Has there been any discussion about the rumor of a three-door hatch variant of the 3? I have read this in more than one place. I'm doubting that it will be released alongside the four-door sedan and five-door wagon ... is this rumored model intended for release later next year or as a 2005 model? I'm surprised there has not been more discussion on it.
Three-door hatch?
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Well, if there's a 3 dr hatch there better be a 2 dr coup, that's all I can say.
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Yeah I was thinking this morning that I'd expect the MPS3 out real quick, since there's a Protege pocket rocket.
Conversely, this forum in its entirety is indeed inteded to voice ones opinions, preferences, questions, and stories. What dinu01 said was in no way offensive to any party, and therefore has every right to be in this thread. Let's not start something over nothing.
Wishes and reality:
I wish that a 3DR hot hatch along with a coupe/convertible would arrive. Reality is that HBs generate negligeable sales (at best) in NA. Same for coupes. In a society that favours large cars, it doesn't make sense (financially) for a manufacturer to produce these types of cars.
While the Euro market loves HBs, the necessary chnages a company would haveto make to bring a car over the ocean would not be offset by sales, so while we can dream and speculate all we want, i really doubt we'll see a 3DR, convertible or coupe of the Mazda3.
Is this a better answer?
I wish that a 3DR hot hatch along with a coupe/convertible would arrive. Reality is that HBs generate negligeable sales (at best) in NA. Same for coupes. In a society that favours large cars, it doesn't make sense (financially) for a manufacturer to produce these types of cars.
While the Euro market loves HBs, the necessary chnages a company would haveto make to bring a car over the ocean would not be offset by sales, so while we can dream and speculate all we want, i really doubt we'll see a 3DR, convertible or coupe of the Mazda3.
Is this a better answer?
I agree. A 3-door is just not going to happen in the US, and probably not anywhere else - not as a Mazda3 anyway. Who knows what else Mazda, Ford or Volvo have in mind for this platform down the road? Anyway, manufacturers have gotten so much better at acheiving structural stiffness, there is really little practical reason for a 3-door over a 5-door anyway.
U guys really know how to kill a wish.I think maybe people have the wrong idea about a "three-door hatch". We know the Focus and Golf have 3-door hatches that are proportionally the same as the 5-door versions. I can't see them doing that to the MZ3 - it looks like it was meant to have four doors, no more, no less.
What if they're referring to a 3-door sport hatch along the lines of the Celica, Eclipse, and RSX? They certainly have significant US sales, particularly in the coveted "youth market". Why doesn't Mazda try for a piece of that? The RX-8 is too expensive, even in auto trim. The rumored RX-7 won't be cheap either. Mazda really should have a coupe in the low $20,000 range if it wants to attract sporty car buyers, based off the MZ3 platform.
New MX-3 anyone?
What if they're referring to a 3-door sport hatch along the lines of the Celica, Eclipse, and RSX? They certainly have significant US sales, particularly in the coveted "youth market". Why doesn't Mazda try for a piece of that? The RX-8 is too expensive, even in auto trim. The rumored RX-7 won't be cheap either. Mazda really should have a coupe in the low $20,000 range if it wants to attract sporty car buyers, based off the MZ3 platform.
New MX-3 anyone?
I don't really think Mazda needs a coupe to do that. I think they're doing it with the 3 as it is. I mean, I guess that's what I am- a low $20k sporty car buyer. I find the 3 more a more attractive car than the celica or eclipse, coupe or no coupe.
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