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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 62 of 134

#609 of 1338 Perfect combo Mazda & Civic by z71bill

Apr 10, 2006 (7:55 pm)

The perfect combo would be a Mazda3 that is built by / backed up by Honda customer service-
 
I bought the Mazda3 over the Civic because it is about 1,000 times more fun to drive (that was the 2004 Civic - so maybe it is only 992 times more fun then the 2006 Civic)
 
Mazda customer service is horrible - I know this for a fact - so save your breath - I have first hand - real life experience with the folks at 1-800 Mazda - they are about as bad as it gets. It would actually be better if they would just tell you to BUZZ off and hang up on you - rather than say how sorry they are to hear your car does not work correctly - but not so sorry that they would actually DO ANYTHING about it.
 
I had 3 other vehicles to drive - so the 16 dealer visits in 20 months did not leave me walking - Mazda also has a loaner car program - but thats another story.
 
If you want a fun car - buy the Mazda3 - but if you really need a reliable car - I would get the Honda -

#610 of 1338 Re: Check your own forum! by mcap

Apr 10, 2006 (10:18 pm)

Replying to: z71bill (Apr 10, 2006 7:55 pm)
I will start by saying they are both great and class leaders. I also concede the performace edge to the Mazda (Si excepted).
 
But I really think the folks that come to thread and declare the Mazda to be hands down the better car need to read their own forums a bit more. Since the 3 has been introduced I have read about problems related to airbag warning light, a transmission reflash and poor shifting, squealing breaks (loud), grooved rear rotors, stalling, not starting, a clock that fails to keep accurate time, a seat problem, air conditioning, air conditioning and air conditioning, loud moonroof when it is open, crappy dealerships, paint chips, a non maitenance free battery (are you kidding), various rattles and squeaks, etc. The rental three that I had took 2 attempts to start.....each time! There are many other issues that I didn't even list. The interior on the 3i's in this neighborhood haven't held up well (3s seems to have a much better interior).
 
   The first year bugs you see with the Civic have been relatively minor compared to most first year models. It has swept virtually every award it was eligable for and has drawn praise from a wide variety of sources. It is safer than the 3 and if you read the real world gas mileage posts, I think you will see that it gets better mileage.
 
    I can't say which is best....that is subjective. But I don't think the average Civic owner is as likely to scan this board and most of the enthusiasts hang out at temple of vtec. When you read about a problem, it represents a smaller proportion of owners because so many more civics are sold each year. So, I think we have to take some of the 3 propaganda with a grain of salt.

#611 of 1338 Re: What should I buy... 2006 Hyundai Tiburon GS 4AT vs 2006 Honda Civic LX [aviboy97] by midnightcowboy

Apr 11, 2006 (5:54 am)

Replying to: aviboy97 (Apr 10, 2006 1:41 pm)
Do you know how Consumer Reports gets its data? It sends surveys to their subscribers. The ones that respond: those thta really hate the products and those that really like the products. Most of the time I respond , but it is a lenghty pain to fill out hte questionaires. The syrvey , is an indicator, but not a good statistical sample. It is truly amazing in this modern age of the internet and electronics that written surveys are even still used!
 
J.D. Powers and other surveys that are more statistically accurate, rahter than testimonial are a better predictor of the actual population set, in this case car relability.
 
Mazda is reliable just not as reliable as Honda/Acura/Lexus/Toyota. Subaru the best, H'mm.
 
Cheers,
 
MidCow

#612 of 1338 Re: Perfect combo Mazda & Civic [z71bill] by mrblonde49

Apr 11, 2006 (8:16 am)

Replying to: z71bill (Apr 10, 2006 7:55 pm)
The perfect combo would be a Mazda3 that is built by / backed up by Honda customer service-
  
I bought the Mazda3 over the Civic because it is about 1,000 times more fun to drive (that was the 2004 Civic - so maybe it is only 992 times more fun then the 2006 Civic)
  
Mazda customer service is horrible - I know this for a fact - so save your breath - I have first hand - real life experience with the folks at 1-800 Mazda - they are about as bad as it gets. It would actually be better if they would just tell you to BUZZ off and hang up on you - rather than say how sorry they are to hear your car does not work correctly - but not so sorry that they would actually DO ANYTHING about it.
  
I had 3 other vehicles to drive - so the 16 dealer visits in 20 months did not leave me walking - Mazda also has a loaner car program - but thats another story.
  
If you want a fun car - buy the Mazda3 - but if you really need a reliable car - I would get the Honda - "
 
2004 Mazda, right? First year model? Well, we all know about those, from EVERY company (see 06 Civic). I came from an 03 9-3 because it had big time troubles (1st year model). They are now much improved My 06 MZ3 has been flawless. 2 trips to the dealer for regular interval maintenance, that's it

#613 of 1338 Re: What should I buy... 2006 Hyundai Tiburon GS 4AT vs 2006 Honda Civic LX [midnightcowboy] by aviboy97

Apr 11, 2006 (8:20 am)

Replying to: midnightcowboy (Apr 11, 2006 5:54 am)
Do you know how Consumer Reports gets its data? It sends surveys to their subscribers. The ones that respond: those thta really hate the products and those that really like the products
 
You are only partly correct. Consumer's buys cars as well. I quoted this from their website. "CR buys cars at dealerships and tests at our own track. We believe you deserve nothing less than the whole truth about reliability, safety, performance, and price."
 
