2014 Mazda 3 Initial Review

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Originally Posted By: MCompact
Originally Posted By: FordTrucks71

My 2011 Mazda 3 exhibits none of these cupping tire issues..I get 30K out of set of tires wih agressive rotation schedule!


Ditto for my 2007 MS3- although with UHP all season tires and UHP summer track rubber I get @5000 miles less per set.
But they stay quiet until the end...


I also have the cupping issue, but I rotate tires about once a year and not every oil change. The original set lasted me about 60k miles so wear is a non issue, but cupping certainly is if the tires are not rotated rigorously.
 
Not feeling the styling.

CX-5, Mazda 6 = nice. This looks like a Hyundai
frown.gif
 
Originally Posted By: MCompact
Originally Posted By: FordTrucks71

My 2011 Mazda 3 exhibits none of these cupping tire issues..I get 30K out of set of tires wih agressive rotation schedule!


Ditto for my 2007 MS3- although with UHP all season tires and UHP summer track rubber I get @5000 miles less per set.
But they stay quiet until the end...


Sadly, this tire noise(which sounds like bad front wheel bearings) seems to be prevolent throughout the mazda3 world though, not all owners are experiencing this noise.

This '06 mazda3 of my daughter's is still one of the nicest little cars that I've ever driven even with the 2.0L/4spd auto combo and my daughter just loves it! Especially the MPG that she is experiencing.

This car has been super reliable in the 4 years that she's owned it(currently w/104K miles) with only 2 items to complain about...lack of sound insulation & premature rust!
 
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Originally Posted By: DBMaster
Mine has a pressurized coolant tank mounted by the right strut tower. The new one appears to have the non-pressurized recovery tank and a conventional radiator cap. There are other changes as well (like doing away with the blue paint on the engine cover), but the coolant reservoir is most noticeable.

The coolant tanks on the previous models looked kind of like something they got from Ford. Maybe with the new models they changed a lot of little parts that they were previously getting from Ford.
 
Why did the testing or car maker idiots pick white for the testing/press car. It looks like an amana fridge.

I would love to try one in another color.
 
That was an interesting video, thanks for posting link.

If I'm understanding correctly, the complicated manifold design is emission's driven - to allow quick heating of catalyst layer.
 
Originally Posted By: NJC
That was an interesting video, thanks for posting link.

If I'm understanding correctly, the complicated manifold design is emission's driven - to allow quick heating of catalyst layer.


Nope, a tuned header provides power, and, when designed correctly, can aid in emissions under certain operating conditions.

BC.
 
Originally Posted By: Char Baby



This car has been super reliable in the 4 years that she's owned it(currently w/104K miles) with only 2 items to complain about...lack of sound insulation & premature rust!


I have noticed that as well. You don't see many cars with rust on them nowadays, at least not those built after about the 2000 model year or so, but I saw a Mazda 3 the other day with quite a bit of rust on it, and it was probably not that old as it had the 2.3 badge on the side (I think they added that in 07 or 08 here in Canada?)
 
Mazdas around here get rusty too. Not sure on age but I'd say around five years old they are showing rust around the wheelwells.
 
Originally Posted By: supton
Mazdas around here get rusty too. Not sure on age but I'd say around five years old they are showing rust around the wheelwells.


It's not surprising me at all as I removed the rear wheel well liners in the past and this year to clean all the mud that collects there and apply a coat of rustproofing oil there. You would not believe how much mud and grime collects right on the lip of the fender right behind that little plastic liner. The only way to clean it off is to remove the liner, which fortunately is dead easy. It reminds me of 94-96 Accord that had the exact same problem.
 
Originally Posted By: supton
Mazdas around here get rusty too. Not sure on age but I'd say around five years old they are showing rust around the wheelwells.


+1 They rust early even in milder coastal NH. I have seen swiss cheese ones with VT plates.

I have seen ones with rust on the pillars of all places. Poor paint?
 
Could be, although rock chips could do that. My vintage Jetta is known for chips above the windshield, for some reason that is just where they like to hit.
 
Originally Posted By: Vikas
Only Mazda cars seem to be afflicted with rust as far as any late model cars are concerned.

Is this really still the case? I don't remember when I last saw a rusted late model car of any brand.
 
I rarely see a late model (built in last 7-8 years) rusted car except Mazda. I am not saying all Mzdas rust but I am saying whenever I see a rusted late model car, which is rare but it will invariably a Mazda 3-series.
 
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Yeah, it seems the Japanese built Mazdas are most vulnerable. If the car gets salted and is never washed or was never oiled, then there is no additional protection on the rear wheel well seams from corrosion, which have been rolled the same way which leaves a nice ledge with double seams (a clusterf#$k if you will). They seem really late on figuring out that N.A. vehicles need extra protection around the rear wheel wells. I think the issue has recently gotten a lot of attn though, which should prompt a change, if it hasn't happened on the Skyactiv models. I'd oil and seal problem areas myself, personally just because I hate rust so much.
 
Originally Posted By: jrustles
I'd oil and seal problem areas myself, personally just because I hate rust so much.


Who doesn't?
It devalues your car.
It can make your car unsafe.
It looks like [censored].
And it can make your car a royal PITA to work on.

There is nothing good about rust, and that is why there is no brand lower on my list to own.

If I lived in a southern US state, I probably would have bought a first generation Speed3, because I think the car is awesome. My experience living here with friends cars (Mazda) has been nothing but negative.
 
Originally Posted By: SLCraig
Originally Posted By: jrustles
I'd oil and seal problem areas myself, personally just because I hate rust so much.


Who doesn't?
It devalues your car.
It can make your car unsafe.
It looks like [censored].
And it can make your car a royal PITA to work on.

There is nothing good about rust, and that is why there is no brand lower on my list to own.

If I lived in a southern US state, I probably would have bought a first generation Speed3, because I think the car is awesome. My experience living here with friends cars (Mazda) has been nothing but negative.



Well as a mechanic, I agree with your sentiments on rust, but I think your solution is too extreme. You really have to do nothing for years to get any car to rust out (no washes, no rust prevention, sprayed regularly with salt) I've seen later model (2000+) BMWs, Benzs, Lexus' etc with big unsightly rust spots and rust stains running down from the side moulding and around the wheel wells and window treatments, and you know what? They look like sh*t; like they've never seen a wash before. And those are high end models, not run of the mill rusted out EF/EG/EK Civics, the latter actually being built in a salted market.
 
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