1st month review 2007 GT Sport 5spd manual with lux

[IMHIP2]

After having this car for a month now I thought I would post up my thoughts and impressions.

I'm not the primary driver but have still logged some time behind the wheel. We babied this car for the first 1000 km (10 days) and then started to drive it like normal.

Current km's - Approx 2500
Average fuel - 9.9L/100km per computer - mostly hwy 404 but rush hour

Pros
This car is alot of fun. Tight handling and responsive (steering is very responsive). I find the drivers seat very comfortable. Acceleration is good. Head room is good (6'2" with sun roof), HID's are amazing, Like the auto head lamps, auto wipers, goodyear RSA tires seem fine, trip computer, many other things that I have forgot. No comment on auto A/C or regular A/C (but with black leather it had better work well)

Cons (these are nit picky)
My right leg hits the side of dash and over a long distance I would find this uncomfortable, still trying to find the right blend of bass and treble on the radio, gas milage is OK about what I expected but should improve, Brake dust and touchy brakes at the moment. KPH display gauge - only utilizes 25% of the display for 0-100 and it's at the bottom - most guages start here but with these guages you are doing 100 km/h before you know it.

Other - has only run out of gas once (well almost). Went to take the car out
and noticed the gas light on, and needle below the line. Drove off from home figuring I had better hit a gas station quick. Got about half a block from home and the car started to buck and choke. Checked the DTE and it said ZERO. Turned around and hobbled back home and into the driveway. Wife said she hadn't noticed as the gauge was not where she was use to it. That was at 1500km

Overall very happy with the car and would recommend it to others who are contemplating purchasing.


UPDATE - Air conditioning - Work well in both auto mode and without auto. Blows cold and the ambient temperature on Sat said it was 30 - 33 when I checked and I had the climate control at 22.5. One thing I did notice was auto only allowed for the in your face vent position and if you wanted it floor and face it took it off auto. Also the auto stayed on recirculate the entire time. Maybe those who have manual A/C need to keep it on recirculate to keep it cold.

UPDATE 2 - In auto mode it seems to depend on the outside temp as much as what the inside temp is set at. When temp cold outside the auto is not in recirc and it actually changed the settings to defrost and floor with the inside temp at 21C and the ambiant outdoor temp being 7C - sweet!

[Wild Weasel]

Interesting point about the radio.

I went on a trip to the Windsor area over the weekend, so I was playing cd's rather than listening to the radio. I noticed that for the cd's I had to turn the treble down 2 points and then when switching back to the radio, I had to put it back up where it was.

On my Sunfire, the head unit remembers the different settings depending on whether you're using the radio or cd, and even between FM and AM, and has several pre-set equalizer settings you can customize.

It's also got RDS and remembers settings for up to 4 different people depending on what fob is used to open the doors.

I just figured the Mazda should be able to do everything the Sunfire does, but better. When it comes to the stereo though, other than the 6 disc changer, the Sunfire's really got it trumped. I'd have never expected that.

[Triplebogey]

Interesting point about the radio.

On my Sunfire, the head unit remembers the different settings depending on whether you're using the radio or cd, and even between FM and AM, and has several pre-set equalizer settings you can customize.

It's also got RDS and remembers settings for up to 4 different people depending on what fob is used to open the doors.

Had to plug the domestic didn't you?

[Wild Weasel]

Not even. I just don't get why EVERYONE doesn't have those features. I mean... the Sunfire's head unit was designed for 2000.

Just seems silly to me that new cars don't all use those which are fairly basic features.

[Skarbro]

I agree with Weasel 100% on the radio. I essentially had the same radio in my Z24 and it had way more features than the 3's radio. I was amazed when I got the 3 that it didn't have RDS. My wife's Corolla displays the songs/album name/artist off CDs!

[Triplebogey]

I agree with Weasel 100% on the radio. I essentially had the same radio in my Z24 and it had way more features than the 3's radio. I was amazed when I got the 3 that it didn't have RDS. My wife's Corolla displays the songs/album name/artist off CDs!

these features will probably be on the 08 models

[IMHIP2]

these features will probably be on the 08 models

Nah Mazda is going backwards with the radio. 2005 had MP3. 2008 will have cassette and no CD. 2011 will have AM and 8 track.

One thing GM has always had is a good radio.

[BiG-ED]

good to hear u lovin the car
stock decks have always been a downer for me
takes me max 2 months before going aftermarket

[MattC]

get an aftermarket deck, makes the stock speakers sound better too

[argos]

Nah Mazda is going backwards with the radio. 2005 had MP3. 2008 will have cassette and no CD. 2011 will have AM and 8 track.

One thing GM has always had is a good radio.

lmao

[asif9t9]

The Mazda 3 doesn't have RDS? Sheesh. I was reading a Lexus ad the other day, and it was talking about speed-sensitive volume. I've had that since I got my 2000 Z24 8 years ago.

I didn't notice the tight leg area when I test drove the Mazda3. Anyone else bugged by this? And how comfy are the front seats over long drives?

[majic]

I didn't notice the tight leg area when I test drove the Mazda3. Anyone else bugged by this? And how comfy are the front seats over long drives?

no problem over an ~800km trip.. did have a rest stop or another (pee and food breaks) but other than that pretty comfortable.. spend 50km each way (over an hour) to commute to work so i think i've molded the seats to fit my ass perfectly

[Wild Weasel]

Yeah, I love the seating position and haven't had any issues with the leg area. I'm 5'9" though, so I'm hardly pushing any design limits.

[IMHIP2]

Updated for A/C review above in first post - noted the auto climate control keeps the a/c in recirculate mode.

