Just over 2 weeks with the Mazda 3...I like this car

"Alfalfa" (alfalfa-romeo)
06/14/2019 at 11:25 • Filed to: None

It’s been a good while since I’ve driven anything that could even be considered nimble. I have a great time driving it. I do wish it had an aux input, but that will be remedied eventually.

It’s got either an aftermarket exhaust or an exhaust leak that makes it all the more fun. Slightly droney on the freeway, we’ll be driving it 90 minutes to go camping tomorrow so we’ll see how obnoxious it gets.

DISCUSSION (18)

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Alfalfa
06/14/2019 at 11:33

Good memories. Chirp the tires in 2nd yet?

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Alfalfa
06/14/2019 at 11:39

My CD player broke so I’m thinking of just getting an aftermarket stereo with blue tooth and an aux/usb input.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Alfalfa
06/14/2019 at 11:39

Glad you’re enjoying it. These seem like great little cars. How’s the gas mileage been?

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Alfalfa
06/14/2019 at 11:53

On that generation I think adding an aux input is as simple as adding a cable that plugs into the CD changer port on the back of the radio. It should be pretty inexpensive.

Alfalfa > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
06/14/2019 at 12:07

Yeah I’ve already looked into it. The only remotely difficult part should be getting the unit out without breaking 15 year old plastic.

Alfalfa > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
06/14/2019 at 12:08

No, but I’ve done it in 1st more than once.

Alfalfa > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/14/2019 at 12:10

My CD player works, but I’m not sure how much longer that will last. I have to help the CDs in with a credit card.

Alfalfa > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute
06/14/2019 at 12:12

I haven't filled up a second time to calculate that yet, but I probably will be today. It's supposed to be 25 city but I don't think I've been exhibiting the driving behaviors used to calculate that number.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Alfalfa
06/14/2019 at 12:15

Don’t take any chances, I’ve got three CD’s currently stuck in my changer. You can go OEM but my car is old enough that I don’t care about the factory look and bluetooth is so easy now days. They also make a stereo that will work with the steering wheel controls and keep the clock and upper display operational, so it’s not a total hack job.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute
06/14/2019 at 12:16

I get 25 city 34 hwy in my Mazda3, that’s a 2006 too.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Alfalfa
06/14/2019 at 12:19

I took a lot of the dash apart in my 2012 Mazda5 back in 2014 for some work on the audio system (iPod controller, HD radio, Bluetooth, etc.) and 5 years later I still haven’t put it back together. I even lost the shifter bezel, and finding one for a manual is a serious and expensive challenge. I’ve got one from an automatic and a boot assembly from a BMW E34 but I haven't made my new bezel yet...

Alfalfa > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/14/2019 at 12:23

Oh I’ve n ever trusted early oem CD players with discs I actually care about. These are all burned CDs that I haven’t even to uched in a decade.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/14/2019 at 12:23

That’s not bad. I found a couple s Grand Touring hatchbacks near me, both manual with clean titles and no accidents and they look very clean and well kept. One’s a 2009 in dark blue with white/grey interior for $6,995 with 63k miles and the other is a silver 2007 for $4,295 with 116k miles. If I wasn’t so broke I’d jump on one of them.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Alfalfa
06/14/2019 at 12:25

Only a chirp in first?

WEAK!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute
06/14/2019 at 12:37

It’s a great car, no doubt about it. It’s going to my teenage daughter this fall. It also has all the airbags, ABS and reasonably modern crash structure. I would recommend a Mazda 3 to anybody that is also shop ping a Carr ola or civic sized car.

shop-teacher > Alfalfa
06/14/2019 at 13:11

They're great little cars. My wife dearly missed her '06 3

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/14/2019 at 13:12

She's lucky. And yeah, I've been looking at Civics because I'm in a Honda family but I would be more than fine with the Mazda3 hatch. More practical and imo looks better.

AndyG_UK > Alfalfa
06/14/2019 at 15:31

Me and my partner liked this gen 3 so much that we had one each for a long while! I used a Parrot thingy in one that gave me bluetooths, USB and aux in on one and a thingy from Ebay on the other that plugged in to the HU and worked in tape mode on the other, both worked well.