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Mazda 3 vs. Honda Civic Si - READ ONLY

43 messages,  Last post on Nov 25, 2004 at 2:27 PM

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Messages Page 2 of 5

#4 of 43 re: I put these two by ambull

Sep 21, 2004 (9:25 pm)

I have driven both and would agree with what nippononly has said, except the 3 hatch has 205 50R17 tires, not 215s. The SI has 205 55R16s, the same as the standard 3s sedan. I considered the SI to be "edgy" which was quite fun on my short test drive, but it might get tiring on a long trip. The 3s is more solid, but I did hear the tire rumble over bumps especially. I don't remember the same driving the SI.

#5 of 43 yeah by nippononly

Sep 21, 2004 (10:51 pm)

I definitely did not experience tire rumble in the SI - it was one of the more obvious distinctions between the two.
 
ambull: good catch on those tire widths! I don't know where I got the idea those were 215/45/17s on the Mazda.

#7 of 43 Has anyone compared both cars w/ the same tire size by creakid1

Sep 21, 2004 (11:58 pm)

& see which one got more tire rumble?

#8 of 43 well the thing is by nippononly

Sep 22, 2004 (6:57 am)

they don't both have the same tire size in stock form, so you would have to buy one of them, then change its tires to match the other, then go test drive the other, and why would you do that?
 
But they do both have the same WIDTH tire, and having a shorter or taller sidewall should not make much difference in tire rumble, IMO.

#9 of 43 which means Mazda's road-noise problem is worse than Honda's by creakid1

Sep 22, 2004 (11:18 am)

When comparing my '90 Protege LX(sport-model) to the high-tech double-wishbone Civic EX from '92 to '00, I kept finding the Civic more boring especially steering wise, but the road noise of the Mazda is always a disadvantage & have eventually forced me to ride the Turanza LS-H quiet tires, which sort of numb my steering to the point of almost Honda level. Ride-comfort wise, the Civic was less harsh superficially, but my long-spring Protege w/ aftermarket Gabriel struts seems to ride more comfortable except when comparing to the '96-00 Civic on the fwy. Handling wise, the Pro is sportier w/ excellent front bite, but the rear twitchiness at the limit can only be tamed if you keep the throttle on, which can't always be done if a nerdy slow poke's blocking you on the ramp.
 
No, the 4-dr Mazda3 2.3 does come w/ the 205/55-16 just like the 3-dr Civic Si. I test drove one w/ stick.

#10 of 43 Re: which means Mazda's road-noise problem is worse than Honda's [creakid1] by sschaffer

Sep 22, 2004 (5:08 pm)

Replying to: creakid1 (Sep 22, 2004 11:18 am)
"No, the 4-dr Mazda3 2.3 does come w/ the 205/55-16 just like the 3-dr Civic Si. I test drove one w/ stick."
 
The 205/50-17 are optional on the sedan, standard on the 5 door hatch.
 
I've owned high strung cars like the Civic SI, very tiring to drive on long trips and don't perform any better than base models at normal rpms--no thanks.

#11 of 43 by muffin_man

Sep 29, 2004 (11:05 pm)

I don't think the Civic Si is particularly high strung, it is more so than the Mazda 3, but it is also a sportier car.

#12 of 43 by carlisimo

Sep 30, 2004 (5:50 am)

Maybe he meant the old Si?
 
And I'm glad this thread exists... I've been torn between the two.
 
I sat in a Mazda3 and didn't like the feeling... it felt enclosed, and I felt like I was sitting a bit high and I've usually gotten annoyed at gauges in tubes in other cars. But I love the exterior, and I would use all four doors now and then.
 
I've test driven an Si and the interior just felt right. I liked the short length of the car and the seats were amazing. I wasn't too impressed by the steering though, and I've heard that's one of Mazda's strong points. Overall the car seemed a bit too heavy and too civilized for me, and that put me off. But to hear that the Mazda (and indeed, just about any modern car) is even more so, is pushing me back towards the Si.

#13 of 43 the SI by nippononly

Sep 30, 2004 (7:22 am)

has that electric power steering, and it could definitely use some tweaking, if the '04 I drove was anything to judge by.
 
Dunno about the '3' - is that still hydraulic steering?

Messages Page 2 of 5

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