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Hatchbacks Mazda3 Mazda3 2.3 vs. '07 VW Rabbit
389 messages, Last post on Apr 17, 2009 at 12:40 PM
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Replying to: mdaffron (Jul 27, 2006 7:50 am) Tried the mazda 3 and did like it alot but preferred the rabbit. And after driving around through the blizzard/ice storm in the northeast this week I love it even more. Great little (heavy/ well balanced) bad weather car. |
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Replying to: shirotori (Feb 14, 2007 7:17 pm) I would bet that the Passat is responsible for pulling VW down on the list. I have heard horror stories here from friends with previous Gen Jettas and Golfs, far more that I have ever heard in Europe. The EUR Golf and even the Bora have usually been a pretty decent/average cars in terms of reliabilty. The Passat however has always been known for its problems. There's no question that the Mazda3 is a much more reliable car. There have been numerous complaints around EUR that the new car feels less remarkable than the previous one and frankly I agree. The doors don't close with that old VW feel anymore, it feels more like the Japs. It's quite obvious that a lot of cost cutting went on. I haven't driven the US market Rabbit yet, but the Golf--besides it's long list of features, some of which are not even available on the Rabbit here--is not impressive. It's also significantly more expensive. I'd say Mazda has caught on big time and I can't wait to see the next Gen 3.
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Replying to: nordicone (Feb 19, 2007 6:54 pm)  Not impressive? If anyone has anything bad to say about the us spec rabbit, they usually admit that it has a pretty ballin' list of features. I feel bad for the euro golf! 
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Replying to: jmnapp (Jul 10, 2006 6:24 am) So who is going to be the first to tell this guy that the Mazda 3 is more of a European car (Volvo S40) than it is a Japanese car?
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Replying to: savvyboy (Mar 08, 2007 7:02 pm) I consider it more a japanese though. And he was referring specifically to 'german' cars not all european cars. I'm pretty sure that a renault or fiat feels different than a vw or bimmer.
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Replying to: eldaino (Mar 09, 2007 10:15 am) Maybe so, but, it's a great platform. It really is only the base to build a vehicle off of. The Mazda3, Volvo S40 and Focus are all totally different vehicles. The Mazda3 has a European drive (great handling, responsive steering, top knotch breaking) and offers Japanese reliability.
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and decided i need a new car, Mazda3 or VW... went to a Mazda/VW dealer (how convenient) test drove 4-dr 6A, 2-dr 6A and a GTI VWs plus a 4dr hatchback Mazda3... my subjective opinion? they're both similarily good cars, above the competition in the compact segment...pluses for Mazda: (touring s, no options) alloy wheels, stability control...not much more... Rabbit: heated mirrors, better room (first car ever i didn't have to pull the seat all the way back to drive comfortably + plus it's wider, and that helps a lot) way better default sound system, great visibility, more elegant,refined stylish interior finish... well... and to top it off it's 3k less than Mazda (i wanted hatchback, don't need 4 doors, so 2dr VW will do just fine) got that rabbit for $16.4k ($300 below MSRP) vs $19.4k that the guy wanted for Mazda3 5-dr hatchback, touring S... no braier, and , lol... i heard a lot about horrible VW dealership experiences, mine was totally awesome actually...i was awaiting that "extended warranty/undercoating/acid rain" crap filled with dread...but...surprise surprise, visit to the "finance office" took all of 3 minutes and ended with an honest handshake. thanks Walker VW/Mazda in Barre, VT  ))
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Replying to: aviboy97 (Mar 10, 2007 9:56 am) Speaking of European, the British weekly, Autocar, rates (using 5 stars) the Ford Focus superior to the Mazda3 and Volvo S40. - Focus hatch: 4.5 stars, "UK's favourite car returns bigger and better than ever" - Volvo S40: 3 stars, "strangely less than the sum of its parts" - Mazda3 hatch: 3 stars, "a good car, but not quite what it should have been" Moral of the story: sometimes you have to leave home to feel appreciated.
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Replying to: autonomous (Mar 12, 2007 2:19 pm) If I wen to the UK, I would be driving a far superior Focus then we get here.....I guess I would appreciate that much more then what Ford provides for their own people! |
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Replying to: autonomous (Mar 12, 2007 2:19 pm) I checked Autocar again and noticed that the Mazda3 hatchbacks in the UK differ from those being sold in North America. The UK Mazda3 hatch uses a 2.0 L with 148 hp instead of our 2.3 L with 164 hp. Hooray for us! |
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