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2010 Mazda3 - READ ONLY

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Messages Page 80 of 84

#785 of 832 Re: Mazda3s [smallcar1] by diehard080

Oct 31, 2011 (1:21 pm)

Replying to: smallcar1 (Feb 16, 2011 11:22 pm)
samallcar -1 I must not only disagree with your assesment of the Mazda 2.3 vs the new 2.5 but I also am positive that you have owned neither . Reason-
 
We owned a 2008 Mazda3 GT-HB 2.3 and the ride was ridiculously rough , the engine needed to have the gas pegged to the floor in agressive freeway situations and that made for a unpleasently noisy engine whine .
 
 The car handled very well but when I sold it with 58K on it and slipped into a 2010 Mazda3 GT HB 2.5 it was like night & day .
 
 The 2.5 has much better bottom end pull and very even power delivery throughout the powerband unlike the 2.3 that dogged if you didnt hit the power-band right and had to pounce on it suddenly at 30mph - it took full throttle to recover and still never did 100% . I have yet to feel as though the 2.5 Is underpowered like the 2.3, in fact they got it spot on perfect for it's weight . The counterbalanced 2.5 is a dream and the facts support my opinion that its much quieter not only from the tires but mainly from the engine. We all know that its difficult to make a large displacement 4-cyl run smoothly but Mazda did it here and at times Im unaware its even running when stopped - 2.5 liters is as big a 4 as you will see in a production car for this reason -but again Mazdas techs have blueprinted and balanced this 2.5 to perfection and if broken in properly its silk .Interior noise is also lower according to the specs. Mazda miracously retooled the suspension making it smoother, lower and less jarring when you encounter potholes while retaining its world class sports car handling . I used to squint my eyes and pray in the old 2008 when hitting bad roads . Not anymore, in fact I was concerned that they had over-refined the new car , but alas they didnt as its handling specs in the slalom are identical . But between 30 -100 its a totally different animal that responds like a half-back headed for a touchdown weaving through traffic effortlessly while instilling utter confidence in the driver through ergonomics,low noise,excellent steering response, A1 suspension tuning and plenty of power on tap... , its faster , quiteter , has better mileage and handles like a dream. I wouldnt change a thing and I sure wouldnt go back to my 2.3 for any amount of money or coershing . The BIGGEST change to the 2010 Mazda3 is not just the body. They reduced drag and therby wind-noise & better mileage , then re-tuning the suspension and putting far better tires all came together to make this one solid refined awe inspiring car for the money . I test drove it thoroughly and then back into the 2008 for comparison and it was like trading in a car that had yet to be completley finished and the 2010- Is that finished product !
 
 Also the 2.5 runs on 5w-20 synthetic from the factory instead of dino oil !
Yeah theres a bunch out there that love the older body style and I think thats got them blinded to the great changes that have been made . Its a huge Bias that I see in every Mazda blog -- The pity is that if those die hard 2.3 drivers could have just a few days driving the new 2.5 they would be trading in thier cars as fast as they could sell them . BTW I have 20K on my 2010 2.5 and its been great - in parting though the fact that I have not yet one time" had to" floor the gas tells me quite a bit about how that 2.5 performs ,because of the refinment of the new 2010 I often find myself looking down at the speedometer and Im between 90-100 in a effortless and firm glide down the freeway . I rarely felt that happen in the old Maz and I also feel now that every other car on the road is driving to slowly. Its a no brainer and if you talk to anybody that has one Im sure they will agree.

#786 of 832 Re: Mazda3s [diehard080] by benjaminh

Oct 31, 2011 (2:43 pm)

Replying to: diehard080 (Oct 31, 2011 1:21 pm)
Great post. Enjoyed your thorough comparison of the 2.3 and 2.5 engines.
 
I have a Mazda5 with the 2.3, and now I'm kinda yearning for that slight extra power of the 2.5...

