2007 Mazda 3: thoughts?

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: quikah

Originally posted by: JACKHAMMER

Dislikes
My seat squeekes like a mofo, seems to be a common occurance
...
Clutch has little feel

My seat squeaks also. Might dig around and try to lube it up a bit. Not that loud.

As for the clutch, I had a wierd experience with it. I test drove an '06 hatch in May, the clutch was ridiculous, practically fell to the floor with the slightest touch, other than that I loved it, but was a bit too busy to buy at then. Come Sept, I am ready to buy, but no hatches to be found, so I buy a 4-Dr, either my memory is bad or the clutch is completely different, cause it feels great compared to that hatch I drove in May.

funny you mention the clutch... compared to my friend's 93 mr2.. yeah, mine just falls to the floor. Same with pretty much the tC. This is my first car that's stick.. my dad's galant I honestly don't remember how the clutch was (I learned on that car maybe 7 yrs ago).

I went to drive my friend home in his car once.. holy crap was that a shocker.. ha.

 

[iamme]

thanks for the input, guys

 

[igowerf]

I have a 2006 Mazda 3 hatchback that I got in October of last year. So far, it's been pretty good, but I do have a few complaints:

- My seat or armrest/cupholder area squeaks.
- My front suspension squeaks a bit. It started squeaking really badly last winter so I took it into the dealership. Now the squeaking is coming back.
- My brakes squealed really loudly during the winter last year. I had that checked out along with my suspension and it's been fine ever since.
- Half of my right windshield wiper doesn't seem to make contact with the windshield anymore.
- My commute to work is only 5 miles now, and half of it is crawling in traffic. I've gotten as bad as 20mpg before. I should note that I have an automatic though.

 

[iamme]

btw, does anyone know if dealers will try to match or beat APR's?

i got a quote of 5.5% for 60 months from a credit union and i'm wondering if i should bother trying to get the dealer to better that rate.

 

[Riverhound777]

Originally posted by: iamme
btw, does anyone know if dealers will try to match or beat APR's?

i got a quote of 5.5% for 60 months from a credit union and i'm wondering if i should bother trying to get the dealer to better that rate.

Can't hurt to ask.

 

[CombatChuk]

Originally posted by: iamme
btw, does anyone know if dealers will try to match or beat APR's?

i got a quote of 5.5% for 60 months from a credit union and i'm wondering if i should bother trying to get the dealer to better that rate.

The Jeep Dealer beat the rate I had (Surprisingly)

 

[iamme]

before i go on, are there any other cars i should be looking at, that i might have missed? particularly with year end incentives and rebates? maybe some cars in a higher price bracket (maybe 06s) that can come down in price w/ haggling and incentives/rebates/low APRs.

 

[iversonyin]

Originally posted by: iamme
before i go on, are there any other cars i should be looking at, that i might have missed? particularly with year end incentives and rebates? maybe some cars in a higher price bracket (maybe 06s) that can come down in price w/ haggling and incentives/rebates/low APRs.

Nothing really beat Mazda 3. You should test drive Civic EX/Si and Subaru Impreza and see if you like it. GM/Ford's comparable lineup should offer the lowest price (because they drive like a piece of crap). - Check out the Saturn Aura...out of the whole GM lineup...I'm most impress with the Aura.

 

[iamme]

i actually test drove the Aura and i was impressed as well. the acceleration was smooth and powerful, and the car handled nicely. the interior was pretty nice, too. unfortunately, the XR trim was a bit more than i wanted to spend. also, the ugly plastic they used on the back of the leather seats (driver/passenger) was a real turn off. i know they had to cut corners to keep costs down, but that was an eyesore, imo. otherwise, i think it's a great option for a mid-sized, sporty sedan.

the more i look at other cars, the more i keep coming back to the "fun to drive" factor of the mazda 3 coupled w/ the good fuel economy. and the load of options (leather, traction control, side curtain airbags, Xenon lights, seat warmers, compass mirror, 17" alloy wheels, etc).

 

[iversonyin]

Originally posted by: iamme
i actually test drove the Aura and i was impressed as well. the acceleration was smooth and powerful, and the car handled nicely. the interior was pretty nice, too. unfortunately, the XR trim was a bit more than i wanted to spend. also, the ugly plastic they used on the back of the leather seats (driver/passenger) was a real turn off. i know they had to cut corners to keep costs down, but that was an eyesore, imo. otherwise, i think it's a great option for a mid-sized, sporty sedan.

the more i look at other cars, the more i keep coming back to the "fun to drive" factor of the mazda 3 coupled w/ the good fuel economy. and the load of options (leather, traction control, side curtain airbags, Xenon lights, seat warmers, compass mirror, 17" alloy wheels, etc).

Look like to me you already made up your mind. The only thing that offer any real compeition to Mazda3 has to be Civic Si Sedan...but that car is going to go for $24-25k OTD. So you should just stick with the 3.

