DualSoul
11-04-2009, 03:16 PM
Been driving my new 2010 Mazda 3 GT sedan for over 2 weeks now (~800km), and figured it's about time to ring in regarding my impressions of the vehicle. Gotta say, it's a definite blast to drive, and I can understand why it's one of the top sellers in its class. I find myself looking forward to the next opportunity to sit behind the wheel, regardless of whether it's just to get myself to work or to cruise around the streets.
Before purchasing the M3, I had test driven 2 other cars. The first car I tested, which was initially my first choice was the Volkswagen Rabbit. The Rabbit ride was very refined, but for some reason, looking back, it didn't seem as peppy as the M3. I guess the throttle wasn't as touchy as the M3, but that made it feel like it lacked power (didn't have a chance to push it though). The hatch looks better than the M3 Sport however IMO. I wouldn't have minded getting a Rabbit, but inventory levels were low (they didn't have the trim I was looking for), and I figured that that would probably mean less room to bargain. On top of that, for a similar price, the M3 had more options which came standard.
Second car I tested was the Hyundai Elantra, as Hyundais had been gaining a good reputation in the past couple of years and seemed a good bang for the buck. I chose the Elantra because I figured it was the most similar to the Rabbit and M3 in terms of class. The ride was quiet, but very plain. It's a great car to get from point A to point B, but it just seemed soulless, and I wasn't just in the market for a box with wheels. Also, the switch for the turn signals seemed to be placed in a way where I couldn't flick it with my fingers while keeping my hand on the wheel. A minor nitpick, but it was something that bothered me. Out of the 3 vehicles though, it was the cheapest by a fair margin, and had one of the better (read longer) warranties.
That's enough of the non-Mazda vehicles, on to the focus of this thread.
EXTERIOR
To be honest, when I first saw the 2010 redesign of the M3, I hated it. I thought the 'smile' was goofy, the car seemed fatter, and in general, it just seemed like 2-steps backwards from the previous generation. It wasn't until I went into the dealership for the test drive that I came around. I was initially hoping to pick up a 2009 model, but getting a closer look at the 2010, the new look grew on me. The head and taillights make the car seem a lot more aggressive up close, along with the car's stance. Body styling sort of reminds me of the RX8's body styling. Though I'm not really into rims, I must say that the 17" ones included in the GT trim are quite nice. Anyone unsure about the new look should take a closer look before ruling out the new model (which I almost did).
INTERIOR
Very modern looking interior. Manages to place console buttons without looking overly cluttered, which is nice. Plastics are obvious, but the fit is done in such a way that they don't look overly cheap (I understand I'm not purchasing a luxury vehicle). Car really comes alive at night, with the dash's illuminated blues and oranges. Would've liked more blues utilized, and the power window buttons are poorly lit (generally find myself fumbling with them). Parking brake is in an awkward position, and I've inadvertently brushed the leg of the male shotgun passenger from time to time. Thought I had some rattles about a week into picking up the car, but it was just my keys rattling in the cup holder. The sport seats are probably one of the most comfortable seats I've sat in.
ELECTRONICS
Things to note in the GT trim are the built-in 6 CD changer (which I haven't used) and the BT phone and audio capabilities (which I have). Sound system seems better than your typical entry-level sound system (the GT does not have the BOSE unit though), but this is coming from someone used to a Dodge SX2.0's (essentially a Neon) audio capabilities, so that may not be saying much. I'm not one to pump bass when cruising, but at least the bass doesn't come out sounding distorted, so I don't mind turning it up in this car.
BT is a treat to use. Didn't take more than 5 minutes to set up. Dialing via voice is pretty straightforward, just don't pause while saying the number, and remember to only voice the commands after the beep. Audio system automatically turns off when dialing. Phone calls are clear and concise, though I've never been on the receiving end of a call made from the car, so I don't know what it sounds like to the other person.
PERFORMANCE
First thing I should point out is that this is my first manual car, and as such, I don't have any previous manual transmission experiences to compare it to. Car definitely seems to have enough pep to it, even loaded with 4 average sized adults. I was expecting a rougher ride, but surprisingly the suspension is fairly refined, while retaining quite a bit of road feel. I have felt the DSC kick in from time to time to straighten out steering, which was an awkward feeling. I would say it's intrusive, except that it only seems to affect steering for a split second. As I'm still getting used to manual, I haven't really thrown it around a corner, but the ride up until now has been fairly stable, so I suspect it should be able to handle more aggressive moves with relative ease.
