A Nice Ride Today...

[RayCJ]

My youngest son (just turned 30) and I traveled 70 miles originating in the Annapolis area to southern PA then back home. Despite starting at 11:30 AM, it was a great ride. Traffic was free and clear most of the way and only slowed to the 55mph range in one area of the Baltimore beltway. I figured we'd get stuck in traffic for sure. I took the 2018 Mazda3, 2.5L which had a fresh oil change as of a few weeks ago.

On the way there, we had 4 windows cracked 1/2 inch, just enough for circulation. He's not crazy about A/C and neither am I. With the air moving it was comfortable. The car's computer showed 44.1 MPG on the way there with about half the distance doing 65 MPH. On the way back, outside temps were showing 100 so we decided it was time for A/C. Again, good traffic and the computer showed 41.2 on the way back.

It was nice catching-up with #3 son. He works 2 jobs, saving money to buy a house. Don't get to talk to him all that much. He really liked the Mazda... First time he was in it.

No real point to this post... I hope you folks get to spend some time with your kids. I hope you get a chance once in a while to get in the vehicle and take a nice drive.

Later

Ray

 

[sloinker]

It's strange how computers that do calculations vary from brand to brand and model to model. My VW's always exaggerate the MPG by about 5-8% but the speedo's/odometer are correct using gps. My FCA minivan MPG is exact but the spedometer reads a couple % high and is reflected in the odometer. My old Ford exaggerated the MPG by about 15% and the speed/odo about 7%. How's the Mazda shake out?

 

[carviewsonic]

Sounds like a great little road trip, time well spent with your son.

 

[RayCJ]

Originally Posted by sloinker
It's strange how computers that do calculations vary from brand to brand and model to model. My VW's always exaggerate the MPG by about 5-8% but the speedo's/odometer are correct using gps. My FCA minivan MPG is exact but the spedometer reads a couple % high and is reflected in the odometer. My old Ford exaggerated the MPG by about 15% and the speed/odo about 7%. How's the Mazda shake out?

I think, this Mazda says I'm going faster than true road speed. Using my old GPS, when the speedo says 55, the GPS says 53. I'm not really sure which one is right -but I sure wish I knew!

Every fill-up in this car except the first tank from the showroom lot, has been manually checked. The computer's readings are pretty darn good. It's usually within plus/minus 0.5 to 1.25 MPG of my manual calculations. It's possible the computer might have a more accurate reading because, it's really hard to know if the tank is topped-off the same each time.

Originally Posted by carviewsonic
Sounds like a great little road trip, time well spent with your son.

Yes, yes indeed. We've done this trip many times over the years since we moved to this area 21 years ago. Time flies -and yes, it was time well spent.


Ray

 

[PimTac]

I have the same engine in the CX5 and I've found the computer trip reading is very close to my manual computations.

I had to do a double take on your original post. That 44mpg sounds like the 2.0 but you said it's the 2.5. That engine has cylinder deactivation if I'm guessing correctly which could make some difference.

On a few occasions after a fill up my mpg reading goes very high but it will settle back down along the way. I've seen 40mpg but I knew that wasn't correct.

Right now I get 31.5 in mixed city and highway. On straight highway I see close to 34mpg.

 

[oldhp]

Originally Posted by carviewsonic
Sounds like a great little road trip, time well spent with your son.

This is the most important thing here!!! How many of us get to spend quality time with our family???

 

[RayCJ]

Originally Posted by PimTac
I have the same engine in the CX5 and I've found the computer trip reading is very close to my manual computations.

I had to do a double take on your original post. That 44mpg sounds like the 2.0 but you said it's the 2.5. That engine has cylinder deactivation if I'm guessing correctly which could make some difference.

On a few occasions after a fill up my mpg reading goes very high but it will settle back down along the way. I've seen 40mpg but I knew that wasn't correct.

Right now I get 31.5 in mixed city and highway. On straight highway I see close to 34mpg.


