar to a Civic Si having better accleration than a base model accord.
I think the 6s, puts up some pretty good numbers, but the 4 banger is a bit sluggish for its weight.
The 3 has an available 160 HP engine, and weighs considerably less than the 6.
It's kinda similar to a Civic Si having better accleration than a base model accord.
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From: Between the woods and mountains
Rep Power: 0 Mazda 6 will sell, but won't take away the customers shopping for family sedans. The style could be more subdued, but with optional kits for people desiring sporty. Mazda 3 out did 6. In that class, I think VW Passat looks the best. Reliability is a different story.
Can't stand the Accord exterior.
Can't stand the Accord exterior.
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From: neW yORK, New York, US
Rep Power: 0 damn guys... all my friends are becoming a mazda family. one just got a brand new mazda 6s. another just got a mazda 3s sedan. And another got a mazda 3s hatch! I have not been able to go for rides in the 3's yet as they were just bought brand spankin new. but i got to ride in the 6s and it was pretty nice. i'll try to post some pics up when i can gather all 3 of them together to take a mazda family snap shot with my civic in the middle. honda better come out with a new bad *** civic and higher horsepower/torque model for 2005 or they will lose their base in the sub-compact car segment very soon! the way i see it honda already has a good reputation....now they just gotta garnish their car more to catch up with the competition. bring back the si coupe!
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Rep Power: 304 my friend just got his mazda3 last monday. it's the 5-door. comfortable ride and i think it looks nice...adjustable HIDs and the interior color scheme at night's nice.
but i still like my civic.
just my thoughts
but i still like my civic.
just my thoughts
