Mazda 3 Versus The Competition

[Nightshade]

"Mazda - A Force To Be Reckoned With"

Years of favourable reviews of the Protege have paved the roadway for the future success of......The Mazda 3. Zoom zoom indeed!
Mazda has created a great looking car that will rival the competition. Recent innovations and fresh new changes in the Mazda line-up have made them a serious contender in the automotive marketplace.
The body styling is impressive as are the more efficient and powerful engines. The consumer has called for more power...higher horse power from a small light weight vehicle, with impressive handling and Mazda has designed some great new vehicles. I'm very impressed with what I've seen from your Mazda in the past 5 years. Quality and performance have improved by leaps and bounds. Fasten your seat belts and hold on tight. I know that we've got a winner here, with the Mazda 3.
Although it may share the same platform as the Ford Focus and the Volvo, I believe that this brawny machine has it's own amazing looks and personality that set it apart from the relatives and most definately from the competition.
It's smooth sleek aerodynamic styling clearly spell out "Winner".
Interior impovements have made this model a tad more spacious than the Protege. If this car handles as nicely as the Protege, or better, as the limited reviews to date seem to indicate, then sign me up. I will definately be opting for the more assertive engine and handling package and the winding roads ahead.
I look forward to reading the reviews and comments from new owners of the Mazda 3 and any other related reviews.

Mazda Canada......I will drive and review this car for you, offering an experienced driver's perspective.

Ottawa, Ontario

[MrFujimo]

I have driven most of the competition in the past 2 months in my search for a new car and in my opinion the Mazda-3 is well above the rest this year. The closest was the Toyota Matrix XRS, which if it wasn't for its quirky high revving engine would have won me over.
The Civic didn't come close which is disappointing as i own a 97 SI coupe also and like most die hard Honda fans would have like to stick with them. Sentra was no good as was Hyandai, Kia, Saturn, Pontiac vibe/sunfire, Chev cav, Ford focus. The Jetta wagon was great although more expensive and plagued with a poor reliability rating the past few years. The Subaru Impreza was similar to drive compared with the Mz-3 but the interior was horribly plain but has an amazing AWD system for these Canadian winters.
If Mazda put a nice AWD system in the Mz-3 I think they would see a segment of buyers that they have not been able to attract up to this point.

My Mazda-3 sport will be ready for pickup on January 9th can’t wait..

[msaeger]

I would say look out VW. The 5 door is almost a clone of the Golf.

[Slalom]

Originally posted by MrFujimo@Jan 2 2004, 01:00 PM
I have driven most of the competition in the past 2 months in my search for a new car and in my opinion the Mazda-3 is well above the rest this year. The closest was the Toyota Matrix XRS, which if it wasn't for its quirky high revving engine would have won me over.
The Civic didn't come close which is disappointing as i own a 97 SI coupe also and like most die hard Honda fans would have like to stick with them. Sentra was no good as was Hyandai, Kia, Saturn, Pontiac vibe/sunfire, Chev cav, Ford focus. The Jetta wagon was great although more expensive and plagued with a poor reliability rating the past few years. The Subaru Impreza was similar to drive compared with the Mz-3 but the interior was horribly plain but has an amazing AWD system for these Canadian winters.
If Mazda put a nice AWD system in the Mz-3 I think they would see a segment of buyers that they have not been able to attract up to this point.

My Mazda-3 sport will be ready for pickup on January 9th can’t wait..

agreed all around... Mazda bring on an AWD 3... i'm tired of the subaru guys at my work picking on me

[Cowtown]

Tell those Subaru owners to come back when their car manufacturer can actually learn how to style a car.

[Slalom]

ya 2 of them have first gen WRX's with the bug-eye lights... easy pickin's...

[MrFujimo]

Ya what happened to Subaru?? They made that SVX years ago and that was a great looking car inside and out and all they can come up with now is the STI which is sweet but is has a crappy sunfire interior not to mention the Baja.. What is that.

[AESC]

well i currently own a 03 corolla S with a trd supercharger and many more mods and its about as fast as a stock 2.3 mazda 3. but i have auto and im talking about a manual 3. anyway im looking to sell my corolla and get a 3 in there near future
this mazda 3 is a awsome car and the price is great especially with all the available options you can usually only get on a 30K plus ride

[Zarif]

I just finished test driving most of the competition and the 3. Here are my impressions of each.

2004 Toyota Matrix XRS --> I truly hated this car. Worst trans I have ever had the displeasure of using (my old 84 dodge colt had a better trans in it). I had the damnest time geting it into 1st. Thought I was going to tip the thing while cornering. And what is with the weed-wacker engine I had to keep it above 5k just to make it fun to drive. But then again at 5 grand I could here my wife bitchin at me so that might be a plus . My very Very last chioce.

2004 Lancer Ralliart --> Great car, Nice Trans, Gets up and moves when you stomp on the gas. Handles the twisty pretty well but it is kinda boring to drive. Can't explain why it just is. My 3rd choice.

2004 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V --> This can demands your attention while driving. Kinda hard to choose the right gear to be in but is almost a non factor due to all the torque. Bang for the buck factor can be touched by any of these other cars. 2nd Chioce.


2004 Mazda 3 5dr --> Fell in love at first look. Best Trans of the bunch. Handles Better, Interior is fantastic, I just love the gauges. Over all this car may not be the fastest but it is the most fun to drive. I will be picking my up in about 2 weeks. The Winner

[mnemonicj]

I also looked at the Nissan Sentra SE-R Vspec. I was convinced that it was going to be my next car. How can you pass up 175 horsepower, 180 lbft of torque on a nice looking compact car? Well, I did. The new 2004 SE-R Vspec came out and I was not excited about the look. They smoked out all of the lights rather than giving them the 2003 chrome looking trim, and I personally think the grill looks goofy. One of the major reasons that I decided not to get the SE-R Vspec, seriously, 17 inch Z rated tires. That thinkg would not be able to handle at all in the snow, which I have to drive through at meast 3 months of every year.

I got the Mazda3 Sport Sedan, and it makes me feel like I own a Saab 9-3 while I still laugh at the 9-3 owners for paying $10,000 more for their car and not getting $10,000 more out of it.