Nope... you didn't mis-read nor did I make a mistake... And yes, it's the 2.5L. The cumulative economy for any given stop/start cycle often hits 39 and 40 MPG on my way home from work. This only happens in warm summer temperatures. My all-time high in this car was 45.5 (check out my icon on Fuelly.com: http://www.fuelly.com/car/mazda/3/2018/redjellybean/836090). The tank average is lower because my normal 15 mile commute involves a few miles of snail-paced stop&go traffic. Also, there's been road construction at the entrance to my facility and I often have to sit thru 4-5 cycles of a light to make a left turn. That just kills the average. I take road trips to the ocean; 120 miles one-way. On the open road, the trip computer show 43 to 44 for most of the way. As soon as I hit Ocean City where traffic is abysmal, the average drops considerably.

Overall, this vehicle seems to have top fuel economy between 55 and 65 MPH. Between 55 and 60, it's rock solid. Right when it hits 62 MPH wind direction could become a factor.

I think you were the fellow that mentioned this vehicle had cylinder deactivation. That came as a great surprise to me because, there is absolutely no hint of power loss or vibration -or anything unusual at all.

 

[RayCJ]

Originally Posted by oldhp
Originally Posted by carviewsonic
Sounds like a great little road trip, time well spent with your son.

This is the most important thing here!!! How many of us get to spend quality time with our family???


Now I need to track down Sons #1 and #2 and go for a ride. The promise of lunch at a local rib-shack might enough to lure them in.


Ray

 

[LoneRanger]

My son has a 2017 Dodge Challenger with the 6.4. Rides with him are typically much less serene.

 

[Dave Hess]

Nice ride with son. Catching up is always better in person than over the phone.

For the money your Mazda3 hatchback is a great car.

The 2019 Mazda3 has the same 2.5L engine but now has cylinder deactivation for slightly better gas mileage.

 

[RayCJ]

Originally Posted by LoneRanger
My son has a 2017 Dodge Challenger with the 6.4. Rides with him are typically much less serene.

Oh yeah, I bet. Surprised you can hear each-other in there! Helmets with two-way audio would do the trick. LOL.

Originally Posted by Mr Nice
Nice ride with son. Catching up is always better in person than over the phone.

For the money your Mazda3 hatchback is a great car.

The 2019 Mazda3 has the same 2.5L engine but now has cylinder deactivation for slightly better gas mileage.

I just called the service mgr at Mazda who looked up the VIN and confirmed my vehicle does not have cylinder deactivation. I've been wondering about his for a while now.

Yes, I've mentioned here before that I'm really pleased with this vehicle. My only nits are the GPS user interface is outdated and hard to use, the headrests are too far forward (turning them around fixes the problem) and the Bose audio is the typical muddy sound produced by Bose speakers. By turning-off the Bose center-point audio correction, it improved somewhat.

In all other aspects, for what it cost, I feel like I got my money's worth. I have the hatchback touring model. I considered the Grand Touring model to get the paddle shifters but, I really didn't want the lane guidance, braking assist, adaptive cruise and heads-up display.


Ray

 

[Ws6]

Originally Posted by RayCJ
Originally Posted by sloinker
It's strange how computers that do calculations vary from brand to brand and model to model. My VW's always exaggerate the MPG by about 5-8% but the speedo's/odometer are correct using gps. My FCA minivan MPG is exact but the spedometer reads a couple % high and is reflected in the odometer. My old Ford exaggerated the MPG by about 15% and the speed/odo about 7%. How's the Mazda shake out?

I think, this Mazda says I'm going faster than true road speed. Using my old GPS, when the speedo says 55, the GPS says 53. I'm not really sure which one is right -but I sure wish I knew!

Every fill-up in this car except the first tank from the showroom lot, has been manually checked. The computer's readings are pretty darn good. It's usually within plus/minus 0.5 to 1.25 MPG of my manual calculations. It's possible the computer might have a more accurate reading because, it's really hard to know if the tank is topped-off the same each time.

