Mazda3 v Honda Civic (2006) [Merged]

[niky]

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.

Actually, I'm also aware of the 2.0 Consumption thing. In that regard, actually, the choice between 2.0 AT (Civic vs. Mazda) is down to personal preference.

What I'm getting at, is at the "bread-and-butter" level, the Civic 1.8 MT is a more frugal and livelier engine than a Mazda 1.6 AT. The Focus 1.6 MT is okay, despite the weight of the car, and a Mazda 1.6 MT, with the same tranny (love the short shifter) and a lighter curb weight, would be a better match for the "base" Civic.

But then again, Civic, best compact car? I don't think so. It's all a matter of priorities. While I've always agreed that the Civic has the best engines and some of the best transmissions, the steering, handling, and suspension are even more "Corolla-like" than ever... in fact, the current Corolla rides stiffer with more roll-resistance!

And the compromised rear-seat legroom (Nice recline to the rear seats, though) and unavailability of pass-through seatbacks, plus the low trunk (the City has a more utilitarian boot... and a full sized spare) means that the Civic, while a nice choice, isn't perfect.

In fact, I was just looking at a City and a Civic parked side-by-side... and while knowing the Civic was bigger, I couldn't see much difference... Heck, face-lift the City again to match the current Civic (instead of the previous one), and it'd be hard to tell them apart...

[Bravoexo]

I discovered a flat tire on my mazda3 yesterday... does that count?

[pdc2]

I'm not sure if it's just me but it seems that from a stop, I have to rev the new civic to around 3k rpm before i get the push that is normally there in Mazda 3 at lower rpms. Something like a lag or is it really like that for i-vtec engines?

[parakitoJDM]

I'm not sure if it's just me but it seems that from a stop, I have to rev the new civic to around 3k rpm before i get the push that is normally there in Mazda 3 at lower rpms. Something like a lag or is it really like that for i-vtec engines?

its because Mazda (as they claim) wants to be the BMW of Japan. and we know that German horses seems to be bigger than Japanese pony :D. he he. in seriousness i think there's a problem in the R18's Drive By Wire throttle control. there are numerous complains about this ...

[Blackraven]

how true is it that "sirain" daw mazda3?

I don't think that the mazda 3 would be "sirain" based on how it was built.

In fact, I think it could be the other way around. The local-built Honda Civic might be the one that is "sirain".

Remember, Honda's assembly plant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna is known for having serious quality/reliability problems. It is a fact that right now, their manufacturing facility is INFERIOR when compared to those of Toyota, Ford Phils. and NMPI.

Unbelievably, it has been a source of known problems incl. but not limited to:
-falling gas/fuel tank for Civic 7th gen
-quality/reliability problems for the City such as cracked steering wheel (ask Psylocke about it)
-8th gen Civic window problem

Yet sadly, HCPI has done NOTHING to improve and upgrade their manufacturing facilities. Heck, just look at the local factories other Jap brands here. Toyota has made an upgrade ever since the Innova launch, Ford has been continousuly upgrading their facilities (since the MZ3, Focus and Ethanol engine production lines), NMPI has spent on an upgrade two years ago and they are going to upgrade again next year (to build a new Minivan/MPV) and Mitsu has announced that they are spending more than 700 million-1 billion pesos for their plant in Cainta, Rizal. Yet nothing at all from HCPI.

IMO it was a big mistake for our FD Civics to be made here. Heck we should've just imported our FDs from Honda's Malaysian factory in Melaka or probably from Honda's regional factory in Ayutthya, Thailand. Those factories produced more reliable and higher quality vehicles than those made in the HCPI plant. The manufacturing facility of HCPI is just as INFERIOR as the one in Karawang, Indonesia (a reason why many ASEAN drivers don't want to buy Indonesian-made Stream).

The hybrid version will excel better in the aspect of build quality. And compared to the INFERIOR HCPI plant, this one is made in Suzuka, Japan (lightyears ahead in terms of build quality/reliability). Sayang lang kasi walang manual mode/paddle shifters ang hybrid at dahil sa beige upholstery with black dashboard (those don't mix IMO)

Sayang pa naman. If Honda Phils. could've just upgraded their facilities for the manufacturing of the new Civic, then I could easily convince my dad to buy the Black 2.0 S A/T next year for graduation. Pero wala, HCPI didn't give a damn and just went straight thinking that they can use their exciting "half-assed" facilities in the assembly of a new & lively vehicle. Thus, seeing as how HCPI failed to draw me in, I've just decided to started to look for something more worth it and go for a higher class vehicle instead.



At least this vehicle is made by a reliable factory. Toyota Auto Body Co. Ltd's best factory located in Fujimatsu, Japan. At least from them, I can expect a car that has better build quality and reliability and I know that its resale value won't be affected by it.

In the end, HCPI would have to get its act straight. If they don't invest on improving and upgrading, the other car manufacturing plants in this country would leave HCPI by the dust.

And when that happens, we'd be better off buying Honda vehicles in Malaysia, Thailand or perhaps better from Suzuka, Japan!!!

A fair warning to HCPI vehicle factory in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Philippines.

[niky]

Is it MT or AT? That's normal of high-revving engines, especially with the anti-emissions equipment on them nowadays. The one new gasoline car I've driven that wasn't like that was the 1.6 Focus MT.

[pdc2]

The civic is 1.8 a/t. I'm expecting better accelaration from a stop since the torque rating of the new civic is much higher than the mazda and since the mazda is just 1.6. I just felt that the measly mazda engine has more torque at the lower rpm band.

