School me on Mazda 3's

[SuperDave]

Just get a 6, the 3 is near enough the same size as it.

I've got a Corolla so I'm biased to it. Since you mention auto, fuck getting the shitty Toyota 4 speed slushbox it comes with.

[dirty_sandwich]

I almost enjoyed its more comfortable ride, fuel economy and better build quality

Spoken like a true auto enthusiast.

[Benonymous]

My mate Pete got a current shape 3 povvo pack for 13K with about 6000Km on it. The woman he bought it off had been given the car by her ex-hubby. She hated it from the get-go and replaced it with a WRX right after the divorce. Just her bias, Petes nopics loves it after her Laser. Just shows , there are some bargains out there. Everyone I kow who's had a 3 has really loved it and I just can't erase the Hyudai Exel that we had as a hire car in WA from my memory.

We had a 121 bubble for around eight years and I'd have that over a Hyundai any day.

I wish I'd kept it and maybe hacked out the rear seats, maybe a subframe with a Hayabusa motor........

[ButtaS15]

Have an 05 SP23. Bought new. Has only 70k on the clock now. The way it drives is great for that kind of thing. Pedal position is shit mind you (too far apart) and the clutch doesn't have a very defined engagement point which makes for a little excessive riding from time to time. Consequently the clutch shudders a bit now. As mentioned the pedal spacing means no heel and toe action which sucks given it handles pretty well and could be an engaging ride through the twisities. Quality is another thing. The dash is cracking in two spots at about the 5 year mark (even thought the car has lived a lot of it's life garaged). The water pump has had a slow weep for some time and is being monitored each service. The top radiator hose on the gearbox side has also been weeping coolant (said they fixed it at the last service, but I checked the other day after I washed the car and it doesn't even look like they touched it). Has also had an engine mount replaced that had split and dumped it fluid (they're stamped as a Ford part so not surprising). Brakes squeal like a biatch when reversing cold. Plenty of meat still on the pads. Occasionally the cruise control disengages over bumpy roads and then acts up until the car is switched off and restarted which gets frustrating as we've done few long drives in the thing. Need to get that checked at the next service. It eats miles pretty well though it must be said. Never replace the tyres with the original Bridgestone RE040's. Noisiest fucking things on the planet, in the Mazda 3 application anyway. I replaced them when they still had useable tread on them they were that bad, and I'm a stingy prick. Toyo TEO's are the go. Probably not as high performance, but far easier to live with. All of these things I've discovered after a google are pretty common issues.

Having said that the only item really souring the ownership deal for me is the cracking dash. It just hits you in the face every time you get in it. I thought that shit went out in the 80's. Shit, even Falcodores don't seem to suffer this fate anymore. I could buy a dash matt but I hate the fucking things. I could probably argue with Mazda about meeting me half way for a repair, but the whole dash has to come out, and I reckon that's just a recipe for rattles after it's re-installed. Apparently there was a running change around 06/07 that alleviated the cracking issue. Sucks to be an 04/05 owner.

So all in all a fairly good drive, and against the competition I tried at the time in the same price range it was a hands down winner. Better feel, more go and more polished finish. Just let down by a few annoying faults. Must mention the paint also as it's excellent. I've polished it every 6 months or so since new and it's like new still.

[rj_astra]

Forgot about the Mazda 6's.... Same motor as the SP23's aren't they? Even a few Libertys fit the bill as well....

They have the highest state tune of the 2.3L and the first to get the 5 speed auto. They are more likely to be packed with all the fruit and safety gear.
Unlike the "3" its not as popular.. therefore prices are better.

[ballhanger]

Have you fitted the car seats to the car to see if they fit? Then add a passenger in the front seat?

Only mention it due to having a mate get rid of theirs due to the anchor point being in the middle of the boot, and not being able to then fit in the passenger seat.

[milo]

Have you fitted the car seats to the car to see if they fit? Then add a passenger in the front seat?

Only mention it due to having a mate get rid of theirs due to the anchor point being in the middle of the boot, and not being able to then fit in the passenger seat.

Exactly what I do need to check as well.... Our Magna has two baby seats in the back seat, and you get just squeeze an extra person in the Middle, and the anchor point are on the Roof....
I'm pretty sure two baby seats in a Mazda 3 will pretty much mean only one passenger can fit in the car...

[ButtaS15]

Exactly what I do need to check as well.... Our Magna has two baby seats in the back seat, and you get just squeeze an extra person in the Middle, and the anchor point are on the Roof....
I'm pretty sure two baby seats in a Mazda 3 will pretty much mean only one passenger can fit in the car...

Are you looking at sedan or hatch? Sedan has three anchor points in the parcel shelf. Fits my two kids seats no probs. Not much room in the middle for another passenger mind you. Maybe another kid of age that does not require a car seat.

Def go an SP23 if you can. The 2.0 we test drove felt very underwhelming compared to the 2.3. Suburban grind fuel economy can get down between 9 - 10 ltr/100k's. It will cruise comfortably in 5th @ 60k/hr on a flat rd which is the key. Country can see around 7.5-8lt/100k's @ 110k/ph with some aggressive overtaking in there

[smellytofu]

7.5-8L/100km is pretty thirsty for freeway driving for a car of that size. I'm sure a V6 Commodore could give it a run for its money on the freeway.

