- #1 of 10
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Mazda3 Handling
by rhelmbright
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Jan 22, 2007 (8:09 pm)
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Ok, so this is our first year having our Mazda3 in the snow. It sucks. Don't know if it is the tires, or just the way the car handles in the winter. I would love to hear about others and their experiences with their 3 in the snow and ice. Thanks.
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- #2 of 10
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Re: Mazda3 Handling [rhelmbright]
by jcrystal
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Jan 23, 2007 (6:10 am)
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Replying to: rhelmbright (Jan 22, 2007 8:09 pm)
If you are using the stock tires, of course it sucks. You need snow tires. I have them on my Mazdaspeed3 and it goes about as well as my 4x4 Audi.
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- #3 of 10
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Re: Mazda3 Handling [jcrystal]
by bigfur
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Jan 24, 2007 (10:41 am)
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Replying to: jcrystal (Jan 23, 2007 6:10 am)
I have stock tires on my M3 in minnesota and so far i havent had too many issues. My 3 is an 07 with the traction control and i think that helps alot. If its THAT bad in snow...get some snow tires and steel rims for it.
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- #4 of 10
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Re: Mazda3 Handling [rhelmbright]
by charlie21
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Jan 27, 2007 (11:33 pm)
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Replying to: rhelmbright (Jan 22, 2007 8:09 pm)
I have an '06 Mazda3. I put Nokian Hakkapelita RSIs on it this winter. I'm in Western Canada where the roads this year have been snowy, icy, slushy, just crap. The RSIs are supposed to be among the best winter tires you can get. But I've been sliding a little. Sometimes the car feels like it's floating. I get some scary torque steer too. Maybe the steering just needs a tune-up. The tire guy said his mom has the same car with the same tires and she is chugging along just fine. Sometimes I find the car is just too sensitive to steering input. Or maybe I'm being too cautious and not fully trusting it because I had a bad crash with a rental car last year, totalled it after losing control on black ice. I drove a Subaru Forester a week ago on the same crappy roads and I felt skittish with it too. So not sure if it's me or the car.
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- #5 of 10
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Re: Mazda3 Handling [charlie21]
by autonomous
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Jan 28, 2007 (2:10 pm)
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Replying to: charlie21 (Jan 27, 2007 11:33 pm)
maybe I'm being too cautious and not fully trusting it because I had a bad crash with a rental car last year, totalled it after losing control on black ice. I drove a Subaru Forester a week ago on the same crappy roads and I felt skittish with it too. So not sure if it's me or the car
Give yourself time. If the tires/car still feel unsafe have someone take a look at it. I still cringe a bit when I go through the intersection where my previous car was struck.
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- #6 of 10
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Gravel/dirt Roads
by crowheart
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Jul 28, 2009 (3:05 pm)
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How does the Mazda 3 handle on gravel and dirt roads? I am leaving for a trip where we will be driving quite a lot on back roads that are gravel and dirt. I am a bit worried about how the car will handle.
If anyone has any experience with the Mazda 3 on roads like these please share your experiences.
Thanks again...
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- #7 of 10
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Re: Gravel/dirt Roads [crowheart]
by pf_flyer HOST
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Jul 28, 2009 (3:42 pm)
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Replying to: crowheart (Jul 28, 2009 3:05 pm)
Discretion is the better part of valor. I would be very cautious taking any vehicle that's not really designed to go "off road" into a situation and expect to be able to drive it like I'm on a paved surface.
"Back roads that are gravel and dirt" describes quite a wide range of conditions. I've been on some well travelled gravel and dirt roads that lead back to houses off of the beaten path that I'd feel uneasy about in anything but a 4x4.
I'd be more worried about how the car will handle the road conditions than how it will handle. The ground clearance on a Mazda3 s Touring hatch is only 4.8". How rough are the roads you're talking about?
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- #8 of 10
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Re: Gravel/dirt Roads [crowheart]
by jeffyscott
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Jul 28, 2009 (4:03 pm)
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Replying to: crowheart (Jul 28, 2009 3:05 pm)
I drove a rental mazda3 on a pretty well maintained gravel road in CA redwoods area. It was fine, but we were going slow both because we were there for the scenery and just because it was gravel. I did not go on the gravel roads that had very steep grades or that sounded like ground clearance would be an issue.
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- #9 of 10
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Re: Gravel/dirt Roads [pf_flyer]
by crowheart
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Jul 28, 2009 (4:52 pm)
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Replying to: pf_flyer (Jul 28, 2009 3:42 pm)
I will not be driving the car like it is on pavement that is for sure. I have been bringing my Subaru's on those roads with no problems for years(Impreza and Legacy Wagon). You mention a 4.8 clearance on the hatch I bet my Impreza doesn't have much more than that. My Subies are old now and i don't want to bring them on the long road trip. The Impreza has 5.7 clearance so there is almost an inch difference there. Not sure what to think...
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- #10 of 10
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Re: Gravel/dirt Roads [crowheart]
by roadburner
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Jul 29, 2009 (5:43 pm)
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Replying to: crowheart (Jul 28, 2009 3:05 pm)
I have a 2500 foot twisting gravel driveway. My MS3 is a blast to drive on it. A little left-foot braking or strategic application of the handbrake gets the car to rotate really well.
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