mazda 3 vs honda fit

[jred321]

looking at a new car. the main competition is the fit vs the 3 with a 2009 vibe having a chance. i'm looking for something cheap, reliable, useful, able to last forever with minimal maintenance, and if it was fun that'd be nice too. thoughts on why one over the other?


yes i understand this is a mazda board, i know which option is going to win but i'm more interested in the why

[astraelraen]

Well if you are comparing the Vibe in the same price range as the Fit its probably the 1.8l model. My wife had one, they are slooooooooooooooooooooooooow, but it got great gas mileage and handled like a go-kart.

[jred321]

it'd actually probably be more along the lines in price of the 3 price. i'm looking at a 3 hatch, either touring or grand touring, so the comparable vibe is the GT. fuel mileage is important but all of these will get a good amount better than what i'm currently getting so a sacrifice in fuel economy would be ok for a better car

[Kymerik]

Mazda3. hands down especially if its the hatch you're looking for

[astraelraen]

The Vibe is a pretty nice vehicle and while looks are subjective I think the remodel looks a lot better than the old one. Its pretty versatile and the back space is gigantic for the size of a car it is. The Mazda3 is comparable in all respects.

It would probably come down to which one you like to drive better. The 3 and 2.4l Vibe get comparable gas mileage. In my opinion the 3's suspension is a little stiffer and sportier than the Vibes, which is good or bad depending on what you are looking for.

I think the Mazda3 interior is probably better. The Vibe's interior is pretty plastic-ie, with a lot of hard surfaces. Mazda has a good interior.

Both engines are pretty proven engines with good reliability. The Vibe is essentially a Toyota Corolla wagon if you didn't know that.

Drive both and compare them, thats your best bet. Although the refreshed Mazda3 is coming out in a year or so, and with the 2.5l its probably going to be a lot better if you can wait that long.

[jred321]

the stiffer the suspension the better. either one is going to feel like a cadillac after 2.5 years in an evo.

i test drove what i believe was a 1.8L vibe 2008 vibe auto yesterday. it was surprisingly decent but the interior was pretty crappy. the 2009, at least in the brochures, looks much nicer on the inside. they didn't have any in stock so i couldn't check it out in person. i asked B (slopro on here) to give me a call when they get in a 2009 so i can check it out in person. i also have GM supplier pricing through work so it should be easy to get a good price.

i drove the 3 right after the vibe and i do think it felt a little crisper and a little sportier but that also could have been because it was a manual vs the auto.

anyone have opinions on the fit?

[StreteSpd]

the stiffer the suspension the better. either one is going to feel like a cadillac after 2.5 years in an evo.

i test drove what i believe was a 1.8L vibe 2008 vibe auto yesterday. it was surprisingly decent but the interior was pretty crappy. the 2009, at least in the brochures, looks much nicer on the inside. they didn't have any in stock so i couldn't check it out in person. i asked B (slopro on here) to give me a call when they get in a 2009 so i can check it out in person. i also have GM supplier pricing through work so it should be easy to get a good price.

i drove the 3 right after the vibe and i do think it felt a little crisper and a little sportier but that also could have been because it was a manual vs the auto.

anyone have opinions on the fit?

The Fit's a good car that will rev high with it's small racy engine. Although it doesn't make big power, it makes fun power and gets excellent (much better than the 3) gas mileage. If you are thinking of modification, the 3 has a very healthy aftermarket, but because the fit is a honda, there's really no comparison...there is just so much more out there for the car; keep in mind however, that if you'll be doing even light engine mods, that the fit might become a money pit if you start trying to upgrade power to match what the 3 already comes with. The Fit has a lot of clever storage solutions, but so too does the 3 hatch... so if carrying stuff is a part of your verdict-equation, then you'll need to weight these carefully. Consumer Guide (http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/consumer-guide-new-car-search.htm) has a new cars section that is fairly thorough, so you might look there for specific numbers on things like inside and outside dimensions.

I had the same comparison to make when I was shopping, and I didn't choose the fit b/c of it's low engine output...and although it gets phenomenal mileage, under a full load, it just didn't perform as well as the 3 did, and b/c it's more narrow than the 3, I found that the ability to carry a lot of stuff was made up for by it's height..so it the amount of stuff that could be carried seemed like a dead heat to me.

