2004 Mazda 3? Or wait for 2005?

[Boge]

I'm looking at buying a Mazda 3. I know that they are new and new cars sometimes have bugs that need to be worked out. What are some of the problems the Mazda 3 has that may be fixed for the 2005? Should I get one now or wait for the 2005? Also, rumors of the MazdaSpeed 3 are crawling. What would you guess is the price and performace differences compared to the 2.3 Mazda3? Would it be better to buy a Mazda 3 s and then do aftermarket mods?

[Macadonious]

If you go through this forum you will notice that a few ppl have ranted about there problems with there new car. I would wait to 2005 if you can. As far as Mazdaspeed for the 2.3, it does not look good for the US market. Asian counties and maybe the European countries will recieve, but the US market is so much of a tight ass, we might not see it for awhile, if at all.

[vyse12012]

ah ... this sucks because I was waiting this mazdaspeed 3 ... :(

guess I'll wait for the 2005 3 .. or maybe a speed6 ..

[jlanger]

Traditionally almost any first year run of a car isn't the best idea to get. I know that the 3 had been in Japan for almost a year before coming here but just a word of caution. 2nd year models are almost always the best as all the problems have been fixed but the penny pinchers haven't gone and decontented the car yet. (Though the protege never had a problem adn just kept getting better!) I know that there were few problems with the 6 and I would hope that this would be the same with the 3. Whatever you decide, good luck.

[Siphen]

Traditionally almost any first year run of a car isn't the best idea to get. I know that the 3 had been in Japan for almost a year before coming here but just a word of caution. 2nd year models are almost always the best as all the problems have been fixed but the penny pinchers haven't gone and decontented the car yet. (Though the protege never had a problem adn just kept getting better!) I know that there were few problems with the 6 and I would hope that this would be the same with the 3. Whatever you decide, good luck.

You are a cruel person wishing problems upon use 3 owners. I'm up to 1000 miles with nothing wrong other then the guilt I feel of having so much preformance and power for so little money (hi)

[malebastard]

I guess it would be how anxious you are to own one!!!!

I couldn't wait and had to have it there and then!!!

Even then i had to wait 2 weeks for it...

[Macadonious]

I wish the Mazdaspeed would come to the states. To me, the 3 is seriously underpowered. Then again, I was used to a 365HP(300whp) Acura Integra GSR

[jlanger]

Not trynig to saying anything bad, in fact I probably would have gotten a 3 instead of the P5 but just from experience and from research into other cars, first year designs are always a bit more trouble prone. In anyway, odds are you're car will be just fine, even the worst lemons have only a small % of problems in the whole modle line. Otherwise the media gets all over it adn the manufacurer loses big time, (look at the 3rd gen RX7, Focus, etc.)

[TheMirror]

I'd wait if it makes financial sense. Let us early production 2004 owners be the guinea pigs. Keep watching this space. If any of us early 3 owners run into problems, you can guarantee we'll let you know here.
-Mirror

[taylor5]

I completely disagree with "jlanger". The Protege has had many problems and the many I had on my P5 speak for themselves....Transmission, A/C, Cruise Control, Rattles and more Rattles, and the infamous "cold noise" condition that was never fixed correctly on mine and always sounded like a diesel upon start up. Others have had problems with clutches, syncros and even suspension....All this on a car in its' "fourth" year of production run.

So "first year beware"????.....that is Wac!! As the P5 proved you can have manufacturer problems many years after a model has been out.

[lj123023]

The only thing I can think of, in the next year or two, is that they can sqeeze another 20 hp or so out of the 2.3L...

Case in point about 1st year cars: Had a '95 Maxima (1st year of new model), 100K miles. Only regular maintenance, and maybe an oxygen sensor or something.

[blizz81]

If you go through this forum you will notice that a few ppl have ranted about there problems with there new car.

I've actually been keeping an eye out for posts like these and haven't really found anything substantial (mainly complaints about paint chipping, which is pretty much across the board these days with paint standards and regulations, and lack of certain features/comments on features). I haven't buckled down on my searches yet though, so... :)

I guess I need to do some reading on the late protege transmission problems I've heard people reference, and to make sure and check that the 3's 5-speed is the same tranny.

But I am watching out to see how the 3 fares. Come summertime I may look into purchasing a 5-speed 3s, and reliability is a big factor, which doesn't sit well with a 1st-year car...but that's how the financial cookie crumbled, so not much choice.



Case in point about 1st year cars: Had a '95 Maxima (1st year of new model), 100K miles. Only regular maintenance, and maybe an oxygen sensor or something.


The 95's also had starter issues (I believe the 97s and replacements on 95-96s got a different design), as well as the dreaded bearing failure in the manual transmissions due to improperly measured shims...although that was fairly spotty, and ran at least through the 97s. The latter issue you generally didn't see until at least 50k, and no recall/service on it because it was spotty, but expensive for the people who ended up having to deal with it.

