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2012 Mazda3 - READ ONLY

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What is this discussion about? Mazda MAZDA3, Mazda MAZDASPEED MAZDA3, Hatchback, Sedan

Messages Page 2 of 45

#4 of 437 Re: 2012 Mazda3 [backy] by aviboy97

Oct 22, 2011 (4:56 pm)

Replying to: backy (Oct 22, 2011 2:36 pm)
backy-
 
Here are the trim levels you can actually buy:
 
Sedan:
Mazda3 i Sport: MZR 2.0
Mazda3 i Touring: SKYACTIV-G 2.0
Mazda3 i Grand Touring: SKYACTIV-G 2.0
Mazda3 s Touring: MZR 2.5
Mazda3 s Grand Touring: MZR 2.5
 
5-door hatchback
Mazda3 i Touring: SKYACTIV-G 2.0
Mazda3 i Grand Touring: SKYACTIV-G 2.0
Mazda3 s Touring: MZR 2.5
Mazda3 s Grand Touring: MZR 2.5
Mazdaspeed3: MZR DISI 2.3L Turbo
 
The Mazda3 i and s Touring and Grand Touring have virtually the same features.
 
Mazda has told us that the SKYACTIV 2.0 will be the volume seller, by far. Most future allocations will be for the SKYACTIV engine with a small amount for the MZR 2.0 and 2.5.
 
I think for 2013 the MZR 2.0 will be discontinued and replaced with the SKYACTIV 2.0 while the MZR 2.5 will still be available, unless we see a SKYACTIV 2.5, which is supposed to be in the cards for the future at some point. Believe it or not, there is still a pretty big demand for 2.5L equipped Mazda3's. That may change now that there is a more potent and fuel efficient 2.0L, but, we shall see.
 
I agree with the i SV being lame. Again, I have never seen one. Mazda is not the first to offer this type of car, but I still don't think it is right.
 
We have seen some pretty big interest so far. Mazda has done a pretty good job of getting their name out there for the 40mpg club and promoting their technology. It's always exciting when something new and desirable comes out. In the end, it's the customers who win. In this very fast paced evolving market, it can make car buying fun for everyone.

#5 of 437 Mazda still doesn't get it... by shipo

Oct 23, 2011 (6:31 am)

My big complaint is that I want a fully tarted up car which also gets good gas mileage; something you cannot achieve with the Mazda3 here in the States. If one wants the SkyActiv-G engine and/or any of the following options, sorry, they're going to be out of luck:
 - 17" wheels (versus the 16" wheels of the SkyActiv models)
 - 11.8"/11.0" Front/Rear brake rotors (versus the 10.9"/10.4" for the SkyActiv models)
 - 15.9 gallon fuel tank (versus 14.5 for the SkyActiv models)
 - Fog Lights
 - Dual power side mirrors with integrated turn signal
 - Dual-zone automatic climate control
 - Keyless entry with push-button start
 - Sliding center console armrest
 
For my part, the 17" wheel/tire combination, the larger brakes (the 10.9" setup on my 2009 Mazda3 have already proven to be unable to generate more clamping force than a high quality set of tires have grip), the Climate Control, and the Keyless entry systems are mandatory on my next car (assuming it's a Mazda3), however, there's no way I'll accept an "s" model with the inefficient 2.5 liter motor.
 
My only hope is that Mazda comes to its senses and allows a fully optioned Mazda3 with the SkyActiv-D to be added to the configuration mix. Yeah, now we're talking, a Mazda3 s GT with a SkyActiv-D and a 6-Speed manual transmission.
 
Edit:
I just tried to configure up a Mazda3 i GT 5-Door with a 6-Speed manual transmission, and I failed. Why? Because the SkyActiv GT models can only be had with an automatic transmission. Epic fail on Mazda's part. The Mazda3 SkyActiv has just been removed from further consideration as the replacement for my 2009 Mazda3.

#6 of 437 Re: Mazda still doesn't get it... [shipo] by aviboy97

Oct 23, 2011 (4:38 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Oct 23, 2011 6:31 am)
Are you really getting in a fuss over the size of the rotors? Really?
 
Fog lights and a sliding arm rest are available on the SKYACTIV equipped models. They do also have power mirrors. Who else makes a 40mpg car with dual climate control that is affordable? I think the Focus does in the Titanium model, but that is $27K and it only gets 37mpg.
 
