2014/Next-generation Mazda 3 mega-thread

[DaveIrwin24]

@Neo, if your patient you could always wait till fall of 2014 for the clearance and get a GT model for a better price?

[Neo]

Trust me guys. I really like the new car. But this new car was to be under my girls name. And I was hoping we would be together, but alas things have changed (after 5yrs mind you) and we're no longer together.

Everything happens for a reason... so we have to move on.

In doing so, I need to get rid of my 2011 Mazda3 GT. She doesn't make enough money to cover a GT car on her own. But she can with a GS. Thus, this is why we ordered a GS.
I just want to eliminate the 3rd car. So I need to get it off my back as soon as possible.
This new GS 3 can't come fast enough!

[sandy]

...for Canadians, the GT trim will be like this:





..I think the GS trim would be a really good trim level for the new 3 if you don't feel like spending 30G's for the top level GT trim.

That looks like a 6sp MT, so I guess it's not a Can spec GT (at least not this year). I agree, the GS looks like a reasonable compromise - if only there were a leather option out of the box. Good luck with your purchase.

[asyed]

meanwhile on Mazda Canadas Facebook page:

https://twitter.com/mazdacanada/stat...807232/photo/1


looks like there is already one in Toronto.

[Dynames]

@Neo, if your patient you could always wait till fall of 2014 for the clearance and get a GT model for a better price?

Why trade down from a speed to the GT? o.o

[Neo]

These are for you sandy..

[Mitchell3]

These are for you sandy..

Funny how with each gen the iconic 3 circles on the dash have been eliminated one at a time.

[richardds]

Should I expect the gs to be closer to 30k all in?

[sandy]

These are for you sandy..
....

Thanks. So it is the digital tach in the GS, as advertised in the brochure and spec sheet. The window sticker says to see dealer for price. Do you know the price on this model as configured?

[Stathakos]

for 30 k all in? uhhhhhh "I'll take cars around 30k better than the new mazda 3 for 500 Alex" ...........WHAT IS THE FOCUS ST?

[richardds]

I mean after taxes and all the fees.

[Neo]

No. The GS will not be 30's all in. More like 27g's all in (this is a guestimate going off the present GS prices)

Sandy,
ok, I give you the brochure said that description but they improperly put it as the GS and GT model. That description should've been used for the GX and GS description (as I said initally)
The GT will be exactly pictured from the last post I made with the GT interior.

Regardless, the interior is really nice. Definitely a step up from the present GS trim.

Everyone is eager to see the sedan though. Gotta wait till October.

[TheMAN]

I drove one the other day... the seating materials haven't improved... still feels cheap like the older 3s, but they are more supportive... you stay in your seat when you toss the car around the corners... the thing that sucks about the seats though are the bolsters on the cushion are too flappy... the get squished when you get in and out of the car

like everyone complained about already... the standard radio placement sucks... you have to stretch your hand to reach the controls... the sound system sounds OK for stock, nothing really special... nothing great and nothing bad... leg room definitely has improved over the old focus based 3s... trunk space is about the same but the spare tire cover is cheap... there's a noticeable hole on the sides, it's not a fully flat floor space to say the least

the 2.0 should be good enough for most people... even with the 6 speed slush box, this thing can REALLY GO! It has as good of pick up as the genwon 2.3 non-turbo.... the pedal placements are comfortable, but since the one I drove was an auto, I couldn't see if they're good for some heal and toe action.... steering is super quick and body roll is minimal for a stock suspension.... the ride is very compliant and much more euro feel than the older 3s... all of the hand controls are solid and no more hollow or cheap feel like the older 3s... the 6 speed auto is really smooth and you can't feel it shift at all... it shifts fast and gets to top gear quickly without making the car feel like a slouch, it's a major improvement over the genpu skyactiv... the engine also is now less buzzy and because it now has the skyactiv exhaust, it's very torquey and no longer gutless at low RPM... the engine loves to rev but it still doesn't rev as quickly as I like

oh and did I say the car was QUIET? It's almost as quiet as a camry... you can almost hear a pin drop inside the car
the only complaints I have about this car so far are:
turn signal "click" sound is too quiet... you can't hear it at all if the radio is on or if the air is on full blast... hopefully enough bitching to mazda, they will fix that later on
the cloth seat materials feels cheap... I don't think anything would be done about it, but that's why there's the pleather option right?
the non-nav radio controls suck and having to change any settings requires you to dive into a menu
the non-HUD gauge cluster is meh.... the speedo is OK sized, but the tach is way too small and hard to read because it's digital... there's still an idiot light and no temp gauge, and there's still a digital fuel gauge

if you don't like some of these short comings, then just shut up and buy a loaded version... they're going to be better than the cheaper versions

overall though, this car has set a new bar for econoboxes... there's no reason to pick any other brand of econobox unless you're a brand loyalist to some other brand, or you're just plain stupid

[Nikhil Pali]

I saw a white mz3 gen4 on 401 south bound near milton today around 4. Probably dealers demo car, but it looked nice.

[sandy]

I mean after taxes and all the fees.

For the red one above as configured, I'd say about 29.5k all in (for provinces/territories with an HST/PST)

[richardds]

Uh...pretty pricey.

[Neo]

No. It won't be that high. Although if you haven't noticed, the price of "economy" cars has gone up dramatically. Most of the competition are now offering things that were only reserved for high luxury marquees. So I understand why things are going up. But at the same time, it's getting tough for people to purchase vehicles new.

Regardless, ball parking the red hatch I took pics of, I think it'll be $26G's on the road. For sure the GT will be just a bit over 30G's (31-32G's). If you add the tech package, you'll probably be looking closer to 34G's on the road.

The prices shouldn't differ too much from the present values given. People have been fiddling with the US configurator and have been coming up with those type of figures if you were to do a rough translation to the Canadian side...

[richardds]

For 26k I'm there with bells on. For 30 though...there are a lot of options at that range.

[sandy]

For the red one above as configured, I'd say about 29.5k all in (for provinces/territories with an HST/PST)

The 13 Sport GS AT is about 26.8K all in (assuming no cash incentives, which is a reasonable assumption for the new 14 at this time). Add in the CP, MP and Zeal add-ons of this 14, and I will be pleasantly surprised if it is under 27K. I'm expecting more.

[sandy]

... Add in the CP, MP and Zeal add-ons of this 14...

Oops, that should be Soul, not Zeal

[richardds]

I thought soul was just the name of that colour.

[sandy]

I thought soul was just the name of that colour.

Correct, and I believe it will be a $300 add-on/surcharge.

[yhzhrm]

I wish I lived a little closer to Ottawa. Looks like Ottawa Mazda had a show and tell of the MZ3's on a test track. Here's keeping my fingers crossed they make it to Halifax before too long

[Neo]

The GT looks exactly what we expected. The car definitely comes out on top of the competition.
Im itching at the delivery date of the one we ordered.

[RTEnthusiast]

Very promising machine, that's for sure.