Buzz Neutral Newbie December 29, 2003 Share December 29, 2003 Sometimes it has to do with electronics in newer cars. Example the Evo 7 versus the 8. Best Motoring people comment is that the new AYC (Active Yaw Control) that makes the car much eaiser to throw round the track. For the new Ford platform I wonder if they compromise too much to try to make it common so that every brand in the Ford family can use it Just like what happen to Saab using the old Vectra platform ↡ Advertisement Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acemundo Supercharged December 29, 2003 Share December 29, 2003 well, i think many of the car manufacturers are trying to cut cost.... one design for all the same cc car in the family. So what's the impact of the saab using the old vectra platform? I am wondering what impact also has that on the new focus and m3. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acemundo Supercharged December 29, 2003 Share December 29, 2003 heard the new focus will be available end of this year or early next year. the m3 should have existed for at least 1 yr already.......well, we should use m3 as a gauge Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super7 Turbocharged December 29, 2003 Share December 29, 2003 (edited) ............ i really can't understand why a dated good handling car pales in comparison with newer cars. you have a valid point: if a model provides good handling/performance, we may just need a new body skin to make it look 'fresh' to the consumers, and a bit of tweakings to make it handle/perform better, no need to design from scatch and come up with a totally package..... but sometimes for marketing purposes, the designer/production people may have no choice but to come out with 'brand new' designs to gain the "All New" advantage over the competitors.... Edited December 29, 2003 by Super7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deathsythe Neutral Newbie December 30, 2003 Share December 30, 2003 Mazda 323 Protege had all been sold out. The new Mazda 3 will be launched in Jan 04. Information provided by Mazda Sales. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acemundo Supercharged December 31, 2003 Share December 31, 2003 to be fair, i always feel if a car is good, even a new model might not be better...given that cars are not high-tech equipments like mobile phones..but the strangest thing is most people seemed to treat good but dated design models of car with disdain. fact is, if we own and drive a car for half of the full 10 yr coe, any such cars would have been a dated design after 5 yrs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzz Neutral Newbie December 31, 2003 Share December 31, 2003 The old Saab 9000 roll around corners like a pig lor Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzz Neutral Newbie December 31, 2003 Share December 31, 2003 Ah but the AF 156 still looks so good after so many years Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soya Supersonic December 31, 2003 Share December 31, 2003 chanced upon this review. says the extg focus is better than the new M3. http://autozine.kyul.net/html/Mazda1.htm#3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super7 Turbocharged December 31, 2003 Share December 31, 2003 After the success of Mazda 6 and RX-8, you must expect its little brother Mazda 3 to be an exciting driver's car. You know the 3 is derived from the next generation Ford Focus platform, sharing the same control-blade (multi-link) rear suspensions, in contrast to rivals' torsion-beam axle. It also has electro-hydraulic power steering, versus rivals' pure electric power steering. And then there is an alluminum four-cylinder 16-valve engine, complete with variable valve timing and variable intake manifolds. All these signs are so promising. Will it be a class winner? Unfortunately, the Hiroshima magic doesn't work this time. And more tragically to Mazda, this is the biggest selling, most important model in its lineup. Despite of the sophisticated ingredients, Mazda 3 is just an average car. It does have some driver appeal, but not to the extent that raise our pulse like the 6-year-old Focus. In other aspects, such as space, ride, refinement and quality, it simply falls behind the latest competitors. One can easily see it won't trouble the bigger sellers like Volkswagen Golf and Opel Astra. So, what's wrong with the 3? externally, it looks neither handsome nor disgusting. Somewhat organic, somewhat sharp, just a mix of different tastes. People have no idea what it is. The body is ill-proportioned, looks too long. It is. The wheelbase is 2640mm, easily the longest in its class. Even in hatchback form, the rear overhang is almost as long as many sedans, making the whole car 200mm longer than class average ! Now you might expect a roomy cabin, but unfortunately it is no roomier than an average competitor. A six-footer will be tight to sit behind another six-footer. The hatchback offers sufficient headroom for rear