The New Car

[DBMaster]

It's not even a Honda. 2012 Mazda 3 w/Skyactiv drivetrain (automatic).

http://mysite.verizon.net/res1ul76/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/p1010001.jpg

[89HatchbackLxi]

I work at a web company where one of the things I do is update the website for one of the local mazda dealers (in addition to honda, ford, and lincoln dealerships). That being said, I know that car inside and out, pricing, trim levels, options, features, etc, etc.

Considering the cars that are currently available, I'd say you picked a good car to go with. It's not a honda, but it appears it'll hold up well. Besides, all the current Hondas look pretty ugly, although the 2013 concept accord looks like it could be a step in the right direction.

Anyways, nice new car man. :)

[DBMaster]

Interesting you should say that. I didn't want to offend anyone by stating that none of the current Hondas really did much for me. This car is OK, other than the "maniacal grin." It sure moves and handles a bit above the other cars I drove. Overall, I like it. I hopefully will not be having another 23 year relationship with a car. I think I will be too old and impatient by then to want to do all the things I did to the LXi.

[Dr_Snooz]

This car is OK, other than the "maniacal grin."

Looks great. I think I prefer the maniacal grin to the angry scowl of all the new Mitsu's. Have you joined any Mazda discussion boards yet?

[89HatchbackLxi]

You could always just put a nosemask on it. ;)

[stat1K]

looks good. i will agree that the recent entries from honda do absolutely nothing for me either.

[Vanilla Sky]

You're right in that all of the current Honda offerings suck. There isn't a single new Honda that I would even put on a list to shop for, much less test drive or purchase. Right now, Mazda, Kia, Ford, and Hyundai are the companies that are killing it, IMO. Those 4 companies have come a long way in the past couple of years.

[2oodoor]

It looks good , i kind of like the color too it matures the design a little.

And somebody needs to go with a larger frame bike next time:wave:

To say Ford and Mazda have come a long way in a few years is a sustaining rhetorical statement! Just pick a decade.
Now Kia and Hyundai absolutley have, and in such a way they don't belong in the same statement.

Mike, if I wind up owning one of these don't say Im a copycat, just take it as a complement to your good taste in cars.:cheers:

[DBMaster]

Thank you, guys. I have scoped out a few Mazda forums. I am not quite willing, yet, to do enough legwork to find one I like. With this forum it was easier. I think in 2000 it was the only one out there for the 3G Accord.

As for the bike, I rarely ride the thing. It was a $170 special from Costco. Not bad for the money. Decent components and an aluminum frame. I would normally need a 25" frame bike and you just don't get that unless you go to a bike shop. Yes, I was into cycling at some point in the past.

The "grin" really isn't that big of a deal. It completes the package and makes the car look very Japanese, which it is. It has almost 100% Japanese content. The color is "Mica White Pearl." You can't see the little "sparklies" in the paint without actually being here. It just got its first coat of wax yesterday. With a garage at home and a parking garage at work I wax less than half as often as I used to.

I didn't drive a Civic so I can't say how the new ones are. There is currently no Civic hatchback. The Fit seemed a bit underpowered, though handling felt somehow familiar, and not bad. The Accent/Rio were my second choices. They were really nice for the money. The 3 just seemed quicker and handled slightly better. Not that this was a deal breaker, but the two Korean entries do not have spare tires. I guess I would have bought one, but I have had several damaged tires on the Accord over the years that I don't think could have been made driveable using Hyundai's "advanced polymer sealant." The 3's transmission was also a bit more novel, though, the hyundai's dual clutch setup was pretty cool. The Ford Fiesta and Focus were both good drives. The engines sounded a tad harsh. The Focus is supposed to share some parts with the 3, but it costs a couple thousand dollars more. I still have bad memories of the lousy service department at my local Ford dealer from when I was married and had that 93 Escort. They consistently failed to put parts back in when they worked on it. There were always bolts or screws that, I guess, they decided were not needed. Sloppy!

