Mazda3 Owners Share your experience

[Redboy]

bro, u definitely have good taste in considering mz3!

For mz3, u r getting volvo-developed chassis & ford focus-like suspension.

As u know, volvo for safety & focus for their handling, so it's best of both worlds at a lower price. Engine by mazda, so you get jap reliability as well. Build quality one of the best in that price range. Best of 3 worlds, I should say!

Pickup is only sluggish at lower speeds, but once it gets up to speed, it's on par with other 1.6 cars. Refinement & engine noise is decent for its class.

Only thing, stock tyres may be noisy on certain road surfaces.

FC-wise, it's definitely not the best. With volvo-like chassis, surely u dun expect FC to be fantastic, rite? My avg FC is abt 12.

In short, if u value FC/power, dun consider mz3!

Otherwise, it's great value-for-money all-rounder!

Edited December 7, 2007 by Redboy

[Shox87]

IMHO i think the mazda 3 is one of the best looking 1.6L cars we have running SG roads.

 

sporty looking and conti feel.

 

i believe u wont go wrong wif the Mazda 3

[Toyo]

I thk the hatchback looks nicer.

[Sctl]

Can't really go wrong with the MZ3, had one for a year+ now, first batch after the SP facelift. Love the car, it's so stable and who says the car has no power? Use the right engine oil and petrol with one or two minor mods (air filter etc)and you will feel that the car can fly. Interior wise, I've concluded that it's wider than the Altis, definitely. Legspace, also more than Altis, both front and rear. It's got a slightly dated design on its dash as compared to the futuristic ones on the Civic FD, but well, it is a car that's almost 5 yrs old now. But still the exterior design of the car still stands out in a crowd, despite being almost able to see a Mz3 everywhere you go. If you're into car mods it's a fun car to dress up, both performance and surface wise, with tons of aftermarket parts available for it from TC/SC kits to the most mundane stuff like eyelids for the headlamps.

 

For bad pts, well, yes a little heavy, but that weight contributes very much to the stability of the car, especially in cornering. F/C I'm getting about 11 on average, no matter how much i floor my accelerator, or how relaxed I drive. In my opinion this car drives best on 98 fuel, tried the 95 grade and it felt 'rougher'. The four speed gearbox could do better if it had five gears, but well, we don't get those in Singapore.

 

Just a couple of pics to whet your appetite..

 

 

No regrets, a good car. Just do it.

Edited December 7, 2007 by Sctl

[Johnson]

wah bro!!! sweeeee!!!

where u get that centre console for the gauges man?

[S7654]

Do not know why people say FC high. I am getting about 11.5km/h on average. I own it for almost 3 years and still love to drive it today. The handling, steering and stability is the best in its class. Power is adequate also. And you can also switch to manual to get another extra boost.

 

Also, there is a misconception that the back legroom is small. FACT is, the rear is not small. The seats are more luxurious, bigger, well padded/cushioned and the seat base longer giving the impression that rear leg room is small. Other cars in comparison has very small uncomfortable and thinly padded/cushion seats and have a shorter seat base to create the impression of space. When in the showroom, sit in the drivers seat and passengers seat to appreciate its comfort.

 

In addition, it is the only 1.6L car that have a telescopic steering wheel and I always adjust the steering to be extended, the seat backwards (thereby creating impression that rear legroom is small again) and stretch my legs for optimum comfort in driving position. In comparison the latio's drivers seat has a very short rear limit in order to create a huge back legroom. But one suffers from poorer driving comfort (knees are more bent).

 

The interior space is huge also. The car is wide inside due to the larger width. I ferry colleagues for lunch with 3 person comfortably sitting behind. Their shoulders are not uncomfortably squeezed. And if I want to create more rear legroom simply adjust my seat forward and the steering wheel column forward.

 

Love the amount of interior storage compartment space also. I can store a 1.5L mineral water bottle and a 200sheets tissue box INSIDE the glove compartment at the same time.

[Sctl]

Totally agree. Huge glove box, I've got tons of stuff inside there some of which I believe haven't seen light in quite sometime :)

 

It probably has the best stock unbranded speaker in its class of cars too.

[Sctl]

A few places... the bukit timah one, or the upper thomson one both carry it.

[Johnson]

bro u mean "T.L.W."?

[Angdao]

Hehe, i guess all the Mazda3 bros here have already talked about all the good and bad things about Mz3. Ive been driving one for the past 6 months. I would say the stability is really good even on those meandering road. My friend who drives an altis sat in the car and told me this as well.I guess like what other bros said, car is stable partly because of the heavy weight.

 

The chasis is made for 2L and 2.3L engine but in Singapore, we have 1.6 which is the normal ones on the road. FC is poor because of underpower i guess.Like a fat car with small heart. But, i still love the car alot. Im not a chiongster, so the sluggish start doesnt affect me much.

 

FC wise..i dont really take note. Shouldnt be that bad but of coz if you compare with those well known good FC cars, quite hard to compare.

 

Anyway, i think the suspension is really hard.Other Mz3 bros,is the suspension on our cars harder than other cars?Always got to slow down to a near halt to cross those bumps.

[Johnson]

confirmed quite hard. Compared to my colleague altis, its really very hard.

[En0203]

if fc and speed is a concern, look else where. otherwise, no regret for the driving feel, interior design and finishing

[Sctl]

yep

[Pskvin]

Btw do you guys think that M3 can go up to Genting Highland with no problem?

My fren had a wish and he told me that the car stuggle to go up with 5pax in it. 3adults & 2 kids

 

Have anyone of u had an experience to Genting with your M3?

 

my genting ezperience - 4 adults 1 boy + 1 baby, window down ac off. up hill, i over take 1 altis, 1 vios, both with 2 mens only, window down too, but down hill, they win, becos i got not guts to drive fas when down hill, i hav my whole family in my car.

 

one more thing to add, a friend of mine who had a jpn corolla & now driving a latio, when he seat in my car front passenger side, he commented that my car is heavy & stable. another friend got no car, alway 'tumbang' his colleague sunny & altis (front seat always), when he was 1st time in my car, immediately he can feel the different - very stable.

[Mzrmazda3]

Got my RS model end of 2004 and it's still kicking well & alive on the road

 

Fuel consumption around 11 +++km/l with frequent hard driving Worse consumption is 9 +++ to 10 km/l when right foot is extremely heavy

 

Pickup is abit like tortise compared to other rides due to it's heavy platform

 

Mine is mildly modded with an aftermarket exhaust, air filter and ICE with soundproofing

 

Minimum Ron is 95

 

So any difference after you modd ur M3 bro?

Like honda its easy to get accessories and mods parts.

How abt mazda? is their part expensive?

 

Mods parts are not as common as Honda i would say ...

 

But things like coilover, lowering springs, dampers, exhaust, piggyback ... etc still can source rather easily

 

After exhaust change, loss a bit of the low end but gain a bit of high end & of course, the roaring sound when you lut to 6.5K RPM

[Mzrmazda3]

I thk the hatchback looks nicer.

 

I would have gone for the hatchback but due to it's lack of climate aircon which got a minus point from my wifey

[Toyo]

The hatchback aka GT is also more expensive

[Johnson]

haha made me waste money again tio poisoned