New Mazda 3?

[Atomic]

42 High Resolution Photos and More Coming (Supposedly) at Below Link

http://www.carscoops.com/2013/07/2014-mazda3-sedan-new-gallery-with-37.html

[Atomic]

^ Impressive sideshow from "CarScoops" (above post) and enough pics for me to say I think it is HOT!

[93JC]

My Maxima had manual shifting and so does my CX-9 I don't use it. Does anyone use it?

*raises hand*

I often use mine in parking lots because the car would otherwise shift between first and second at 10 km/h, which is incredibly annoying. I put in it second and leave it.

I also downshift at the top of hills so that I don't have to ride the brakes down. I have always done so.

[Soup DeVille]

*raises hand*

I often use mine in parking lots because the car would otherwise shift between first and second at 10 km/h, which is incredibly annoying. I put in it second and leave it.

I also downshift at the top of hills so that I don't have to ride the brakes down. I have always done so.

In the second case, that's nothing that any automatic wouldn't do.

[giant_mtb]

One of the regulars in our region autocrosses a 3.5L Altima with the CVT and I'm told he doesn't even bother with the manumatic function, he just leaves it in full auto.  Does pretty well with it too.

I wouldn't bother with it either in an autocross. But for driving around town...it can just add that tiny bit of excitement to the drive.

[hotrodalex]

Isn't most autocross done in 2nd gear anyway? Not a huge need to shift.

[12,000 RPM]

Isn't most autocross done in 2nd gear anyway? Not a huge need to shift.

Manumatic controls will (well, are supposed to) keep it in the gear you put it in.

[93JC]

In the second case, that's nothing that any automatic wouldn't do.

Or nothing any automatic couldn't do. Like I said I have always done so. In my car that happens to mean putting the shifter in 'M' and selecting 4th or 3rd. In the past, in other cars, that meant pushing an "O/D OFF" button, or shifting from 'OD' to 'D' or 'D' to '3' or 'L' or what have you.

Some people say that that's just "pretending to have a manual transmission"; I think it's driving a car properly.

[Atomic]

*raises hand*

I often use mine in parking lots because the car would otherwise shift between first and second at 10 km/h, which is incredibly annoying. I put in it second and leave it.

I also downshift at the top of hills so that I don't have to ride the brakes down. I have always done so.

I used mine in the couple of Maxima's I owned with this type of "dual transmission" (earlier Maxi's I drove didn't offer it) but mainly when passing and on steep hills. I thought I would miss the feature (not on my new Volvo) but soon got over it 

[MX793]

Isn't most autocross done in 2nd gear anyway? Not a huge need to shift.

Depends on the car and the course.  I've never needed to use higher than 2nd (or to downshift into first), but all of the cars I've ever autocrossed had reasonably broad powerbands and could do 60+ mph in 2nd.  I've seen some guys with Hondas, especially, who have needed to shift into first on some sections of some courses to keep the VTEC engaged.  Miatas and Hondas seem to frequently need to shift into 3rd on the run up to the finish lights on a lot of the layouts we run. 

Most automatics are programmed to upshift to the highest gear possible as fast as possible.  You don't want the car upshifting when you let off the gas to apply the brakes when entering a corner, so if anything, using manumatic mode to lock the car into 2nd gear would seem to be preferable if nothing but to reduce the amount of gear hunting the car does.

[CJ]

I used mine in the couple of Maxima's I owned with this type of "dual transmission" (earlier Maxi's I drove didn't offer it) but mainly when passing and on steep hills. I thought I would miss the feature (not on my new Volvo) but soon got over it 

Your XC60 has a manumatic mode.

[Atomic]

Your XC60 has a manumatic mode.

It does?! 

Must be "hidden" but off in it soon!!

[CJ]

Just move the shifter either elect or right when in D.

[SJ_GTI]

When I had a rental ATS recently I used the manumatic function most of the time. When I first started driving it I left it in auto but I found that it was often in too high of a gear for where I would want it to be, so I started using the manumatic function. It was pretty responsive and made the Dallas traffic more tolerable.