[ButtaS15]

7.5-8L/100km is pretty thirsty for freeway driving for a car of that size. I'm sure a V6 Commodore could give it a run for its money on the freeway.

Agreed. It's not the best, but the freeway is usually the big equalizer for fuel efficiency between bigger car and engine versus smaller car end engine. That was also in a fully laden car on a family road trip. You're right to. My old mans SIDI VE Calais returns similar numbers on the open road.

[Charlatan]

I've got an 07 SP23 with around 35km on it. Been a great car for what it is, well put together. It hasn't needed anything done to so far. Tyres are noisy, but just plain used to it these days I barely notice them. When the baby seat was rear facing the passenger seat had to be forward a bit, not ridiculous but closer than I like it - no prob once you turn them around. They are pretty well specced for what they are (or were new anyway).

[frozenchook]

If you decide to have a capsule system like we have for baby number 2, prepare to be bolt upright with your knees tucked in your chest if you want to sit in the passenger seat lol

[Forg]

7.5-8L/100km is pretty thirsty for freeway driving for a car of that size.

Really? I didn't think many cars in the small-mid zone got appreciably less, now they're all ~1300kg & quite upright?

[rj_astra]

Really? I didn't think many cars in the small-mid zone got appreciably less, now they're all ~1300kg & quite upright?

They should nowadays.

[TonyJZX]

i think the benchmark is the diesels and light hybrids like the Prius C which will do 4-5 litres

small B segs are in the ~5-6 lt bracket, maybe even some C segments

[Spoonfed]

Highway economy of some later 4cyls doesn't seem all that impressive. 1st hand 09 lancer managed only 8.3l/100 (4 people) on the same trip (4 people) an 07 XR6T managed 9.1l/100km (on E10 too boot). Same trip 1994 2.4l 4cyl bluebird managed 7.3l/100km.
Not to mention the lancer was by far the slowest, and loudest exhaust/engine noise wise. lol. Bloody things sound like a Kazzo is playing in the exhaust lol.

[smellytofu]

Really? I didn't think many cars in the small-mid zone got appreciably less, now they're all ~1300kg & quite upright?

I got into the mid 6's in a current Corolla 4 speed slushbox from Sydney to Melbourne in my holiday. 2 up and mildly loaded.

[smellytofu]

i think the benchmark is the diesels and light hybrids like the Prius C which will do 4-5 litres

small B segs are in the ~5-6 lt bracket, maybe even some C segments

Even the larger Prius will do 4-5's without resorting to pulse and glide techniques and still take on board 3 large suitcases without invading the rear seats. I've done 5 people (1 in a child seat) in a Prius + 3 large suitcases + 2 smaller hand carry (1 on the floor where the child seat was, 1 in the back). Still had room for some hand carry. Certainly couldn't do that in the Corolla I had previously.

If nothing else, get the hatch/wagon of whatever you're buying. Sedans suck for load carrying stuff like prams and bags. Father in law's C Class couldn't take more than 1 large suitcase in the boot. Pram was a tad too large to even fit in the boot and the only way to get home from the airport with 70+kg of luggage was to forget the C Class and ask a friend with a previous gen Forester to take us home.

[ButtaS15]

Even the larger Prius will do 4-5's without resorting to pulse and glide techniques and still take on board 3 large suitcases without invading the rear seats. I've done 5 people (1 in a child seat) in a Prius + 3 large suitcases + 2 smaller hand carry (1 on the floor where the child seat was, 1 in the back). Still had room for some hand carry. Certainly couldn't do that in the Corolla I had previously.

If nothing else, get the hatch/wagon of whatever you're buying. Sedans suck for load carrying stuff like prams and bags. Father in law's C Class couldn't take more than 1 large suitcase in the boot. Pram was a tad too large to even fit in the boot and the only way to get home from the airport with 70+kg of luggage was to forget the C Class and ask a friend with a previous gen Forester to take us home.

We had one of those 3 wheel Valco prams for the kids when they were small. Folded down it fitted in the boot of the sedan no worries even with the wheels on. The floor space in the hatch was a lot shorter with the rear seats up. I reckon it's be harder to squeeze in.....if it fitted at all. Boot space in the sedan is far more advantageous than the hatch for a family car where you can't really put the seat down because of the kids in the back seat. Without folding the seat down, you'd still get more luggage in the sedan than the hatch. For DINK's the hatch wins every time. Used to love my N14 Pulsar SSS. Could fold the seats down, remove the parcel shelf and get both our mountain bikes in there no worries.

[smellytofu]

Oh, 3 wheeler prams also suck dogs balls unless they are the ones you can run with. 4 wheelers you can stand them up on the side against the backrest of the rear seat and obstruct a bit of the rear view if the boot space is too short.

I'll disagree that in everyday living, you can fit more in a sedan. The only time it happens is if the objects you're stuffing in fits in with the dimensions of the sedan boot without much air left over. Otherwise, hatch every single day.