Mazda owners opinions

[Cliff]

i am lookin at maybe purchasing a new mazda 3 in the future and just wanna know how ya'll feel about mazda quality....engine, drivetrain, suspension, and interior component quality....any information would be great

[Scrappy]

sign on AIM please!

[Cliff]

with every option i would want it comes out to 20,555 and i found them 1 year old used pretty much like i want for 15-17...i wish i had less time left than 11 months...i am ready to buy this thing now

[JITB]

Great cars nice motor, the 2.3 is alot better than the previous 2.0 to me, probrably cuz its a whole new motor. But its a mazda they hold value well, and are made good. I want one myself. The mazdaspeed3 is prob gonan beout sometime next year. I heard it handled bad when it first came out... BUT for soem reason its suposed to handle good all of a sudden. Look around www.protege5.com they have a section there..on the 3's. But i love how the car looks overall

[Cliff]

finally one with the stock spoiler

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/8/web/2048000-2048999/2048817_2_full.jpg

[Cliff]

man it's gonna be hard to leave it stock

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/10/web/670000-670999/670706_12_full.jpg

[Cliff]

pretty much exactly what i am lookin at right here

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/589000-589999/589431_5_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/589000-589999/589431_12_full.jpg

[JBalla1036]

The motor is alright. Its the same motor that is in the Focus and the Mazda 6 4cyl. So it should hold up pretty good. I know that they is a turbocharger that just came out for it. But on the side of stock, i havent really heard anything bad about it

[Elroy2002]

i've driven one and i wasn't impressed. i have a protege 5 and i like mine alot better. one thing is the suspension sucks on this thing. even my stock suspension on my p5 is a hell of a lot better. also another thing is they may have put a bigger engine in it but they also gained alot of weight. i think it was close to an extra 1,000 lbs. when i drove one i thought to myself that i'm glad i have the p5 over the mazda 3. In my opinion if your looking for a mazda i would get the mazda6 v6 6 speed. that sucker hauls. if you can find one cheap enough for you buy it. i think it's a lot better quality car than the mazda 3

[JITB]

Mazda 3 wagon weighs 100lbs more than the P5
Mazda 3 sedan weighs 50lbs more than the P5

I saw a 05 3 in the paper for 15k, today silver 5spd, but it wasnt a 2.3.

[Cliff]

i don't want or need fast...i want somthin that has enough power i can pass cars and i can pull out without being hit...other than that i need slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

[Rogue Pro5]

the only complaint i've heard about the Mz3 is the AC sucks. The ride is probably softer than the P5, but it still handles well. Mazda focuses on sporty rides as opposed to balls out speed. There is a turbo kit in R&D for it by HiBoost.

The interior is really nice from what I remember from my test drive. The manual felt mushy, but that's because i'm used to the crispness of mine (new bushing/short shifter).

Like JITB mentioned, try www.protege5.com (http://www.protege5.com/) (also www.mazdaiii.com (http://www.mazdaiii.com/) takes you to the same place). Another good site is www.mazda3club.com (http://www.mazda3club.com)

quick google seach brought quite a few forums. (Googled (http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&q=mazda%203%20forum))

[Sport1.3]

Mazda3 > protege. it supposedly handles better and makes gobs more power. mazda stitch welded the chassis like the pro and it comes with all kinds of braces in front to help stiffen the ride. well see when car and driver tests the MS3 ..IMHO i like how the pro looks better but i really like the 3 sedan and the wagon is growing on me fast.

[Cliff]

any new opinions? i have decided this will be the car....working on color....i have had 2 black, 1 grey and 1 blue car so i want somthin different but i am leaning towards the dark grey with black leather and auto/tiptronic....

[JITB]

Black Or Blue!

[Cliff]

i've had blue before and black twice....lol although i do like the black with black leather 5 speed....

[BlkCD5]

I always wondered about mazda's quality. I do love the rx-7 but im not diggin the 8. They just seem like a bitch to maintain cus of the rotary engine. I was talking to this Nissan sales guy and he said, "Mazda is a piece of crap car, don't buy one." So, would anyone care to tell me about the quality of mazda. They apparently did something right cus look at the sale volume of the miata's. The new turbo miata's, i'd love to drive one.

[JITB]

MAzda OWns! Looka round and shit, on edmunds and ROad And Track. Mazdas always get good reviews. There good cars, they are startin to make some good lookin cars now. Now they need to make some faster ones!

[BlkCD5]

You know, i wouldn't mind the new mazda 6. They look sexy as hell, but i haven't seen a lot around here. Zoom Zoom Zoom :goodjob: . By the way is there a good aftermarket for mazda??

[JITB]

Yep

[Cliff]

tons of aftermarket for mazda....you should see the engine bay of the 3...there's about a 1'x1' gap right above where the header comes out of the motor...perfect room for a turbo

[JITB]

MEntal Addiction Motorsports has a turbo kit for it and i believe @ 8 psi it made 240hp - 260lbs tq. I tihnk those numbers are correct, its aroudn there soemwhere.

[JITB]

i want a 3 now
http://www.tammyskountrykennel.net/mazda3/mazda7.jpg
http://www.mazda3forums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11714/P1000442.JPG
http://members.cox.net/mikeburke13/cf/4.jpg

[Rogue Pro5]

get the 3 and do another V6 swap? :D

[redgst97]

My friend has a Mazda3:
http://www.teamallstars.com/cars/04mazda3/bill9.jpg

He likes it. I had a 2002 P5, but got rid of it because I wanted the dully. I now own my second Miata, and "might" be getting a Mazda3 myself. Should know by NOPI or so.

John

[Cliff]

yea your Int. Allstars guy was in the mazda magazine at the dealership....but yea i went AGAIN today and that is definately what i am getting....and the sp23 is AMAZING

[Twinturbo6]

I like Mazdas because there innovative. Only rotary engine in production ( not exclusively but you know ) worlds smallest production v6 ( mx3 ) worlds only production Otto cycle engine ( Millinia S ) only engine besides ferrari to utilize VRIS without solid tappets, and retaining HLA's. ( mx6, 626, millinia ) first to produce a direct injection engine ( mazdaspeed 6 ) the list can go on and on.... the company rocks, the produces are soundly engineered, and rock solid....

[JITB]

*bows to mazda*

[Sport1.3]

only japanese manufacturer to win the 24 hrs of lemans.. 787B roxorz!!

[psychodrama_81]

Mazdas Rule!

[green91]

they are 40% ford afterall

[JITB]

its 30%, and its not a bad thing either

[Cliff]

stop saying they are any % ford i really want one....

[psychodrama_81]

Whats wrong with f-o-r-d?

[Cliff]

everything except the F-250 fx4

[JITB]

everything except the F-250 fx4

well the car u like soo well shares the same platform as the focus.. and probrbaly drives the same.

[Cliff]

ummmm the 3 shares the same platform as an S40 and that's what i will keep telling myself...volvo not ford

[JITB]

and the volvo is made off the focus platform also, along with the 3. Ford owns a piece of them too.. You dotn even know why u dont like ford....lol