Mazda3 v Honda Civic (2006) [Merged]

[pdc2]

The Mazda 3 still looks very hot and ***y despite being launched 2 years back... but the new Civic will eventually be the market leader because of the Honda brand believed to be "prestigious" here in the Philippines. Just the same, expect the Mazda 3 to be the underrated one in this car segment.

[pdc2]

if you intend to sell and change your ride every 5 years, buy a toyota or honda... higher resale value. but if you will keep it for a long time say 10 years, resale value is no longer a big issue.

[Karding]

if you intend to sell and change your ride every 5 years, buy a toyota or honda... higher resale value. but if you will keep it for a long time say 10 years, resale value is no longer a big issue.

most people still sell their car after 10 years. thats, if your cool car lasts for 10 years :bwahaha: I believe resale value would still be an issue if you plan on selling it, period. It wouldnt matter if you plan to keep it forever. Again, if your cool car still runs longer than the competitor. I just remembered that the lower the resale value, the higher its value when it becomes vintage (50's, 60's Fords and Chevys). So in 2056, your resale value goes up again!

...but to each his own. I bought my FG1 for transportation and fuel consumption purposes and not for track. I had a WRX which I used to take on canyon runs, sold it due to soaring gas prices. Its fuel consumption is horrible compared to my FG1. I had an MZ3 prior to FG1, my gut feeling says it would be a headache in the long run. The fuel consumption of '05 MZ3 (24/29) is also worst than the FG1 (30/40).

beat diz.... :evillaugh

[OTEP]

if you intend to sell and change your ride every 5 years, buy a toyota or honda... higher resale value. but if you will keep it for a long time say 10 years, resale value is no longer a big issue.

I tend to agree with this. Cars are not really meant to be investments. I'd rather spend 10 years enjoying a car with low resale value than drive a penalty box with good resale for the same amount of time.

[yuichi]

now that the new civic is out and maz3 been running for a year or so. i was able to testdrive both few mos ago and i think that they are both really "good cars".
kung binata ako, prefer ko maz3 kasi mas sporty siya loob at labas at better handling, mas maliit siya eh.
pero since family man na ako, civic ako. medyo elegante siya sa loob.nung itestdrive ko siya feeling ko asa loob ako ng accord.
actually the ford focus 2.0 sport is just close behind both.

[Jun aka Pekto]

If it's the Civic sedan and the MZ3 for looks, the MZ3 looks better. But if it's the Si or coupe, I tend to like the Si a bit better. Trying to pick between the two is like having fried eggs sunny side up or over medium. I wouldn't mind having either one.

[Karding]

i'm more interested in the GRIN Factor the car will put a smile in my face

good for you.

[pinakap0gi]

how true is it that "sirain" daw mazda3?
lagi daw nasisira.. if i'm not mistaken, engine problems daw.

[McQueen]

how true is it that "sirain" daw mazda3?
lagi daw nasisira.. if i'm not mistaken, engine problems daw.

whaat?? saan naman ito nang galing? never heard a single thing!

[pinakap0gi]

from my dad's friend,
he owns 2 mazda3's, sabi nya lagi daw may sira.
hindi ko lang nga alam kung bakit dalawa binili nya.

[chieffy]

from my dad's friend,
he owns 2 mazda3's, sabi nya lagi daw may sira.
hindi ko lang nga alam kung bakit dalawa binili nya.

kahit anong bagay kapag di marunong gamitin/alagaan eh talagang magiging sirain

never had problems with my mazda 3...sa una nanibago lang ako sa suspension...tumagal, normal lang naman pala yung obserbasyon ko...

[A121]

Gusto ko ng Civic 06!! Gusto ko lang magkaroon ng Honda..

how true is it that "sirain" daw mazda3?
lagi daw nasisira.. if i'm not mistaken, engine problems daw.

erm nope... i have a friend na isinabak na sa BRC for ilang laps at "drifting" sessions ang kanyang 04 mazda 3. wala pa naman siyang reklamo na nasira... hehe gamit na gamit yung oto na yun.