Ultimately what did it for me was realizing that (for the prices that I was looking at) that the 3 was a lot more car for the price than the fit was, and that I'd be happier with the 3 out of the box than I would be with the fit. If I had gotten the fit, I would have wanted to start changing things right away...but a lot is right with the 3 from the jump, so there isn't a lot to want to change. It's well made, well priced, has an amazing suspension, crisp steering, and it's a nice and balanced looking car.

I've had mine for a year, and been on 2 long distance trips (1 fully loaded, 1 solo) and on both the car was easy to drive, quiet, and comfortable. When I want to rape the backroads by my house, the car then becomes what I want it to there as well. The 3's a car that will put a smile on your face, and not let you down in any situation. The Fit simply won't make you frown.

[tsunami]

nice comparo and write up...

is awd a deal maker for you since you have an evo, and live in NE? cuase the vibe does have awd and with your gm pricing it may still be cheaper then a 3 or a fit and give you that awd peace of mind.

[jred321]

if the vibe had AWD in a manual car i'd probably get that but AWD only comes in auto so that's a no. fwd is good enough. i went out this weekend and got to test drive the fit and talk to a few dealers. the fit drives well and doesn't sound as stressed on the highway as my gf's yaris. i wouldn't mind owning one and i was pleasantly surprised at how decent it was to drive even with no power. the biggest downfall it had is that dealers don't have to try to sell them. the offers i was getting from them were nowhere near the ones from mazda or pontiac, plus i'd probably have to wait to get a manual sport anywhere near here.

i'm pretty sure i'm going with the 3. i like the looks better than the 09 vibe, i got a comparable offer from a local dealer, they have one i want in stock, and my parents' friend had a bad experience with their vibe. plus even though it's mostly toyota i don't think i can get over it being a pontiac. so it's looking like this week i'll probably end up with a 3GT with the moonroof/bose/whatever package thing in white

[tsunami]

you trading in the evo?

[jred321]

yep, no more fun car for me for a while

[krimsonviper]

^tickets?

[jred321]

no, so far ticketless in the evo. more looking for a vehicle that fits in with the way my life is headed more. looking to save for a condo so cheaper, more reliable, easier, more practical, etc... are reasons for the change. i'd love to keep the evo, pay it off and turn it into a project car after but i think it's best to get the DD down first then figure out the project car

[1sty]

Looks like your fallowing in my footseteps from when I scrapped the STi for a 6s.
I would go with the 3. If you are like me, something as dirt slow as a fit would drive you into insanity.
I dont know if I could even handle a 3 anymore.

[krimsonviper]

no, so far ticketless in the evo. more looking for a vehicle that fits in with the way my life is headed more. looking to save for a condo so cheaper, more reliable, easier, more practical, etc... are reasons for the change. i'd love to keep the evo, pay it off and turn it into a project car after but i think it's best to get the DD down first then figure out the project car

i picture a 240sx in your future

[jred321]

nah, never been a big 240sx fan. my 2 thoughts right now are a monster miata or an older 2.5rs coupe with either a wrx swap or just a straight turbo. or there's always the classic route, 510, RX3, 69 camaro, even E30 bmw. i like different cars and there are too many "customized" 240s out there

[jred321]

Looks like your fallowing in my footseteps from when I scrapped the STi for a 6s.
I would go with the 3. If you are like me, something as dirt slow as a fit would drive you into insanity.
I dont know if I could even handle a 3 anymore.
i'm hoping i can handle the the slowness of the 3 and keep it as a DD until it dies. the fit really wasn't terribly slow and overall was a good car but i think i'll enjoy the 3 more and therefore be less likely to trade it in. i really just hope it tides me over until i can get a project car because once i get there i'll be able to satisfy the need for speed. going to either 1/3 or 1/2 the power though is still a big transition

[krimsonviper]

nah, never been a big 240sx fan. my 2 thoughts right now are a monster miata or an older 2.5rs coupe with either a wrx swap or just a straight turbo. or there's always the classic route, 510, RX3, 69 camaro, even E30 bmw. i like different cars and there are too many "customized" 240s out there

(sad1)so true so true(sad1) i like the 510 and the e30 idea. not a big fan of domestics for some reason

[utopia]

the 3 would be more fun then either of those cars. You obviously won't get as GOOD of gas mileage as the fit and maybe the vibe but your trading that in for a larger liter engine that turns out more hp and torque. Obviously it isn't a lot but still more then the others and at this low a hp it makes a huge difference between the other 2. AND I still get 28.1 MPG combined (mostly city).

Car handles on rails with a lower suspension and without it still handles pretty good. The bolt-ons for the car dont' generally cause any issues either so it's easily modded too.