#787 of 832 Re: Memory seats in the 2011 Mazda 3 GT [maximafan] by diehard080

Oct 31, 2011 (5:10 pm)

Replying to: maximafan (Jun 08, 2011 2:25 pm)
I dont know if you have this answer but I was a mazda salesman for years and have the 2010 Mazda 3 GT HB - This particular 1st year Mazda 3 GT was the ONLY Mazda-3 that had the Memory seats as a STANDARD FEATURE on the GT trim levels ONLY not a part of any package as there were only two offered - #1 Bose/Moon roof - w/6disc CD and Mp3 retail 1395$ and the tech package which was I believe about 1295$ and had the( Navi - Remote keyless and touch opening doors and trunk opening remote + Sat Radio -- ) The first year was weird as you got Dual Climate Control , Leather , Xenon-steering activated + rear Leds ,8-way- Power drivers seat , Memory seat -drivers only, Rain sensing wipers, Auto headlights, Bluetooth, ABS, DSC,TCS , heated
side mirrors with turn signal indicators integrated , anti-theft engine
 immobilizer - Lastly one item that dissapeared in the second shippment of 2010 was a dedicated transmission cooler that you can only see if you look at the front of the car and on the drivers side to the right of the main grill just above the fog light you will see the black plastic small grill but that side is ventilated and leads to a small transmission radiator as you can see if you open the hood . The first year Gt was so chocked full of goodies that it was off the hook , they slowly eliminated , the transmission cooler , the integrated turn signals , heated side mirrors and the profit margin was so narrow --so if you got hold of an early Mazda3 GT dont sell it there arent many like em that made it here before they changed some things . BUT you got the answer about the memory seats ---GONE after 2010 on GTS only

#788 of 832 Re: Memory seats in the 2011 Mazda 3 GT [diehard080] by benjaminh

Oct 31, 2011 (7:19 pm)

Replying to: diehard080 (Oct 31, 2011 5:10 pm)
Interesting....Sometimes the first year of a new model is quite impressive, then the bean counters start to take out content to save money. Which I understand is needed if a car is losing money....But still, it sounds like you have something special. A Mazda that has the equipment of almost a BMW!

#789 of 832 Re: Memory seats in the 2011 Mazda 3 GT [benjaminh] by shipo

Nov 01, 2011 (3:32 am)

Replying to: benjaminh (Oct 31, 2011 7:19 pm)
"A Mazda that has the equipment of almost a BMW!"
 
Well, as much as I love my Mazda, and as much of a smoking bargain they are compared to virtually all of their direct competition, I would never go so far as to say that even a fully tarted up Mazda3 s GT was "almost a BMW." The thing is, I am a former BMW driver (and hope to be again sometime soon), and as nice as a brand spankin' new Mazda3 s GT might well be, it is absolutely no match for even my old 1999 328i in any metric except purchase price. I mean geez, to think a thirteen year old 328i could smoke a new "s GT" on the road, on the track, in the creature comfort department, and even at the gas pump speaks to just how well engineered the BMWs are.
 
I guess that's why I cringe when someone says that Mazdas are "a poor man's BMW."

#790 of 832 Re: Memory seats in the 2011 Mazda 3 GT [whobodym] by diehard080

Nov 01, 2011 (12:56 pm)

Replying to: whobodym (Jun 09, 2011 6:11 am)
whobodym- YOU DO HAVE REGULAR INTERMITTENT WIPERS- if you did get the rain sensing wipers which I doubt based on your comment you would know that all you need to do to deactivate them and turn them into normal intermittent wipers is to pull the stalk down one notch and its deactivated- then you can set them at any speed or at a specific intermittent time sweep - . do you people just post things about cars you A- wish you had and dont or B just dont know one thing about cars to begin with ? Im confused

#791 of 832 Re: Mazda3s [benjaminh] by diehard080

Nov 01, 2011 (1:08 pm)

Replying to: benjaminh (Oct 31, 2011 2:43 pm)
Trust me I am NOT an Idealist and if it were anything but what I said I wouldnt have said it and I would just as happily have blasted the new 2.5 if it were garbage but its not ! These cars are only similar in one way they have similar body styles ---thats it --all these people that say their 2.3 will never be sold and its the best looking body --OK thats fine but as I said if they had just a few days with the 2.5 they would quietly clam up and trade the old 2.3 in and I mean fast --- I did it because in 2008 the best loan was 5.9% and I got the 2.5 in 2010 for 60 months at 0% apr/ so I took a chance and traded it in now I feel like I drive a car far better than a lexus or BMW because my first three services so far - not one has exceeded $45 total parts labor everything! + I have --ZERO INTEREST ! They still run great aprs on the 3 today .

