anyone have a first gen3 and now a 2010? If so thoughts?

[6SpeedTA95]

I was hoping to garner thoughts of those who have a 2010 3 and came from a first generation 3. I've talked to a couple salesmen both of whom want to sell me 09s but both acknowledged the 2010s are better cars and more refined inside. I was hoping for some first hand accounts/thoughts from unbiased individuals.

 

[Ricolando]

I owned a 2006 and traded it in for a 2010 and I'll say that it's leaps and bounds better than my previous car. I went from a 2006 2.3 S 5MT sedan to a 2010 2.5 S 6MT hatch. The only reason I would ever have wanted to keep my old one is because of the amount of mods that are available for it, but in a couple years time there'll be plenty for the new model =).

You can feel the power in the new 2.5L. The pull to 60 is about the same but when you need to do some acceleration on the highway the extra HP makes a difference. Having 6 gears is great even though some of them are a little short. The interior quality is much higher than the previous gen, which by all accounts was already pretty good.

 

[6SpeedTA95]

I owned a 2006 and traded it in for a 2010 and I'll say that it's leaps and bounds better than my previous car. I went from a 2006 2.3 S 5MT sedan to a 2010 2.5 S 6MT hatch. The only reason I would ever have wanted to keep my old one is because of the amount of mods that are available for it, but in a couple years time there'll be plenty for the new model =).

You can feel the power in the new 2.5L. The pull to 60 is about the same but when you need to do some acceleration on the highway the extra HP makes a difference. Having 6 gears is great even though some of them are a little short. The interior quality is much higher than the previous gen, which by all accounts was already pretty good.

Yeah I'm hearing this from others as well, this means a 2010 may be in the cards, I will drive them both next week. My wife's interior is pretty good for an econo car...but I've been told and read that the new interior is on par with last gen accords (which were quite nice). This may mean the speed3 could be the perfect compromise between refinement/performance I've been searching for.

I've been cross shopping a wierd array of cars because I value refinement and performance...

And yes the 2.5L is 4 seconds quicker to 110mph than the old 2.3 but to 60 its about even.

 

[speedster00]

I didnt have a 1st gen 3 but I had 1st gen 6 that I traded for my 2010 3s. I love the new 3. It is noticibly quicker, and I imediately noticed the quality of the interior as aposed to my 03 6i. The car is smaller on the inside of course, but for an every day driver I much prefer it over my 6. And im getting 15-20% better milleage even though it has a bigger motor.

 

[samabhi111]

Does anyone have pics of it? If anyone have then pls post it.

 

[digitall]

I also traded in my '06 3 GT for a '10 3 (also GT - posted specs in the rollcall). The overall quality feels significantly better, and like Ricolando said, the quality in an '06 was already quite good. I went from an '04 Civic to the '06 3 and was sold within minutes that I am a lifetime member of the Mazda club.

So, if you haven't already pulled the trigger yet, the 2010 is more than worth it (2thumbs)

 

[cspcrx]

I dont have a 3 but I have a P5 and have been driving a 2010 3 while my P5 is at the dealer. Hear are my thoughts on the car.
Pros, great milage, quite ride, bose sound system is very nice, headlights are hella bright at night, very large truck, glove box that is so large it looks like you could crawl in it.
Cons, seats are two narrow at the shoulders and to me very uncomfortable, remote key combo weights like 10lbs (ok its not 10lbs but its stupid heavy in your pocket), side view mirrors are an odd shape and I do not like the view they provide, steering feels very touchy (seems like its got to much toe), dash extends into passenger space a bit to much feels like your cramped.
Those are my thoughts..

 

[6SpeedTA95]

I dont have a 3 but I have a P5 and have been driving a 2010 3 while my P5 is at the dealer. Hear are my thoughts on the car.
Pros, great milage, quite ride, bose sound system is very nice, headlights are hella bright at night, very large truck, glove box that is so large it looks like you could crawl in it.
Cons, seats are two narrow at the shoulders and to me very uncomfortable, remote key combo weights like 10lbs (ok its not 10lbs but its stupid heavy in your pocket), side view mirrors are an odd shape and I do not like the view they provide, steering feels very touchy (seems like its got to much toe), dash extends into passenger space a bit to much feels like your cramped.
Those are my thoughts..

