Dealer visit #1

[MRIZ]

Stopped at the dealer today ,sat in an atomic blue coup. Very nice car ,good visibility . Comparing to my wife's Mazda 3s I think I liked the civic better but close until we started talking business. He said he will work down from sticker not up from invoice because of it being a hot car but will work with me some.(I told him MSRP is a no go). I did tell him as far as price Mazda kills him and I'm not interested in how hot the current model is. The car is only worth what it's worth to me.I told him Mazda or Honda it dosn't matter. At 46 you can say these things and mean it.No threats no BS and polite to the point. In all it was a good first visit we now know where we stand on some issues. For now the 00 Dakota is for sale and the soon to be for sale 96 300ZX. So for now I told him it might be 2 months before we talk. I may wait to order an 07. Just thought I would share and would be interested in others expieriences. Sorry posted under wrong topic.

[Janizary]

Originally Posted by MRIZ

At 46 you can say these things and mean it.No threats no BS and polite to the point.

Heh, you are quite right in that regard. I think they know, for the most part, that you are not in the 'I MUST HAVE IT NOW' crowd as far as the leverage the saleman may use in his sales tactics.

[ToBeHuman]

Uh... go for the Mazda3. I just traded in my '04 Mazda 3s Sedan for a '06 Civic EX Sedan. I'm beginning to wonder what I was thinking. I just like changing stuff because I get bored all the time and I'm starting to regret my latest decision.

My Honda


My Mazda

[fslaugts]

Tobehuman I plan on making a purchase soon. Please give me your opinion of the two cars. I realize this is a civic board but I would appreaciate it.
thank you
fred

[Cybergypsy]

Don,t get the Mazda it's a ford
My RX8 was nothing but problems, and Lame problems at that....

Mazda turned to crap in the last few years

[ToBeHuman]

1st, about the Mazda being a Ford. The Mazda3 is based off of Ford's global C1 platform. This platform is shared with the 2nd generation European Focus and the new Volvo S40. If so some reason you think this will effect reliability, I'd like to mention the Mazda was assembled in Hiroshima, Japan of 90% Japanese content, 10% other, 0% North American. For comparison, my Civic was assembled in Alliston, Ontario, Canada of 70% US/Canadian content and 15% Japanese. I'm not saying that this is an advantage to either car, either way, but some people think this way.

Mazda Pros
- Drives Better
- Turns Better
- Ride is about the same as the Civic even though handling is a lot better
- Steering feel is ALOT BETTER (on the Civic, when the engine revs are low, steering feel is not linear)
- Interior Fit and Finish
- Bigger engine with more power and was getting better gas mileage than the Civic so far (I realize that I'm only on the 3rd tank of gas with the Civic and it still needs to be broken in some but I'd figure I'd be getting better gas mileage than the Mazda already since the Mazda had a 2.3 liter engine and the Civic has only got a 1.8 that is supposed to be tuned for economy)
- Engine is still smooth when cold (unlike the Civic so far)
- Seat fabric seems more durable
- Factory Xenon's (I'm having trouble adjusting to driving by halogens again, they seem really dim now)
- Trunk hinges do not protrude into the cargo area
- Rear middle 3 point belt can be unanchored
- Has side markers (I think these should be required by law on all cars)

Civic Pros
- Interior ivory/brown looks better than the Mazda's black on black
- Noise More Isolated
- Trunk Opening Wider
- A/C seems stronger (this may only be because the Mazda had an all black interior and it always seemed hot inside)
- Plush headliner material and sun visors (the Mazda's is hard)
- Carpet seems more durable than the Mazda's
- Blue Back-lit Gauges
- Alarm clicker is integrated with key
- Automatic transmission is always doing the right thing (I can't compare the transmission to the Mazda's because my Mazda was stick shift)
- Ipod link

Where the Civic and Mazda are the same
- Interior rattles (I'm extra sensitive to these, maybe to the point of being obsessive compulsive) both cars are the same

I'm off to work now. I'll add more to each list when I get home.

[Cybergypsy]

You forgot one, mazda sucks on MPG!

AC really stinks on the mazda take a long test drive this summer....

