Saying hello

[johnpapa]

Hi everyone.

I've been car shopping for a few months now and am getting ready to pull the trigger on a Mazda 3 Sport.
I appreciate the vast information i've found here, but it has made my decision a lot harder.

Still torn between the GS 2.5 or GT model.

Price-wise, the GS is more up my alley, but I prefer the alloys, headlamps and stereo on the GT. It'll come down to how much I think those impractical (but wanted) options are worth to me.

One question. I was hoping to add a Thule roof rack for bikes (know a guy who owns a bike shop, so he's going to hook me up) - I know that the rack will attach into the roof channel mounts, but are those mounts an option, or are they included in either GS or GT trim?

Cheers,

~john
www.johnpapa.ca

(P.S. - Any good GTA dealer referrals would be appreciated.)

[The Wolf]

Welcome! John Papa is my chiropractors name

Do you book for Kool haus?

Edit: every 3 comes standard with the channels for mounting a roof rack. Most people here will recommend MOT for a dealership

Edit 2: just saw that you're a photographer, lol. Don't mind me

[peterm15]

Just upgrade everything you don't like. Cheaper most likely, defiantly better.
As for the rack. I've never seen a 3 without stock mounting points.

[johnpapa]

Thanks guys, and yeah, looks like I can mod the GS much cheaper than going up to the GT.

[Ozil]

Thanks guys, and yeah, looks like I can mod the GS much cheaper than going up to the GT.

what year are you looking for?

and you'll save gas too if you buy a GS

[peterm15]

Out of curiosity how.
He/she plans on 2.5 gs.

Just wondering if there is many other differences that would affect gas consumption.

[Ozil]

Out of curiosity how.
He/she plans on 2.5 gs.

Just wondering if there is many other differences that would affect gas consumption.

I thought GS was 2.0L? and GT 2.5L? for 2012...?

[schmat66]

Welcome!

[boyracer]

Welcome

[Mazdy]

[FD22]

Welcome!

[greaves82]

Welcome.

I belive the GS comes with a 2.0 and the GT comes with a 2.5, the gs will be cheaper on gas

[Turok]

Welcome!

[DualSoul]

[krimsalt]

Welcome.

I belive the GS comes with a 2.0 and the GT comes with a 2.5, the gs will be cheaper on gas

Get stick - that will also be cheaper on gas !

[The Wolf]

Since when does a GS have a 2.0? Mine doesn't.

[loosecannon]

Since when does a GS have a 2.0? Mine doesn't.

2010+ GS sedans come in 2.0L.

[Ozil]

maybe you have a GT?

http://www.auto123.com/en/mazda/3/20...&tab=equipment - 1st Gen GS

http://www.auto123.com/en/mazda/3/20...&tab=equipment - 2nd Gen GS

1st and 2nd Gen GS are 2.0L

[Wes08M3]

GS hatch's come with the 2.5 IIRC. I think the only way to get a hatch with the 2.0 is to buy a GX model.

For sedans, only the GT has the 2.5. Otherwise sedans get the 2.0 MZR or SkyActiv.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[Ozil]

GS hatch's come with the 2.5 IIRC. I think the only way to get a hatch with the 2.0 is to buy a GX model.

For sedans, only the GT has the 2.5. Otherwise sedans get the 2.0 MZR or SkyActiv.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

http://www.auto123.com/en/news/2012-...e?artid=136182

Mazda3 Sport (hatchback)
2012 Mazda3 GX, 2.0-litre engine:
2012 Mazda3 GS, 2.0-litre SKYACTIV-G engine
2012 Mazda3 GT, 2.5-litre engine

[Wes08M3]

http://www.auto123.com/en/news/2012-...e?artid=136182

Your source is seriously lacking information...

Look here, this is the actual Mazda Canada mobile website (might not work on a computer):

Mazda 3 Sedan: http://www.mazda.ca/MciWeb/displayPa...ehicleCode=M3S

Mazda 3 Sport: http://www.mazda.ca/MciWeb/displayPa...ehicleCode=M3H

The engine choices for the models are exactly as I said they were...

[Ozil]

Your source is seriously lacking information...

Look here, this is the actual Mazda Canada mobile website (might not work on a computer):

Mazda 3 Sedan: http://www.mazda.ca/MciWeb/displayPa...ehicleCode=M3S

Mazda 3 Sport: http://www.mazda.ca/MciWeb/displayPa...ehicleCode=M3H

The engine choices for the models are exactly as I said they were...

ok ok... my bad....

it said "north american models," so I thought it would be the same for Canada also...

its stupid how they make different ****ing models for every country.... US & Canadian should be the same.....

[Wes08M3]

ok ok... my bad....

it said "north american models," so I thought it would be the same for Canada also...

its stupid how they make different ****ing models for every country.... US & Canadian should be the same.....

I completely agree. I hate how the US has like Mazda 3 "i" and "touring" instead of GS and GT. They should just keep them the same. And it's stupid how the US gets different trim packages as well.

[Wes08M3]

Anyways back on topic.

johnpapa: you could upgrade the GS with all the things you like about the GT with aftermarket parts for a lower cost. And in some cases get some even nicer stuff, like wheels or a speaker system.

But other things won't be quite as nice, like you can upgrade to HID's in the GS but you won't get as good quality of light from those projectors and you won't get the self leveling and/or AFS capabilities of the GT. Also, push button start and the proximity key would be a challenge to upgrade to with aftermarket parts.

Just depends how much you care about the smaller details I guess.

[johnpapa]

Thanks, i'm probably only going to do rims (I can't stand the look of the 16s on the GS) stereo and badging.

No interest in the push button start, I like the idea of putting my keys in an ignition and leaving them there. Don't like them in my pockets, and don't want to waste a cupholder.

Of course, I won't know until I live with it for a while.

Anyways back on topic.

johnpapa: you could upgrade the GS with all the things you like about the GT with aftermarket parts for a lower cost. And in some cases get some even nicer stuff, like wheels or a speaker system.

But other things won't be quite as nice, like you can upgrade to HID's in the GS but you won't get as good quality of light from those projectors and you won't get the self leveling and/or AFS capabilities of the GT. Also, push button start and the proximity key would be a challenge to upgrade to with aftermarket parts.

Just depends how much you care about the smaller details I guess.