I'd say the 3, or I wouldn't be driving it :)

[StreteSpd]

nice comparo and write up...


Thanks.

jred321, The 3's a good place to be considering where you want to get to..I'm in the same boat, and thinking the same thing...once I can get my feet under me with a condo or a house, then I can work on a project car and satiate my need for speed that way...but for day to day fun driving that I can live with on a budget, the 3's a great answer.

Good luck with your buy, you won't regret it.

[jred321]

what i got. i realized the dealer plate brackets were still there after taking pics so i took them off after

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a323/jred321/mazda%203/IMG_1155.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a323/jred321/mazda%203/IMG_1156.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a323/jred321/mazda%203/IMG_1157.jpg

aux in
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a323/jred321/mazda%203/IMG_1160.jpg

still getting used to using steering wheel controls
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a323/jred321/mazda%203/IMG_1161.jpg

gf's favorite part: the heated seats. i also think i might put my sirius unit in place of the ash tray that's directly below those buttons
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a323/jred321/mazda%203/IMG_1162.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a323/jred321/mazda%203/IMG_1159.jpg

2 observations i have so far are that the brake pedal is too high for heel-toe downshifting on light braking and i have to turn the steering wheel a lot more to get the car to turn. other than that all's well. just passed 100 miles today

[jrez133]

is it me or are our names completely similar???

[jred321]

i've been a member longer so obviously you copied me

[jred321]

oh yea and i noticed that if i'm charging my mp3 player while playing it through the aux port i get all kinds of feedback. not sure if it's the mp3 player/charger or the cable or what but if i unplug it the static goes away

[jrez133]

youre right, but youve been a member on a mazda site for about 5 years and you just got a mazda 3

i like youre choice, i have a red MZ3 HB and i absolutely love it, are you planning on modding?

[jred321]

i joined when i got my MSP, then got an evo, now back to a mazda

no plans for modding, maybe some small things to improve gas mileage a little but that's it. it's an A to B car for me

[1sty]

lets see, I joined with a MP3.
Picked up a P5
Swapped them both for an STi.
Dropped the STi for a Mazda 6s so I could get a house.
Dropped that for a Toyota tundra.
1 year left on the truck lease....we will see if mazda will get me back :)

[Ben Nast]

you trading in the evo?

Dont do it. At least compromise and get an ms3. You will be (sad2) going froman evo to something like a Fit. Maybe find a slightly preowned one with under 10k on it still under warranty.
If I had to choose between a mazda 3 and a Fit, I would get the Mazda3.

[jrez133]

Dont do it. At least compromise and get an ms3. You will be (sad2) going froman evo to something like a Fit. Maybe find a slightly preowned one with under 10k on it still under warranty.
If I had to choose between a mazda 3 and a Fit, I would get the Mazda3.

i def agree

[jinzumkei]

The Fit is a great car, fun to drive and great gas mileage. But I'd say a 3 is pretty fun to drive and not too bad on gas either. I think the 3 (hatch) is probably more practical because it's bigger and can seat 5 adults, the fit is a great commuter tho.

[seanmcsean]

oh yea and i noticed that if i'm charging my mp3 player while playing it through the aux port i get all kinds of feedback. not sure if it's the mp3 player/charger or the cable or what but if i unplug it the static goes away

my 6 did that too.. you need a ground loop isolator. that solved the problem with my 6.

[jred321]

what's a ground loop isolator?

[seanmcsean]

what's a ground loop isolator?
(google)

[jred321]

all the ones i found are RCA. the input in the 3 is normal headphone jack size

[seanmcsean]

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062214

That one has a 1/8' adapter.

[jred321]

ground loop isolator worked perfect. thank you sean

[seanmcsean]

no prob (rei)

[achn2b]

The Fit and the similar Nissan Versa just don't seem like comparble alternatives to the 3 to me. They're more like a basic econobox, just something to get you from point A to Point B cheaply, and with good gas mileage.

The Mazda 3 can do that, a little bit of a hit in the mileage department, but a far more sporting flavor behind the wheel. Let's you enjoy the driving experience, instead of just being along for the ride. The Matrix would seem similar, but everything I've read about it would indicate that it just doesn't have that same fun to toss around quality that the MZ3 has, even the new redesigned 2009 model.

