Ask the Car People.SM


Mazda3

9314 messages,  Last post on Nov 15, 2012 at 5:26 AM

You are in the Mazda3 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Mazda MAZDA3, Hatchback, Sedan

    

Messages Page 925 of 932

#9236 of 9314 Seat Cover Solution - Re: fowler3 [bluong1] by dartmouth5

Mar 21, 2012 (2:51 pm)

Replying to: bluong1 (Nov 18, 2003 3:17 am)
Love the 2-tone remark. Grey colored seat covers would be an ideal solution. They should be machine wash and dry. proseatcovers.com is where we got ours.
Easy to install and maintain, we wash them once a month and the truck doesn't smell like wet dog any more!

#9237 of 9314 2013 Mazda3? by wzxchange

Nov 15, 2012 (5:26 am)

#9238 of 9314 2013 Mazda3? by wzxchange

Jan 23, 2012 (4:04 pm)

I'm currently in the market for a 2012 Mazda3 i Sport Auto. However, I am aware that the 2013 Mazda3 is expected to have much better fuel economy and SkyActiv engines in even the base models. Do you think it's worth the wait for a 2013?

#9239 of 9314 If the 3i Touring is out of your budget range, then definitely wait by woochifer

Jan 23, 2012 (7:46 pm)

Mazda's drivetrain options for the Mazda3 are too complicated, and I doubt they will continue like this for much longer. If I were to take a guess, I think the Skyactiv drivetrain will be deployed across the entire lineup next year (except the Mazdaspeed3) and at least one (or perhaps both) of the current MZR engines will be pulled.
 
The MZR 2.0 found in the Mazda 3i Sport seems like the likeliest candidate, since it shares an identical displacement with the Skyactiv 2.0, and in North America, the Mazda3 is the only car that uses that engine. Meanwhile, the MZR 2.5 is also used in the Mazda5 and Mazda6. I don't think that the Skyactiv 2.0 has enough torque for those heavier models, so it would seem that the MZR 2.5 won't disappear until a more powerful Skyactiv engine comes out.
 
Currently, the price of stepping up from the 3i Sport to the 3i Touring is about $1,600. In addition to the Skyactive drivetrain, the Touring models add alloy wheels, Bluetooth, steering wheel controls, trip computer, cruise control, and six-speaker audio. If the Skyactiv drivetrain indeed trickles down to the 3i Sport models, then I would guess that either the list price goes up, or equipment currently standard on the 3i Sport becomes optional or thrown into a package.

#9240 of 9314 More Questions by wzxchange

Jan 23, 2012 (9:32 pm)

Where I'm living right now, the difference between the i Sport and i Touring trims is about $3600, before even mentioning tax. The i Sport is about $16000 while the cheapest Touring is pushing $20000. Which makes me wonder if the additional MPG I might get from the Skyactiv engine is going to be spent on the initial purchase anyway.
 
My biggest concern is that the worst-case scenario occurs: 2013 Mazda Mazda3 base model has the Skyactiv engine, priced the same as the 2012, with almost the exact same features. Then the 2012 Mazda3 which I hypothetically purchase would be a really bad deal, in that light. But is that likely to happen?
 
Also, the i Sport gets about 24/33 MPG, which is not too shabby, but certainly not close to many of its rivals in the compact car segment - Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla, etc. In the foreseeable future, I would think the value of the 2012 Mazda3 would be primed for a freefall. Unless someone thinks otherwise?

#9241 of 9314 Re: 2013 Mazda3? [wzxchange] by autonomous

Jan 24, 2012 (10:23 am)

Replying to: wzxchange (Jan 23, 2012 4:04 pm)
Do you think it's worth the wait for a 2013?
Yes. If there is no compelling need to buy now, I would wait until the fall for two reasons:
1- Let the kinks work out of the first year of the Skyactiv implementation;
2- Compare the new 2013 to the original 2012 models to see which offers the best deal.
 
In the meantime, you can always collect information and get a "preview" of the negotiation by visiting showrooms. You might even find a sales person that you can work with for the eventual purchase.