[Newf]

My dealer has only had one protege with tranny problems since the last 3 years I've been there. And it was a P5 that was driven by some punk ass kid who thought he was driving a rally car. The shit this could used to do to his car was a pure sin.

I still think the majority of tranny problems in Protege's are partially the drivers fault. I know there have been some legit problems, and all cars you'll have a few, but i wouldn't call the tranny a pos by any means. It ain't no dodge :)

I've been trying to watch the Mazda 3 forum for problems as well since I'll probably go to a Mazdaspeed 3 sedan in 2005 if there is one. I can't say I have really found many. Apparantly a small clunking noise from the wheels while going over bumps(few complaints), chipping problems ( hello...every car does this side of a benz), and little stuff so far. But it's almost too early yet to judge.

[Maz3sportGT]

Hi!

Really it does depend on how excited you are about getting one. Just do what you feel is best to do. I have had my Mazda 3 Sport GT for about 2 weeks with about 500KM on it and no problems what so ever! Just break dust on the first 2 days and then that went away and its a perfect car now (thumb) It has all the power you are ever going to need unless you really like to race etc. Infact its more powerfull then some V6 3.0L cars out there. Not bad for a 4 cyl. Mazda really did a good job this time and I am very impressed with my 2004 Mazda 3. So really it depends on what you think you really want to do.

Good luck!

[jlanger]

Taylor5, We can certainly get into a peeing match about what exactly a "problem" is. Honestly Almost every car I've driven in had some kind of shakes and rattles no matter how old it really was (Premium luxury cars are a different sort mind you but you do pay for it.) As for the loud noise, many cars are that way, I consider that a quirk of the design, it doesn't hurt anything, the engine works fine w/o issues.
The A/C issue I agree on however I consider that quite small to some of the issues I've had with other cars, ie contours and thier plastic water pump impeler.
I'm just saying that first year cars tend to have more issues no manufacture can predict exactly how the car will hold up in the first year. They certainly try though.
After owning 2 protege's now and having family own other mazda's I think that hte quality is pretty good. There have been some lemons, as every car manufacture has, BMW 750 anyone?

[spiffymc3]

If you go through this forum you will notice that a few ppl have ranted about there problems with there new car. I would wait to 2005 if you can. As far as Mazdaspeed for the 2.3, it does not look good for the US market. Asian counties and maybe the European countries will recieve, but the US market is so much of a tight ass, we might not see it for awhile, if at all.


Does anyone know when the 2005s Mazda 3s are coming out? I'm considering buying a 2004 - but if the 2005s are coming out soon, might wait. Any thoughts? Thanks.

[RobMP5]

Yeah if you really want a 2004, but can afford to wait, wait until the 05s arrive. The 04s came around November, so the 05s should be here around the same time. Once they do, the dealerships will want to get rid of the 04s. I was first looking at the Mazda3, but decided to get a P5, because they weren't budging from MSRP on the 3, but sold me the P5 for $15.5K (sticker was $18.3K).

[SpeedKing109]

I'm looking at buying a Mazda 3. I know that they are new and new cars sometimes have bugs that need to be worked out. What are some of the problems the Mazda 3 has that may be fixed for the 2005? Should I get one now or wait for the 2005? Also, rumors of the MazdaSpeed 3 are crawling. What would you guess is the price and performace differences compared to the 2.3 Mazda3? Would it be better to buy a Mazda 3 s and then do aftermarket mods?


It depends you can wait till MX3 in 05 and get the MX3 04 for a cheaper price I really dont think they made any improve on the MX3 05 I went to the Michigan auto show and all they did to the car is preaty much made 2 exhuast instead of one and probably like 5 more hp there not going to make the MX3 05 to 170hp correct if I am wrong but I bealive I think the there are going to make the mx3 o5 to like 6 more hp more (maybe) so It depends to you I Bought my MX3 04 so I can add the aftermarket parts on it think about it the older it is the more parts.

[Da 6]

good luck on a speed 6....remember the V6 is us and canada only...It wouldn't go over too well if a 4 cyl is outrunning it's V6 counterpart(fight)

[Mikey444]

If you go through this forum you will notice that a few ppl have ranted about there problems with there new car. I would wait to 2005 if you can. As far as Mazdaspeed for the 2.3, it does not look good for the US market. Asian counties and maybe the European countries will recieve, but the US market is so much of a tight ass, we might not see it for awhile, if at all.

I saw pictures at my dealer last week of the mazda 3 speed, it will feature a 2.3 liter turbocharged engine, sick body kit, sick mags and all the goodies you'd expect, it's like nothing else, trust me, if you want a modified car, wait for the Mazda 3 speed to come out, shouldnt be more than a year or two, In the mean time, I will try to get my hands on those pictures so I can post them here.