Originally Posted by carviewsonic
Sounds like a great little road trip, time well spent with your son.

Yes, yes indeed. We've done this trip many times over the years since we moved to this area 21 years ago. Time flies -and yes, it was time well spent.


Ray


Both of my CX5's accurately calculate about like yours.

 

[Ws6]

Originally Posted by RayCJ
Originally Posted by LoneRanger
My son has a 2017 Dodge Challenger with the 6.4. Rides with him are typically much less serene.

Oh yeah, I bet. Surprised you can hear each-other in there! Helmets with two-way audio would do the trick. LOL.

Originally Posted by Mr Nice
Nice ride with son. Catching up is always better in person than over the phone.

For the money your Mazda3 hatchback is a great car.

The 2019 Mazda3 has the same 2.5L engine but now has cylinder deactivation for slightly better gas mileage.

I just called the service mgr at Mazda who looked up the VIN and confirmed my vehicle does not have cylinder deactivation. I've been wondering about his for a while now.

Yes, I've mentioned here before that I'm really pleased with this vehicle. My only nits are the GPS user interface is outdated and hard to use, the headrests are too far forward (turning them around fixes the problem) and the Bose audio is the typical muddy sound produced by Bose speakers. By turning-off the Bose center-point audio correction, it improved somewhat.

In all other aspects, for what it cost, I feel like I got my money's worth. I have the hatchback touring model. I considered the Grand Touring model to get the paddle shifters but, I really didn't want the lane guidance, braking assist, adaptive cruise and heads-up display.


Ray



HUD is worth it. I had HUD in my Z06 and was "meh" about it, but in the Mazda, it slaps your NAV instructions/street names into it, and really helps out in unfamiliar cities, etc. when you're trying to stay safe and ALSO need to reference where your next turn is.
Adaptive cruise is amazing in heavy traffic, as well. Or just on the interstate.
Land guidance and braking assist are pretty uninspiring to me, but they function alright.
Yeah, BOSE sucks. I've never heard a Bose sound system that inspired me to buy a vehicle for the sake of it.

 

[RayCJ]

Originally Posted by Ws6
Originally Posted by RayCJ

I just called the service mgr at Mazda who looked up the VIN and confirmed my vehicle does not have cylinder deactivation. I've been wondering about his for a while now.

Yes, I've mentioned here before that I'm really pleased with this vehicle. My only nits are the GPS user interface is outdated and hard to use, the headrests are too far forward (turning them around fixes the problem) and the Bose audio is the typical muddy sound produced by Bose speakers. By turning-off the Bose center-point audio correction, it improved somewhat.

In all other aspects, for what it cost, I feel like I got my money's worth. I have the hatchback touring model. I considered the Grand Touring model to get the paddle shifters but, I really didn't want the lane guidance, braking assist, adaptive cruise and heads-up display.


Ray



HUD is worth it. I had HUD in my Z06 and was "meh" about it, but in the Mazda, it slaps your NAV instructions/street names into it, and really helps out in unfamiliar cities, etc. when you're trying to stay safe and ALSO need to reference where your next turn is.
Adaptive cruise is amazing in heavy traffic, as well. Or just on the interstate.
Land guidance and braking assist are pretty uninspiring to me, but they function alright.
Yeah, BOSE sucks. I've never heard a Bose sound system that inspired me to buy a vehicle for the sake of it.


In my case, two other cars on the lot were being considered. The color I liked was the soul red and it was the Touring model. The other one was a dark blue and it just didn't appeal to me so, there you have it! If the Grand Touring model was soul red, I probably would have bought it.

BOSE... I don't get it. I just don't get it. Let's not go there.


Ray

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Ws6
What vehicle sound system is worth the purchase of the vehicle?
I'm guessing your answer would also include the same speakers name as the sound system.
Or would you choose separately?

I still have a few of those gun oil samples you sent me. I don't shoot much these days.