[miLes]

Gusto ko ng Civic 06!! Gusto ko lang magkaroon ng Honda..



erm nope... i have a friend na isinabak na sa BRC for ilang laps at "drifting" sessions ang kanyang 04 mazda 3. wala pa naman siyang reklamo na nasira... hehe gamit na gamit yung oto na yun.

no problems with mine either, last engine checkup was around 1st week nov at 1000km, now at 9600km no prob whatsoever

[rab]

how true is it that "sirain" daw mazda3?
lagi daw nasisira.. if i'm not mistaken, engine problems daw.

two lemon mazda 3's do not make the whole mazda 3's out there "sirain".

[number001]

^have not heard any "problems" regarding Mazda3s. But when I was test drove a unit during the Motorshow at World Trade Center last April, the unit's alarm and electronic system started to develop some kind of malfunction. Its a good thing it happened after the test drive and after it was parked already. I saw the mechanics frantically disconnecting the battery and working on a box inside the hood. Maybe just a one-off...

[niky]

I haven't heard anything either. And I'm usually on the PTP boards.

My cousin is a Mazda3 owner, and also on a number of Mazda boards, and he hasn't said anything about it.

RE: Electronic glitches? Like the Jazz's anti-theft system? Although, to be fair, that doesn't seem to be widespread either.

[parakitoJDM]

Redesigned Civic, Mazda3 square off
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Font: * * * * Brian Harper, CanWest News Service
Published: Friday, July 14, 2006
For decades now, economy mixed with reliability and a cheerful, easy-todrive nature has been the Honda Civic's calling card. Such attributes have struck a chord with Canadian consumers, who have made the Civic car line Canada's best-seller for eight years. But, for the past couple of years, Mazda's highly regarded and hugely successful Mazda3 has been climbing the sales charts, to the point where it's in the Civic's rear-view mirror in second place.

For the 2006 model year, Honda has redesigned the Civic coupe and sedan -- the latter shaking off the previous generations' enforced conservatism with an improved powertrain, an edgier design and a dramatic, if polarizing, interior. The automotive pundits have responded and the new Civic four-door has garnered several awards, including Best New Economy Car by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). It is also a fi nalist for AJAC's Car of the Year award.

The question: Is it just the Best New Economy Car or is it the best economy car? Sales aside, does the new Civic have what it takes to shake off the Mazda3, itself a Best New Economy Car as well as AJAC's Car of the Year in 2004? Coming in at the higher end of the economy scale, Honda offered up a mid-level, 1.8 litre-powered LX, which carries a base price of $20,300 (there is also the DX, DX-G and topline EX).

Mazda Canada countered with its rangetopping, 2.3L-powered GT ($21,545 base). It's not quite apples and oranges, but there is a 20-horsepower disparity (140 for the LX, 160 for the GT) to consider.

However, at least Mazda offers an engine choice for its 3 sedan (the lowerpriced GX and GS come with a standard 150-hp, 2.0L four). Unless one adds the pricier hybrid to the Civic four-door's equation, it's the 1.8L or nothing.

However, the horsepower inequity doesn't really hurt the Civic. As is expected from Honda engines, it revs easily, quickly responding to throttle input. Yes, it requires more foot if passing is an issue, but it gets the job done.

Noticeable, though, is a fair amount of induction noise from under the hood when the engine is under load, plus a generally fl accid tone to the four-banger.

With greater power and torque, the GT requires less effort for passing. But, while engine noise isn't as intrusive, it's not melodious, either.

Actually, external noises from wind and the tires make themselves known in both cars -- not enough to prove distracting but annoying on a long haul if one doesn't crank up the tunes.

As for fuel consumption, often a consideration when shopping for an economy car, the LX is positively Scroogelike versus the Mazda3 GT, which is no gas pig, either.

The new Civic retains Honda's typically light but well-weighted steering.