[Silver8th]

Originally Posted by ToBeHuman

1st, about the Mazda being a Ford. The Mazda3 is based off of Ford's global C1 platform. This platform is shared with the 2nd generation European Focus and the new Volvo S40. If so some reason you think this will effect reliability, I'd like to mention the Mazda was assembled in Hiroshima, Japan of 90% Japanese content, 10% other, 0% North American. For comparison, my Civic was assembled in Alliston, Ontario, Canada of 70% US/Canadian content and 15% Japanese. I'm not saying that this is an advantage to either car, either way, but some people think this way.

Mazda Pros
- Drives Better
- Turns Better
- Steering is ALOT BETTER
- Ride is about the same as the Civic even though handling is a lot better
- Steering feel is ALOT BETTER
- Interior Fit and Finish BETTER
- Bigger engine with more power and was getting better gas mileage than the Civic so far (I realize that I'm only on the 3rd tank of gas with the Civic and it still needs to be broken in some but I'd figure I'd be getting better gas mileage than the Mazda already since the Mazda had a 2.3 liter engine and the Civic has only got a 1.8 that is supposed to be tuned for economy)
- Engine is still smooth when cold (unlike the Civic so far)
- Seat fabric seems more durable
- Factory Xenon's (I'm having trouble adjusting to driving by halogens again, they seem really dim now)
- Trunk hinges do not protrude into the cargo area

Civic Pros
- Noise More Isolated
- Trunk Opening Wider
- A/C seems stronger (this may only be because the Mazda had an all black interior and it always seemed hot inside)
- Plush headliner material and sun visors (the Mazda's is hard)
- Blue Back-lit Gauges
- Alarm clicker is integrated with key

Where the Civic and Mazda are the same
- Interior rattles (I'm extra sensitive to these, maybe to the point of being obsessive compulsive) both cars are the same

I'm off to work now. I'll add more to each list when I get home.

None of this convinces me that a mazda is better? Are you a dealer or somthing? Also you forgot to mention the Mazda cost more and gets less MPG.
btw welcome to 8thcivic MRIZ, hope you get the deal your looking for.

[RockALittle250]

Originally Posted by ToBeHuman

Mazda Pros
- Drives Better
- Turns Better
- Steering is ALOT BETTER
- Ride is about the same as the Civic even though handling is a lot better
- Steering feel is ALOT BETTER
- Interior Fit and Finish BETTER
- Bigger engine with more power and was getting better gas mileage than the Civic so far (I realize that I'm only on the 3rd tank of gas with the Civic and it still needs to be broken in some but I'd figure I'd be getting better gas mileage than the Mazda already since the Mazda had a 2.3 liter engine and the Civic has only got a 1.8 that is supposed to be tuned for economy)
- Engine is still smooth when cold (unlike the Civic so far)
- Seat fabric seems more durable
- Factory Xenon's (I'm having trouble adjusting to driving by halogens again, they seem really dim now)
- Trunk hinges do not protrude into the cargo area

If this is all true...didn't you realize all of these "pros" when you were test driving the Civic or were you asleep at the wheel?

[ToBeHuman]

Actually, the main reason I wanted to switched was because of the gas mileage. I realize that my Civic isn't broken in yet but it's gas mileage is worse than the Mazda3 so far. I knew the Civic wasn't going to drive like the Mazda and that's fine, if I start to get the gas mileage I was supposed to from the Civic.

This are my honest opinions. Sorry if I'm upsetting people. I want the guy to make an informed buying decision. Since I've spend 2 years with my Mazda and 2 weeks with the Civic, I think I can compare the 2 pretty good.

[fslaugts]

Tobehuman I don't want to start anything. But the main reason I like the civic better is I wanted the 2 door. So even if the mazda was better or cheaper I would go with the civic. I would love an si, but I just got back from honda and they said all si's are taken through september. They also had no coupe's.
thanks
fred

[Special Ringpop]

There are Si's on the lots all over the country. You'll be able to find one if you look hard enough, but they are ordered all through August, is what my dealer told me. Meaning, if I were to order one from the factory, it wouldn've be delivered until August.

