Joined
·
53 Posts
Well, I just got my new Mazda 3s Touring Hatch, 5MT, 6 CD / moonroof pkg, and auto-dimming compass mirror.
"Wait!," you may say, didn't this guy just get a GG Hatch last month? Why yes, yes I did. But I got really bad gas mileage that they couldn't figure out, so I ditched the leather and got cloth and most importantly, ditched the 5AT and went back to a manual.
My 'old' 3, if you can call it that, was manufactured in 06/06 and purchased 12/06. I believe the car was used as a demo at the dealership it was transfered from (352 miles when I got it). Also, June 06 was pretty early in the year and they did just do some refreshening of the 3 for '07, so maybe there were a few slight bugs that needed worked out. My new 3 was built 11/06 and purchased today. It seems to feel just a little bit better screwed down than the previous one, maybe it's just me, but it feels that way.
Boy, I could have saved myself some cash if I had test driven the manual 3 when I was shopping the first time. Nothing at all like the 5MT in the Cavalier I got rid of. Driving manual in the Cavi was fun most of the time, but got tedious. With the 3's excellent shifter, it feels so much more enjoyable to have the control.
The other people who would have occasionally needed to use my car are SOL if they can't learn manual, I don't think I'll ever buy another car with a conventional automatic. Manual transmissions are so enjoyable if they are well designed and work flawlessly.
For some reason, my insurance increased by $70 for six months, I have no idea why it would on a the same car.
As soon as weather permits, I'll get some pics.
So lesson learned for me, go MT!
"Wait!," you may say, didn't this guy just get a GG Hatch last month? Why yes, yes I did. But I got really bad gas mileage that they couldn't figure out, so I ditched the leather and got cloth and most importantly, ditched the 5AT and went back to a manual.
My 'old' 3, if you can call it that, was manufactured in 06/06 and purchased 12/06. I believe the car was used as a demo at the dealership it was transfered from (352 miles when I got it). Also, June 06 was pretty early in the year and they did just do some refreshening of the 3 for '07, so maybe there were a few slight bugs that needed worked out. My new 3 was built 11/06 and purchased today. It seems to feel just a little bit better screwed down than the previous one, maybe it's just me, but it feels that way.
Boy, I could have saved myself some cash if I had test driven the manual 3 when I was shopping the first time. Nothing at all like the 5MT in the Cavalier I got rid of. Driving manual in the Cavi was fun most of the time, but got tedious. With the 3's excellent shifter, it feels so much more enjoyable to have the control.
The other people who would have occasionally needed to use my car are SOL if they can't learn manual, I don't think I'll ever buy another car with a conventional automatic. Manual transmissions are so enjoyable if they are well designed and work flawlessly.
For some reason, my insurance increased by $70 for six months, I have no idea why it would on a the same car.
As soon as weather permits, I'll get some pics.
So lesson learned for me, go MT!
And yeah, 5 speeds rock 
