Mazda3 or an Acura EL?

[rsx_r04]

Hello guys. I'm looking to buying a new car, and i'm stuck b/w these two cars. What do you think are the pros and cons for each car?

[RiceBoy]

I have yet to drive a Mazda 3, so I can't really comment on which to buy. I can say that after seeing the Mazda 3 at the Toronto auto show that I came away pretty impressed. There's no doubt that for the price, you are getting a very well equipped vehicle.

Top of the line GT sedan model comes with just about everything the EL Premium offers, even after you add all the extra packages and options on, like the GFX package and the sunroof, for just a bit more than the EL.

What you don't get with the 3 GT that the EL has are heated front seats, I think heated exterior mirrors, remote control trunk release, and auto climate control. But the 3 GT comes with larger wheels, telescoping steering wheel, and a larger more powerful engine.

So it seems on paper that the Mazda 3 is an excellent deal. However, the EL is in it's 4th year, and the Mazda 3 is brand new, in its first year of release. Also, because of that, I have heard that there have already been several TSB's issued for it. As well, Mazda still does not have the reliability that Honda does, although admittedly it has gotten much better in recent years and the previous Protege was a very reliable car for Mazda.

Perhaps when (and if) a new EL surfaces in late 2005, it may raise the bar again at that time, just as Mazda has this year with the 3.

[AC15]

I know some friends whose friends drive Mazda Proteges. Some of the complained about the tranmission, which became really slow and troublesome (jagged shifts on the AT) after a short period of use (maybe a case of aggressive shifting).

I've also heard that Mazda has problems where things wear out quickly, which contributes to their lesser relability rating. I've test driven the Mazda 6 and Protege5 piror to buying my EL and the feeling I get from these cars is that the interiors are pretty crappy... there seems to be alot of cheap plastics. As well, the interior is very rugged, contary to the refined interior of Acuras IMO.

Mazda3 does have 160 ponies instead of 127 of the EL, but that extra horsepower is countered by an extra amount of weight (1273-1296Kg for AT Mazda 3 GT and Sport) So acceleration to 100 will probably take around high 8 to 9 seconds, which is a little bit better than the EL. Passing power will no doubt be better with the extra torque at lower RPMs.

Anyways, just my two cents. I think the Mazda3 is a really good car (I've considered the same decision when I bought my 2004 in last Oct.), really good bang for the buck. But the thing that prevented me from buying the Mazda3 is the quality of the car, its reliability, and also word of mouth from other people about its reliability.

[navdhanju]

I drove both cars... i was very interested in the Mazda 3. But after sitting in the car, i was a little dissapointed. I didnt think it was as refined as the EL IMO. But then again the Acura brand is considered luxury whereas Mazda focuses more on sportiness. I decided to buy the EL and just picked it up yesterday. It went back though to get a tint and spoiler put on. i would say go with the EL. They look better than the previous year as well, sort of a little bit of a TSX look on the back with the taillights. The headlights are a nice touch as well. And Fogs are standard. Great car the EL is IMO.

Anyways,..... good luck with ur purchase.

[MiR0]

I have a 03 EL, and if I had to do it again, I would pick the Mazda 3.

[RiceBoy]

Welcome MiR0 to AcuraWorld.

It's easy to look back on it now, but when the 2003 EL was out, the Mazda 3 wasn't.

Just the same if back in 2001, there was the Civic Si sedan with the sunroof and VTEC engine, I would have bought that instead.

Same with when I had a 96 Civic, if the 1.6 EL was introduced at that time, I would have bought that then as well, but it didn't come out until very late 1997.

[navdhanju]

There are always gonna be cars that come out after u purchase whichever car u purchased. And ur always gonna think, damn, of i had waited 2 more months i could have got that. No matter what u get and when u get it.

[Bxscig]

I think the EL looks so much like the Civic. I couldn't really tell them apart when I was up there in Toronto.

[TeLLY]

People have no idea what my car is...

[MiR0]

Originally posted by RiceBoy
Welcome MiR0 to AcuraWorld.

It's easy to look back on it now, but when the 2003 EL was out, the Mazda 3 wasn't.

Just the same if back in 2001, there was the Civic Si sedan with the sunroof and VTEC engine, I would have bought that instead.

Same with when I had a 96 Civic, if the 1.6 EL was introduced at that time, I would have bought that then as well, but it didn't come out until very late 1997.

I know...I was just saying

[RiceBoy]

Originally posted by Bxscig
I think the EL looks so much like the Civic. I couldn't really tell them apart when I was up there in Toronto.

When less than 10,000 EL's are sold a year (still the most of any Acura in Canada), it's not cost effective to have such a radically different design that uses so many unique car parts. Also, under the hood, they were different cars, at least for the sedan and up until 2004.

Although there is more of a cosmetic difference between the 2004 models of both the Civic and the EL. The Civic front end has changed and both the front and rear of the EL are slightly modified.

[navdhanju]

A little more aggressive front and back. I really like the Taillights.

Very Sexy. Seems like on the 04 that the front has a lip on it.

[yonjun]

What model mazda 3 are you considering? and manual or auto?

I drove my friend's mazda 3 sport (wagon) with auto. Here's what I think about it.
1. suspension is REALLY STIFF (you feel every small bumps)
2. Interior is amazing. I think it's better than EL.
3. auto shift has tiptronics and in manual mode, it's very responsive I found(unlike other cars, push down is up shift, push up is down shift).
4. it's got more than adquate power for its size. Your best bet will be manual tranny.
5. I wouldn't buy it this year though. It's a first yr production and I would at least wait for next year model to come out. (well, I bought my 2001 EL which was first year production as well. but I got it ued with relatively good deal). on top of it, mazda 3 is HOT SELLING vehicle now. it'll be hard for you to get a good deal from the dealer I presume.
6. if you're going for wagon version, you'll have added benefit of more storage space. Personally I wouldn't even consider buying mazda 3 if it's not wagon.
7. resale value of mazda sucks. reliability not quite up to honda/acura


I bought 2001 EL yesterday and here's what I felt one day of driving it.
1. after 3 years/83,000km the car is still tight.
2. manual tranny shifts precisely.
3. EL is due for model change in a year or two I believe (usual honda production model cycle of 4-5yrs)
4. 2004 EL will be the most bug/trouble free and it looks better than 2001-2003 due to face lift. It's more reliable, more fuel economic, will have better resale value. But insurance will be higher than mazda 3. (because it's an Acura? I got shot at my insurance premium).


You can listen to what people say but the choice will be yours.

YJ

[AC15]

The 04s have a slightly better stock handling than the years before, due to a retuned suspension (stiffer), larger sway bars and somewhat grippier tires.

Granted, Mazda 3 does have more power but it is offset but a relatively heavy body, around 1300kg for the GT sport. Within a few years, you're going to see all these Mazda 3s flood the street (which I'm seeing as of now), and since everyone has one its hard to make it unique.

[99TL]

Remember one thing - the Mazda 3 is 100% made in Japan, the EL is made in Canada, so I think the Mazda 3's quality should be better.