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Honda Civic vs Mazda3

1338 messages,  Last post on Jun 09, 2010 at 8:42 PM

You are in the Honda Civic Forum.

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

Messages Page 32 of 135

#306 of 1338 Re: Wow, lotta posts in here! [mdaffron] by carguy58

Jan 09, 2006 (11:41 am)

Replying to: mdaffron (Jan 09, 2006 6:36 am)
And do keep this in mind ... In the last decade, Mazda has always stuck its neck out first in the economy sedan market, leaving Honda and Toyota playing catch-up with a car that equals or comes close performancewise and featurewise within a year or two. Likewise here: The Mazda3 came out in 2004; it took Honda two years to come out with anything close. (Toyota's still back in the dust.)
 
It took 2 years because the last generation Civic was still on its 5 year model cycle. I'll say this though Honda didn't put their "all" into the 01 Civic thus leaving way it behind the Mazda 3 when the Mazda 3 first came out. Keep in mind when the 2000 Civic and 2000 Protege were out in the market 5-6 years ago alot of people would have bought a 2000 Civic despite being in its last year of bodystyle for that generation of Civic over the last generation Protege. The same can't be said for buying a 2005 Civic over a 2005 Mazda 3. I'm with you the Toyota is behind the competition right now.

#307 of 1338 Mazda 3 A/C: by carguy58

Jan 09, 2006 (11:46 am)

Consumer Reports gives the 04 and 05 Mazda 3 a good reliability mark(above average reliability)for the the the "trouble spot" of A/C. The 05 3 only had 3,000 miles on it as did all 05 models that CR had reliability ratings for in their last big issue.

#308 of 1338 Mazda 3 A/C: by carguy58 by z71bill

Jan 09, 2006 (11:53 am)

Not sure - that is why I am asking -
 
Does CR define reliability as - it does not break? Like the compressor going out?
 
Or
 
Is reliability how well something works? AC blows ICE COLD AIR even if the outside temp is 105 degrees.
 
I am thinking to CR - reliability = does not break.
 
Cr could rate the reliability of the engine very HIGH - but that does not mean the engine has a lot of power.

#309 of 1338 Z71 Bill: by carguy58

Jan 09, 2006 (12:22 pm)

I'm just saying about the A/C in the 3 everybody's hearing complaints but CR rates the 3 good in the A/C department. I;m just trying to understand how CR could rate the 3 good in the A/C department but everybody saying how bad the A/C in the 3 is.

#310 of 1338 Re: mrblonde49 [z71bill] by mrblonde49

Jan 09, 2006 (12:26 pm)

Replying to: z71bill (Jan 09, 2006 8:52 am)
I can only relay what I've read here and at other forums - and that is that the AC problem seems to have gone away with the 06 model. Not sure what they did though - diffuser seems to have worked for others, if it hasn't for you. Maybe that's not enough people needing to use A/C yet (introduced in September), so I guess it's really wait and see

#311 of 1338 Re: Why does it matter? [midnightcowboy] by warner

Jan 09, 2006 (1:03 pm)

Replying to: midnightcowboy (Jan 09, 2006 11:40 am)
TSB- 100127 For Mazda 3 Weak Air Conditioner:
  
TSB Step1: Gather all Mazda 3 documentation: license, insurance, loan, annualk tests, etc.
  
TSB step2: Go to nearest CARMAX dealer, get estimate and sell Mazda 3.
  
TSB step3: Go to Honda dealer of choice and purchase Civic
  
TSB Expected Results: Dramatically improved air conditioning.
  
TSB Temporary/Permanent Resolution: Permanent, no expected problem return,
 
You're KILLING me, Midnightcowboy! Hehehe...
 
          Warner

#312 of 1338 Getting off topic carguy58 & mrblonde49 by z71bill

Jan 09, 2006 (1:07 pm)

But - to finish off the thought - and try and put it back as a Civic VS Mazda3 debate.
 
CR rates the AC "good" because it does not break - not because it works well. Not everyone has problems with the Mazda3 AC - some people have systems that work fine - so they are happy - my point is - If you are lucky and get a good one GREAT - if you get a weak one you are stuck - because Mazda will not fix it. This is just the way it is - shame on Mazda for not stepping up and fixing this problem.
 
How will Honda treat the customers who take a chance and buy a 2006 Civic - if it develops a problem (like an AC that does not cool)? Will they just say - its working as designed - so no fix - then just keep selling the same car - with the same problem for another model year - or maybe 2 more model years. Or will Honda step up and quickly try and fix the problem?

#313 of 1338 Re: Getting off topic carguy58 & mrblonde49 [z71bill] by thegraduate

Jan 09, 2006 (2:19 pm)

Replying to: z71bill (Jan 09, 2006 1:07 pm)
How will Honda treat the customers who take a chance and buy a 2006 Civic - if it develops a problem (like an AC that does not cool)? Will they just say - its working as designed - so no fix - then just keep selling the same car - with the same problem for another model year - or maybe 2 more model years. Or will Honda step up and quickly try and fix the problem?
 
Well, if history can be used to tell the future, Honda will rebuild/replace your problematic issue (if it is a nationwide problem, of course). Whenever a particular aspect of a Honda has shown less than stellar reliability, they up the warranty on that (and other related) parts, and will install a fresh, problem free thingamajig without much hassle. Odysseys (Odyssies?) have had some trouble with transmissions (that's no secret), and while not down to the level of Chrysler in the 90s, they have had more than normal complaints about it for a Honda. They promptly started putting new transmissions in cars WELL over their warranty (60k + miles not unusual).
 
Seems like when Honda messes things up, they are quick to clean up their act.

#314 of 1338 Re: Wow, lotta posts in here! [carguy58] by mvs1

Jan 09, 2006 (5:03 pm)

Replying to: carguy58 (Jan 09, 2006 11:41 am)
I think your overstating how quickly manufacturers are able to bring a new design to market. Companies are almost always chasing a moving target, what the competition will be are how better their next offering will be, not what it is today.
 
Just because the Mazda3 came out in 04 doesn't mean Honda, Toyota or anyone else runs back to the drawing board and pushes out a new model. They have to recoup the R&D invested over the duration of the products life cycle, usually roughly five years time.
 
It's very rare that companies launch products the same model year. It's neither here nor there, both these vehicles are great and regardless who pushes the envelope the customer wins by having multiple choices.
 
Toyota mind you, is so far in front of both Honda and Mazda it's a shame. Honda is small company relative to Toyota and can not afford to launch a radical car and have it fail. Mazda is practically working from the ground up, and doing a fine job at that.

#315 of 1338 Re: Wow, lotta posts in here! [mvs1] by qddave

Jan 09, 2006 (9:31 pm)

Replying to: mvs1 (Jan 09, 2006 5:03 pm)
Just because the Mazda3 came out in 04 doesn't mean Honda, Toyota or anyone else runs back to the drawing board and pushes out a new model. They have to recoup the R&D invested over the duration of the products life cycle, usually roughly five years time.
 
Very true. In the January issue of Motor Trend, pg. 28 to be exact, they state that Toyota execs ordered a last minute redesign of the next gen Corolla after seeing the "avant garde" Civic in Geneva. They state that the launch has been reportedly moved back by 6 months.

Messages Page 32 of 135

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