Topic: Test Drive: 2014 Mazda3 GT Sedan

[dkaz]

How big is your Odyssey's tank? 

I prefer my 2nd gen Mazda 3's 55L fuel tank. Being able to drive 1,000km with 5L to spare is nice.

[Solstice2006]

How big is your Odyssey's tank? 

I prefer my 2nd gen Mazda 3's 55L fuel tank. Being able to drive 1,000km with 5L to spare is nice.

According to the manual 80L, the light was on for about 20km, and I put 71L in it, (the most I have put in it, but have only had it about 6 weeks)

The Mazda5 holds 60L.

[Oldsguy]

All the non-car people associate "Mazda" with "rust". If they improved the warranty and rust protection, they should advertise it now!!

Interestingly I am hearing less about the rust issues these days and more and more about the harsh ride and noise in the cabin. A couple of people at my work both bought new cars lately, both had the 3 on their list and both hated it. One didn't like it at all for the aforementioned reasons plus what she described as lousy visibility (said the same about a Sonata and Elantra she drove; ended up buying a Jetta) while the other really thought it seemed tinny and hard riding, and ended up in a Cruze. Mass-market compact suspensions need not be tuned like a sportscar.

[Solstice2006]

All the non-car people associate "Mazda" with "rust". If they improved the warranty and rust protection, they should advertise it now!!

Interestingly I am hearing less about the rust issues these days and more and more about the harsh ride and noise in the cabin. A couple of people at my work both bought new cars lately, both had the 3 on their list and both hated it. One didn't like it at all for the aforementioned reasons plus what she described as lousy visibility (said the same about a Sonata and Elantra she drove; ended up buying a Jetta) while the other really thought it seemed tinny and hard riding, and ended up in a Cruze. Mass-market compact suspensions need not be tuned like a sportscar.

Then let those people buy Corollas, Jettas, and Sentras

[dkaz]

How big is your Odyssey's tank? 

I prefer my 2nd gen Mazda 3's 55L fuel tank. Being able to drive 1,000km with 5L to spare is nice.

According to the manual 80L, the light was on for about 20km, and I put 71L in it, (the most I have put in it, but have only had it about 6 weeks)

The Mazda5 holds 60L.

Yea but the best I got in my Mazda 5 was 7.1 L/100km so at best maybe 750-775km a tank with a little more than 5L to spare.

My Sienna is 79L.

[PJ]

All the non-car people associate "Mazda" with "rust". If they improved the warranty and rust protection, they should advertise it now!!

Interestingly I am hearing less about the rust issues these days and more and more about the harsh ride and noise in the cabin. A couple of people at my work both bought new cars lately, both had the 3 on their list and both hated it. One didn't like it at all for the aforementioned reasons plus what she described as lousy visibility (said the same about a Sonata and Elantra she drove; ended up buying a Jetta) while the other really thought it seemed tinny and hard riding, and ended up in a Cruze. Mass-market compact suspensions need not be tuned like a sportscar.

Then let those people buy Corollas, Jettas, and Sentras

Plus 1

Nice that at least one car company thinks that cars are more then appliances.   And judging by the vast number of Mazdas I see around the Vancouver area a lot of people agree with me.

[dkaz]

I've seen a lot of 3rd gen Mazda 3s on the road lately. Vancouverites LOVE their Mazda 3s.

[Minou]

How big is your Odyssey's tank? 

I prefer my 2nd gen Mazda 3's 55L fuel tank. Being able to drive 1,000km with 5L to spare is nice.

So you're averaging 5.0 L/100 km?

[mixmanmash]

How big is your Odyssey's tank? 

I prefer my 2nd gen Mazda 3's 55L fuel tank. Being able to drive 1,000km with 5L to spare is nice.

So you're averaging 5.0 L/100 km?

Probably on the highway.  I believe his 3 has the Skyactiv 2.0

[Snowman]

I mentioned a year ago Mazda was done due to high debt and huge losses. If they can't turn it around in the next 12 months with profitable sales its over IMO.

[PJ]

Strange how many people have a serious dislike for Mazda. 

[Snowman]

Strange how many people have a serious dislike for Mazda.

Very strange, They have made some great cars but for some reason they have no mass appeal. Almost bought a Mazda 6 wagon once.

