Any late model Mazda 3 owners?

"notsomethingstructural" (notsomethingstructural)
09/17/2020 at 08:10 • Filed to: None

In my current car search, I’m currently leaning toward lowballing a dealer on a new old stock 2019 Mazda 3 Ultimate FWD sedan (I know, I know).

I test drove one yesterday and while I wouldn’t call it roomy it was comfortable, “tolerably quick”, had almost a clone of Audi’s MMI which I loved, and the ultimate has adaptive cruise. Good shit. I’m figuring this 2019 is headed to auction in like a month tops, so I’m gonna offer $20k without the free service package and see what happens. They get $750 rebated from Mazda since I’m a current Mazda owner as well, so they’re coming out closer to $21 and are asking $23 with a years of maintenance included.

Anyways, any current owners of the current or last gen have any thoughts? This has the 2.5L... how has the car treated you?

DISCUSSION (31)

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > notsomethingstructural
09/17/2020 at 08:30

My parents had a 2016 Mazda 6 with that engine. It was without any issues for the 60l they owned the car, if a tad underpowered in the larger 6 when loaded down with 3-4 adults in the car. I always thought that motor would be better in the smaller and lighter 3. They liked their 6 enough that they replaced it with a 2019, Grand Touring Desert with the turbo 2.5.

Khalbali > notsomethingstructural
09/17/2020 at 08:39

I had a 2015 3 with the 2.0, loved it, no issues but it was a temporary car while I waited for my ND to get built (I got impatient and bought a loaded NC instead.) I was also a Mazda tech for a couple years, pretty reliable cars, no real common issues that I can think of other than maybe the MAF sensor but that was more on the older 2.0's and is also about the easiest thing in the world to replace yourself.

E90M3 > notsomethingstructural
09/17/2020 at 08:40

I rented a 2016 Mazda 3 back in 2016 and can’t understand why people rave about them.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > E90M3
09/17/2020 at 09:04

They’re not absurdly expensive for what you get with them. I think the 3 and 6 are the car you get if you need a Civic or Accord but don’t want to own a Honda.

E90M3 > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
09/17/2020 at 09:06

More of I thought they were supposed to be the more enthusiast friendly car. I found the steering to be numb and imprecise .

Manny05x > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
09/17/2020 at 09:25

This but also the materials are nicer to the touch than Honda for me (i also own a Honda).

Roadkilled > notsomethingstructural
09/17/2020 at 09:41

I drive a 2016 Mazda 6 and my wife has a 2018 CX-5. We have had no reliability issues and have generally been happy with the cars.

Tires make a big difference on these cars. Put good tires on that 3 and it will corner much better. My 6 has acceptable but not exciting acceleration . However, the suspension is good and it can handle a twisty road at speed without losing grip. I have a round-about on my way to work. When there is no traffic, I can zip through it with a minimal loss of speed.

Mazda cars fall into the “driving a slow car fast” category. The fun isn’t on a highway onramp. It’s on a winding country road.

The other advantage of the engine is fuel economy. If gas taxes go up, it won’t leave you hurting. COVID has reduced traffic on my commute, and I know the timing of the lights. That engine gets great mileage.

Kinja'd!!!

koawaft1 > notsomethingstructural
09/17/2020 at 09:44

I have a 14 I got in 16 with the 2.5. I love it I find it a little small for home depot runs. It’s a great commuter. No issues at this point I have over 90k on it. I find it very sporty and quick. Compared to our minivan and the 05 vibe with 275k miles I drove previously at least.

The Ghost of Oppo > notsomethingstructural
09/17/2020 at 09:52

I’ve been driving a 2015 3 with the 2.5L since new. It has been good to me other than the infotainment being a bit buggy, but I’m sure that has improved. But I’ve also only put 34k miles on it in 5.33 years so I can’t speak to long term reliability. Personally I like the 2.5L, it accelerates well enough but is also slow(for lack of a better word) enough to not get me in trouble. The suspension isn’t as responsive as sportier cars(GTI), but at the price of the 3 you can’t really expect that.

notsomethingstructural > Khalbali
09/17/2020 at 10:03

All my Mazda’s have treated me exceedingly well. Only irritation I can think of is I think one of the last spark plugs I got for my RX8 was bad and I’ve got to replace them all again (close to $400 including compression test ) despite being only 3000 miles old.

notsomethingstructural > Roadkilled
09/17/2020 at 10:04

That’s a 2.0 or a 2.5L? Those look too good for the current 3.

notsomethingstructural > The Ghost of Oppo
09/17/2020 at 10:06

Basically. At its roots the 3 is still a very simple car. I think the 2019+ has a torsion beam rear suspension. Don’t see that as much these days. It’s 85% of a GTI at 70% of the cost, maintenance, and gas. Not a bad trade.

notsomethingstructural > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
09/17/2020 at 10:06

Sweet. They’re putting the turbo in the 3 this year and I think with a manual, that should be a hoot. Not for me, but still, awesome.

notsomethingstructural > koawaft1
09/17/2020 at 10:09

Yeah, it’s a shade small for that sort of stuff, but I have a G35x as my fiancee’s beater and that’ll definitely be on home depot duty anyways. A bag of plaster in my new 3?!?!? I wouldn’t dream of it. Pretty universally everyone seems to love them as “just right”.

notsomethingstructural > E90M3
09/17/2020 at 10:34

I mean, I sort of get that. By 2016 the interior was getting to be a bit over the hill - it was really Mazda polishing the same basic ideas that started with the RX-8 as far as the interior lines and volumes, and where materials were located (e.g., piano black radio fascia and switch covers, chrome or nickel door handles, etc.).