Out of all the new cars I have purchased, I have never received anything wanting to know my satisfaction with a vehicle other then the manufacturer themselves.
 
As for JD Power's, I really do not hold them in high regard. For the 2005 model year, they rated Chevrolet the most over all reliable brand, and the Malibu the best family sedan. They also rated GM as the best in initial quality. I really do not know what the significance of "initial quality" is anyway's. Isn't reliability determined by the long haul? I could be wrong, but, maybe JD Powers is on GM's payroll. Just my thought.

#614 of 1338 Re: Check your own forum! [mcap] by mrblonde49

Apr 11, 2006 (8:21 am)

Replying to: mcap (Apr 10, 2006 10:18 pm)
The first year bugs you see with the Civic have been relatively minor compared to most first year models. It has swept virtually every award it was eligable for and has drawn praise from a wide variety of sources."
 
But those awards have nothing at all to do with relaibility. They were given out right as the car was hitting the street.
 
I'll also note those awards didn't help the Civic in the comparision test done by the site you are currently participating in...

#615 of 1338 Re: Check your own forum! [mrblonde49] by mcap

Apr 11, 2006 (8:33 am)

Replying to: mrblonde49 (Apr 11, 2006 8:21 am)
The edmunds comparo? Well, they simply don't like the Civic and test wasn't exactly objective. They take an EX and compare it to a 3s GT? They rail against the digital speedo. But almost everyone who has one, loves it.
 
As for reliability, you are correct. This is the first year of a complete redesign. No one knows how it will end up. With Honda's track record however, there is plenty of reason for optomism.
 
Please also note that when the 3 was new, everyone on the Mazda board claimed it would be reliable because the protege was reliable. As for the 3, it's oldest cars are only a few years old. People have faith in Honda because of what they do 8, 9 and 10 years down the road. In that case, there is no way to know how reliable either the 3 or the Civic will be. All we have is the company's track record and Mazda's is not as good as Hondas. Look at what has happened to the lastest iterations of the 6. What happened to the reliability?
 
I also think there were a lot of really odd problems with the 3 that may not be showing up on surveys. The air conditioning was rated as fine by Consumer's but there have been numerous complaints.
 
Again, both great cars and probably both reliable. I just don't think its a slam dunk for the 3 as some on this board would have you believe. The 3, to it's credit has been very solid so far - I can't argue with that. Long term, we will have to see.
 
Mcap

#616 of 1338 Re: Check your own forum! [mcap] by mrblonde49

Apr 11, 2006 (8:43 am)

Replying to: mcap (Apr 11, 2006 8:33 am)
"They take an EX and compare it to a 3s GT? "
 
FWIW, that only hurt the Mazda. It took away points because of the higher price. If it was compared w/ the s Touring like it should have been, the margin of victory would have been larger.

#617 of 1338 Re: Check your own forum! [mcap] by aviboy97

Apr 11, 2006 (8:51 am)

Replying to: mcap (Apr 10, 2006 10:18 pm)
Since the 3 has been introduced I have read about problems related to airbag warning light, a transmission reflash and poor shifting, squealing breaks (loud), grooved rear rotors, stalling, not starting, a clock that fails to keep accurate time, a seat problem, air conditioning, air conditioning and air conditioning
 
Yes, the Mazda3 has had some quirks. Mostly in 2004. Since then, really no complaints. I work for a Mazda dealer, and I just spoke with my service manager, a Mazda man for over 10 years, and he said the Mazda3 has been basically flawless after the 2004 model year. He only see's them for oil changes and the 7,500 mile services. I also asked about the air conditioning complaints, he said Mazda has solved that problem.
 
 The first year bugs you see with the Civic have been relatively minor compared to most first year models
 
See, the problem is that many hold Honda as the best car on the road, especialy Honda owners, and when you see these problems in a Honda, it's a big big deal. I have noticed a trend in the decline in quality with Honda. Mainly in their V6 models, but, I must say I am surprised to see this trickle down into to coveted Civic. It could be just "first year bug's", but, we will have to wait a few years for that to prove true.
 
Don't take that statement as me saying Honda's are a bad vehicle, they are quite the opposite. Definitely one of the best. But, stats don't lie, and they don't make as good of a car as they used to.

#618 of 1338 First year model - excuse by z71bill

Apr 11, 2006 (9:01 am)

I expect some extra first year bugs when I buy a completely redesigned car. I have never heard anyone say - go buy a first year car they always have less problems - I mean really - no need to tell me the sun comes up in the east!
 
That is not an excuse for the horrible treatment that Mazda dishes out - is it?
 
If someone has a car with no problems thats great - but if you really want to evaluate the customer service of a company you need to ask someone that has had to use it. I have seen the same post many times - My car has NO PROBLEMS - Mazda customer service is great!
 
It took Mazda about 1 1/2 years to issue a TSB on the grinding brake defect - the harsh shifting tranny - the thumping front end - anyone think that is good service?
 
What about the AC issue - does anyone know of even a single customer - that has had their AC problem fixed?
 
I don't think a company should get a gold medal for solving obvious defects in their 2004 model by the 2005 & 2006 model year. The measure of good customer service is quickly solving the problems that do come up - IMO quickly is not 18 months.

Messages Page 62 of 134

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