Pretty sure this is going to be my new car. Looking at getting the 2006 model, moonroof package, faster engine, cloth seats (leather's a bitch to deal with).

Wanted to see if anyone else has last years or this years model and can tell me about their experience, any problems/recalls, what they paid and payments. Trying to get a good idea about what I should be willing to pay. Also, what dealership you purchased from.

I really like how the automatic drives, I should ahve asked to try the manual but they didn't have the faster engine in it. Several are due tommorrow so i might go back.

9/10/2005 7:52:00 PM

I have last year's model.

No problems. Blast to drive. I always end up checking my car out when I walk to it.

Get the manual, its much more control and noticeably quicker then the Auto. I've test driven both.

9/10/2005 8:00:27 PM

^ Do you have the 5 Door or the Sedan?




I'm probably going to buy a 5 door sometime in the next couple of months.

9/10/2005 8:27:43 PM

did that new mazda comercial convince you to buy a Mazda 3

Personally I'd pay no more than 1% under invoice maybe even 1.5-2%. Do your homework on the invoice price.

http://www.edmunds.com/new/2006/mazda/mazda3/100614383/optionsresults.html?action=2&tid=edmunds.n.options.ntmv.1.1.Mazda*

9/10/2005 8:27:55 PM

I'm not going to bother buying a new one.



I've got my eye on a low mileage 2004.

9/10/2005 8:30:18 PM

4 door sedan, 2.3

I'm a 4 door fan but this guy at work has the SP 2.3 hatch. Its hot.

9/10/2005 8:49:05 PM

"faster" engine?

How much more power?

9/10/2005 11:18:39 PM

ncstatetke hahahahah

9/10/2005 11:24:28 PM

Quote :

"Peak horsepower RPM 6500 Redline 6,500 "

9/10/2005 11:52:18 PM

MazdaSpeed 3 coming out soon with about 230 hp.

Wait for that.

9/11/2005 7:15:36 AM

Quote :

"I really like how the automatic drives"

lol

9/11/2005 8:09:18 AM

the gf has a mazda 3 2004 with the faster engine/leather/5speed - it's a good car - not a single probloem yet

9/11/2005 12:59:33 PM

Funny someone made this thread. I was riding down to the beach this weekend in a well-optioned Mazda 3. It had the 6 disc changer, 2.3 engine, and it was an automatic. I didn't drive it or anything but as a passenger I was impressed. The seats are very comfortable, the sound system was pretty good for stock, and the back seat was surprisingly roomy. It was more roomy for instance than a Jetta, or at least it felt that way. Good choice. The girl who owned it said she had calculated about 30mpg.

9/11/2005 1:11:29 PM

the interiors of mazdas are just so fucking cheaply made its pathetic.

9/11/2005 3:27:13 PM

i have suitcases with bigger backseats than a jetta

9/11/2005 3:48:49 PM

I've been considering carrying one in my truck as a spare.

9/11/2005 4:21:08 PM

Quote :

"the interiors of mazdas are just so fucking cheaply made its pathetic."

Have you been in a 3? I think it's interior is comparable or superior to my friend's '04 Civic and my mom's '01 Corolla.

9/11/2005 5:47:10 PM

The interior of the mazda 3 is one reason I bought it over other cars.

It's far more interesting and sporty then any other car in its class.

9/11/2005 6:33:28 PM

it handles very nice.

9/11/2005 8:30:24 PM

yeah I really like the direction mazda has been going lately with light, sportier alternatives to what the Japanese big 3 (Honda, Toyota, Nissan) have been producing. The Mazda 3 and 6 have much more personality than their Toyota counterparts especially.

9/11/2005 9:25:14 PM

btw I'm gonna rice mine out

9/11/2005 10:39:56 PM

sorry about not responding. Here's a shake down of the different models

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=modelsSpecs&vehicleCode=MZ3&bhcp=1

This lets you see the differences. I'm planning on an S model 4 door with

ABS (Definitely Want)
Moon Roof (Definitely want)
Sports Package
Satelitte Radio

The other two are just nice... but I'm hesitating on the sports package since the rims aren't very nice and I could put it towards some nice ones. However, it's only $450 and that's pretty decent for low profile tires from goodyear and the rims. The standard is 16" normal tires.