The reason people like Mazda 3's is they’re noticeably faster and sportier than I4 Civics, Accords, basically any Nissan with a CVT, any VAG car below a 2.0T, hell, IS250's, and the buyers wouldn’t really consider domestics anyways but it’s nipping at the heels of a Fiesta ST (7.0s 0-60 vs. 6.9s (nice)). You know, commuter cars, which to be sure, the 3 is.

The fit and finish has also been outstanding on all of my Mazdas. Not quite lexus, but at least as good as Honda. Material selections are better. Design is better, too. Honda has put a little more emphasis on handling and driver focus recently but that hasn’t historically been the case (think back to the Zoom-Zoom campaign and its hilariously bad music).

Is the 3 a BMW or Mercedes? No. But if you drive a pretty base Lexus, the interior is worse, the handling is worse, materials are slightly better, features are much worse. Hell, I took out like a 2014 ES350 and it still had a two-row text display. The 3 competes for people who want a top-trim VW, a base Lexus or like a 2.4 TLX.

That’s really it though - t he 3 is as good or better in virtually everything except “being a Honda” than the 2.4 TLX and is about $8-10 k less. There’s a lot to love there.

Shoop > notsomethingstructural
09/17/2020 at 10:40

My brother has a 2020. It's nice.

P5guy now GTIguy > notsomethingstructural
09/17/2020 at 10:40

Parents have a CX5 2.5 with 70k and a 6 2.5 with 80k. Neither has had a single problem. There's also another 2.5 cX5 with about the same or more mileage with no issues either.

hike > notsomethingstructural
09/17/2020 at 10:41

I have a 2014 Mazda6 with the 2.5. As most other comments say, zero issues with about 70k on it. My only complaint I've had with the car is the OE Dunlops were crap. Doubtful newer ones use those tires.

Roadkilled > notsomethingstructural
09/17/2020 at 11:07

It’s the 2.5. Today’s morning commute was only 45.8 mpg and yesterday’s commute was unusually good.

However, my morning commute is almost perfect for good mileage. The first 3 miles are mostly downhill. The next 3 miles are perfectly flat and have traffic lights that I can time well. The last 8 miles are on a nice winding road with only 3 traffic lights. The speed limit is 35 mph, but the customary speed is a bit higher. That lets me drive at low rpm in a high gear while keeping up with traffic and not being a hypermiling idiot blocking the people behind me. I’m not trying to hypermile. I rather enjoy the drive than save pennies on each commute.

The SkyActive engines have descent torque, including at low rpm . You can cruise at 40 - 45 mph in a high gear without a risk of lugging the engine. With a flat road, I get good mileage while following the local customary speeds.

nerd_racing > notsomethingstructural
09/17/2020 at 11:55

I have a 2.5L in my 2014 CX5, very similar. I’ve had zero engine issues and I’m pushing 104K miles. Just oil changes and maintenance.

Khalbali > notsomethingstructural
09/17/2020 at 12:19

I only ever dealt with a couple rx8's, they were all out of warranty by the time I was a Mazda tech so we only ever had a couple come in. Those spark plugs are kind of a PITA though, not as bad as the oil filter though.

notsomethingstructural > nerd_racing
09/17/2020 at 12:50

Sweet. Thanks.

notsomethingstructural > Khalbali
09/17/2020 at 12:53

I told somone doing the plugs is like going to the proctologist and asking them to adjust your eyeballs

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > notsomethingstructural
09/17/2020 at 13:26

You think t he NA 2.5 is faster than a 1.4T Golf? It is not.

notsomethingstructural > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
09/17/2020 at 13:59

Basically every chart I’m looking at and publication I’m skimming says that the 2.5L 3 is faster than the golf 1.4T.

In fact, all these charts say it’s not even close.

Khalbali > notsomethingstructural
09/17/2020 at 16:33

I don't remember them being quite that bad but I only ever did one set that I can think of, whereas the oil filter was a more common vexation.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > notsomethingstructural
09/17/2020 at 17:41

Hmm . Guess you’re right. The G olfs I’ve driven feel WAY faster than the claimed 7.7 to 60. Maybe ze Germans are underrating?

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > notsomethingstructural
09/17/2020 at 18:36

That would be a quick car with that engine in a 3, but it might not be as sporting as folks might expect without some tuning changes. The turbo 2.5 in the 6 is quick, but Mazda went to pretty extreme lengths to make it feel like not a turbo motor. It might have less lag than any other turbo car I've ever driven, but completely runs out of breath by 6k. The power is so linear that you might not suspect it has a turbo if you didn't know it was there. That's not to say it isn't good, but effect isn't as sporting as one might expect. That said, some tuning changes on Mazdas part could make the motor more sporting, even without increasing power in any way.

shop-teacher > E90M3
09/17/2020 at 20:48

Your perspective might be a bit warped from normal, based on what you drive. Some of us have only owned normal plebe cars, and are a lot easier to satisfy :)

notsomethingstructural > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
09/17/2020 at 21:26

It honestly wouldn’t surprise me. I drove a Passat 1.6T and it definitely felt quicker than it’s stated time, but the road tests bear it out too, so... ¯\_()_/¯

notsomethingstructural > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
09/17/2020 at 21:51

Aside from the FD ( which was sequential twin turbo) Mazda has a long and storied history of putting undersized turbos in their cars. The industry in general has been going that way for a while (see: VAG). I won’t totally fault Mazda for that, they usually let the motors rev pretty freely which makes it more apparent when it runs out of gas by the end - as you said. Their general reluctance to get on board with VVT hasn’t helped either