[stat1K]

the ge fits are hideous, i enjoy my gd to an extent but it's lacking in the handling department for me. the only car i'd consider from honda would be the crz but it's price tag just kills me. in arizona i can get a used porsche carrera that's about 8-10 years old for less than the price of the crz and lets face it, i'd have way more fun (/die) in that car and be just as impractical.

[DBMaster]

I read in Consumer Reports that to A/C on the CRZ cuts off when stopped due to the gas engine turning off. I don't know if that is true, but it would make the car a total deal breaker for me. Thanks to an out of control increasing population in Tex-ass I spend an awful lot of time sitting at lights in 100 degree heat. This Mazda is already enough faster than my Accord that I'm worried about getting into trouble. It just makes these MORON DRIVERS around here seem that much slower. And, I'm the one driving a low end car. The more I think about it the madder I get. They complain about traffic and delays and yet THEIR behaviors guarantee traffic and delays.

I swear to God, people are getting dumber all the time.

[Vanilla Sky]

Comparing a CRZ to a Porsche is like comparing water to a table. Just no comparison. I do follow the same line of thought, though. I would normally like someone else to deal with the depreciation. However, you're not going to get into a 911 for that.

The CRZ is the one car that I keep forgetting that Honda makes. It's also the only thing I'd buy from them. There are several other cars out there that I'd put ahead of it in line, though, such as the FRS, MS3, Miata, and the Cooper. I feel there are better values out there. It's a cool car, but it's cool for different reasons.

[stat1K]

oh i know the comparison is non existent, that was kinda my point lol. i'd much rather have a porsche than a crz.

it is in fact the only car i'd purchase from honda, i'd buy an acura tsx if the new front end wasn't hideous,.

[89HatchbackLxi]

oh i know the comparison is non existent, that was kinda my point lol. i'd much rather have a porsche than a crz.

it is in fact the only car i'd purchase from honda, i'd buy an acura tsx if the new front end wasn't hideous,.

The entire line of acuras all have that same stupid looking style front end too. All their good car designers must have been only working on the NSX since 2009, which would explain the ugly design found in all of their other cars since then.

[ecogabriel]

I do like your car. Congrats! The color fits the car pretty well I think. I have always liked the 3 since it first showed up, and especially the hatch.

As for Honda/Acura lineup, it seems boring nowadays. Looking at Acura's front end makes me wanting to puke. Every time I see a 2gen Legend I wonder wtf are the designers that could come up with a car that looked classic and aggressive???? I do like the TSX though.

As for inexpensive cars, the Fit looks fine; if I have to go with A to B transportation, I might pick one up - with a stick trans of course. Anyway, Honda should really do some soul searching.

[DBMaster]

Based upon the test drives I did I would go with a Hyundai Accent/Kia Rio before the Fit. The Korean twins have more novel engine and transmission design (their direct injection 1.6L made Ward's Ten Best Engines list this year and the tranny is a dual dry clutch, no maintenance design). They are both more fun to drive, though, the Fit has the very Japanese utilitarian look to it that does have some appeal. And, it IS a Honda, after all.

[2oodoor]

I'd never even considered the sub compact category and was exploring the mid size Fusion, Sonata, Chy 200 type lines. After looking at the Focus and Mazda3 I am pretty impressed by the interior room compared to the mids.

The new car market is missing something in the family multi purpose vehicle category. There needs to be a wagon or something that will ride 6 comfortable and still get 35 combined MPG, and msrp under 18k...aa a a and look classic and aggressive at the same time:D

[DBMaster]

Well, I can tell you, if you want rear seat leg room the car I bought is not for you. It has only an inch or two more than my Accord coupe. Some of the subs were better, but none will be like a mid, though cars shaped like the Fit may be better. I recall that the original Scion xB has as much rear seat room as many full-size cars. I rarely carry back seat passengers so it wasn't that relevant for me and even with scant leg room the four doors makes things a lot easier.