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Mazda3 Canada

743 messages,  Last post on Aug 15, 2012 at 2:28 PM

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

Messages Page 52 of 75

#510 of 743 Re: Why are Mz3 so much more popular in CDN? [204meca] by avenueroad

Nov 08, 2005 (10:07 pm)

Replying to: 204meca (Sep 13, 2004 5:04 pm)
Canada's Top Seven Best-Selling Cars
by Jeremy Cato
March 7, 2005
 
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jc/compact2.htm
 
1. Honda Civic
2. Toyota Corolla
3. Mazda3
4.-5. Pontiac Sunfire/Chevy Cavalier (before Cobalt/Pursuit arrived)
6. Toyota Echo
7. Ford Focus
 
According to DesRosiers Automotive Consultants, entry-level vehicles now account for 39.6 per cent of new car sales in Canada.
 
Reasons:
1. Higher taxes/lower disposable income
2. Mostly urban population
3. Higher gas prices
4. Stronger European influence
5. Stronger environmental conscience
 
Mazda Tribute is a car-based (i.e. fake) SUV that does not have the same appeal to cost- and environment-conscious Canadians as it does in the SUV-crazy US. I can carry almost the same amount of cargo in my Mazda3 hatchback with back seats down, and it looks way better!

#511 of 743 Re: A/C - 2006 [jezebel] by avenueroad

Nov 08, 2005 (10:30 pm)

Replying to: jezebel (Sep 15, 2005 4:58 am)
I have a 2004 GS Sport (hatchback). I figured out A/C wasn't blowing in the first notch as soon as I pulled out of the dealer's lot, but it was too late
 
Can anything be done about it?!! I don't like setting it to 2 all the time - too noisy!

#512 of 743 Re: Competing with BMW? [barnee61] by avenueroad

Nov 08, 2005 (10:54 pm)

Replying to: barnee61 (Oct 12, 2005 2:10 pm)
Mazda3 competes with BMW only in Mazda's marketing brochures and executives wet dreams.. It's true they sometimes call it "poor man's BMW" but that's hardly a compliment
 
Its true competition:
- Honda Civic (old: boring.. new: weird..)
- Toyota Corolla (just plain boring)
- in hatchback form: Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe
 
Not much competition to tell the truth!!

#513 of 743 Re: winter tires [tr20] by avenueroad

Nov 08, 2005 (11:15 pm)

Replying to: tr20 (Oct 04, 2005 1:14 pm)
I own a 2004 GS Sport (hatchback)... - btw hate that "Sport" designation.. just call it Hatch, dammit!!
 
Factory tires are Toyo Proxes 205/55R16 all-season.
 
Went to Active Green+Ross looking for winter tires... liked Michelin X-Ice but they were above my budget.
 
The shop guy talked me into this weird deal: Get a set of Michelin X-Ice at a different size (215/60R16) on a set of generic steel rims. He claimed it would not be a problem. This size is wider and taller than original factory tires, but goes on the same size rims. Tire diameter is 26.2" vs 24.9" (32.5 mm difference)
 
Strangely, they were less expensive than the original size!! ($150 vs $180). Noted they were Q rated vs H for stock tires.. it's slower speed, could this explain the price difference?
 
Paid $1,073 for 4 tires + 4 rims + taxes + labour (mount, balance etc.) I have not mounted them yet.
 
QUESTIONS:
1) Will they even fit into wheel wells, if yes, will there be scraping, weird handling etc?
2) Anybody had any experience with this size difference? Is it safe?
 
shop guy promised to replace them if they don't fit... we'll see!

#514 of 743 Wintires by autonomous

Nov 09, 2005 (6:57 am)

Factory tires are Toyo Proxes 205/55R16 all-season ... shop guy talked me into this weird deal: Get a set of Michelin X-Ice at a different size (215/60R16) on a set of generic steel rims. He claimed it would not be a problem. This size is wider and taller than original factory tires, but goes on the same size rims ... shop guy promised to replace them if they don't fit
 
Moving to fatter (60) tires with steel rims is a good idea for winter driving (and to preserve your alloys). But, increasing the footprint by getting wider (215) tires is not, believe it or not; see below for details. My tire specialist recommended downsizing to 14" from 16" for my Protege5. Not only have they have handled superbly for three winters they are also cheaper and easier to replace. Check your manual for the sizes recommended by Mazda. Finally, make sure that the "promise" is in writing.
 
Sometimes, you can save money and improve grip by going "minus one." Say your top of the line sports coupe comes with high-performance tires and wheels in the 16-inch size. A tire or auto dealer can cross-check wheel fitment and you may find that the base model of your car comes with steel wheels in the 15-inch size that are less expensive to buy (same for the tires). How can a narrower tire improve road grip? The rule of thumb from experts is that a narrower tire will cut through rain, snow and slush and bear down on the road better than a wider tire, which will tend to float up and over, losing grip in the process. Source:
http://www.canadiandriver.com/winter/tires/winter_tires.htm

#515 of 743 Re: Why are Mz3 so much more popular in CDN? [avenueroad] by chrisbolt

Nov 09, 2005 (5:55 pm)

Replying to: avenueroad (Nov 08, 2005 10:07 pm)
More recent sales numbers: http://www.auto123.com/en/info/news/news,view.spy?artid=51525&pg=1

#516 of 743 Re: Wintires [autonomous] by avenueroad

Nov 09, 2005 (9:49 pm)

Replying to: autonomous (Nov 09, 2005 6:57 am)
thanks autonomous, appreciate your advice.
well I didn't go "minus 1" in rim size; hopefully a few cm difference in tire profile will still work.
as far as width, my driving will be primarily on plowed roads so shouldn't be too big of a deal. thanks again, the article was informative.

#517 of 743 Re: Why are Mz3 so much more popular in CDN? [avenueroad] by ex_tdier

Nov 10, 2005 (9:04 pm)

Replying to: avenueroad (Nov 08, 2005 10:07 pm)
Remember, best selling doesn't equate to most reliable, which Mazda3 falls seriously short in.

#518 of 743 Re: Why are Mz3 so much more popular in CDN? [ex_tdier] by autonomous

Nov 11, 2005 (10:33 am)

Replying to: ex_tdier (Nov 10, 2005 9:04 pm)
Remember, best selling doesn't equate to most reliable, which Mazda3 falls seriously short in.
Since we're "remembering", remember personal opinion is not fact. You're right to point out that best-selling doesn't equate to most reliable; however, your opinion of the Mazda3 does not seem representative. Sources like Consumer Reports rate the Mazda3 as reliable; this rating is based on thousands of reports from their 6 million readers. Reliable does not mean that there are no problems but that overall it is a better choice than an unreliable one. Consumers (whereever they are) show good sense when they make reliable vehicles popular.

#519 of 743 Help! First new car 05/06? 3 Sport GT auto air sunroof by meligator

Nov 14, 2005 (7:26 pm)

In Winnipeg and am sure frustrated with buying here as my first experience! Only three dealers in the province. I have to decide if I want to pay $24,700 (plus taxes, air and tire tax) for an 05 hatch in black (or $500 more to ship the color I want from vancouver). Nobody here going under MSRP for an 06.
Should I wait it out? Does Winnipeg suck for bargaining comparatively?
 
Also - I'm hearing that winter tires a must for this car? True?

Messages Page 52 of 75

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