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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: hpowders (May 29, 2008 8:49 am)
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Replying to: aviboy97 (May 29, 2008 9:34 am) I have a leased vehicle due back July 31st. I e-mailed my VW sales guy this morning to give me a definite commitment on an ordered Rabbit by June 5th, or I have to walk. The guy didn't ask me for a deposit yet and he took my order two weeks ago. He won't ask me for a deposit until he knows for sure he can get me the vehicle. I hear VW isn't building any more 2008's, so there is a real possibility he won't be able to get it for me.
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Replying to: hpowders (May 29, 2008 9:46 am) |
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Replying to: dougjp (Jul 08, 2006 11:29 am) I first drove the Mazda. It featured the 5-speed manual and 2.3L I-4. It was a fun car to drive, well equipped, and nicely peppy. The styling inside and out is sharp, sexy (for a compact) and modern. Materials used in the cabin were nice enough but the LED strip in the stereo head unit was gimmicky. Then I drove the Volkswagen. It felt more solid and substantial as well as feeling of a more mature car. Its manual transmission also had a more connected and mechanical feel. Styling is subdued but pleasing, with easy entry seats into the rear of the 3-door model. I did return to drive the Mazda, and that sealed the deal for me to get the VW. The Mazda is a noisy little bastard of a fun car but has far too much commotion for my tastes and felt like a cheap tin can compared to the Volkswagen Rabbit. Also, in my 2008 VW Rabbit witht he 170hp 2.5L 5-cylinder engine, I average at least 26 mpg and have seen up to 31 mpg on the Interstate. |
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Replying to: myershift (Oct 14, 2008 9:24 pm) These are unimpressive numbers for a small car using a manual transmission. The Mazda is a noisy little bastard of a fun car but has far too much commotion for my tastes and felt like a cheap tin can compared to the Volkswagen Rabbit Bizarre, this description of the Mazda3 seems to defy all previous evaluations of the car. |
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Replying to: autonomous (Oct 16, 2008 2:01 pm) Borrowing football parlance, I actually think the Rabbit is a bit of a tweener --- even though in exterior dimensions it seems to compete with cars such as the Mazda3 and Civic, in terms of engine size & output, and interior room and amenities, and overall refinement, it almost can be compared to the next size segment, the 4 cyl versions of the Legacy, Accord, Mazda6, etc. If view in that vein, then its mpg is not too disappointing. Just like the Mini, even though it is a small car, I don't think fuel economy has ever been its top priority. |
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Replying to: autonomous (Oct 16, 2008 2:01 pm) Rabbit 2.5 is rated at 21/30 and the Mazda3 2.3 at 22/29 mpg (both w/manual trans) by EPA. Based on this a driver of either car should be expected to get about the same mpg.
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Replying to: jeffyscott (Oct 17, 2008 5:29 am) Agreed. But since the average fuel economy of both cars with manual transmissions is in the mid to high 20's it remains unimpressive and needs improvement. A small car with a manual transmission should be averaging in the 30's not the 20's in my opinion. One way of achieving this is by shaving weight off the car; both cars should be aiming for 2500 pounds rather than the nearly 3000 pounds they cart around. |
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Replying to: autonomous (Oct 17, 2008 1:08 pm) 
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Replying to: backy (Oct 17, 2008 1:37 pm) While your BMW is a 6 cyl, isn't it just a 2.5? If so the HP and displacement is not much different from many 4 cylinders today (or VW's 5 cyl). In particular, here we are talking about the 2.5L 170 HP VW 5cyl and a car that weighs about 3100 pounds in the case of the Rabbit. The Mazda3 2.3 uses the same 2.3 engine that last year's Mazda6 used, though weight is a couple hundred pounds less than the 6 was.
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