I found one local to me at a stealership, looks to be in great shape and it's priced right where the internet experts ( 
) say it should be. It has the Sky Captain... I mean SkyActive 2.0 mated to a 6 speed manual and claims 27 mpg city and 39 mpg highway on regular swill.
I would prefer something proper wheel drive but these seem to be pretty well built mechanically, from what I've found online and I'm interested in learning more. If they are well built enough this may even be something I'll pass on to the kid(s) in 8 years or so. OOF! Mah hip! Whar's mah metty moosill and prunes?
How similar is the SkyActive engine to the old Duratec?
Anybody own one of these? If so, do you have any gripes?
Cheers,
Jed
I've got a 2012 w/ Skyactiv. It's been a good car so far (37,000 miles). I get about 32-33 on a regular basis (through suburban commuter traffic, higher on the highway, and mine is auto). Gripes? I'm not in love with the seats, and the road noise is a bit loud. Mine is a hatch and will haul an impressive amount of stuff, that makes up for the gripes for me.
I forget what year my wife's 3 was. Might have been a 2010, so not really relevant. It did have the six-speed and the 2.5 liter. I really enjoyed driving the car. Only dings against it were road noise and so-so gas mileage, but I think they might have taken care of the latter with the SkyActive engines. If I was looking for a commuter, the 3 would be near the top of the list.
slowride wrote:
I've got a 2012 w/ Skyactiv. It's been a good car so far (37,000 miles). I get about 32-33 on a regular basis (through suburban commuter traffic, higher on the highway, and mine is auto). Gripes? I'm not in love with the seats, and the road noise is a bit loud. Mine is a hatch and will haul an impressive amount of stuff, that makes up for the gripes for me.
Same experience here. Have a 2012 also. Seats are not the best for long trips, and road noise can get a little loud. Our's has 58k miles on it and all I've done are oil changes and just replaced the OEM tires on it (which did improve the road noise issue a little). Oh we get about 36mpg in mixed driving.
Nice, good to hear. This one's a sedan with 44,000 on the clock.
My 09 has the 2.3 w/automatic transmission. (30-35 mpg highway) Good tires takes care of road noise and ride comfort. I installed adjustable rear toe links to adjust rear camber/toe to spec and reduce tire wear. (Camber is now -1 degree front and rear) Other than that, 70,000 miles of trouble free driving.
The biggest problem I have with the 2013 is that the 2014 exists, and is waaaaay nicer. (Test drove both when a friend was looking at new cars) It feels like the car came from 2008 (Because it did).
Make sure you take a long testdrive. The Mazda 3 of all generations have a crazy wide center console. For me it puts my leg in an uncomfortable position that doesn't show up until after a half hour or so. Otherwise they seem to be great cars. I had a 2006 for 60k trouble free miles that ultimately I replaced because of the leg issue.
In reply to 1988RedT2:
That's what I'm after, just a bland, dependable DD commuter. :)
@ nocones and Mcarp22:
I've been comparing this car to the same era Focus and I've noticed the interior of the Focus looks to be lightyears ahead in design and quality. I have yet to actually lay hands on either one, though.
I'll look into the center console thing.
Dad has a 2014 Mazda3 5 door. I like it and I think the seats are better than the older ones. Different center console than older ones so I think they fixed that potential issue. Fun commuter! I like it better than my 2013 Honda Fit, but that's not a very high bar.
I test drove a '12 Mazda 3 a while ago, and the seats are better than the ones in the brand new Mazda 3 I just test drove today. Also, IMO they handle too well to be considered a bland dd, more like a sporty dd.
three years into owning my 2012 skyactiv 3.
33k miles. never been to the dealer. averages 30mpg puttering around town with the A/C on.
I know a couple of people with more than 150K miles on their 3's. My buddy has over 200K on his 08. Overall most of the gripes have been hit on here already. I put 35K miles a year on the 08 I had with not even an issue after delivery. It never even darkened the stall of a service bay outside of maintenance.
