Any other Mazda3 owners?

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V1P3R
Is that the same as the Mazda Speed Mazda 3 wagon that goes really really fast?
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The Mazdaspeed3 can be distinguished from the regular Mazda3 in a few different ways. While they both have 2.3l engines (some regular 3's have one smaller) only the regular 3 will have the 2.3 badge on the side. The only badging the MS3 has is the Mazdaspeed3 badge on the lower driver-side rear hatch.

The hood on the MS3 is also more pronounced than that of the regular 3. This is to accommodate the TMIC and ram-air ducting from the grille, which is also slightly different.

Other aesthetic features are the rear hatch wing, rear bumper, front bumper and I believe, even the side skirts. The rear bumper has more of the black plastic surrounding the license plate and the front bumper opening is slightly larger than that of the regular 3.

Probably the biggest give away are the size of the MS3 wheels. They are 18 inch, 10-spoke, silver wheels that, in my opinion, are much too large for the car.

Other than that, the other differences are in performance! (although people are getting an easy 350+ HP from a regular 2.3 with an after-market turbo and mods)
 
18 FTL... 17's fit the Mazda3 chassis perfectly. ;)

Less wheel = less unsprung weight... unfortunately, for the size of the Mazda3, 15's and 16's would give you tires that are too tall, unless they're hoosiers with extra stiff side-walls.
 
My 18-inch wheels with 45-series tires weigh less than the stock 17/50s. This also gives better proportion to the enormous wheelwells :D.
 
My second son is searching for a new car.
We've narrowed it down to a Mazda3.
Mostly because you can't beat the financing on a 3 year loan.
And with the down payment, we're fronting the payments should be relatively reasonable.
I didn't get to drive the thing, but I was pretty impressed with the ride, the automatic trans was interesting, has the "manu-matic" thing going on.
Very peppy, great styling, good ratings all-around.
Did y'all know that it shares a chassis with the Volvo S40?
 
Yes, indeed. I rather liked the 3 we test drove. However, if he can, I'd strongly recommend he get a manual trans. The automatic isn't bad, and the 2.3 has enough pull for it, but the manual is much more fun.
 
Duke
Yes, indeed. I rather liked the 3 we test drove. However, if he can, I'd strongly recommend he get a manual trans. The automatic isn't bad, and the 2.3 has enough pull for it, but the manual is much more fun.
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Alas, He is his mother's son.
He really wants a Versa. It's cheapest, gets better than decent mileage, and it's cheap.
He also wants the auto. He can drive a manual, but prefers not to.
(Where did I go wrong?)

My oldest is looking at manuals, but the EPA rating on most of the cars he's considering is actually lower by 2 MPG than on the automatics.
I now am willing to consider a Mazda6 with the 2.3 and a manual.
As long as it has heated leather seats.
 
Gil
(Where did I go wrong?)
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I don't know. I just don't know.
Gil
the EPA rating on most of the cars he's considering is actually lower by 2 MPG than on the automatics.
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Apparently the EPA can't drive stick worth a 🤬, either.
Gil
I now am willing to consider a Mazda6 with the 2.3 and a manual.
As long as it has heated leather seats.
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My mom has that car (sans heated leather seats), and it drives quite nicely indeed. Though, one of my coworkers drove a 2006 6, and he complained about the road noise. My mom's is an '03, so I don't know how they compare.
 
Well time for an update:
My second son's 3 is rather nice. Mazda does know how to do a base model car well.
I finally got to drive it the day it came home.
It's reasonably quick, handles really well.
As for the manu-matic: No great shakes, About the only advantage I see to it is the ability to start off in 2nd gear when the roads are snowy/slick.

My wife and oldest son are now the proud owners of brand new 6's.
We drove the iTouring model first, as it has heated leather seats.
However, my wife was not impressed and the Touring model has a tighter suspension, and is just plain "twitchy" to drive.
The iSport with the "Value Package" comes fairly well equipped and a couple thousand dollars less.
Both cars are a step down in MPG, but are way quieter inside, and much more comfy than what they were driving previously.
Both of the old cars are becoming hand-me-downs for my 4th and 6th sons.
So, I guess having three new Mazdas in the Stable make me a MAZ Member-in-good-standing?
 
And if the weather holds, I may get to take the 6 tomorrow.
If not, I'll drive something I'm not afraid to bend, or my 4WD.
We got a big snowstorm in the night, and morning, but the temp went up to 40, so it was gone of the roads by about 5PM.
 
Wow! Did you guys get the bulk rate, or what? Nice!
 
Any other Mazda3 owners? Nope... no one can buy any... they're all in Gil's garage. :lol:
 
Actually, only one 3. Two 6's.
The wife and I actually get two X-plans from where we work, each.
We still have one left for the year.:lol:
My boys are paying for their own cars (3-year notes), I'm proud to say.
But we bought the cars because the incentives that we got go away at the end of February.
Rather than take a chance on no incentives or crappy incentives, we went ahead and bought.
We got really good deals on all three cars. We got out of there well under sticker on all three.👍
 
Gil
Actually, only one 3. Two 6's.
The wife and I actually get two X-plans from where we work, each.
We still have one left for the year.:lol:
My boys are paying for their own cars (3-year notes), I'm proud to say.
But we bought the cars because the incentives that we got go away at the end of February.
Rather than take a chance on no incentives or crappy incentives, we went ahead and bought.
We got really good deals on all three cars. We got out of there well under sticker on all three.👍
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Give me the last one. Credit it to a Miata so I don't have to pay through the nose for one here (near-100% import tax FTL 👎 ).

I'll send you cheap Philippine beer for the rest of your life. :D :D :D
 
Add me! Add me! :)

As people who've seen the recent posts in this thread realize, I've just purchased an 08.5 Mazda 3 Sport GT in Stormy Blue Mica. It hasn't arrived yet, but I'm hoping it'll be soon. Getting very anxious - I just want to drive it so I can put all the doubt and second guessing out of my mind.

It's like they put together the options on this mid-year upgrade to the GT just for me. I was actually debating getting the luxury package on an 08 , but all I really wanted from it was the HID's, but then lo-and-behold they come standard on 08.5 Sport GT trim for no increase in price. The new colour options are great. I can get something that'll look just a bit different than the majority of the others on the road.

This'll be the first car I've ever had with power anything, or (working) A/C, or HID's, or power sunroof, audio input jack or even a cd player, or a working trunk/hatch release :p so it's a bigtime upgrade for me. I'm just amazed at all the options that come on this car for the price. The g/f is drooling over the prospect of those heated seats in a Winnipeg winter.
 

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