Is Mazda 3 A/T good? (used/2nd hand) (300k to 350k budget only)

[speedtrap]

mga bro, here I go again, questions uli
Untill now di pa rin ako nakakabili ng car ko (namin) - First car.
Nung una, go na go na ako sa M/T Mitsubishi Lancer GLXI 1997, then napa-isip din ako kung
used A/T Honda Jazz or Honda Civic or City (worried ako sa nabasa ko na CVT issues)..then I made my decision na mag down na lang ng 50% to 60%
for a 2011 Hyundai Accent...Approved na car loan ko sa Accent pero at the very last moment,
di ko naituloy.

kung second kasi, at least wala na ako babayaran na monthly MA, expensive insurance, saka yung PMS yata sa casa.
yun lang, parang walang peace of mind baka maraming surprise na problem ang used car

Dati decided ako to get an M/T used car, kaya lang parang gusto ko A/T na lang.

On topic>

Now I have a budget of P300k (can have a 50k extra, so total of P350K)
Now parang gusto ko ng used Mazda 3 A/T.

1. Setting aside na malakas sa gas and may problem daw sa suspension ang Mazda 3 (as I read here, like mga first gen), ok naman po ba ang Mazda 3? talaga po bang nasa 7km/L lang FC?

2. Anong year model kaya ang hahanapin ko na kaya sa P300k to P350k? 2005 and 2006 po ba?

3. Ano po mga specifications ng older model ng Mazda 3? I read na may S, L, and V variants? What are the diferrences? (nasa page 12 pa lang ako ng Mazda 3 thread dito sa tsikot

4. Ok po ba ang automatic version nito? (I dont know how to drive properly and with confidence yet, naka-pagtry na po ako once two months ago, M/T 80s model yata na toyota pero may kasama ako, as in nanga-ngapa pa po talaga
I know matutunan ko din ng tama ang M/T, kaya lang parang gusto ko ma-drive ko na agad

Thanks!

[ghosthunter]

The Mazda 3 has it's good and bad points.

Fuel economy is a weak point, especially if you are looking at the 1.6L variant. The car is heavy and really matches better with the 2.0L.

The ride quality is more sporty than comfortable so expect a ride that is on the stiffer side.

Rear seats are NOT comfortable for long drives. Front seats are much better.

[zap.FREEDOM]

on the first issue A/T or M/T: depende na sa tao yun, ako M/T talaga ako, but I do drive a A/T car and for me it is easy to operate (easy-easy ka lang sa pag-ddrive, A/T e) at parang mas relax ka, kasi one foot lang ang gamit (it's like driving a kiddie cart). pero iba parin talaga pag M/T dala mo, parang mas-sporty kasi e, you pick and play the gears by your own self mismo, it's like union of man and machine kapag M/T dina-drive. That's what I feel.

second about sa mazda 3: yes, gas guzzler medyo may kalakasan sa gas to, (imo, may be you can reduce the gas guzzling this by your driving style) , but it is riding comfort is fine and a swift car too.

third: kung timbang mo e, kaya mo naman mag monthly installment at wala ka naman ibang pinagkakagastusan for the next 3 or 5 years, why not. Go for a brand-new iba parin talaga kapag naka-brandnew ka, (sure ka pa, pagbili mo, may warranty, 3 years or 5 years something like that') first owned, ika nga, ikaw ang naka-virgin joke!

--pahabol: since first car niyo, ok na nga yung second hand muna, but kung kukuha kayo ng pre-owned car, maging mabusisi sa pag-inspect ng unit na kukunin niyo, never stop asking question dun sa owner na pagbibilhan niyo. bring a trusted mechanic para ma-inspect din yun kukunin mong unit.

have nice day!

[niky]

The 2.0 AT is good. The 1.6 AT is either severely underpowered or a gas guzzler, depending on how you drive it. You can get 14+ km/l on the highway with the 1.6, and around 7-8 km/l in the city if you drive it properly... the big problem is the long gearing of the 4AT, which means that you will be pressing the gas hard to accelerate when in traffic... which brings the economy down to 2.0 AT levels.

The lower end models actually ride rather softly, the 2.0 with the 17s is stiffer, but not unduly stiff compared to most cars. The 2.0 is worth it, but the 1.6 AT has the maintenance costs of a 2.0, nearly the same fuel consumption as a 2.0 and the weight of a 2.0 car without the benefits of value-added features like that nice sunroof, body kit, 17-inch mags, leather seats and that torquey 2 liter engine.

If you're looking at a hatch, the Ford Focus 1.8 liter hatch is much better than the woefully spartan Mazda3 1.6 hatchback. At least with the Focus 1.8, you have enough torque to get around easily.

[GTi]

If you are looking for an economic and sporty car, I don't think the Mazda 3 1.6 is the one for you. The handling may be excellent but the engine is both underpowered AND thirsty, so if you are hell bent on getting the 3, might as well get the 2.0 variant so that its only thirsty. So I'd suggest you get the ES Civic VTi-S instead. I find it to look appropriately sporty and somewhat luxurious at the same time. 130ps 1.6L VTEC 3 engine means that you get good gas mileage and performance at the same time.

Now, I'd suggest you practice your M/T driving more, its always good to know both. Enroll in a driving school for a 3 or 5 hour course and after that practice regularly for a month or so and your shifting skills should be good enough to drive in stop and go traffic in inclines. Also, in my own experience, diesel manuals are easier to drive since you don't have to shift too much due to the abundance of torque and it won't die on you easily.

[speedtrap]

Hi! many thanks again for the very informative responses and advices.
hindi ko na iquo-quote isa isa basta thanks talaga to all

so kung decided ako sa mazda 3, better if I can get the 2.0
average FC ng mazda 3 wether its a 1.6 or 2.0 is 7-8km/l in city driving
from what I researched, 1.6V is a higher model compared to 1.6S

actually I am still considering to get a used honda city idsi, civic vti-s, or jazz, even
toyota avanza. kaya lang I was adviced and from what I think, na pag used car, better to get an MT.

I think I'm decided to get an AT, para madali ko matutunan magdrive. I think
once natutunan ko na ng proper ang magmaneho ng manibela, dalhin ang car at calculation sa
sa daan, madali na sa akin mag drive ng MT. (I ride a manual motorcycle naman I think same lang
talaga ang use ng clutch and up/down shifting of gears, nabaligtad lang, instead na sa paa, nasa kamay hehe). At least while I'm learning how to drive, my attention can focus on the steering wheel, gas, and brake pedals without minding
a clutch and shifting of gears.

getting a brandnew car is still playing in my mind (hyundai accent 1.4 AT), however the thought of
having it crashed while I'm still learning to drive makes me think to get
a used car. also, from what I read, for a brandnew car, it is almost a must to
bring the car sa casa for its pms, which is expensive. then also the renewal of
comprehensive insurance yearly.

[GTi]

IMHO modern A/T's are much more reliable as compared to those ten years ago so I'm sure it won't die on you as long as you take good care of it. A well taken cared of A/T with regular change of ATF should live pretty much as long or even outlast a comparable manual transmission. The same can't be said about the CVT's though, at least not yet. These can't handle much power and repairs can get very costly.

As for M/T driving, wag ka lang matakot. The key is to practice regularly and it'll become second nature in no time.