passengers. Not so lucky in the 4-door sedan, whose swoopy roof eat into rear headroom. The intrusive center console also eat into the foot well. We don't mind sacrificing a little bit interior room for a beautiful appearance, but it seems that Mazda 3 succeed in neither styling nor functionality. Under the bonnet is the MZR all-alloy four-cylinder family. The smallest 1.5-litre (with VVT) produces 113hp but is only reserved for the Japanese market; Europe gets a 1.6-litre instead, also with VVT but produces 105hp only due to tighter emission regulations. It is by no means powerful, but smoother and more eager at the top end than the 2.0-litre. The 2.0-litre has variable intake manifold but not VVT. 150hp is strong enough, but it is short on torque and sounds coarse at high rev. In Japan and USA, a more powerful 2.3-litre is offered as top model. It is the same engine as that found in Mazda 6, complete with VVT, variable intake and balance-shaft to dampen vibration. At 10.6:1 compression ratio, the Japanese version pumps out 171hp and 158lbft. The USA version, however, runs at just 9.7:1 thus produces only 160hp and 150lbft. Although this Mazda 3 is 100kg lighter than Mazda 6, it does not feel particularly quick, especially compare with today's hot hatches. However, the 2.3 engine is still lovely, thanks to its smoothness and refinement. As the car does not shine in performance, a good chassis dynamics is desperately needed to restore the faith of Mazda's admirers. In pure handling term, the 3 is fine. Its sporty suspension setup leads to good body control and delivers a taut feeling. No matter grip, braking or steering, it performs very well. However, it fails to match the 6-year-old Focus in almost all areas - it rides firmly and generates a lot of suspension noise on bumps. Its electro-hydraulic steering is reasonably communicative, better than Renault Megane and Volkswagen Golf, but never as feelsome as the hydraulic-assisted Focus. There is also some harshness felt from the steering column - what we called "kickback". Finally, its chassis is prone to understeer at tight corners where the Focus can overcome. In keen driver's point of view, the Mazda 3 may be second only to Focus. Unfortunately it fails to deliver a fine level of refinement and comfort simultaneously, while Focus and Golf succeed. This is one of the biggest disappointments of 2003. It is not a bad car actually. It just fails to match its Japanese name "Axela " - which means "Excellent", according to Mazda. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuangya Neutral Newbie December 31, 2003 Share December 31, 2003 This is the 1st "negative" review i have ever read abt the new M3... Sound like the reviewer like focus so much that he trashed every car he reviews... Do a search and you can find many "positive" reviews on the new M3... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super7 Turbocharged January 1, 2004 Share January 1, 2004 i think the majority's views are worth taking seriously Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitman Neutral Newbie January 1, 2004 Share January 1, 2004 Mazda 323 Protege had all been sold out. The new Mazda 3 will be launched in Jan 04. Information provided by Mazda Sales. Jan 4th .. they told me CNY week Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuangya Neutral Newbie January 1, 2004 Share January 1, 2004 i think he mean Jan 2004 lah... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitman Neutral Newbie January 1, 2004 Share January 1, 2004 Oh ... alamak SOTONG lah me CNY in Jan ar Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuangya Neutral Newbie January 1, 2004 Share January 1, 2004 CNY on 22nd Jan lah... I also heard peoples said it may be released in 1-2 wk time caused MM got a few of M3 liao... but how true is it i dun know lah... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitman Neutral Newbie January 1, 2004 Share January 1, 2004 True .. the cars are in oredi But they wont let me take a look Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super7 Turbocharged January 1, 2004 Share January 1, 2004 (edited) maybe i can help you take some pics since i am their personal hygiene consultant aka toilet cleaner ...... can you just lend me a digicam which looks like a toilet brush (wah lau eh, they nowadays body search everyone working there, maybe they dun search my brush..... heheheehee) Edited January 1, 2004 by Super7 ↡ Advertisement Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In NowRelated Discussions
Related Discussions
KHY motors the most humble workshop!
KHY motors the most humble workshop!
2019 All new Mazda 3
2019 All new Mazda 3
Any problem with this fellaaaaaaaaa? (Mazda3)
Any problem with this fellaaaaaaaaa? (Mazda3)
Mazda 3 2014 or impreza 4D
Mazda 3 2014 or impreza 4D
2019 All new Mazda 3 Mild Hybrid
2019 All new Mazda 3 Mild Hybrid
Mazda3 SP
Mazda3 SP
Bodykit for Mazda 3
Bodykit for Mazda 3
All new 2014 Mazda3 ( Video )
All new 2014 Mazda3 ( Video )