#792 of 832 Mazda3 new 2.5 vs old 2.3 by diehard080

Nov 01, 2011 (1:29 pm)

The 2.5 has much better bottom end pull and very even power delivery throughout the powerband unlike the 2.3 that dogged if you didnt hit the power-band right or have it pegged from go. If you have to pounce on it suddenly at 20- 30mph -you need full throttle to recover and still-it never will 100% .
 I have yet to feel as though the 2.5 Is underpowered like the 2.3, in fact they got it spot on perfect for it's weight . The counterbalanced 2.5 is a dream and the facts support my opinion that its much quieter not only from the tires but mainly from the engine. We all know that its difficult to make a large displacement 4-cyl run smoothly but Mazda did it here and at times Im unaware its even running when stopped - 2.5 liters is as big a 4-cyl as you will see in a production car for this reason -but again Mazdas techs have blueprinted and balanced this 2.5 to perfection and if broken in properly its silk .Interior noise is also lower according to the specs. Mazda miracously retooled the suspension making it smoother, lower and less jarring when you encounter potholes & road imperfections, while retaining its world class sports car handling . I used to squint my eyes and pray in the old 2008 when hitting bad roads . Not anymore, in fact I was concerned that they had over-refined the new car , but alas they didnt as its handling specs in the slalom are identical . But between 30 -100 its a totally different animal that responds like a half-back headed for a touchdown weaving through traffic effortlessly while instilling utter confidence in the driver through ergonomics, low noise, excellent steering response, A1 suspension tuning and plenty of power on tap... , its faster , quiteter , has better mileage and handles like a dream. I wouldnt change a thing and I sure wouldnt go back to my 2.3 for any amount of money or coershing .
 
 The BIGGEST change to the 2010 Mazda3 is not just the body but what that body does ! Mazda didnt put one single crease , curve or angle into the new body that didnt have a direct effect on performance thru lower drag and areodynamics & what that does for handling.
 They reduced drag and therby wind-noise & better mileage , then re-tuning the suspension and putting far better tires on that were specifically designed for this car ONLY = all came together to make this one solid refined awe inspiring car for the money . I test drove it thoroughly and then back into the 2008 for comparison and it was like trading in a car that had yet to be completley finished and the 2010- Is that finished product !
  
  Also the 2.5 runs on 5w-20 synthetic from the factory instead of dino oil !

#793 of 832 Re: Mazda3s [diehard080] by shipo

Nov 01, 2011 (1:30 pm)

Replying to: diehard080 (Nov 01, 2011 1:08 pm)
"...now I feel like I drive a car far better than a lexus or BMW because my first three services so far - not one has exceeded $45 total parts labor everything!"
 
Compared to my BMWs you got hosed; eight years of BMWs, not one dime to the dealership for a service visit (free rental cars and/or rides to mass transit too).

#794 of 832 Re: Memory seats in the 2011 Mazda 3 GT [shipo] by diehard080

Nov 01, 2011 (11:20 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Nov 01, 2011 3:32 am)
Well if you are going to compare your 1999 328i BMW against the Mazda 3 which didnt exist in `99 buy the way ......you should go buy yourself a new 328i and I will spend about $20K less and get a Mazdaspeed=3 or an RX-8 give me a week to break it in then go find your thirteen year old and I will be pprepared to take your pink slip and sell the BMW so I can make a down payment on a new condo . You will be eating my dust [ Thats a 100% guarantee. - Not being rude just comparing a car that is still far far less and in pure sports tests its a no brainer , and the service of the BMW is gastly == I used to rebuild 2002's when in college and an occasional Bavaria or 3.0csi back when BMWS were BMWS ! Now there just over yupified status symbols of the p[eople that want to make a statment but have littel or nil driving skills as evidenced by the insurance underwriters statistics in the US . BMWs arent anythng but a luxury car when they were once real sports cars . The Tii was a bad mamba-jamba Will never forget when they fuel injected that long stroke t2.0 and how it just launched like a rocket --ventilation was poor but the ride had many passengars saying they would never drive with me again walking away shaking . That sucker with Biltstiens was unbeatable in the twistys == so I liked BMWs not anymore -- I would rather have the most popular sports car in the world ! a Mazda MX-5 aka Miata thats a real ride. Not many people know either that MAZDA won the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1991 with the 4 rotor wankel engine denoted the 787B ! Mazda is a contender !

Messages Page 80 of 84

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