I admit that I love the new Mazda 3, particularly the 5-door. Great style, amazing content and value -- best small car ever in my mind.

However, to me it seems like too much of what I paid more $$$ for in my RX-8 has found its way into the new 3 for a lot less $$$ -- steering wheel, gauge cluster, center console, sports seats, overall interior design. I don't mind a rough familial look, but this goes just a touch too far in my book.

That said, I wish I had a reason to add a new 3 to my fleet!

 

I looked at the 3 as a possible cheaper alternative when I looked at my 8...for about 10 seconds. However, the 3 doesn't have what the 8 has...the Renesis!

Zoom-zoom!

 

Mazda 3 V6 is on it's way with ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE... MAZDASPEED EDITION... oh yEAH...

3 and RX-8 interior are different... cheap materials that look eligent have been used... in the rx-8 there truly eligent... not cheap ...

 

You need to look more closely - aside from perhaps the steering wheel being shared, it is only a familial look - the gauge cluster, console, seats, doors, etc. are quite different between the two cars - NONE of those parts are common to the two!

Regards,
Gordon

 

I would only be annoyed if it had RWD and a rotary under the hood. Though, the steering wheel is nicer (perforated) and I believe it telescopes as well..

 

When will they make a rotary powered AWD car so I can ditch the Subaru WRX once and for all..

Mazda needs to just take the gamble and put the rotary in everything they make.

 

it also has HID's just like the 8

 

This will be quite impossible until Mazda can make a rotary that doesn't require you to drive for longer than 5 minutes to avoid flooding the engine.

In the modern car market, an engine that can flood as easily as the renesis apparently is able to is simply unacceptable. The Rx-8 can somewhat get away with it because it's an enthusiast's car. But try explaining that to a soccer-mom in a Tribute.

 

Now if they do this, it's gonna make me regret our decision to buy the Mazda 6S for Mrs. Omi...

Ya know, if they did this, I think they'd wind up with IkeWRX at the dealership. :D

Jusk kiddin, Ike.

 

Mazda 3 V6 ...

 

Agreed.

 

isnt mazda going with the whole universal design concept, similar to BMW Acura etc.

hmm an AWD rotary would be nice.

 

But they all LOOK similar- look at the padding on the seats, for example. Even looking at the car from the front shows the RX-8's heritage- it's even got fender bumps!

I've seen a bunch of 3's on the road over the past few days- what a great looking small car. Maybe we'll get one of those instead of another sports car- would be more practical!

 

Maybe there are rumors of this for the USDM, but not JDM. JDM has seen official test cars running a turbo I-4. I am willing to put money on AWD for the 3 and 6 and them again sharing engines with a turbo I-4 good for 260-300 hp. Essentially WRX, Evo and Legacy competition... I don't see how a heavy a$$ V6 is going to do any good... other than end up with same problems that the 6 and the Lexus I300 have... especially the I300 as it wasn't designed to have such a big heavy engine in it so Toyota ended up FUBAR the handling and performance. The turbo I-4 will be a more sensible solution...

I also disagree to a certain degree on the interior. When I bought my S-wgaon I thought about buying a new Demio instead. Almost the same price as my 2 year old S-wagon (when I bought it). But the interior plastic looked too cheap... I figured it's the bottom model and all... but actually the 3, 6 and yes even your 8, didn't seem to be as high a quality as I expected. To me, at least, the interior of the S-wagon (MP5) is better than the Axcela (M3) and the Demio. As far as the 6 and 8 go... I believe it looked similar in quality to me... I remember being surprised that the 8's interior didn't use better plastic... but I think I'll need to take another look before passing final judgement.

 

Mazda needs to ditch the Tribute and MPV, put a rotary as an option in every car. They also need to figure out how to manufacture 3 and 4 rotor motors without huge costs. The rotory should be Mazda's signature, they need to use it more.

 

Well I don't see them ditching the tribute or the MPV... especially the MPV which sells well in Japan.

Otherwise... I agree completely... the rotary engine needs to not be just the top-end sports car engine, but develop it out to be their signature engine offered in all models. They need to bring back the 3 rotor engine... 1.3, 1.5, and 2.0 Renesis Engines... OH YEAH!

 

I think for them to go all rotary they need to workout 2 major hurdles, the gas mileage and the flooding. I don't think people will buy a 3 or a 6 that gets 16mpg..

 

That is why it would be an option!

 

That would be a lot of engineering to do for an option...

 

um no... the V6 in hte M6 is an option. And it is one that they don't even offer in Japan.

 

I have a 3 and an 8. Both are Velocity Red and no one has ever confused the one for the other. The similarities on the inside are family resemblances more than reused looks. It's noce to see a common look to the cars, but I'm not worried I'll get in the wrong car by mistake.... though I worry that my teen aged son might use that excuse.

 

If they put a turbo in it I'd certainly be there for a testdrive, and I wouldn't forget my title just in case :D I'm so ashamed, I have no loyalty.

I think if anyone should be upset it's the 6 owners, my friend with a 6s is already eyeing up the hatch wondering why he paid more for his car.

 

What I'd really like to see happen is this...

 

When I hit the Mazda dealer I did test drive the 3. It was a lot of fun - sure beat my 2001 Honda Civic EX. The tiptronic auto shifting was cool and the handling was fun as well...

Then I test drove the 8 - guess which one I ended up buying? I hadn't really thought about getting a "sports car". But once I drove it. I was hooked!

Of course this BBS went a long way in my education. I had my eyes open about what I was getting into - but there is nothing like the feeling of that cranked engine whirling and a good turn to throw it into!

 

OH YEAH! Mazda is doing some great stuff with their cars right now...

People who bought a 6, jumped the gun... now there's the 5 door and Wagon models. To make matters worse there's the 3 which offers sharp handling and the same 2.3L engine.