[Da 6]

yeah should be 280 awd iirc...

[SpeedKing109]

doesnt matter to me the 05 will have turbo? then so will the mazda3 04 for aftermarket.

[SpeedKing109]

Boge
If you want the 05 then get it.
This reason why I am going to buy a 04 when the 05 comes out is because the 04 MX3 will drop down price allot because the dealer wants it to get rid of it so they can put 05 on the lot. Plus If you get the 04 when the 05 comes out you get more aftermarket parts and if the 05 has anynew mods so will the 04 parts.

[SpeedKing109]

I'm looking at buying a Mazda 3. I know that they are new and new cars sometimes have bugs that need to be worked out. What are some of the problems the Mazda 3 has that may be fixed for the 2005? Should I get one now or wait for the 2005? Also, rumors of the MazdaSpeed 3 are crawling. What would you guess is the price and performace differences compared to the 2.3 Mazda3? Would it be better to buy a Mazda 3 s and then do aftermarket mods?

Boge

Yes it would be cheaper if bought MX3 04 when the 05 comes then buy the 04 and the dealer with all packages is around 22K for about 18K or get the car you like cheaper in 04.. they want to get rid of the cars in the lots for room and space. I would get a MX3 04 if I were you but dont get it untill they have allready getting ready for the 05's or you see one in the magazine.. 04 and 05.. What ever the 05 has the 04 will have in aftermarket price so yes 04 better for more aftermarket parts then the 05 will not has so many. Its up to you bro get what you like.

[gentleminh]

i just traded in my 2002.5 mp5 for a mazda 3.. my protege5 wasn't bad at all.. only thing i had a BIG problem was the brakes.. like when u would drive, it'd sounded like a hamster wheel. and it cost me about 700$ til it got fix, but then i heard it again like two days ago, and that was it for me.. i traded that bitch in !! ;) haha anyhow.. the mp5only turned off on me ONCE, for god knows why.. other then that, it was a good car.. but i test drove the M3 and loved it.. looks better.. the gausges are awesome, and who can say no to stock 17!?? i jsut wished i had enough for the tv guide thing =\

[bvmazda3]

i jsut wished i had enough for the tv guide thing =\

Eh? "tv guide thing"? Like a subscription? :)

~Bart~

Edit: I'm such a dumbass! You meant the DVD navi, right? Sorry - brainfart.

[transpuma]

I think you should get what you want, when you want it. Yes, waiting for the 05 to roll out would be your best bet, but what if they don't have what you're looking for (colors, features, 2.0 vs 2.3 etc etc...) in an 04. More than likely the dealer won't be able to get you what you want in an 04 anyway, since they're going to be much more driven to sell the 05's.

I didn't even think I was going to buy a MZ3, I had a civic 03 and saw a MZ3 on the road one day and I fell in love. Never did I think I would leave a Honda for a Mazda, But I did. I guess what I'm trying to say is you only live once, and who's to say that we'll all be around for the 05's to come out. I'm sure we'll all be healthy and well but that's just my 2 cents.

Good luck on deciding. (eekdance)

[wongpres]

I posted the US '05 Mazda3 changes in the thread titled ''05 US-spec Mazda3 changes'. US-dealers can no longer factory-order a '04 Mazda3 (the last '04 order allocation has passed). However, of course, they can still do dealer trades and other trades/pickups at the port.

Basically, the longer you wait for a car, the more updates will be had at the factory. But if one goes by that theory, then you'd have to wait until the final year of production to get all the upgrades that the factory has learned about a model. So it's a trade-off, waiting will have more updates but the model would have been out longer, and also prices generally rise slightly for each model year (heck, Mazda Canada raised the Canadian-spec Mazda3 MSRP by $100cdn during the '04 model year). So it's your choice, my philosophy is to simply get a car when you need it.

Any potential Mazdaspeed3 is way off (at least 2.5yrs from today for N. America, and that's if there is one at all).

[goldwing2000]

Basically, the longer you wait for a car, the more updates will be had at the factory. But if one goes by that theory, then you'd have to wait until the final year of production to get all the upgrades that the factory has learned about a model.

Ahhh... but there's another hitch. More updates also means potentially more (different) problems, as well.
It's a double-edged sword... :(

[Rism]

Two things i hate about the 3.
1. the back end is ugly as hell!
2. top speed is 118 thx to a governor

But im still thinking of getting one ;)

[wongpres]

Ahhh... but there's another hitch. More updates also means potentially more (different) problems, as well.
It's a double-edged sword... :(
Very true, especially since a lot of the updates that come have to do with getting cheaper parts from suppliers (e.g. a cheaper plastic because it didn't need to be as strong as the original design).

[bvmazda3]

Two things i hate about the 3.
1. the back end is ugly as hell!


I like the sedan's ass-end... I didn't order a hatch for that very reason, though...

~Bart~