[MRIZ]

My wife who was reading this thread with me said she forgot to mention her 05 Mazda3 is starting to act up when cold .I'll hook up the code scanner this weekend and see if anything shows.But I do like the way it drives and mileage is good but I'm still leaning toward the civic at this point because of the interior layout if that makes sense.I think reliability ,fit/finish and materials between the two is a coin toss more or less in my opinion.But correct me if otherwise because I did not spend too much time with the civic. Read some good articles here on personal experiences,some of which scared the hell out of me! It also depends on how the salesman behaves financially/ethically meaning hot car take our price or leave it as to how it all goes.(Stepson says get si with performance upgrades but he's not buying)

[martinez_josh]

Civic or Mazda3

This thread might give you some better input

[ToBeHuman]

My Mazda 3 was very reliable for the most part. I put 45k miles on it before I traded it in. The 2 problems I had with it were:

1. Cap cap replaced
2. Glove box would not close unless handle was pressed, glove box was replaced
3. Front airbag sensor was replaced as part of a recall

Surprisingly, with the Mazda I consistently got the gas mileage I was supposed to even though I drove it hard, so I was happy about that.

The main reasons I traded in the Mazda for the Civic was because I thought the Mazda was rattlely, I thought the Civic would get better gas mileage and I just wanted something new again. The Civic is just as rattely as the Mazda was, although overall exterior noises are more isolated in the Civic. I guess I'm too obsessive compulsive about these things (my friends think I'm crazy). Gas in Southern California is $3.50/gallon for regular unleaded and it's driving me up the wall.

[MRIZ]

Thanks Martinez

[Jrfish007]

Originally Posted by ToBeHuman

1st, about the Mazda being a Ford. The Mazda3 is based off of Ford's global C1 platform. This platform is shared with the 2nd generation European Focus and the new Volvo S40. ....

Whoa... this is wrong. The European focus and Volvo S40 are based off the Mazda C1 platform, which is owned buy Mazda. Ford does NOT own Mazda, I really wish people would get this out of their head. Ford own 33% of Mazda's shares. Ford owns companies like Jag, where Ford own 100% of their shares, make sence yet? So why would Ford be pushing Mazda's frame? Simple, they are willing to buy it off Mazda because that money essentially comes back to them. IF you own part of a company, you want to see them do well so you make money. So is the 3 based off of Ford's C1 platform? No, the 3 is based off of Mazda C1 platform, which has been sold to Ford, and now Ford can use it.

If you don't believe me about Ford not owning Mazda, take it from Ford an Mazda's mouth then http://media.ford.com/mazda/article_...ticle_id=18642

[GlennS]

What's the difference in MPG you're seeing between the Mazda nd the Civic?

Mazda got ____ MPG.

Civic gets ____ MPG.

Just wondering.
-Glenn

[Jrfish007]

There is a thread on the 3 vs the civic
2006 Civic vs. Mazda 3
(^I know you started this one, but others might find it useful)

there is a big thread on what people are getting from the civic in MPG
What grade of gas? All gas questions answered! **Merged all gas threads**
Ithink most are in the low 30's, it depends on your specific driving habits. If you notice on the wiindow sticker, there is generally a range of mpg for city and a range for highway. I know my milage can vary greatly on my habits, driving aggressively I get about 33 MPG and driving carefully I get about 41 MPG, mostly highway driving.

[ToBeHuman]

Jrfish007,

The C1 is a Ford platform developed by Ford, Mazda and Volvo engineers at Ford of Europe. It is based on the Ford C170 platform and Mazda BJ platform. It's more Ford than Mazda. Do some poking around and you'll see it's a Ford platform. If the C1 is a Mazda platform then how come the 1st car based off of it was the European Ford Focus CMAX? Being a moderator, I think you'd do a little more research and use a bit more discretion before stating that another forum member's post is wrong.

I understand that Ford does not wholly own Mazda, only a percentage.

GlennS,

So far I've been getting the same gas mileage in my Civic as I did in my Mazda3. I think something is wrong. I've let my dealer know about it but they said not to worry about my gas mileage until my 1st oil change because the car is breaking in. I still think something is wrong because some people have been getting the EPA rated gas mileage from the get go. This is what I've been getting so far as far as gas mileage with my Civic:



You'll notice that my gas mileage has actually got a lot worse lately. It's because I've been running the A/C all the time now that summer is here.