3

[BimmerM3]

So says you, but I don't know. I seem to remember a blurb in the manual (which makes War and Peace look like a pamphlet, by the way) about only the volume being controlled by the car's system. Then again it has a button on the dash marked 'Folder', so it ought to have control of the media player...

Depends on the aux input. The one on the 3 sounds like it's just a headphone jack, in which case you will just be able to control the volume via the head unit. Only if it's USB or some player-specific interface will you be able to control the actual navigation. The "Folder" button is probably for MP3-CDs.

Also, I demand that you do this to your car in real life:

[BimmerM3]

I thought most cars hit 60 in 3rd gear? Plus when normally driving you'd probably be doing 60 in 4th or more likely 5th so I don't see why it matters if you have to shift twice getting to 60 mph when you'd most likely shift more often.

Or am I missing something.

In my somewhat limited experience, most cars hit 60 somewhere near the top of 2nd gear. The Accord can maybe hit 62 or 63 in 2nd.

[nickdrinkwater]

Congrats!  The Mazda3 1.6 diesel just beat off the Focus, 308 and Megane in a British group test

[Catman]

Nice, congrats.

[ifcar]

Seriously though, I don't think you could go 60 mph without shifting at least twice. That's pretty short in my experience.

Or you could shift a bunch of times and get much better mileage.

[mzziaz]

Congrats. What did you have to pay for it?

[SVT666]

I thought most cars hit 60 in 3rd gear? Plus when normally driving you'd probably be doing 60 in 4th or more likely 5th so I don't see why it matters if you have to shift twice getting to 60 mph when you'd most likely shift more often.

Or am I missing something.

My SVT Focus hits 60 mph in 2nd gear.  It gets to 45 mph in 1st and 75 mph in 2nd.

[93JC]

Or you could shift a bunch of times and get much better mileage.

Or you missed the point entirely, thanks for chiming in Koko.

Congrats. What did you have to pay for it?

Well, put it this way: this car is brand new and the dealership was very, very busy. I didn't get a deal. MSRP is $22,095, freight another $1,395, plus I bought a 3M clear bra and had the body undercoated and interior Scotchguarded, plus miscellaneous taxes and fees. All told it was mid-20,000s.

I'm going to make the most of the Scotchguard: it has a lifetime warranty. The salesman thought I was joking when I said if I ever got a stain I'd bring the car back and make them clean it. I was quite serious.

[SVT_Power]

My SVT Focus hits 60 mph in 2nd gear.  It gets to 45 mph in 1st and 75 mph in 2nd.

What the hell? My car won't hit 60 mph in 2nd...

[Tave]

RE: traffic jams and stick shifts

Y'all are a bunch of weenies.

[GoCougs]

Meh - the whole A/T thing I've slowly come to accept. In the times that someone else ends up driving my car; DD, gf, whatever, the whole M/T thing would be a royal pain. With decent power and at least 5 speeds it's workable; more gears and rev match downshift makes it all the better.

[r0tor]

nice car...

oh, and mazda sells an i-pod accessory for full i-pod control through the steering wheel controls... its different then just the aux jack

[MX793]

Meh - the whole A/T thing I've slowly come to accept. In the times that someone else ends up driving my car; DD, gf, whatever, the whole M/T thing would be a royal pain. With decent power and at least 5 speeds it's workable; more gears and rev match downshift makes it all the better.

unfortunately, rev matching automatics still haven't found their way into more mainstream models.  I suspect it will be some time before they trickle into the economy car ranks (5+ speed automatics are just starting to appear in the compact/economy car class).

[J86]

Congrats on the car, JC!

[CALL_911]

I've been seeing quite a few lately.

I really, really like them. IMO, they look terrific too.

[CaMIRO]

unfortunately, rev matching automatics still haven't found their way into more mainstream models.

Still the test I use to determine whether someone really can, as they claim, "drive a stick."

[93JC]

El tres does not rev-match automatically on downshifts...

Holds gear up to redline though.

[Madman]

Congrats on the Mazda 3, Dude!  Glad to see you had the good sense to get the hatch.

Maybe it's just me but a 2.5 litre engine seems inappropriately large for a C-segment hatch.  I'm assuming Mazda still won't allow anyone north of the Rio Grand to spec their 3 hatch with the more sensible 2.0 litre engine available in the 3 sedan?


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[93JC]

The base GX trim comes with the 2.0 L engine. I have the mid-level GS.

And there is no such thing as an inappropriately large engine.

[S204STi]

Depends on the aux input. The one on the 3 sounds like it's just a headphone jack, in which case you will just be able to control the volume via the head unit. Only if it's USB or some player-specific interface will you be able to control the actual navigation. The "Folder" button is probably for MP3-CDs.

Also, I demand that you do this to your car in real life:

lmao

[S204STi]

Grats btw.  Nice car.

[heelntoe]

Congrats JC..

[68_427]

My SVT Focus hits 60 mph in 2nd gear.  It gets to 45 mph in 1st and 75 mph in 2nd.

*Pffft*  Skylark hits 80mph in 2nd.

[Raza]

The only thing I wish it had was adjustable lumbar support. My back is used to mushy 20-year-old Dodge seats, not supportive Mazda seats.

I also have no idea how the aux. input on the radio works, but I don't have an MP3 player anyway so it's not a big deal.

I also don't like the idea of non-intermittent windshield wipers. They're automatic, but I'm still used to manually controlling the speed.

If it's like my car or my dad's car, you hit the CD button twice to switch to AUX. 

Congratulations.  Go buy an iPod.

[93JC]

Oh there's an aux button, it's from there on afterward that I'm lost.

[Raza]

Oh there's an aux button, it's from there on afterward that I'm lost.

Stick your tongue in it and think about a song.


That works for wall sockets at your house too.

[93JC]

That's preposterous, my house doesn't play music.

[Laconian]

That's preposterous, my house doesn't play music.

Yeah, because you haven't tried his suggestion yet!

[Raza]

That's preposterous, my house doesn't play music.

You're not thinking hard enough.

[sportyaccordy]

Meh - the whole A/T thing I've slowly come to accept. In the times that someone else ends up driving my car; DD, gf, whatever, the whole M/T thing would be a royal pain. With decent power and at least 5 speeds it's workable; more gears and rev match downshift makes it all the better.

Yep I agree... it's not really much of a nuisance to drive stick even in a super urban area like Crown Heights... but to get my GF to learn how to drive it here will take some intense training. After having driven the G35x with its competent auto box I am a believer in a well sorted out auto over stickshift- in the right setting of course.