I thought the Aura offer some pretty low APRs and maybe some GM incentives? Since you talking about fun factor, I hope you are getting a manual transmission car!

I also see alot of used G35 sedans for $18-20k...I don't know if theres any around your area...you should check those out also.

 

[raildogg]

Great thread. I was also considering the Mazda 3 until I saw what other people were getting as their fuel economy. Check out what people are getting on fueleconomy.gov

link
different options for the Mazda 3 - fuel economy

Right now, the Civic is my top choice due to better fuel economy and nice navigation system. But if the Mazda 3 had better fuel economy, it would be my top choice.

 

[iversonyin]

Originally posted by: raildogg
Great thread. I was also considering the Mazda 3 until I saw what other people were getting as their fuel economy. Check out what people are getting on fueleconomy.gov

link
different options for the Mazda 3 - fuel economy

Right now, the Civic is my top choice due to better fuel economy and nice navigation system. But if the Mazda 3 had better fuel economy, it would be my top choice.

Yea, the fuel economy for stop and go traffic isn't that great for the bigger Mazda 3 engine. Fun come at a cost.

 

[dotcom173]

i recommend the 07 civic Si

 

[iamme]

looks like the manual gets closer to 28mpg http://fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do?actio...ehicleID=21822&browser=true&details=on

between the civic and the mazda3, the civic definitely wins in fuel economy. but the mazda 3 feels so much nicer driving around. in the end, i suppose it depends on what's important to you. i'd settle for 24-28 mpg average, if it meant the mazda 3 was more fun to drive. for the record, the mazda 3 would be my most fuel efficient car i've owned

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: iamme
btw, does anyone know if dealers will try to match or beat APR's?

i got a quote of 5.5% for 60 months from a credit union and i'm wondering if i should bother trying to get the dealer to better that rate.

you can and probably should ask, but that's the lowest rate i've heard of in the past couple months.

 

[iamme]

gah.......to make my decision hard, i was talking to the Mazda dealership and he was talking about the 2006 Mazdaspeed6's. with incentives and rebates, he quoted me a price of about $22,200 plus TTL.

now, i keep wondering, "if i pay a little more, i can get a beast of a car that usually sells for around $29,000". of course, the gas mileage will be worse and it'll only take premium gas. but, 270HP AWD?? :Q plus the warranty on the '06 is 4 years instead of 3 on the '07s.

http://autos.yahoo.com/2006_mazda_mazdaspeed6/

 

[iamwiz82]

I'd get the Mazdaspeed6, personally.

 

[iamme]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
I'd get the Mazdaspeed6, personally.

i can't make up my mind

i decided against the regular mazda 6, and opted for the 3 originally. i like the look of the 3 better and i really liked how it drove. for the price, i got it fully loaded with nice options. the good gas mileage was icing on the cake. seems like the safer bet.

but the mazdaspeed6 is so sexy.....

 

[vi edit]

I'm trying to figure out how he got the price down to 22k on the Speed6. Invoice on the base model is around $26,400. There's a $2500 rebate on it.

That's a long cry from 22k. If they are selling it for that, I'd *definitely* go that route if you wanted a manual transmission and didn't mind the added fuel costs of the premium hungry turbo in there.

 

[iamme]

the rebates are $3500 if you finance through mazda credit (i believe you can refinance after 60 or 90 days). plus, there's a $500 internet coupon on their site and a $250 mazda event coupon i have.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: iamme
the rebates are $3500 if you finance through mazda credit (i believe you can refinance after 60 or 90 days). plus, there's a $500 internet coupon on their site and a $250 mazda event coupon i have.

Nice! Edmunds doesn't have the extra $1000 rebate listed(or the extra $750 worth).

It's are really nice car for $22k. That's almost a good enough price to make me want to be bad. :evil:

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: iamme
the rebates are $3500 if you finance through mazda credit (i believe you can refinance after 60 or 90 days). plus, there's a $500 internet coupon on their site and a $250 mazda event coupon i have.

Nice! Edmunds doesn't have the extra $1000 rebate listed(or the extra $750 worth).

It's are really nice car for $22k. That's almost a good enough price to make me want to be bad. :evil:

damn, no kidding, almost makes me want to trade.

 

[iamme]

when i think about buying winter tires, more fuel costs, more possible speeding tickets :evil:, then i think the cost of ownership would be more than i wanted to pay.

*sigh*

i don't think i'd regret the mz3 (i can always buy a more exciting car down the line), but i do think i could regret buying the ms6 once i started to pay at the pump and other stuff.

 

[randomlinh]

my mom got the mazda6 5 door.. and i sort of keep wishing i got that... i love the styling and that "5th door." But it really is bigger than I want. Mazdaspeed3 is nice too.. but I don't like the wagon look much. Plus, I'm almost positive I'd try something silly on an auto-x course and regret it

 

[iamme]

hehe, got my 3 and i love it so far