Topic: 2010 Mazda3

[safristi]

..UPS yours...................next day delivery.............................

[quadzilla]

Official hatch pictures.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/03/officially-official-mazda3-five-door-hatchback-gets-real/

I really need to see this in the flesh. Anybody heard the Cdn release date yet?

[tpl]

I am surprised that the radio panel does not have a switch labeled for satellite. The tachometer is the clue tho'   that picture is obviously a euro model with a diesel and they don't have satellite radio as we do.

[quadzilla]

The more I look at it I think its a cross between the Impreza and Matrix.

[wing]

I don't get it... it was announced yesterday that Mazda will unveil the new Mazda3 hatchback in Detroit.

Yet there are pictures all over -- kind makes unveilings pointless...

[quadzilla]

I don't get it... it was announced yesterday that Mazda will unveil the new Mazda3 hatchback in Detroit.

Yet there are pictures all over -- kind makes unveilings pointless...

They were probably talking about the NA release. Our tachs go over 5K. 

[tortoise]

The more I look at it I think its a cross between the Impreza and Matrix.

Completely.  I bet the average person would have a hard time telling the 3 apart.  

I think it looks decent, shame about the face.  I also find the rear bumper to be over-styled.  It's as though they were trying too hard and failed to come up with a cohesive design.

It is me, or the hatch space seem small?  In my P5, the hatch area is cut-out around the wheel wells so there is a spot at the rear of the hatch space where my golf clubs can fit perfectly (I swear they planned it).  It's useful to have as you can put longer items across the back or stuff extra things in the space.  With the hatch space being perfectly square(ish) I bet golf clubs would have to be placed on the diagonal, taking up much more space.



I still think from a styling perspective P5 > 1st Gen 3 > 2nd Gen 3.  

[tpl]

Re size of hatch.   The engineers do have to consider the strength of the car with a huge rear opening.  That might override the preferred opening size. After all they can't just add 100kg of extra steel these days.

Now I'd like to see the  back seat have only two seat belts and fold down in halves not 1/3  & 2/3 in a small car.   OR if that is impossible then have the passenger side be the 2/3 so that Ikea bookshelves will fit

[tortoise]

Fair enough, but I wasn't referring the opening size, more the added interior panelling.  Surely the cubby-hole cover on the left isn't structural.  The impreza is the same way. 

[quadzilla]

The 3-hatch has always been the smallest for trunk space in this segment. One thing even Mazda sales people hated. Here is another picture I found on the USA site.

Hopefully they will release some true measurements and if not, I will once I can see one.

[safristi]

..Man i'm still deciding which of tha wee chickies is cuter........................Oh the Hatchback... yes the Non Diesel will Tach above 6K..fer sure!!!.....and looking MaTRIXIE'ly like from the side IS A GOOD THING...................like tha wheels prolly 18incher show stuff...........but HELL i could always BUY WINTERS

[Ex-airbalancer]

Re size of hatch.   The engineers do have to consider the strength of the car with a huge rear opening.  That might override the preferred opening size. After all they can't just add 100kg of extra steel these days.

Now I'd like to see the  back seat have only two seat belts and fold down in halves not 1/3  & 2/3 in a small car.   OR if that is impossible then have the passenger side be the 2/3 so that Ikea bookshelves will fit

I agree, it  all  comes down to the crash test
If it fault back to computer screen

[ggweci]

I still think from a styling perspective P5 > 1st Gen 3 > 2nd Gen 3.  

Agreed    Although, I think this new 3 will grow on me once you see more around and it probably looks better in person.

One thing is for sure, Mazda sure makes some nice interiors and cars that drive well.  And when you own one of these, that's what'll matter and the inside is what you'll mostly only see 

[2JDM]

I still think from a styling perspective P5 > 1st Gen 3 > 2nd Gen 3.  

Agreed    Although, I think this new 3 will grow on me once you see more around and it probably looks better in person.

One thing is for sure, Mazda sure makes some nice interiors and cars that drive well.  And when you own one of these, that's what'll matter and the inside is what you'll mostly only see 

Also agreed. I didn't like the rear end of the current gen 3 sedan, because it was too high. The hatch looks better.

I am not sure about this one though...

[marineboy]

They make the front end look "happy" and the back end look "angry". Did they have a divorced couple design this car?

Definitely not a fan of the clear taillights but much less obnoxious than those of the Impreza.

Car will probably look better in person.

The satellite radio button issue will probably soon be a moot point as Sirius-XM has now become a penny stock...

[mikeeb777]

in some angles it looks like Peugeot

[tpl]

I have to ask.    Do economy cars ( Yes I KNOW it is a relatively luxurious economy car) really need about 50 buttons  6 rotating dials, 1 4 way joystick and of course the two regular stalks for the driver to use. The two stalks have rotating dials for lights one side and wipers the other as well.

Not as many as in a modern single seat jet fighter I suppose but then there are no weapons fitted to the Mazda.

Note that my GTI is nearly as bad... if it wasn't dark already I'd go and count.

[Ice]

I have to ask.    Do economy cars ( Yes I KNOW it is a relatively luxurious economy car) really need about 50 buttons  6 rotating dials, 1 4 way joystick and of course the two regular stalks for the driver to use. The two stalks have rotating dials for lights one side and wipers the other as well.

Not as many as in a modern single seat jet fighter I suppose but then there are no weapons fitted to the Mazda.

Note that my GTI is nearly as bad... if it wasn't dark already I'd go and count.

So long as they serve a useful function...then yes they do need that many buttons. Lots of people remark about how cars have too many buttons...but nobody has said how they would simplify it in any sort of meaningful way.  I suppose voice activated would be great...but thats still buggy and not reliable enough (in my mind) to replace a button yet.  Actual buttons are also better in my mind than a tactile-less touch screen.

My Corolla has a few fewer buttons but overall its quite similar to the number of buttons in that Mazda3.  I've often looked at the dash trying to figure out if there was a way to produce a design with less...so far I haven't figured it out.

[ovr50]

BMWs iDrive is one solution. Newer renditions of iDrive are much simpler than the first ones back in 2003. My '08 is relatively easy to use, since most of what you need daily is accessible on the dash, not thru iDrive. You use iDrive for things you only change occasionally. With iDrive, there are far fewer knobs and buttons.

[Loudpedal]

The MS3 will be on my list too...

Have any details been given on this front (i.e. specs, release date)?

I wonder if they'll make it AWD (like the MS6 was) this time around to better compete w/ the WRX/Evo/R32?

Please Mazda, equip the MS3 with a DSG style transmission...

Please don't...

Just make it optional to keep everybody

When did you become a politician..?

Adding DSG ups the development costs for both models.

An increase in development costs?   Perhaps, but essentially infinitesimal.   

A VW Rabbit with an optional 6-speed auto is a $1400 option.  A GTI with an optional DSG is also a $1400 option. 

More and more makers are planning 'DSG style' transmissions as they essentially marry the benefits of an automatic and a manual. 

A MS3 with a manual tranny would not make my purchase short list as wifey does not drive manual.  A DSG MS3 would.