[Solstice2006]

I mentioned a year ago Mazda was done due to high debt and huge losses. If they can't turn it around in the next 12 months with profitable sales its over IMO.

So your saying if things stay the same, by spring 2015 Mazda will file for bankruptcy?  I think that's too premature.. They were in the red even when with Ford, now on their own, they have seen black.  Sure they are struggling, but I see more Mazda than I do Suzuki that filed for bankruptcy...

[Vanstar]

All the non-car people associate "Mazda" with "rust". If they improved the warranty and rust protection, they should advertise it now!!

Interestingly I am hearing less about the rust issues these days and more and more about the harsh ride and noise in the cabin. A couple of people at my work both bought new cars lately, both had the 3 on their list and both hated it. One didn't like it at all for the aforementioned reasons plus what she described as lousy visibility (said the same about a Sonata and Elantra she drove; ended up buying a Jetta) while the other really thought it seemed tinny and hard riding, and ended up in a Cruze. Mass-market compact suspensions need not be tuned like a sportscar.

Good points, Greg, but the Mazda 3 is sold on its fun to drive handling characteristics. There are lots of cars in the class that offer a smooth ride for less money than the 3, but that is not Mazda's market. I drove a 2014 GX Sport automatic with the 2.0 and automatic and it was a real blast to drive. Lots of power, excellent transmission and accurate steering. Very nice to drive but a smooth rider it was not. I didn't mind but the roads here are pretty smooth. I can also see why people would take the Cruze as it is a nice car at a low price, but that is not the Mazda's market.

[dkaz]

So you're averaging 5.0 L/100 km?

Yea I drove from Calgary to Vancouver on a tank of gas. The low fuel light came on at 921 km. I filled 49.3L at the 1004 km mark. This is in my 2012 Mazda 3 Skyactiv with the 6 speed manual

[rrocket]

Very nice to drive but a smooth rider it was not. I didn't mind but the roads here are pretty smooth. I can also see why people would take the Cruze as it is a nice car at a low price, but that is not the Mazda's market.

This is why Mazda will go bankrupt. I'd guess about 1 percent of those buying thrifty commuter cars care if it's sporty. For the daily slog, most people want more comfort.

Mazda is playing with too small a demographic to last.

[PJ]

Very nice to drive but a smooth rider it was not. I didn't mind but the roads here are pretty smooth. I can also see why people would take the Cruze as it is a nice car at a low price, but that is not the Mazda's market.

This is why Mazda will go bankrupt. I'd guess about 1 percent of those buying thrifty commuter cars care if it's sporty. For the daily slog, most people want more comfort.

Mazda is playing with too small a demographic to last.

Then why has the Mazda3 been in the top 5 in car sales since it hit the market a decade ago?

More people like to drive then you think. 

[rrocket]

Very nice to drive but a smooth rider it was not. I didn't mind but the roads here are pretty smooth. I can also see why people would take the Cruze as it is a nice car at a low price, but that is not the Mazda's market.

This is why Mazda will go bankrupt. I'd guess about 1 percent of those buying thrifty commuter cars care if it's sporty. For the daily slog, most people want more comfort.

Mazda is playing with too small a demographic to last.

Then why has the Mazda3 been in the top 5 in car sales since it hit the market a decade ago?

More people like to drive then you think.

Being Top 5 in a market that isn't a Top 10 world market won't sustain Mazda as a company.  This has been discussed before.

Regular Joe car buyers outnumber "drivers" by a huge margin.

[quadzilla]

So you're averaging 5.0 L/100 km?

Yea I drove from Calgary to Vancouver on a tank of gas. The low fuel light came on at 921 km. I filled 49.3L at the 1004 km mark. This is in my 2012 Mazda 3 Skyactiv with the 6 speed manual

That is very impressive. How fast were you driving?

I'd never see those kind of numbers around here with the way I drive.

[Snowman]

I mentioned a year ago Mazda was done due to high debt and huge losses. If they can't turn it around in the next 12 months with profitable sales its over IMO.

So your saying if things stay the same, by spring 2015 Mazda will file for bankruptcy?  I think that's too premature.. They were in the red even when with Ford, now on their own, they have seen black.  Sure they are struggling, but I see more Mazda than I do Suzuki that filed for bankruptcy...

Or a big cash infusion from Toyota similar to what they did to Subaru. Just look how Subaru as done since then.