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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 74 of 135

#725 of 1338 Re: Honda Civic Ex is superior to Mazda 3i/S [carfanatic007] by mongoose65

May 13, 2006 (6:15 pm)

Replying to: carfanatic007 (May 13, 2006 1:37 pm)
Have to disagree almost completely. I drove both with an open mind and the Mazda was sooo much more fun to drive and was more stylish. I truly HATED the digital dash on the Honda. I could not find anything in all my pre-purchase research to suggest in the slightest that Mazda has a "bad reputation." In fact, I found just the opposite.
 
The bottom line is resale value. If it weren't, Hyundai and maybe even Kia would be much more highly rated these days. It's the poor resale that holds them back. Historically Honda and Toyota are the kings, but it's Japanese cars in general. I matched up 2004 Cicic EX's and Mazda3's with similar mileage and found them to have nearly identical resale values. The only ones better in the class were the Mini Coopers (big demand, little supply) and the Acura TSX (much more $$$).
 
So far so good with my Mazda. I felt like a total shnook in the civic. My Mazda gets compliments from my friends with Infinitis and Beamers. They are shocked at how zippy it is and how it handles for the price. And it looks pretty sharp, too.
 
As always though...civic and mazda3, both great cars for under 20k.

#726 of 1338 Re: Honda Civic Ex is superior to Mazda 3i/S [mongoose65] by thegraduate

May 13, 2006 (9:12 pm)

Replying to: mongoose65 (May 13, 2006 6:15 pm)
I felt like a total shnook in the civic.
 
A shnook? This southern fella has never heard the term "shnook" before! A little help for the southern guy please?
 
By the way, everything else in your post made pretty good sense.

#727 of 1338 Mazda only has one problem by z71bill

May 14, 2006 (4:44 pm)

If you get a car with a problem they will not fix it -
 
I wish Honda would sell the Mazda3 as the Civic3 - then maybe I would be willing to take a chance on a 2007 model - but considering I know how bad Mazda treats CUSTOMERS that have defective cars it would be hard to buy another car from them.

#728 of 1338 Re: Honda Civic Ex is superior to Mazda 3i/S [carfanatic007] by aviboy97

May 14, 2006 (5:23 pm)

Replying to: carfanatic007 (May 13, 2006 1:37 pm)
Mazda has struggled financially for years and is owned by Ford Motor Co
 
They DID struggle, not anymore. If you check their earnings report for 2005, they had a monster year. Go to mazdaUSA.com to see for yourself. And so what if they are owned by Ford Mo Co? The Mazda3 is a Jap car all the way. Built in Japan, designed by the Japanese. More Japanese then the Civic is (built in the US)
 
Mazda has a bad reputation, not entirely deserved, but it does have one. The Mazda 3 is a good car, but the Civic blows it away for most drivers.
 
Take a look at CR, and Mazda rates very high as a company, only Toyota/Lexus, Honda/Acura and Infiniti and Subaru rate higher. Besides, this forum is about Civic Vs. Mazda3, NOT Honda Vs. Mazda. The Mazda3 is one of the highest rates cars in the segment. Right there with the Civic. I don't know where you get your "bad reputation" from. If you are basing that on Ford influenced vehicles, why don't you take a look at the Honda Passport, wait, you might say that's not really a Honda, well, same goes for Ford derived Mazda's.
 
Most drivers concede that the Mazda3 blows the Civic away, performance wise anyway. Even Civic owners will attest to that.
 
It just comes down to which car fits your style better. For some it's the Mazda3, and some it's Honda. I have said a gabillion times, each car is a winner. And they are.

#729 of 1338 aviboy97 by z71bill

May 14, 2006 (6:10 pm)

Think about it.
 
You say "Besides, this forum is about Civic Vs. Mazda3, NOT Honda Vs. Mazda"
 
So when you have a problem with your Mazda3 where do you take it to get it fixed? Do you take it to Mazda3? Or to Mazda? Its hard to not bring in some points about the company that is standing behind your new car -
 
I like the Mazda3 better than the Civic - but Mazda does not stand behind the cars they sell - this is not something I read in a car magazine - its something I know first hand - from owning a Mazda3 for almost 2 1/2 years -
 
I would love it if someone would prove me wrong - only one way to do that - post some information about how Mazda has finally stepped up to the plate and issued a TSB to fix the weak defective AC system. Someone please prove me wrong.

#730 of 1338 Re: Mazda and JD Powers by jpmccormac

May 15, 2006 (6:49 am)

Replying to: aviboy97 (May 14, 2006 5:23 pm)
In the recent JD Powers ratings for initial owner problems Mazda was rated near the bottom (# 147 out of 150). Not good...

#731 of 1338 Re: 04 Mazda3s5 [ex_tdier] by jme99

May 15, 2006 (8:34 am)

Replying to: ex_tdier (May 12, 2006 6:16 pm)
I don't think it has much to do with luck with the 3.

#732 of 1338 Re: Honda Civic Ex is superior to Mazda 3i/S [carfanatic007] by mrblonde49

May 15, 2006 (1:39 pm)

Replying to: carfanatic007 (May 13, 2006 1:37 pm)
I have driven the 3S and to me the Honda equals its performance."
 
Your impression is wrong according to hard data

#733 of 1338 Re: 3i vs. 3s - does 15 more ft-lb torque really matter? [mrblonde49] by samtheman1

May 15, 2006 (3:51 pm)

Replying to: mrblonde49 (Apr 20, 2006 6:48 am)
I drove them back to back and I'm getting the 3s. You can feel more snap with the 2.3 and I'll gladly sacrifice 2-3 mpg to have the low end torque on tap. Also, I'd strongly recommend the manual over the automatic. But, as said before, drive them yourself and decide what you like.

Messages Page 74 of 135

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