I'm looking to get a new 3 sometime in the next year once I can afford a decent downpayment, but have been looking for alternatives out there. The matrix, and the Impreza hatch are the only two that come close. But the Impreza comes up a little short in the fun to drive aspect too. I like the two of them for the fold-flat rear seats, as I want to carry my bikes in the back, but they both cost about the same as the MZ3, the Matrix with the bigger engine gets the same gas mileage, The Impreza a little worse, and it's interior isn't quite the quality that the Mazda is. And reviews indicate that it too, doesn't quite have that spark that the Mazda3 has.

If the Subie cost less than the Mazda, I might consider it, but the 3 remains my top choice for next new car.

[jred321]

the fit was just as fun to drive as the 3 imho except for the being a little down on power aspect. very good handling, fun in corners, a good all around car. if you're shopping around it's at least worth taking for a test drive

[ehidle]

Between the Fit, the 3, and the Vibe, there shoudn't be any question at all. The Fit is just Honda's 20k version of a 12k car. The vibe was designed to be a rental car and is easily in the top 10 ugliest cars on the road - and handles like, well, a rental car.

The 3 gets better mileage than both of them if you get the 2.0 and drive conservatively, and looks really nice.

[sanblaster]

He already bought a 3.

[jred321]

Between the Fit, the 3, and the Vibe, there shoudn't be any question at all. The Fit is just Honda's 20k version of a 12k car. The vibe was designed to be a rental car and is easily in the top 10 ugliest cars on the road - and handles like, well, a rental car.

The 3 gets better mileage than both of them if you get the 2.0 and drive conservatively, and looks really nice.

He already bought a 3.
what he said.

i don't agree with what you said about the other 2 cars though. regarding the fit, it costs $15-16k, nowhere near the 20k mark, and given that it comes standard with all power options and very well appointed, is priced appropriately with everything else on the market. you can't get the stripper $12k model like you can on other brands. my gf bought a yaris this summer. they start at like $13k or something. by the time it's drivable with power windows/locks, abs, etc..., it ended up being $15-16k. same holds true for the 3 and if you want a 3 hatch you can't get the 2.0 and it bumps you up a good bit in price. and if your driving styles are the same i would think a 2.0L engine pushing a 2800lb car would get worse gas mileage than a 1.5L engine pushing a 2400lb car.

regarding the vibe i would venture to say you haven't actually driven one. exterior and interior on the 2008 and prior are pretty bad. handling dynamics, however, are on par with the 3. i drove them back to back and could certainly not say it was significantly worse. this is an area that the vibe greatly surprised me on the test drive as i was expecting it to handle like the only other GM car i've driven, the cobalt/cavalier, which is also the worst driving car i've ever driven. the 2009 vibe has a significantly revised exterior (i'm still not a huge fan but it's way better than the previous version) and the interior is actually livable. not the normal pontiac interior that they've been using since the 80s like the prev gen.

after driving and researching all 3 are pretty good cars. if the fit had the option of some of the other nicities of the 3 (heated leather seats, sunroof, crap like that) and got better real world highway MPG (though i'm now realizing my 15 miles round trip i drive every day is mostly in traffic so highway #s aren't as big of a deal) i probably would have gotten the fit because it would have been a bit less than the 3. if the vibe wasn't quite so ugly and was in more abundant supply i probably would have gotten that as well since i get GM supplier pricing and it too would have been cheaper than the 3. i got what i got and am happy with it but the other 2 cars are definitely worth considering, the 3 is not the clear hands down winner everyone would lead you to believe

[ehidle]

snip

if your driving styles are the same i would think a 2.0L engine pushing a 2800lb car would get worse gas mileage than a 1.5L engine pushing a 2400lb car.

snip

regarding the vibe i would venture to say you haven't actually driven one.

snip


I got 41mpg in my 3 coming back from DC last weekend (and yes, I did check the METARs along the way to see if I had a tailwind, and I actually had a left quartering headwind most of the way).. It's a little naive to think that weight and engine displacement are the only factors affecting mileage. Driving style is far more influential than either, and there are dozens of other mechanical design factors that go into it as well. I was driving between 55 and 65 the whole way and avoiding rapid acceleration (which is the single biggest factor causing low fuel mileage due to the fact that the thermodynamic efficiency of a 4-stroke gasoline motor decreases very rapidly with power output).

The overall combined fuel economy I have experienced so far is 32 MPG, about half and half city and highway.

W/R/T the vibe, I did drive one last summer (a rental) so I am speaking from my experience with that car. It could have been an 07 or an 08, but it had no miles on it when I picked it up at the Denver airport, so I imagine it was an 08. The handling was awful, lots of body roll and squishyness. I can't really comment on the drivetrain since I only drove it at altitude. Either way, it was an honest assessment.