Good car. I would not even think twice about getting another one if I needed an around town commuter car.
mndsm
MegaDork
8/3/15 4:07 p.m.
My 2007 is just shy of 90k. It's been pretty reliable. Shoots fire occasionally, will shred the tires through the first two gears, and with the coilovers, is as stiff as a board. Also it's an ms3 and totally not relevant to this. And it sneezed the turbo last week.
Jeff
SuperDork
8/3/15 5:00 p.m.
Do you live in the rustbelt? If so, this will go for the rust spread speed record. Mazda's are great, but if you live in the rust belt I have a very hard time recommending them.
If its a Sport (base model with 2.0 and E36 M3ty seats) take it for a LONG test drive. I bought a 2015 in May and sold it in July. So horribly uncomfortable, I lost 5 grand and I don't regret getting rid of it.
Other than the ergonomics (note, I'm 6'5" and 210# and not everyone will have the same experience) I loved it. Legit 75mph, 40+ mpg highway using cheap gas. Not fast at all but felt okay with 6 speed. Great manual gearbox and I hear the auto is even better.
So get it if you fit. I had high hopes of keeping mine for 10 years.
I'm not sure if the 2013's have the Skyactiv 2.0L in the Sport trim, but earlier years had the 2.0L MZR engine.
Other than that, I'd skip the Sport trim and go the next step up. It will be a little less miserable, and the cost probably won't be much more. You will get a better stereo with Bluetooth streaming and hands-free calling, alloy wheels, and more.
I've had my 2012 2.5 S Touring for almost 4 years now and 94k miles. I am a big guy (6'1"/300+) and I can drive the car comfortably, although the seats kinda suck. The seat squeaks and it also broke a weld under the seat (common issue, easily fixed). Your motor mounts will shred themselves, which is a given with every Mazda 3 with a stick. They are extremely easy to work on, and the maintenance schedule is a breeze. I do wish I waited and got the Skyactiv, though. The 2.5L is a pig!
In reply to Jeff:
All cars and trucks will rust up here if you do not wash them weekly and use Rust-Oleum on the bottom parts.
SilverFleet wrote:
I'm not sure if the 2013's have the Skyactiv 2.0L in the Sport trim, but earlier years had the 2.0L MZR engine.
Other than that, I'd skip the Sport trim and go the next step up. It will be a little less miserable, and the cost probably won't be much more. You will get a better stereo with Bluetooth streaming and hands-free calling, alloy wheels, and more.
I've had my 2012 2.5 S Touring for almost 4 years now and 94k miles. I am a big guy (6'1"/300+) and I can drive the car comfortably, although the seats kinda suck. The seat squeaks and it also broke a weld under the seat (common issue, easily fixed). Your motor mounts will shred themselves, which is a given with every Mazda 3 with a stick. They are extremely easy to work on, and the maintenance schedule is a breeze. I do wish I waited and got the Skyactiv, though. The 2.5L is a pig!
I'm just a little fella; 5'7" and 180 lbs nekkid. I am rather thick and wide in the upper back, though, which is sometimes an issue with "sporty" seats. I'll definitely give the seats a thorough test fitting.
I'm rather curmudgeonly and am not really one to be overly concerned with options and doodads and such. Half the time I don't even turn on my stereo. I'm a pretty low-maintenance guy, to a fault sometimes.
That being said I am still torn between the 3 and the '12 and up Focus since to me the Focus is just more visually appealing and is a "domestic" make. Then again the 3 gets slightly better fuel mileage and has the all important 5 x 4.5" wheel bolt pattern. 
I'll have to cross shop both of them, jot down the pros and cons of each then study the list for a while and try to decide which car suits myself and my family best.
In reply to SilverFleet:
I seem to remember you having a thread about your 3.
Searching...
Thanks for the input, everyone. 