#9242 of 9314 Re: More Questions [wzxchange] by aviboy97

Jan 24, 2012 (11:58 am)

Replying to: wzxchange (Jan 23, 2012 9:32 pm)
The i Sport is about $16000 while the cheapest Touring is pushing $20000
 
MSRP of a 2012 Mazda3 i Sport automatic is roughly $18,350 and the Mazda3 i Touring (Skyactiv) is about $20,095. Where do you get $3,000 from?
 
Mazda does have a $2,000 dealer cash incentive on "R" code Mazda3s, which there are very few, if any left. There is also a $750 delaer cash rebate on the Mazda3 i Sport and $250 dealer cash on the Skyactiv models. Of course, you cannot get any of these rebates if you lease or take the special finance rates.

#9243 of 9314 Re: More Questions [wzxchange] by woochifer

Jan 24, 2012 (1:16 pm)

Replying to: wzxchange (Jan 23, 2012 9:32 pm)
That price sounds like you're looking at the 3i SV model, which is a strippo price leader that only comes with a manual. It's on Mazda's website, but I've never seen one and my local dealer hasn't either. I think the 3i SV exists so that Mazda can quote a lower base price, but that doesn't mean that they will be easy to find.
 
If you opt for the Skyactiv, you're getting a more refined drivetrain. So, it's not just the fuel economy.
 
For the 2012 model year, Mazda lowered the MSRP on the base model Mazda3. But, they also shifted around the option packages and standard equipment.
 
If Mazda moves the Skyactiv drivetrain into the 3i Sport models for 2013, then I would expect the MSRP to jump as well. As I mentioned, right now the Touring model adds $1,600 to the MSRP, and if you disregard the Skyactiv drivetrain, the added features on the Touring model IMO are not worth $1,600. Last year, the difference was $1,400 -- same equipment upgrades, except with no change in the drivetrain.

#9244 of 9314 Prices by wzxchange

Jan 24, 2012 (6:12 pm)

Actually, the prices I quoted were not the MSRP, but rather, the actual dealer prices. Cars might be quite a bit cheaper here in the Midwest than, say, in San Francisco or New York.
 
Just wonder how much more Mazda believes the SkyActiv is worth. I'm going to take a look at some vehicles this weekend, and test-driving a couple of them. Thought I might get a few opinions on the Mazda3 (my current first choice). If they weren't going to roll out the SkyActiv on the entire Mazda3 line in a few months, I wouldn't be so concerned.

#9245 of 9314 Re: Prices [wzxchange] by woochifer

Jan 24, 2012 (6:36 pm)

Replying to: wzxchange (Jan 24, 2012 6:12 pm)
MSRP as far as I know does not vary by region. Here's the link to Mazda's MSRP sheet. Keep in mind that the MSRP, as posted on current inventory, seems to have gone up by $350 since this price list was first drafted.
 
Mazda3 2012 Price List
 
The dealer price doesn't mean much because you don't know the value of the incentives that the dealer might be getting from Mazda at any given time. In the last quarter, the average value of incentive spending from Mazda came out to around $2k per car. Of course, the incentive value will vary from model to model, and judging by Mazda's financing programs (1.9% APR on the Mazda3, and 0% on the Mazda6, CX-7, and CX-9), the Mazda3 doesn't seem to need as much incentive subsidy as other models. And from what I have heard, the Skyactiv models have been in greater demand than the other Mazda3 trims.
 
If anything, Mazda has held the line on pricing with the Skyactiv rollout. By limiting it to the higher margin 3i Touring and Grand Touring models, they have a little bit more maneuvering room on the pricing if the Skyactiv drivetrains currently cost more to produce. The 3i Sport has lower margins, so it makes sense to keep the tried-and-true 2.0 MZR drivetrain for this year at least. By next model year, the Skyactiv drivetrain production will ramp up to much higher volume (if for no other reason, because of the CX-5 debut) and presumably the cost per unit by then will also drop.

Messages Page 925 of 932

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement