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Honda Civic vs Mazda3

1333 messages,  Last post on Jun 06, 2008 at 5:37 PM

You are in the Honda Civic Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

What is this discussion about? Honda Civic, Mazda MAZDA3, Sedan


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#1211 of 1333
Re: Dilemma no more! [ecofun] by zzoomp09
Jul 01, 2007 (6:12 am)
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Replying to: ecofun (Jun 30, 2007 6:33 am)

If you're putting in a lot of things in your trunk, yes. Plus, it adds a little bit on the looks. It won't make the back of the 5dr look like being pushed down or stretched from the sides.
#1212 of 1333
Re: Dilemma no more! [zzoomp09] by ecofun
Jul 01, 2007 (2:35 pm)
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Replying to: zzoomp09 (Jul 01, 2007 6:12 am)

First Impression:
 
In a word...SMOOTH.
This car just purrs. I can't believe how quiet the ride is in this 4-cyl. Throwing gears is like going through butter. The one thing I was surprised about when I was test driving the civic coupe ex was that the stick was a little notchy, tougher to find gears than some of the Accord sticks that I experienced. After 200 miles on the new GT 5 door, finding gears is effortless. If I have a "complaint", in the past I've always listened to the engine to get my cue when to shift. This engine is so quiet (although I'm wondering if I've been playing the Bose too loud), that I'm watching the tach more than ever (but I'm really not complaining). This car seems like a perfect blend of fun and economy which is exactly what I was hoping for.
 
My only concern right now is dealing with the NH winter driving. From all accounts, it's sounds like I don't want to be on these Goodyear Eagles when the snow starts flying. In time, I will probably switch to a high performance all season tire. But I won't be ready by Dec when I'll probably have 10-12K miles on the car. I'd rather not sink $500 into a set of winter tires plus the cost of another set of wheels, not the mention the pain of changing tires twice a year. What I may try to do is rough it for this winter and have new all seasons for next.
 
Among you snowbelt drivers, any thought which way to go?
#1213 of 1333
Re: Dilemma no more! [ecofun] by eldaino
Jul 02, 2007 (10:32 am)
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Replying to: ecofun (Jun 30, 2007 6:33 am)

don't get too optimistic; i used to floor it in my civic.(and still average over 30 mpg.)
 
to mr zzoom: are you just posting your sisters epa sticker numbers? becasue the civic gets 36 mpg; the mazda 3 2.3 barely manages 29 on the highway; you must be driving VERY conserviately to get those numbers; thus negating any need to put in premium gas for its 'performance' benefits.
#1214 of 1333
Re: Dilemma no more! [eldaino] by ecofun
Jul 02, 2007 (12:01 pm)
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Replying to: eldaino (Jul 02, 2007 10:32 am)

For what it's worth, these numbers are from CR's April 2007 issue:
 
Overall MPG
Civic ex sedan manual 31
Mazda3 5-door hatchback manual 28
#1215 of 1333
Re: Dilemma no more! [ecofun] by aviboy97
Jul 02, 2007 (2:02 pm)
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Replying to: ecofun (Jul 02, 2007 12:01 pm)

You beat me too it! I was just going to mention that.
#1216 of 1333
Re: Dilemma no more! [eldaino] by zzoomp09
Jul 03, 2007 (4:57 am)
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Replying to: eldaino (Jul 02, 2007 10:32 am)

I'm posting a real-world experience for me and my sister. I was on a trip from Montreal to NYC through the highways of the Adirondacks and the Catskills with speeds from 70 to sometimes 85mph, and believe it or not, my trip computer hit 33.4mpg. Plus the weather is really springlike and most of the time, I was using the cruise control.
 
Keep in mind that the numbers I posted has a bit more percentage for both... Meaning if it's the city, more percentage driving in the city than the highway, I'm getting around 24, 23 if mostly in NYC traffic. If it's mostly highway, I'm getting around 32. You apply the same measurements with my post regarding my sister's Civic EX.
 
The numbers I should have posted also are the MPG of a mix (let's say 40/60, 50/50, or 60/40 percetages) city/highway driving...
 
My sister's Civic EX - 30.8 mpg
My 3 GT 5dr - 29.9 mpg
 
All in all, it really depends on how each and every one of us drives.
 
One more thing, when I was driving from Toronto to Montreal, I've only achieved 29.7mph as I was following this Mazda6 running at around 80 to 110mph. I was following that car for about 45 mins and my MPG went down 3mpg. Oh boy, this 3 GT 5dr just hits 110mph easily!!!
#1217 of 1333
Re: Dilemma no more! [ecofun] by zzoomp09
Jul 03, 2007 (5:22 am)
Reply

Replying to: ecofun (Jul 01, 2007 2:35 pm)

It is really SMOOTH...
 
I was worried about the engine noise when I was buying this car too. My corolla was quiet and the RPM is at 3000 on 80mph. The 3 that I bought is purring at 3000RPMs on 65mph. But, it is really smooth and you'll notice how they've insulated the cabin from the engine noise, even when hitting 4500RPMs. 3000RPM's on my previous Corolla and the 3 are world's apart.
 
The stick is superb! My friends from all over the Northeast when I've met them the past few months, LOVED this new baby of mine. The stick is just smooth and easy. You won't find it hard to shift the car. And you'll really have that shifting "problem" when you're listening to the BOSE we've got on our cars. I was running at 4th gear merging to the NJ Turnpike and continued to do so at around 70-72mph. I forgot to change gears as I used to have an automatic and I never really heard the engine that much to give the cue to change.
 
Winter driving is bad at first. But once you get used to driving a stick in 10 inches of snow on the ground, the Goodyear Eagles are fine. I'm planning on changing the tires next winter season as I would probably have more than 20,000 miles on it. And from reviews I've read on tirerack.com, these Eagles are not good after a few wear and tear. From reviews on tirerack too, the best options for our GT's with the same dimensions are the Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S, Pilot Sport A/S, and the Avon Tech M550 A/S.
#1218 of 1333
Re: Dilemma no more! [zzoomp09] by ecofun
Jul 03, 2007 (5:24 am)
Reply

Replying to: zzoomp09 (Jul 03, 2007 4:57 am)

I'll trust you on the ease of reaching 110. Those days are over for me!
#1219 of 1333
Re: Dilemma no more! [zzoomp09] by aviboy97
Jul 03, 2007 (5:52 am)
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Replying to: zzoomp09 (Jul 03, 2007 4:57 am)

Oh boy, this 3 GT 5dr just hits 110mph easily!!!
 
Try driving a Mazdaspeed3, see how you get to 110 in the blink of an eye..
#1220 of 1333
premium gas by eldaino
Jul 03, 2007 (6:41 am)
Reply
my comment still stands.
 
as does my average of 38 mpg in my old civic!

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