Very surprised you thoguth the steering was too quick...I felt it was a weee bit dead on center, I'm hoping the speed3 fixes that.

 

[cspcrx]

I should have been a bit more specific in my description. It turn in is nice but I do not like the way it tracks. Tends to want to follow grooves. Makes the handling seem twitchy. My P5 was that way from the factory. It also eat tires, inside edge, due to the heavy amount of toe out the seem to come with. Hand a local shop fix that for me and the car is much friendly to tires and steering feels more stable. The guy I know at the dealer say the P5 and 3 all have the same issue with toe.

 

[rodslinger]

We just picked up a 2010 grand touring sedan with the bose and tech package. We used to have a 2004 grand touring sedan with nav, HID, sunroof, etc... Similarly equipped except for the items that just weren't available back then.

I haven't had the new one long enough to give a thorough comparion but there are some things I noticed quick. The controls are a litle more involved on the new one. Just not as simple. That's just a result of having more stuff. Easy to figure out though.

The 04 actually felt a little quicker but not as good a handler. Tire noise on the new one sucks. Interior space is about the same. Seats on the 2010 are more comfortable and more supportive.

I like the keyless start and door lock/unlock features of the tech package. Never have to hit the remote to lock or unlock doors. Just press the little button on the door handle when I walk up and the car unlocks. Walk away and it locks. And as always, the bose stereo sounds like s***.

 

[twowings]

I traded in an '06 3 Sport on a 2010 3 Sport......The new car is much more refined and comfortable (not that the 06 was uncomfortable)....I'm loving the automatic door locks and bluetooth along with the torque and hp increase....the new motor is a sweetheart.....BUT I do miss the old dash/steering wheel control layout which was a classic...and I about had a heart attack when I looked under the load floor....the '06 had a nice plastic tray with compartments for jumper cables, a small socket set, detailing items, etc......the new car has the most HIDEOUS styrofoam insert that looks like it belongs on a Yugo......very disappointed in that.....I will be looking to retrofit a 1st gen plastic tray instead....my TRZ dogbone tranny mount works perfectly on the new car as do the rubber mats and cargo tray mat from my old car.....looks like a lot of the aftermarket suspension/engine items from 1st gen will be adaptable to the new car....plus I love the new OEM wheels so much I doubt I'll change them for a long time....

 

[Mazdaboysp23]

i traded in my 2005 gt sp23 5speed for a 2010 gt 6speed and miss my old one but LOVE my new one! interior looks nicer than my friends is350 and i love the exterior as well, i went from carbon gray mica to the new graphite mica, its awesome! drives better and def more punch from the 2.5 than the 2.3

 

[Mazdaboysp23]

Here are some pics of my 2005 sp23 and pics of my 2010

 

[Mazdaboysp23]

Some more....

 

[Mazdaboysp23]

And some of my new baby, 2010 gt 6-speed w/ moonroof and tech packages

 

[Mazdaboysp23]

And a few more Had to put one with the big "smile"!!

 

[OneEyedHito]

I like the keyless start and door lock/unlock features of the tech package. Never have to hit the remote to lock or unlock doors. Just press the little button on the door handle when I walk up and the car unlocks. Walk away and it locks. And as always, the bose stereo sounds like s***.

Rodslinger
On the wife's '10 GT with Tech package our doors don't automatically lock when we walk away. I thought it did, but I tried tonight when I got home. I exited the car and took the fob inside the house, then went out and pulled the door handle and Voila the door opened. So it appears the the fob proximity doesn't automatically lock the doors, although it does shut the lights off once you get about 8 feet from the car.

Am I missing something, do I need to program something to make it auto lock or are you thinking that it locks as I did?

Thanks in advance,
1IH

 

[Mazdaboysp23]

the dealer can set it to lock automatically free of charge when u take it for the first oil change, they should have given you a checklist of little things you can tweak

 

[OneEyedHito]

the dealer can set it to lock automatically free of charge when u take it for the first oil change, they should have given you a checklist of little things you can tweak

Tank u verdy much!!!(dance)