These are my early impressions of the vehicle so far. Overall, I have to say that I love the 3, and the zoom zoom slogan doesn't seem as much of a gimmick as I had first thought it out to be. I admit to borrowing the section formatting and style of the thread from slam525i's first impression thread (http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=32034). Hopefully he doesn't mind. :P
Before purchasing the M3, I had test driven 2 other cars. The first car I tested, which was initially my first choice was the Volkswagen Rabbit. The Rabbit ride was very refined, but for some reason, looking back, it didn't seem as peppy as the M3. I guess the throttle wasn't as touchy as the M3, but that made it feel like it lacked power (didn't have a chance to push it though). The hatch looks better than the M3 Sport however IMO. I wouldn't have minded getting a Rabbit, but inventory levels were low (they didn't have the trim I was looking for), and I figured that that would probably mean less room to bargain. On top of that, for a similar price, the M3 had more options which came standard.
Second car I tested was the Hyundai Elantra, as Hyundais had been gaining a good reputation in the past couple of years and seemed a good bang for the buck. I chose the Elantra because I figured it was the most similar to the Rabbit and M3 in terms of class. The ride was quiet, but very plain. It's a great car to get from point A to point B, but it just seemed soulless, and I wasn't just in the market for a box with wheels. Also, the switch for the turn signals seemed to be placed in a way where I couldn't flick it with my fingers while keeping my hand on the wheel. A minor nitpick, but it was something that bothered me. Out of the 3 vehicles though, it was the cheapest by a fair margin, and had one of the better (read longer) warranties.
That's enough of the non-Mazda vehicles, on to the focus of this thread.
EXTERIOR
To be honest, when I first saw the 2010 redesign of the M3, I hated it. I thought the 'smile' was goofy, the car seemed fatter, and in general, it just seemed like 2-steps backwards from the previous generation. It wasn't until I went into the dealership for the test drive that I came around. I was initially hoping to pick up a 2009 model, but getting a closer look at the 2010, the new look grew on me. The head and taillights make the car seem a lot more aggressive up close, along with the car's stance. Body styling sort of reminds me of the RX8's body styling. Though I'm not really into rims, I must say that the 17" ones included in the GT trim are quite nice. Anyone unsure about the new look should take a closer look before ruling out the new model (which I almost did).
INTERIOR
Very modern looking interior. Manages to place console buttons without looking overly cluttered, which is nice. Plastics are obvious, but the fit is done in such a way that they don't look overly cheap (I understand I'm not purchasing a luxury vehicle). Car really comes alive at night, with the dash's illuminated blues and oranges. Would've liked more blues utilized, and the power window buttons are poorly lit (generally find myself fumbling with them). Parking brake is in an awkward position, and I've inadvertently brushed the leg of the male shotgun passenger from time to time. Thought I had some rattles about a week into picking up the car, but it was just my keys rattling in the cup holder. The sport seats are probably one of the most comfortable seats I've sat in.
ELECTRONICS
Things to note in the GT trim are the built-in 6 CD changer (which I haven't used) and the BT phone and audio capabilities (which I have). Sound system seems better than your typical entry-level sound system (the GT does not have the BOSE unit though), but this is coming from someone used to a Dodge SX2.0's (essentially a Neon) audio capabilities, so that may not be saying much. I'm not one to pump bass when cruising, but at least the bass doesn't come out sounding distorted, so I don't mind turning it up in this car.
BT is a treat to use. Didn't take more than 5 minutes to set up. Dialing via voice is pretty straightforward, just don't pause while saying the number, and remember to only voice the commands after the beep. Audio system automatically turns off when dialing. Phone calls are clear and concise, though I've never been on the receiving end of a call made from the car, so I don't know what it sounds like to the other person.
PERFORMANCE
First thing I should point out is that this is my first manual car, and as such, I don't have any previous manual transmission experiences to compare it to. Car definitely seems to have enough pep to it, even loaded with 4 average sized adults. I was expecting a rougher ride, but surprisingly the suspension is fairly refined, while retaining quite a bit of road feel. I have felt the DSC kick in from time to time to straighten out steering, which was an awkward feeling. I would say it's intrusive, except that it only seems to affect steering for a split second. As I'm still getting used to manual, I haven't really thrown it around a corner, but the ride up until now has been fairly stable, so I suspect it should be able to handle more aggressive moves with relative ease.
These are my early impressions of the vehicle so far. Overall, I have to say that I love the 3, and the zoom zoom slogan doesn't seem as much of a gimmick as I had first thought it out to be. I admit to borrowing the section formatting and style of the thread from slam525i's first impression thread (http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=32034). Hopefully he doesn't mind. :P