[Atomic]

Just move the shifter either elect or right when in D.

Amazing! Volvo ingenuously makes everything look and feel so integrated that I couldn't tell I had it. Thanx CJ. It works like a charm and like the Maxi and most other cars I tried, not a single jerky motion when operation this feature. On the road today and what a difference in performance and thankfully MPG (for the better) ~ a marked improvement and an entirely new driving experience :0) Was so caught up into the many, many safety features and tech devices of my loaded '13 AWD R-Design Volvo T6, I overlooked this cleverly intricate part of the XC60 ownership experience! 

[Raza]

Amazing! Volvo ingenuously makes everything look and feel so integrated that I couldn't tell I had it. Thanx CJ. It works like a charm and like the Maxi and most other cars I tried, not a single jerky motion when operation this feature. On the road today and what a difference in performance and thankfully MPG (for the better) ~ a marked improvement and an entirely new driving experience :0) Was so caught up into the many, many safety features and tech devices of my loaded '13 AWD R-Design Volvo T6, I overlooked this cleverly intricate part of the XC60 ownership experience!

My Mercedes was like that.  I preferred the manual shifting to have its own position in a separated gate, like on my Passat. 

[Catman]

Almost zero difference between the sedan and wagon. What's the point?

[SVT666]

Almost zero difference between the sedan and wagon. What's the point?

Well, one is a sedan and the other is a hatchback.

[ifcar]

Almost zero difference between the sedan and wagon. What's the point?

Extra versatility versus secured storage, or different looks...

[TBR]

Fuel economy numbers:

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/07/11/2014-mazda3-2-0l-hatchback-officially-rated-at-40-mpg-highway/

The real concern here is that it seems the 2.5 will be AT only. That's a shame, and it will really be a shame if this means you can't get a manual transmission with leather, a sunroof, etc.

[TBR]

C/D's first drive puts me at ease: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2014-mazda-3-first-drive-review

Usual fluff, but it does say that a 6MT will be available with the 2.5 after a couple of months.

[r0tor]

My Mercedes was like that.  I preferred the manual shifting to have its own position in a separated gate, like on my Passat. 

Same with my JGC

[r0tor]

C/D's first drive puts me at ease: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2014-mazda-3-first-drive-review

Usual fluff, but it does say that a 6MT will be available with the 2.5 after a couple of months.

Unfortunately, it looks like no matter what trim you select, you still get radio or infotainment controls that looks like after market trash tacked on the dashboard

[MrH]

Unfortunately, it looks like no matter what trim you select, you still get radio or infotainment controls that looks like after market trash tacked on the dashboard

Tablet style screens are all the rage these days, unfortunately.

[TBR]

I think the 3's setup is much better looking than the 6's.

[Catman]

Well, one is a sedan and the other is a hatchback.

Yes, I think I know that.  My point is there is very little difference. The hatchback doesn't look like it adds much space at all.

[MX793]

Yes, I think I know that.  My point is there is very little difference. The hatchback doesn't look like it adds much space at all.

The difference is in the vertical space of the cargo area.  The height of the trunk and the even lower height of the structure at the base of the rear window (behind the rear seats) in the sedan limits how much I can fit in the trunk.  I can't carry a second set of tires in my trunk.  I can fit maybe 1 in the trunk and stack the others in the back seat.  The hatch can fit a set of 4 tires without dropping the rear seats.  Sedans have < 12 cu.ft. of trunk space while the hatches have 17 cu.ft. with the seats up.  That's significant.

[r0tor]

Yes, I think I know that.  My point is there is very little difference. The hatchback doesn't look like it adds much space at all.

We ended up buying the focus sedan because the focus hatch didn't have crap for luggage space with the seats up.  The sedan had about an extra foot of room.

[3.0L V6]

I'll have to see it in person, but it looks great in pics. I think I may have found a car that will replace my '01 Protege in a few years.

[Onslaught]

I think the 5 door looks better.