What Do You Want To Know About The Mazda3?

"Justin Hughes" (justinhughes54)
05/20/2016 at 09:32 • Filed to: Mazda3

We’ve got a rental, and it’s one of these. Any questions?

Plot twist: We’re in Montreal, so it’s Canadian spec. My wife and I needed the second car since I’ll be returning to the US before her, and my BRZ’s stiff (yet stock) suspension is beating us up badly on Montreal’s roads that were returned to Earth from the cratered surface of the moon.

DISCUSSION (26)

CB > Justin Hughes
05/20/2016 at 09:40

How’s the power, ride, gas mileage? This is the top choice for my girlfriend’s next car. The only thing I’m worried about is how quickly they might rust.

yitznewton > Justin Hughes
05/20/2016 at 09:42

Which engine is that, 2.0 or 2.5, assuming they have same engines as last I checked?

dogisbadob > Justin Hughes
05/20/2016 at 09:47

I think the doors are the same on the sedan and hatchback

EL_ULY > Justin Hughes
05/20/2016 at 09:53

does it have that huge-normous glove box like the first gen? You could stuff a whole chopped off human leg or 17 inch laptop in those easy.

itschrome > Justin Hughes
05/20/2016 at 10:04

what does the rear left speaker smell and taste like?

Textured Soy Protein > Justin Hughes
05/20/2016 at 10:26

Is it like the other base model Mazdas where they have a navigation button next to the wannabe-iDrive knob by the shifter, but when you press the navigation button, you get a screen that says “sorry you don’t have navigation, but you can buy the navigation SD card from your Mazda dealer”?

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Justin Hughes
05/20/2016 at 10:27

Maybe you could be the first to answer my question that I always ask when it comes to rentals: How fast does it go in reverse?

S65 > Justin Hughes
05/20/2016 at 10:40

Will It Do Burnouts?

Stef Schrader > Justin Hughes
05/20/2016 at 11:51

Capacity in Timbits? Go!

garakawa > Justin Hughes
05/20/2016 at 11:55

How long can you drift it before the McD’s trays disintegrate?

garakawa > Justin Hughes
05/20/2016 at 11:56

How long can you drift it before the McD’s trays disintegrate?

Funktheduck > CB
05/20/2016 at 14:28

I’ve put nearly 75k miles on my 2015. Only oil, filters, rear brakes, and tires so far.

Supposedly they have the rust issues worked out.

Funktheduck > Textured Soy Protein
05/20/2016 at 14:28

Yes. My mid trim has it. You do get a compass with the message

Funktheduck > EL_ULY
05/20/2016 at 14:29

Nope. Tiny glovebox.

Funktheduck > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
05/20/2016 at 14:33

Not sure about him but I know I've gone at least 15 mph. It's a little difficult to watch the speedo and behind at the same time

Justin Hughes > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
05/20/2016 at 16:35

We did get the special extra coverage insurance...

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Justin Hughes
05/20/2016 at 16:40

I’d like to know. You know, for research purposes.

Hooker > Funktheduck
05/20/2016 at 16:47

75K! That’s really impressive in such a short period of time!

Funktheduck > Hooker
05/20/2016 at 18:30

Got it in September 2014. Use it for work. Great gas mileage and it's a hatch so hauling dogs around is a breeze. Fit me plus 3 other guys plus our stuff for a several day trip to the outer banks.

Hooker > Funktheduck
05/21/2016 at 08:23

That’s fantastic. And now it’s on my short list. Especially the space factor. Though so is the Cruze hatch. I know it won’t be as fun to drive but it looks to be a bit bigger. Potentially.

Funktheduck > Hooker
05/21/2016 at 08:44

the Cruze hatch didn’t exist when I was shopping. My biggest requirement when I was shopping was whatever I bought had to get as good or better gas mileage than the Corolla I was replacing since I drive so much. I wanted a hatch but could make do with a sedan. I wanted disc brakes all around and preferably independent suspension out back for fun. The Mazda3 was the only car that checked all those boxes.

I can fit my 4 dogs easily when the rear seats down plus their stuff when I take them to my parents’. Easily took home some plants from Home Depot.

My gf has a 2012 and there’s more room in the back of mine even though dimensionally on the outside they’re similar.

Hooker > Funktheduck
05/23/2016 at 10:46

4 dogs and their stuffs? That’s pretty impressive. Ideally, I want something that gets good mileage and is smooth, good build quality (rattles and such drive me just shy of batty) and looks decent. The 3 definitely checks off all those boxes. However, it’s a Mazda. I work at a Chevrolet dealer as a sales person. That would look bad to management. Which sucks, because I like the 3. My Cruze sedan (which, to me feels quicker than the now more powerful Cruze that was just released. Odd. Turbo kick though.) But when that hatch comes out I will have to consider it.

The 2012 has less room? that’s surprising only because the new 3 always looked smaller to me. In hatch form anyway. Mind games.

Funktheduck > Hooker
05/23/2016 at 11:18

They stretched the wheelbase wider and I think slightly longer but the overall body I think is a little shorter. Makes more room on the inside.

I would definitely compare them. As far as working at the dealership goes: most people don't drive the make of the dealer they work for unless they get a good discount

Hooker > Funktheduck
05/23/2016 at 11:43

I like them. Also, I get a hella good discount. Haha. I live in small town America and it’s incredibly important that I drive what I sell. It’s not a penalty, I like it. But I do lust after other forbidden fruit.

Funktheduck > Hooker
05/23/2016 at 11:53

As enthusiasts, don't we all?

Hooker > Funktheduck
05/23/2016 at 13:19

Sadly, yes. Haha.