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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 5 of 44

#41 of 437 US News ranks Mazda3 #2 by benjaminh

Oct 30, 2011 (4:21 am)

Out of all small cars. Ford's Fiesta is #1, according to them...
 
The 2012 Mazda3 ranks 2 out of 35 Affordable Small Cars.
 
Pretty good!
 
http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/Mazda_Mazda3/
 
The only weak areas they saw were the styling (but I like the styling, so...) and the rear seat room. Rear seat room could be better, but I doubt the Fiesta has much more...
 
Wish they'd put the Skyactiv engine in the Mazda5! I own a 2010 Mazda5. The 2012 model is rated 21/28 for mpg. Probably with a Skyactiv it would get to c. 25/35...

#42 of 437 Re: 6MT [benjaminh] by stevenq99

Oct 30, 2011 (7:56 pm)

Replying to: benjaminh (Oct 29, 2011 7:32 pm)
cars.com has a search function that you can change to get the data you want.
 
I didnt find any skyactive manuals in Louisville.

#43 of 437 Re: 6MT [stevenq99] by benjaminh

Oct 31, 2011 (4:23 am)

Replying to: stevenq99 (Oct 30, 2011 7:56 pm)
Thanks.
 
This is from Automobile magazine:
 
"Real-World Performance
To see how the SkyActiv technology works in the real world, we drove a 201-mile highway loop. With the cruise control set at 70 mph, we averaged an impressive 40.8 mpg, on par with the 40-mpg highway number predicted by Mazda and the EPA...."
 
Read more: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/1110_2012_mazda_3_i_grand_touring_sk- yactiv_g_sedan_first_drive/index.html#ixzz1cME3tKCK

#44 of 437 Re: US News ranks Mazda3 #2 [benjaminh] by shipo

Oct 31, 2011 (6:23 am)

Replying to: benjaminh (Oct 30, 2011 4:21 am)
After driving a Fiesta I'm stunned they'd fuss about the rear seat room of a Mazda3. Why? The Mazda3 has a whopping five inches more leg room than the Fiesta.

#45 of 437 Re: US News ranks Mazda3 #2 [shipo] by benjaminh

Oct 31, 2011 (2:41 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Oct 31, 2011 6:23 am)
Yeah, just doesn't make sense. I'd take the Mazda3 over a Fiesta any day...

#46 of 437 Re: US News ranks Mazda3 #2 [benjaminh] by diehard080

Nov 02, 2011 (7:18 pm)

Replying to: benjaminh (Oct 31, 2011 2:41 pm)
Its a no brainer - I hate to say it but you wont find me buying a car thats called a "fiesta" which soulds like "siesta" thats a ford made entirely made in Mexico ??? wretch-barf The relsale value of American cars is bad enough but build em in Mexico and ,,,well you do the math . Noting against Mexico or the people but if you have a car thats supposed to have pride of heritage in its brand then build the dang thing where it is from -- I hope Mazda dosent pull a Toyota or a Subaru or name any other Japanese cars -- 3% of Corollas imported to the USA are actually made in Japan ! I was at Longo Toyota the US's largest volume sales dealer averaging over 2000+ units a MONTH ! and I took a Golf cart and tried to find a J designated corolla and after going thru over 250 I found 1-

#47 of 437 Re: US News ranks Mazda3 #2 [diehard080] by autonomous

Nov 03, 2011 (2:09 pm)

Replying to: diehard080 (Nov 02, 2011 7:18 pm)
Noting against Mexico or the people but if you have a car thats supposed to have pride of heritage in its brand then build the dang thing where it is from
Many automakers, including Mazda, are building vehicles globally. The Mazda6 was being built in the US until this year. My recollection is that Mazda also builds some of its vehicles in Thailand.
 
And quality does not suffer as a result. The Corolla built in Ontario, Canada ranks as one of the best built cars in the North American market.
 
Building globally can lower transportation costs, take advantage of local government incentives and counteract high currency rates.

#48 of 437 Re: US News ranks Mazda3 #2 [benjaminh] by bpizzuti

Nov 05, 2011 (7:25 am)

Replying to: benjaminh (Oct 30, 2011 4:21 am)
Wish they'd put the Skyactiv engine in the Mazda5! I own a 2010 Mazda5. The 2012 model is rated 21/28 for mpg. Probably with a Skyactiv it would get to c. 25/35...
 
Might even do better, it depends on the aerodynamic factors. But I also wonder if the SkyActive-G has enough torque to motivate the Mazda5 properly. The SkyActiv-D would probably be a better match, maybe that's the model it's going to show up in? It's relatively low volume, so it would be a good platform (read: "expendable") to test acceptance of the diesel.

#49 of 437 First impressions by backy

Nov 05, 2011 (1:32 pm)

I checked out the 2012 Mazda3 with Skyactiv at my local dealer today. They had quite a few in stock--all automatics. I sat in a Touring on the show floor. I didn't notice any significant changes inside from the 2011s, so whatever changes were made are subtle. I did notice the rear seat room is as tight as I remember--about the same as some smaller cars like the Accent, and a little less than the Cruze. Also I noticed some cost-cutting in little things like, no padding on rear armrests (Mazda must think rear passengers have tougher elbows than front-seat passengers), no sunglasses holder, no vanity mirror lamps, HVAC controls not very smooth in operation, and fixed center armrest. These are things I'd like to see in a $20k car. But the leather steering wheel felt good.

#50 of 437 Re: First impressions [backy] by benjaminh

Nov 06, 2011 (2:59 am)

Replying to: backy (Nov 05, 2011 1:32 pm)
Thanks for the good report.
 
If you go back hope you'll drive one--esp. if they have a manual transmission model!

Messages Page 5 of 44

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