Spy Pics of the Mazda 3

[Drumm09]

At this point I have to say that I am not crazy about it. It is of course a spy picture and not the final item. Plus the face is covered. I don't know that I like the back. Any comments?

http://www.***************/forums/read.php?TID=4795

[Newf]

not impressed.

Hopefully the us car gets a new fascia or something

[chuyler1]

so it will be a 4 door? I thought it was only going to be 2.

[KYREDP5]

I just hope it will handle as well or (preferabley) better than the current Protege.

[TexP5]

Generic Japanes small car circa 2003. Somewhat disappointing

[tonkabui]

i'm just glad they are reconsidering the rear quarter glass. i didn't dig the nissan murano look at all. hopefully it will still resemble the protege. also, that thing needs larger side sills. it looks like a minivan in its current form. oh yeah... please let them install a rear spoiler.

[bcbadboy]

I don't like the way it looks at all.

[chuyler1]

Like I said in a previous thread...once a manufacturer gets something right....they jump to a new platform and screw themselves over.

[KYREDP5]

Originally posted by chuyler1
so it will be a 4 door? I thought it was only going to be 2.

Supposed to be available in 3, 4, and 5 door versions.

[Drumm09]

I don't like it either..... It just looks plain and simple. I liked the MX Sportiv but I am note sure about this one. It needs a spoiler or some ground effect or something. However, keep in mind that this is a Spy pic and not the final product. I have faith that it will handle as well or better than the current Pro. I am sure Mazda realizes that it's handling is what sets them apart. Now if they can only finalize the exterior.

I can't wait to see the sedan verion of the 3

[Captain KRM P5]

i also think that the MX Sportif looked better. Oh well, still a notch better looking than the paper mache focus and bulbous Neon

[Heathen23]

the body lines, gaps, and styling says Focus to me. It looks slapped together. I hope to got that is not the reality of this car but I fear that ford has dug it's claws into this one and it's going to be a focus with a flying m slapped on the hood.

[markleung]

I can tell u all... I love my P5 more then the mazda 3 now... it looks no good..... it kinda look like the Suzuki........ damn!!!!!

Peace

[Antoine]

Mazda!!!...I know your eyes/spies are aware of this site...You have something new and fresh with the MX Sportif...Don't water it down!

I could see the MX looking sweet with a bit of tasteful tuner parts...sort of the like the vw gti vibe but better looking and WE ALL KNOW BETTER HANDLING! ;)

In any case the Mazda 3 owners have a home here. I'm sure whatever the final look is...most will like it over time.

[Alberteaux]

eh.

[nate0123]

Those headlights are straight off a new Camry SE :(

[wannabe]

well theres a picture on the mazda website now, doesnt look as bad:

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/images/photographs/pho_veh_upcoming_model_mazda3.jpg

and
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/images/photographs/pho_veh_upcoming_model_mazda3_lg.jpg

[Newf]

we aren't supposed to get the hatch until late 2004 aren't we? So why show that?

Where's the sedan? That's coming first.

[Micah]

Maybe Wings West will create a body kit with wood panels for the sides?

[Newf]

ouch

[clownphish]

Originally posted by tonkabui
oh yeah... please let them install a rear spoiler.


Ditto! Please, that thing needs some style!!!

[nate0123]

Those pics look better MP3Wannabe, it's actually starting to grow on me. Nice spoiler. Body color grill. Not bad.

[Newf]

It's not bad looking, but it is very plain vanilla looking. I find the P5 sportier and more aggressive. The ground effects on this thing are just to subtle. The rear spoiler is there, but also too subtle.

[wannabe]

it kinda looks like a cross between the new Civic Si and the VW GTi

[nate0123]

Originally posted by mp3wannabe
it kinda looks like a cross between the new Civic Si and the VW GTi
it's way less boxy than either of those cars, the strong fender flare lines help

[wannabe]

the fender lines look like they were pulled from the bmw z3 coupe

[chuyler1]

I don't like it ... period.

but I've got my new P5 to love. I'm actually glad I don't like it. Don't you hate it when you go out and buy something and see it on sale the next day, or your friend buys one a month down the road and his/her's is cooler than yours? I do.

And whats even better is that there are only two years of my P5 to see on the road, add that to the fact that I have yet to see another Laser Blue one, and my car (to me at least) feels like one of a kind.

Anyway, the styling queues are too much like Honda. The fenders look like an S2000, someone already mentioned the si. And they had a good thing going with the over sized fog lamps. When we asked the question "is it a hatchback or a wagon" about the P5, they decided to make sure the Mazda3 was a pronounced hatchback to clear up any confusion....i like having a wagon.