I looked at a Fit long enough to determine it was too expensive for what it was, and ugly enough that I would not want to drive it. That's about as far as I got with it. Also, all things being equal, +2MPG on the highway and +4 in town is really insignificant, but giving up 40HP to get there is simply ludicrous, IMHO. That mileage difference can easily be overcome with good driving habits.

Hope that clarifies my position on it... not trying to start a war of cars here.

[OnebigTymer11]

Have you thought about a mitsu lancer?

[jeffmsp]

i test drove a fit to do a review for my old job and had a blast. of course i dont think it would last long the way i was driving it, but if you are just keeping it til the warranty runs out it was a pretty fun car for booting around downtown toronto. the little engine is hilarious, it just makes you want to keep revving the crap out of it, you feel like an out of work F1 driver doing his grocery shopping. fun car, but obviously the 3 is the better car.

[FunkyBuddha]

Honda Fit

[jred321]

Have you thought about a mitsu lancer?
already had one of those of the fun variety. the normal one doesn't interest me. plus it's not a hatch, i want the hatch so i can throw bikes in the back

[LazerBlueP5]

Replying a bit late in this thread and haven't read all the replies so my appologies if I reiterate some points that were already made.

I've had some experience with all 3 cars, in one way or another (...at least in a minor way). I currently own a MS3, used to own a Toyota Matrix, and a good friend of mine just bought a 2008 Fit.

They are all around the same price point but the Mazda 3 feels so much more expensive than the other two. The Fit, on paper, is supposed to be the cheapest but seems to be the highest price of the three- at least if you look at real-world stickers at your local Honda dealer. I think my friend paid 19K+ on his Fit Sport, which I find ridiculous. It's abysmally slow and is very akward looking- hate the "tall" windows. Cargo capacity is the least out of the round up.

The Vibe/Matrix on the other hand excels in this area with something around 53 cu ft of cargo capacity with the back seats droped. I loved the fact that the seat backs and trunk are rugged hard plastic. Definitely adds to it's utilitarian design. They also fold completly flat which is a nice touch. It also has other cool features like a 120v plug in the front dash, and a rear hatch who's glass can raise separatly if needed. Overall it's a very well designed vehicle, great as a daily driver and cargo hauler. It's got a bullet-proof reliability rating and good resale. Problem is the 1.8 motor is lack luster and the sticker price is often just shy of 20k.

The Mazda 3 has arguably the best "looks" out of the group, also sporting the best fit and finish. It's got the most powerful engine and has collected enough awards from the rags to fill an oversized trophy cabinet. It's not as well designed in regards to hauling cargo- the interior volume is much less than that of the Vibe and the seats don't lay completely flat or offer the hard cargo floor.

I'd say out of the three it would be down to the Vibe/Matrix and the Mazda 3. Depends on which is more important to you- flexibility or performance.

[ehidle]

already had one of those of the fun variety. the normal one doesn't interest me. plus it's not a hatch, i want the hatch so i can throw bikes in the back

Are you a roadie or one of those other wierdos...what are they called....oh yeah.. mountain bikers?? :D

I admit I don't know what to do about carrying the bikes around. I usually just ride from my house, but I'm afraid of the trunk carrier scratching the heck out of the back, and the roof racks decreasing mileage.

Glad I kept my SUV, I guess heh.

[jred321]

you won't catch me in spandex, i can tell you that much

[ReadS13]

I traded my evo for a honda fit and it was the best car for me. It was great on gas and I traveled 120 miles a day for a year and a half. I just traded in the fit for an ms3, but the fit was almost better to me than the evo. I would totally by another fit for a daily but the ms3 does the job plus has a lot of go the fit didn't have that I missed in the evo. The fit is a little slow but it seriously feels like your driving a lot faster because its so small. I put over 5000 grand in suspension and it handled like a go cart, the best part was out handling a 911 in a cloverleaf.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usvGVgC_neE

[jomil91]

I got the S hatchback, and it has enough options that makes it cheap, looks hot (2 yrs and still people think its brand new off the lot) it handles great, I can get 31 mpg when I drive safely, but otherwise, avg about 24, 25. and has given me no problems, I also though of the fit, but it's too small.. and too overpriced!

[skylar2ups]

And the fit makes you feel like you are sitting on cardboard... at least the 08's did.