Remember, the cost has to be kept low. Many competitors have their 40mpg equipped vehicles priced at or below $20K.
 
Granted, these items are on your wish list, but, this is just the first implementation of their new technology. It may be available in the future. I think you are jumping the gun on your observation. If this were any other manufacturer, I bet you would be applauding them with what is offered.
 
BTW, rumor has it the SKYACTIV-D 2.2 is coming to the Mazda3......I sure hope that is true! 170hp 310ft-lbs of torque, now we're talkin'!

#7 of 437 Re: Mazda still doesn't get it... [aviboy97] by shipo

Oct 23, 2011 (6:39 pm)

Replying to: aviboy97 (Oct 23, 2011 4:38 pm)
"Are you really getting in a fuss over the size of the rotors? Really?"
 
All it takes is one incident for them to prove useful, and unfortunately I've already had such an incident. On a dark night in mid September an older driver pulled out literally right in front of me on a narrow winding two-lane road; he pulled out from behind some heavy foliage in his black car and I didn't see him until I saw the taillights. As there was on-coming traffic and a nasty drop-off into a ditch on the right side of the road, my only option was to drop anchor. When I did, the brakes of my Mazda3 i didn't have enough grab to reach the point of incipient lock-up (i.e. when the ABS starts kicking in); BANG! Right smack into his rear bumper. The hit wasn't hard enough to do much damage (my car broke a few alignment clips under the bumper, squished the license plate holder and bent the plate), but had I had the larger brakes, I'm quite sure I would never have hit him at all.
 
As of this point our insurance companies are arguing about the responsibility for the repairs to the two cars; there is no question he failed to yield right-of-way, but it is my word against his and as such, it can go either way. I would much rather have avoided the situation entirely, and it is my assertion that the larger brakes would have done the job.
 
"Fog lights and a sliding arm rest are available on the SKYACTIV equipped models."
 
Per the Mazda USA web site, the Fog Lights are not available from the factory but they are a dealer installed item. The Sliding Armrest isn't available at all.
 
"They do also have power mirrors."
 
I never said Power Mirrors weren't available, what I said was:
 - Dual power side mirrors with integrated turn signal
 
Who else makes a 40mpg car with dual climate control that is affordable? I think the Focus does in the Titanium model, but that is $27K and it only gets 37mpg.
  
Remember, the cost has to be kept low. Many competitors have their 40mpg equipped vehicles priced at or below $20K.
 
That's not the issue here, what Mazda has clearly indicated (prior to this point in time) is that the Mazda3 GT would be available with the SkyActiv engine; they never said there would be limitations on the options for the SkyActiv models. Then there's the idiotic requirement to buy an automatic transmission if you want the "i GT" models; what brain trust decided that the "s GT" models could have a stick but buyers wanting hugely better fuel economy than offered by the grossly inefficient 2.5 liter motor would have to drive an emasculated car?
 
Keep in mind, all Mazda had to do was to offer the exact same options for the two GT models, just different engines; hell, I wouldn't even care if the two were the same price, just give me the option of a fully loaded "s GT" with a SkyActive engine and a manual transmission.
 
Car shopping for my wife’s next car started this afternoon, and it is quite certain there will not be any visits to a Mazda dealer near us.
 
Regarding the SkyActiv-D version of the Mazda3; I’ll be car shopping right about then, and if Mazda decides to imbue the car with that sweet diesel they're currently developing, along with a 6-Speed manual and the full option package of the Mazda3 s GT, I’ll take a very good hard look. If not, then the new BMW F30 320d will most likely get my money.

#8 of 437 Re: Mazda still doesn't get it... [shipo] by aviboy97

Oct 24, 2011 (7:24 am)

Replying to: shipo (Oct 23, 2011 6:39 pm)
All it takes is one incident for them to prove useful, and unfortunately I've already had such an incident
 
Well, I will never complain when it comes to safety, but the Mazda3 has one of the best braking systems around and their accident avoidence ability is fantastic. Your incodent was very unfortunate, I hope everyone involved was OK. But, I don't think margionally larger rotors would help this situation. Unfortunately, we will never know.
 
Per the Mazda USA web site, the Fog Lights are not available from the factory but they are a dealer installed item. The Sliding Armrest isn't available at all.
 