The optional ($1,200) fi ve-speed automatic smoothes out the four-cylinder's power fl ow, but there is one glitch to its operation. When moving the shifter to Drive, there's no detent to prevent the selector from going into D3, which I did on several occasions until I trained myself to look. There's no such problem with the 3 GT's fi ve-speed auto (a $1,100 option), which also has a manual mode if you want to play boy racer.
Stylistically, the Civic borrows cues from the Acura line and puts some creases in the sheet metal to break up the organic, bland shape of the previous model -- the result being a sportier, faster-looking car. The 3's styling is more European, with cues that pay homage to both previous editions of the VW Jetta and Audi A4. Strong and distinctive, the Mazda looks good from all angles.

The Civic's most contentious feature in its space shuttle-like cabin is its twotier instrument panel, which positions the digital speedometer, fuel gauge and temperature gauge up high in the driver's fi eld of vision. The lower houses a tachometer, multi-information digital display, odometer with trip meter and a variety of warning indicators. It might be a tad too techy for some, but there's no denying the speedo is bright, clear and easy to read, as are the rest of the dash's buttons and controls. My biggest complaint is with the thickness of the windshield pillars, which creates a formidable blind spot when trying to make turns.

As with its exterior, the 3 GT's cabin is defi nitely skewed toward the Euro look, again turning to Audi with orange interior lighting for the instruments and gauges. While jet fi ghter-cool, the speedo is more diffi cult to read as the numbers are clustered closely together.

The dash itself is straightforward with three pods for the instruments, simple rotary knobs for the heat/ventilation controls and easy-to-use audio controls. The stereo has a funky, disco-effect, horizontal light bar that fl ashes at the push the on/off button. I used to like it; now, could do without it.

Being 6-foot-2, I view the rear seat areas of either compact thinking not comfort but lack of discomfort. While the Mazda3 is slightly longer than the Civic, the latter has a 60-millimetre-longer wheelbase. Still, I found that in the my knees were not as deep into the front seatback as in the Civic.

The long and short of it is that a rational argument could be made for either car, though I'm mildly disappointed the Civic, as improved as it is, doesn't really break new ground in the economy car segment.

What has me siding with the Mazda3 comes down to one simple, yet crucial, element -- it provides a more rewarding driving experience. In my book, that makes it the champion.

(NATIONAL POST)

THE CONTENDERS

OUR CHOICE: MAZDA3 GT

Engine: 2.3L DOHC four-cylinder Power: 160 hp 6,500 rpm; 150 lb-ft of torque 4,500 rpm

Transmission: Five-speed manumatic

Brakes: Four-wheel disc with ABS

Price (base/as tested): $21,545/$23,945

Fuel economy (L/100 km): 9.4 city, 7.0 hwy

AJAC'S CHOICE: Honda Civic LX ENGINE: 1.8L SOHC FOUR-CYL.

Power: 140 hp 6,300 rpm; 128 lb-ft of torque 4,300 rpm

Transmission: Five-speed manumatic

Brakes: Front disc/rear drum with ABS Price (base/as tested): $20,300/$21,500

Fuel economy (L/100 km): 8.2 city, 5.7 hwy

[niky]

Kinda knew that about the seats already. THe Civic's legroom is kinda compromised by the really thick front seats... a function of having the side airbags (on the high end model) built into the front seats.

And, yes, the Mazda3 is the more rewarding drive, if, ultimately, not as fuel efficient.

[parakitoJDM]

Kinda knew that about the seats already. THe Civic's legroom is kinda compromised by the really thick front seats... a function of having the side airbags (on the high end model) built into the front seats.

And, yes, the Mazda3 is the more rewarding drive, if, ultimately, not as fuel efficient.

don't give up so easily on Mazda. actually accdg to Bangkok Int'l news when they compared the 2.0li class MZ3 & 2006 Civic 2.0. they found out that its consumption is very similar. but we all know that Civic has a 5hp advantage. 155hp for the Civic. vs. 150hp for the MZ3 2.0 w/SVT.

[sixgun]

Honda civic 2006 is the best compact car. Period. (according to motioncars.com) 5 star review