Basically I want to keep this car under $20,000 and I really can't see why I couldn't and get everything I wanted if I haggle correctly. This is my first new NEW car.

Now I'm choosing the 2006 model because it's a 5 speed instead of a 4 speed. That's the main reason. I want the S model because the outer body is SO much different. It looks so much cleaner and more technical.

I've been looking this car up and it's gotten rave reviews beating out the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic overall in several magazines. It drives so nice.

9/11/2005 11:08:29 PM

i would go with the 2005 model, but get a 5 speed instead of a 4 speed

9/11/2005 11:14:58 PM

If you're into modifying your car in any way, stick with the smaller rim size.

I have the 17 inch rims and while they look great, their only about 6.5 inches wide and I can feel tire slippage on hard corners. Mind you in normal driving this isn't felt.

I however, will be buying a set of RX-8 18 inch rims when I graduate.

9/12/2005 11:48:07 AM

Why spend 20k on a econo box when you can get a NICE car for that.

9/12/2005 2:11:50 PM

If you want a new car and don't want the hastle of owning used.

9/12/2005 3:55:38 PM

Anyone know of good sites to use to price new cars? And let me know what a fair offer would be for what I want? Thanks!

9/13/2005 1:22:13 AM

http://www.edmunds.com

or google for "Mazda 3 invoice price"

and http://www.kbb.com for trade-in values

9/13/2005 3:08:36 AM

6.5 inches is plenty for 205 or 215 width tires.

9/13/2005 6:27:05 AM

Nice rims/good tires combo for a Mazda 3. That's what I'm gonna look for. I'm just not happy with the rims with the low profile tires. This car looks bad ass... the rims are meh.

I'd rather save the $480 package upgrade price and put it toward something better. I couldn't find the bolt pattern but most sites have a configuration thing using the models. Here's a couple pictures for you guys to play with. I'm sure someone's bored and what's to photoshop! (Funny pictures are highly encourage). I made these at

[image]http://www.tirerack.com/upgrade_garage/WheelSearch.jsp?changeColor=Rally+White&filterSize=&filterFinish=&filterSpecial=false&autoMake=Mazda&autoModel=3+s+4-Door&autoModClar=Standard+Model&autoYear=2005" target="_blank">http://www.tirerack.com/upgrade_garage/WheelSearch.jsp?changeColor=Rally+White&filterSize=&filterFinish=&filterSpecial=false&autoMake=Mazda&autoModel=3+s+4-Door&autoModClar=Standard+Model&autoYear=2005</a>

Pimp my ride bitches!



EDIT! - The rims I like so far on that site are (ASA JS6 and Kazera KZ-A)

[Edited on September 15, 2005 at 12:36 AM. Reason : !]

9/15/2005 12:33:52 AM

The bolt pattern for all of the 5 lug Mazdas as of late is 5x114.3

9/15/2005 6:38:17 PM

i didn't really want to make a new thread, and i thought it might get lost in the "looking for a new car" thread, so i'll revive this 9-year old thread

i'm looking at a 2010 mazda3 S hatchback tomorrow...what sorts of things should i look out/check/listen for? i mean, i briefly googled and it seems that there's an electrical recall on it, but aside from that, the reliability seems decent

it's an automatic, which is disappointing, but there are virtually no manuals available in my price range that aren't on older cars (2008 if i'm lucky, more likely 2006-2007)

i think all of the hatches have the 2.5 inline 4 (stroked 2.3 that was available prior to 2010, i think), so any comments on that engine in particular are welcome

[Edited on February 22, 2014 at 6:00 PM. Reason : http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/mazda3/2010/?style=101148630]

2/22/2014 5:51:10 PM

Do you have 16" or 17" rims currently?

Are you going to sell them when you buy a new wheel set?