[chuyler1]

I changed my mind about the fendors....they are definatly "late model Volvo"

[wannabe]

Originally posted by chuyler1
I don't like it ... period.

but I've got my new P5 to love. I'm actually glad I don't like it. Don't you hate it when you go out and buy something and see it on sale the next day, or your friend buys one a month down the road and his/her's is cooler than yours? I do.

And whats even better is that there are only two years of my P5 to see on the road, add that to the fact that I have yet to see another Laser Blue one, and my car (to me at least) feels like one of a kind.



or when they come out with a turbo model a year and half later :(

[Captain KRM P5]

from the Mazda3 website;

Much more than the sum of its parts
Think you’ve figured out what compact cars are all about? Think again. The MAZDA3 is about more than the typical things you get from a compact, like efficient transportation, versatility and good gas mileage. A whole lot more.

It’s about getting a ride completely unlike the typical compact car and more like what you’d expect from the engineers who just got finished designing the new Mazda RX-8. The MAZDA3’s suspension is engineered to provide the sort of curve-hugging, road-gripping, quick-steering response you get from a European sport sedan. The engines are designed to provide plenty of oomph to power you out of a tight curve.

It’s about getting far more than you’ve been led to believe is possible in a compact car. Like standard 4-wheel disc brakes and available 17-inch alloy wheels. Like a choice of 2.0- or 2.3-liter engines -- the sort you’d expect to find in bigger and more expensive cars.

And of course, there’s plenty of cargo room, passenger room and flexibility to get you, your friends and your gear wherever you need to go. You’ll just have a lot more fun doing it than with any other compact car.

The all-new MAZDA3. Coming soon.

Ummm, where would I find a more expensive or bigger car with a 2.0 liter engine? Unless they mean a late model 626 :D

[wannabe]

maybe they meant the lexus 2.0l suv? oh wait.....that doesnt exist.....

[JunkPunch]

Ummm, where would I find a more expensive or bigger car with a 2.0 liter engine? Unless they mean a late model 626 :D [/B]

Jetta.

[nate0123]

the infiniti g20, wasn't much bigger, but was more expensive

[wannabe]

the infinity g20 only had a 2.0?? that is something i did not know...

[dmitrik4]

Originally posted by Heathen23
the body lines, gaps, and styling says Focus to me. It looks slapped together. I hope to got that is not the reality of this car but I fear that ford has dug it's claws into this one and it's going to be a focus with a flying m slapped on the hood.

of course it's slapped together...it's a development car, not a production model.

the reality is that the 3 and focus will share a platform (along w/ the volvo S40). the reality also is that ford has made huge strides in the quality control dept, and that mazda was in the toilet until ford stepped in...

[nate0123]

Originally posted by mp3wannabe
the infinity g20 only had a 2.0?? that is something i did not know...
Yep, I assume it was basically an Infiniti Sentra

[JunkPunch]

Originally posted by mp3wannabe
the infinity g20 only had a 2.0?? that is something i did not know...

G20 had the SR20DE engine, which was the same engine as the Sentra SE-R and the NX2000. Great engine.

[wannabe]

http://www.hondacars.com/images/2003/civic_si/com096_model_image.jpg

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/images/photographs/pho_veh_upcoming_model_mazda3_lg.jpg

looks waaaay too similar...

[chuyler1]

People once said that my parents (now my sister's) 1990 Chevy Lumina MPV minivan (also the Pontiac Transport and Olds Sillouette) looked like a 'dust buster on wheels' because the hood and windshield were at the same degree angle. If so, the Honda si looks like a pocket sized dust buster. . .at least from that angle.

[gib]

whhhat? The civic and 3 similar. PLeaaaaase wear your glasses!!!

[wannabe]

hey man, i never said that they looked identical, just too similar. the civic and protege have always looked very different from each other, and now they seem to be going in similar directions.....IMO

[Newf]

I don't agree. Ever see the stock SI in person? If so, there's no way you could say their similar.

[gib]

beside being hathback, nothing to me look similar between those 2 cars, from headlights to tail gate, the 3 as nothing in common with the civic.

[chuyler1]

Then what is similar to you? Do the Toyota Corolla and Chevy Prism look similar?

[gib]

For example, the vibe & Matrix (!!!), For instance most "classical" SUV looks the same (Pilot Honda, Mazda Tribute, toyota rav4, Ford explorer). Murano, another SUV is distinct from the others. What about minivan. All the same! The dissimilarities lies in the design all together. Look at the back window of the 3. Dissimilar from the SIR. Look at the headlight. Those three circle with that caracteristical style of Mazda headlight as nothing to do with those wide front headlights of the civic. A 5 door, compared to a 4 door. That's what dissimilar is to me.