Front seat are very comfortable - I just find I end up resting my right leg against the centre console and if I where to take the car for a 2 hr cruise it could be uncomfortable after a while.

No plans to upgrade stereo at the current time.

[asif9t9]

Odd about auto AC being only recirculate. Makes me think twice about the lux package if auto AC was some afterthought by Mazda.

With the leg issue...how tall about you? And are you a...big guy? heh

[Sdu_postes]

Actually this is my second M3, I love M3, stick with it forever and ever...

[IMHIP2]

Odd about auto AC being only recirculate. Makes me think twice about the lux package if auto AC was some afterthought by Mazda.

With the leg issue...how tall about you? And are you a...big guy? heh

The Mazda may just be programed to switch to recirculate due to the outside temp being so high compared to the temp inside. I will see if when the air is on auto and the temp is not quite so hot if the auto will switch itself to fresh. I know our Honda will set itself to recirculate if there is a large difference between the inside and outside temp and then will switch to fresh after a while once the temp inside is maintained.

Of course I'm a big guy! 6'2" 260. Its my right calve (below the knee) that I rest on the center console. Not a big issue.

Updated post with more climate control info

Tonight the ambiant temp is about 7C and interior temp is set at 21C and when I started the car and put it on auto the following happened.
Recirculate did not engage but rather auto selected defrost and floor.

I think the auto is smarter than most so Kudos to Mazda for putting it on the 3 (it's smarter than our Honda)

[WLS ZMZM]

as for the issue with the center console... i have to admit i have a habit of smacking my leg on it... as for the comfort level... it is superb!!! Just like Majic did a road trip a few weeks ago, drove from Toronto to Akron,Oh... (long story) have to say the car was very comfortable the only problem is that it handles too well and the ride is so smooth... as for the speedometer it takes time to get used to.. and thats coming from a guy who almost had a run in with a state trooper The seats in the car are great and are very comfortable!!!

[asif9t9]

How have you guys with the leather seats found the AC to be, on these recent hot days? Does the AC get going fast enough to make things not uncomfortable? Do tinted windows also help? Or is the talk about so-called weak AC not really true, or somewhat exaggerated?

[IMHIP2]

My limited experience with the 07 has been the air is sufficient. Like I posted previously in auto mode when the heat is extreme it will switch to recirc to maintain the comfort level selected. On the 25c-28c days it has managed fine and this car does not have tint.

Tim

[Candyman]

How have you guys with the leather seats found the AC to be, on these recent hot days? Does the AC get going fast enough to make things not uncomfortable? Do tinted windows also help? Or is the talk about so-called weak AC not really true, or somewhat exaggerated?

When I first got the car I was complaining about the A/C. After tinting my windows I'm ok. It's boiling when I first get in, it takes about 2 mins to get to a comfortable level. I'm happy with it overall.

Definitely tint your windows. It was death without it.

[IMHIP2]

Just a quick update for the 2 year review.

Car ran perfectly for the first 2 years and 55,000 km - still fun to drive, no rattles or squeaks etc and was still looking forward to a long relationship.

BUT

the last month and 3,000 km have been costly to say the least. $770 incl tax in repairs for new brakes and rotors and now today $1400 incl tax for a new clutch. Not too pleased to say the least. The two previous non Mazda vehicles we managed to get 313,000km and 206,000km without a clutch so can't be the driver..... and brakes pads and rotors usually lasted over 100,000 km

[asif9t9]

Dang yo, can't believe the clutch went. Are you rough with the car?

And where did you get the brake job done for $770? Was that for all four wheels?

Reading this old thread reminds me of back in the day. I used to be bugged by the tight space for my right leg, but I can say I'm totally used to it now....total non-issue.

Wrt to the AC. When I hit Auto in the winter, the AC goes on. Is that correct? I always have to hit Auto followed by hitting the button to turn AC off. Kind of a longterm irritating thing. My car is 41,000 in (2007 3 Sport GT w/lux) and so far so good. Haven't had to fix anything yet. Not even brakes.

Probably the biggest pro so far is....I will get random compliments on my car!! Mine is a dark grey model. I've had random people in parking lots ask me to roll down my window to tell me the car looks so nice. wtf?? I'll pull up to a meeting with someone, and before we start talking whatever, they first want to ask me all about my car. No one ever asked me anything when I was driving my Z24.

[IMHIP2]

Just some history - The charges we incur are based on DWM standard rates and charges - car has always been dealer maintained by DWM from new following or exceeding recommended maintenance. Received the TM3 discount on various services initially when I asked but it has not been forcoming lately when I have these large bills. (and it still has both front and rear TM3 plate covers!)

The $770 also included about $300 of regular maintanence I beleive.

Are we hard on the clutch? Nope - I don't even think the clutch has ever been dropped! This car is driven by my wife who commutes from suburbia to T.O.(about 100km a day) Same regular driving which was done with our previous cars on which she racked up numerous miles without issues as noted previously.

The clutch is a mystery - ASFIK, it wasn't even slipping or grinding the gears prior to the failure - It just gave out at the stop light - When I arrived to check out the problem, I put the clutch in and attempted to put it gear and the gears would grind - I then put the clutch in about 5 or 6 times and was then was able to engage it. I figured the clutch fluid was low and got her to drive it to the dealer as I followed. Obviously not the case.

asif9t9 I hope yours and everyone else's 3 can remain problem free but this rude awakening has definitely put an early sour note in our ownership experience.

[IMHIP2]

Just to update I notice a Credit on my Visa for the TM3 discount which was a pleasant surprise on the $1400 service. Kudo's to DWM for doing that.