2/22/2014 7:27:26 PM

I'm looking to get one with the Skyactiv engine, which was introduced in 2012.
Afaik, 2010 was a great year. The 2.0 gets around 23/34 mpg. The 2.5 gets something like 22/29.
The i is built for fuel economy, while the S has a lot more options and is more fun to drive.

2/23/2014 11:03:25 AM

^ i would prefer skyactiv, and truthfully a manual 2.0 is preferable to the auto 2.5...but i want to buy the car outright and so $10k is my budget...there aren't many second gens at that pricepoint and skyactiv is out of the question

2/23/2014 4:12:06 PM

I got a 2013 Mazda 3 SkyActiv. I fucking love the car, but the SkyActiv engine is bullshit so far. I'm averaging 23-25mpg per tank. Not much if any better than the 08-11 3's. But I love how the car looks, rides, sits and the hatchback is amazing for cargo.

About to take it in the to dealer because the GPS (TomTom) is fucked up, but apparently they switched from Garmin for 2013, so I'm not too surprised. Bluetooth support is really good, HD Radio works well.

If I had to do it again, I probably would have done exactly what quagmire is doing and just hold out for a 07-10 model. But be VERY wary of finding a killer deal on one. The 05+ 3 series is an incredibly in demand car. The dealerships in and around Seattle all have waitlists for used 3's (the ones I talked to all had 5+ people waiting for cars to come in). They don't really have any problems and people don't trade them in or sell them very often.

2/23/2014 7:12:18 PM

^ Thanks for the info. I may reconsider and just get a '10-'13 2.0, 5 speed and save $2-3k. I still haven't test driven one. I just know that they are reliable and have great reviews.
http://www.caranddriver.com/mazda/mazda-3
By the way, I think the dune (beige) interior looks 10x better than the black on black.

2/24/2014 3:43:17 PM

bought the 2010 today

car is a blast...i definitely would have liked a manual for the fun factor (though i think the automatic technically has better mileage), but i'm not disappointed in the auto at all...and at the price, i can't complain

it came with the bose centerpoint audio, which, while probably not worth the pricetag new, seems pretty good (it was the only way to get the sunroof, i think): http://forums.audioreview.com/off-topic-non-audio/car-talk-im-looking-compact-hatch-37348-2.html#post375193

it only came with one key...one of those flip-out ones...any of y'all ever bought a generic one from fleabay or should i just go spend $100+ for one from a stealership?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/UNCUT-MAZDA-3-5-6-RX8-CX7-CX9-FLIP-KEY-SMART-OEM-REMOTE-4-Button-662F-SKE12501-/320913181074

[Edited on February 24, 2014 at 8:43 PM. Reason : .]

2/24/2014 8:20:05 PM

Quote :

"the SkyActiv engine is bullshit so far. I'm averaging 23-25mpg per tank"

that's pretty terrible :/

a quick Google search shows people getting low to mid 30's with mostly highway driving. Do you do 20+ over? ha

[Edited on February 24, 2014 at 9:03 PM. Reason : not sure if they're calculating or trusting readout]

2/24/2014 9:02:56 PM

^It's because my daily commute is 6mi round trip at an average speed of about 20mph (25-30mph speed limits). Lots of low speed stop and go = turrible mileage.

The couple of road trips I've been on with it (aka all highway) I got 33-36mpg for the tank.

2/26/2014 1:54:25 AM

/welcome to the club, arhodes
/congrats on your economy car purchase

4/13/2014 9:59:37 PM

congrats

4/14/2014 1:12:35 PM

I owned a 2006 mazda 3 for 8 years before getting the mazda 6 I drive now.
heres a pic of it when i sold it:


[Edited on April 14, 2014 at 1:46 PM. Reason : sfas]

4/14/2014 1:38:48 PM

ibithasthewrongtransmission

the primary reason my wife went with the mazda 3 was because we found one with a 5 speed.

[Edited on April 15, 2014 at 3:26 PM. Reason : because racecar]

4/15/2014 3:22:51 PM

I have a Mazda 5. Is the minivan on a Mazda 3 chassis. Love the shit outta this thing though.

4/15/2014 7:57:38 PM