Cons of the Mazda3

[dumpbear]

With the gas prices being so low, am I the only one with their mileage getting worse? Since the gas is cheaper I am subconsciously driving more spirited and am seeing a drop from 570km to 490-500km a tank. Why does it have to be so much more fun to shift at 4k than 2k? Now that I have noticed the big difference I have cut back a little and the mileage has improved slightly.

+1

Cheap gas rulez!!!

[tinman]

Just got the 05 MZ3 HB GS for a week.
- I am not sure if the aim of the headlights are off or what, they seems so dim to me, will changing to Silverstar helps?
- Almost every used 3 I checked before I bought this one, they all have ripped carpet on the passenger foot well.

[Bean]

I get 530-570 city on a full tank and I have done 650 highway but I haven't done a road trip in a while. I wish the car had traction control!

Wow. You are lucky.

One time I did all highway driving, I only got 570 on a full tank and this is the 2.0 litre engine.

[alhope34]

Why does EVERY thread lately seem to turn into a mileage thread??

[wantboost]

i gues the dealer wont do anything??

My other car dropped also. i just figured it was cause the winter. but the 3 has always been like this

[alhope34]

Here is a thread for fuel economy talk:

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=8579

[Terrible3]

Why does EVERY thread lately seem to turn into a mileage thread??

Its one of the main factors that affect our car post purchase. The only aspect of my car that is a variable is its millage. My love for its exterior and interior does not change, however my wallet does fell the effect of me driving more spirited.

As far as staying on topic, with 10,000KM in

Love:
Still love the handling
Styling inside and out
the fact that it comes standard with projectors (helps a lot with non oem hids)
Tranny smoothness
The instrument cluster is perfection!
Aux port is used A LOT


Hates:
I always forget to hit the gas door release (its my own fault)
Head liner gets marked up a lot (my bike)
The all season tires are useless in the snow and in the summer
The small space between the fuse box and head light assembly (you need super small hands to change your bulbs)

[whiteomega]

I've had mine for a couple of years now, some minor cons:

-Hatch release is at the bottom-center of the hatch. this is fine in dry weather; when the weather turns nasty that release is in a bad place (particularly if snow and ice get built up in the crevass)
-fuel economy is not as good as I'd hoped
-brakes squeak when cold (and now, for me, when slowly rolling down a hill)
-rear wiper sucks in the winter (does alright in the summer)
-brake rotors warp prematurely (< 40k and mine are already slightly warped)
-paint is thin and easily chipped
-all season tyres

[Flagrum_3]

Worst con I find is; I love driving her so much that I can't stop!! ...I'm going thru petro like a fiend!


_3

[McGuyver_3]

in summer time i average 500-550 on roughly 45l when the light comes on and in thwe winter i lost about 70 km per tank but nothing abnormal

[_3G]

The heater is not all that powerfull.

[jcutner]

The heater is not all that powerfull.

I haven't found any issues with the power of the heat - my last car - a 96 Audi A4 - I discovered that the heat didn't work at all! Which was an .... interesting surprise, come winter.

So, I was freezing everything but my ass off (heated seats worked..)

Moving to the Mazda3 with ANY form of heat was a welcome change, but maybe I'm biased...

[Darkfrosty7]

one more con. that underside splash guard for the 2.3L has the same hole as the 2.0L therefore it doesn't do anything. they should've had a different piece for the 2.3L. gay and cheap of mazda to do that...

[bhrm]

i want more oomph

156hp is okay for overall average urban/highway driving

First gear is completely useless 90% of the time. Sixth gear would be awesome.

180hp would be idea, maybe a more aggressive valve timing for the variable valve timing at high RPMs

[mazda lover]

The heater is not all that powerfull.

I have an 2005 and find the heater very good, but with very very cold, -15C and lower its not as strong but still ok..

[mazdas3sporte]

i want more oomph

156hp is okay for overall average urban/highway driving

First gear is completely useless 90% of the time. Sixth gear would be awesome.

180hp would be idea, maybe a more aggressive valve timing for the variable valve timing at high RPMs

go for the honda civic si if u can afford it+insurance, 197 Hp and slap on a Greddy turbo kit, u push over 200WHP.

[Hives]

What I dislike about my 06 GT Sedan:
1) Paint is shit quality. Chips and scratches easily
2) Road noise is horrible
3) The rear plastic deck is a piece of shit
4) Fuel consumption is more than what I thought it would be
5) The engine jerks when pull off from a red light (thanks to shitty FORD mounts. Fawk you Ford!)
6) Engine accessibility was poorly designed. Changing a light bulb is so fawking difficult!
7) The stock radio sucks ass along with the factory speakers
8) Nuts and bolts beneath the car corrode so easily. Shit quality
9) Too much plastic on the interior.
10) The rear plastic piece on the rear bumper pisses me off, buh im used to it now.
11) Poor radio reception

I think thats it for now!

[b.rabbit]

I don't like the rust specks!

[coyote]

one more con. that underside splash guard for the 2.3L has the same hole as the 2.0L therefore it doesn't do anything. they should've had a different piece for the 2.3L. gay and cheap of mazda to do that...

I hate to break it to you, but the hole doesn't do anything on the 2.0L either. I still have to take off the whole splashgaurd when doing an oil change.

I want the guard there, but I hate having to take it off everytime I do an oil change. And the fact that the oil filter spills oil all over the place when you take it off.

[mazdabetty]

I don't like the rust specks!

Booo, yeah rust specks are the only bad thing I've noticed so far. Just took my 3 in yesterday to get them all cleaned up, thankfully I'm still covered under that rust warranty!!!!

[Bean]

What year is your car if you have the rust specks?

What is the Factory warranty for Rust?

[mazdabetty]

What year is your car if you have the rust specks?

What is the Factory warranty for Rust?

It's a 2005. It was mostly bubbling around the back wheel wells, then I noticed paint chipping off and rusting right after I made the appointment (just in time I guess).

I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be 5 years from the manufactured date. The only thing they wouldn't cover for me is the rusting on the wiper arm, but that's easily fixed.

[Bean]

Only 4 years old and rusting
Scary

I hope they fix it for you. What dealer do you go to?

[mazdabetty]

I knowwww tell me about it. I don't feel so bad though as I hear it's pretty common.

I'm sure they'll do a good job. I go to Bank Street Mazda in Ottawa. They've been amazing so far!

[Bean]

I hope they continue being amazing for you and cover you under the Rust warranty.