The Mazda3 i GT has a sliding arm rest, standard. There is on on my showroom floor. My point was you can get fog's on a SKYACTIV Mazda3.
 
I understand your wish for the extra features, and I really can't blame you for that. Perhaps if they offered a "tech package for those who wanted those features, it would have been a better way to go. What do you think?

#9 of 437 Re: Mazda still doesn't get it... [aviboy97] by shipo

Oct 24, 2011 (8:17 am)

Replying to: aviboy97 (Oct 24, 2011 7:24 am)
"Well, I will never complain when it comes to safety, but the Mazda3 has one of the best braking systems around and their accident avoidence ability is fantastic. Your incodent was very unfortunate, I hope everyone involved was OK. But, I don't think margionally larger rotors would help this situation. Unfortunately, we will never know."
 
I've owned and driven lots of cars, and while the brakes on my Mazda3 i are decent, they are far from "one of the best around" (unless all you are comparing them to is lesser U.S. and Asian economy cars). As for the rotors of the "s" models being "marginally larger", by my math they are significantly larger in that the swept area of the "s" model cars is a whopping 104.52 square inches larger than the "i" models. That and the larger the diameter of the rotor, the more "Arm" (which translates to greater torque for any given amount of friction) the better the stopping power even if the swept area was the same.
 
Slice it and dice it any way you want, the brakes of the "s" model cars can apply a whole order of magnitude greater stopping power to the car when compared to the brakes of the "i" models.
 
In the case of my accident, it was such a near-run thing between hitting the guy who pulled out right in front of me, and not hitting him at all, and given that the tires had yet to approach their limit of friction, there is no question in my mind the larger brakes of the "s" models would have allowed me to avoid the accident.
 
FWIW, I'm toying with the idea of replacing the brackets, calipers, pads and rotors on my car with the complete Mazda3 s configuration. Apparently it is a fairly common modification for the Mazda3 i models.
 
"The Mazda3 i GT has a sliding arm rest, standard. There is on on my showroom floor."
 
Good to know; I wonder why the blatent disconnect between what you're seeing on the floor and the official specs of the car.
 
"I understand your wish for the extra features, and I really can't blame you for that. Perhaps if they offered a "tech package for those who wanted those features, it would have been a better way to go. What do you think?"
 
I suppose that would work as well. My question is, "Why bother?" I'm thinking it would just be easier from a manufacturing and supply chain perspective to simply offer the two different engines and their two respective transmissions as options for the "s" models and leave everything else the same.

#10 of 437 Re: Mazda still doesn't get it... [shipo] by bpizzuti

Oct 24, 2011 (9:11 am)

Replying to: shipo (Oct 24, 2011 8:17 am)
Mazda may be worried about competing with the upcoming CX-5 (Which we don't have a forum for yet either). Not having automatic climate control is sort of a deal breaker for me. I'm tired of manually adjusting climate settings.
 
I miss my old Mazda3 but so far I'm waiting to see how the CX-5 will stack up. That grin is a lot uglier than my old 04 that I miss so much (despite the 2.3L throwing a rod on me and having to unload it).

#11 of 437 Re: Mazda still doesn't get it... [bpizzuti] by shipo

Oct 24, 2011 (9:17 am)

Replying to: bpizzuti (Oct 24, 2011 9:11 am)
I'm in the same boat, I want to spend my time driving my car and shifting my gears not fiddling about with wiper and HVAC controls. Fortunately enough for me, there is still a chance the 2013 Mazda3 with the SkyActiv-D engine will feature the full allocation of options as well as a manual transmission. If the car falls short then I'll move back into the BMW camp and buy the new F30 320d with a 6-Speed manual.

#12 of 437 Re: Mazda still doesn't get it... [bpizzuti] by aviboy97

Oct 24, 2011 (9:58 am)

Replying to: bpizzuti (Oct 24, 2011 9:11 am)
I have my eyes on the CX_5 as well. It will most likley be my next car. We will see what's in store for the U.S. at the LA Auto Show in November.

#13 of 437 Re: Mazda still doesn't get it... [aviboy97] by bpizzuti

Oct 24, 2011 (4:30 pm)

Replying to: aviboy97 (Oct 24, 2011 9:58 am)
Wish they'd announce it at SEMA. I"ll actually be AT SEMA...

Messages Page 2 of 45

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