[Karding]

True, there is a lag on R18 or any other drive by wire especially when coming to a stop [10mph] and then trying to accelerate again. Parang nasa alanganing gear or nalilito kung saan gear pupunta yung tranny. [it happens kapag RED ang traffic light then slowing down to a stop. At 10mph, biglang nag GREEN kaya tapak ulit sa accelerator.

Personally, I dont see it as a problem. Kahit sa M/T kapag pahinto ka na then biglang nag GREEN ang traffic light minsan ayaw pumasok ng lower gear. blip the throttle and then shift, can fix that annoyance.

but the acceleration gets better on 2nd gear and above, the R18 just want to keep going and going and going... :evillaugh [it could be bad for some tho]

Touareg have a bigger problem I guess... the DEATH LAG!
http://www.volkswagenlemonlaw.com/to...hesitation.htm


EDIT: The DBW controversy caught on camera, hehehe.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=dC8zFlQJ6...h=2006%20Civic

[jarhead]

drove and tested the civic... ganda ng handling the 1.8 S variant... ok naman power niya for a 4 cylinder engine... civic parin ako...

[parakitoJDM]

BlackRaven, i wonder how u get such a good insight on HCPI. since u say graduation gift. then i can discount u as "disgruntled ex-HCPI" employee. he he. so what Form of Mfg. Line upgrade ur talking about that Honda Phil. didn't do? can u elaborate more?

[Blackraven]

BlackRaven, i wonder how u get such a good insight on HCPI. since u say graduation gift. then i can discount u as "disgruntled ex-HCPI" employee.

I'm not an employee. I'm only in 3rd year high school. However, after reading user comments and articles regarding certain problems with HCPI-built cars, it has somehow led me to believe that with the new Civic, it is not the car itself that has problems but it's about the factory that manufactured the vehicle that is the source of the problem.

With a factory that has been known for events such as "the falling gas tank", "lemon City units" (Psylocke is still pissed about it I think) and of course, even to this date, "window problems" for the 8th gen Civic.

Hay naku!

These now bring AT LEAST three problems in HCPI's manufacturing techniques (there are still a few more though). And when you know that HCPI produces low-quality vehicles or lemon-mania units, you know that the risk is greater.

Sayang pa naman, because the FD Civic is indeed a top-notch Japanese C-segment vehicle. It could've been excellent or in very high state, but unfortunately here, it is not excellent because the plant that made it is NOT excellent. Heck, doesn't even come close to 'decent' while other assembly plants here in RP do better than what HCPI has. Despite knowing that HCPI has a lot of problems in there manufacturing, have they done anything to upgrade their facilities? Until now, there hasn't been any press release from them stating an upgrade & improvement in their facilities despite them having produced "lemon" units for more than two years.

Makes you think that it would've been a neat choice to get an FD 2.0 A/T but it gets ruined by the people who've done a bad job in making it.

Seriously, it was a bad move. We should've just imported the FD from Malaysia or Thailand instead if it was known that these quality problems were going to be present. At least those factories are in Honda's Top 10 list of vehicle manufacturing facilities that have the highest marks in quality and reliability (along with Swindon in the UK, Brazilian plant, the two Honda factories in China and all of the Japanese plants)

There is no need to elaborate further. You can have an already excellent C-segment car (in exterior, interior, safety & features) yet be rotten down by bad manufacturing facilities. I think in the end, on advantage where the locally-built Mazda 3 has is that it was built better and you know that you're in better hands with the kind of manufacturing that has been done for the MZ3. In short, how the vehicle was made will have an effect itself on the entire vehicle and there's no need to explain further.

As stated, if HCPI doesn't get its acts together, then they'll be known as having the best motorcycle manufacuturing facility, yet it will also have the lousiest and worst-quality vehicle manufacturing assembly plant in the history of this country.

Fair advice to HCPI: Act now before your quality gets even more stinky.........

[parakitoJDM]

Hay naku!

These now bring AT LEAST three problems in HCPI's manufacturing techniques (there are still a few more though). And when you know that HCPI produces low-quality vehicles or lemon-mania units, you know that the risk is greater.

Sayang pa naman, because the FD Civic is indeed a top-notch Japanese C-segment vehicle. It could've been excellent or in very high state, but unfortunately here, it is not excellent because the plant that made it is NOT excellent. Heck, doesn't even come close to 'decent' while other assembly plants here in RP do better than what HCPI has. Despite knowing that HCPI has a lot of problems in there manufacturing, have they done anything to upgrade their facilities? Until now, there hasn't been any press release from them stating an upgrade & improvement in their facilities despite them having produced "lemon" units for more than two years.

Makes you think that it would've been a neat choice to get an FD 2.0 A/T but it gets ruined by the people who've done a bad job in making it.

Seriously, it was a bad move. We should've just imported the FD from Malaysia or Thailand instead if it was known that these quality problems were going to be present. At least those factories are in Honda's Top 10 list of vehicle manufacturing facilities that have the highest marks in quality and reliability (along with Swindon in the UK, Brazilian plant, the two Honda factories in China and all of the Japanese plants)

There is no need to elaborate further. You can have an already excellent C-segment car (in exterior, interior, safety & features) yet be rotten down by bad manufacturing facilities. I think in the end, on advantage where the locally-built Mazda 3 has is that it was built better and you know that you're in better hands with the kind of manufacturing that has been done for the MZ3. In short, how the vehicle was made will have an effect itself on the entire vehicle and there's no need to explain further.

As stated, if HCPI doesn't get its acts together, then they'll be known as having the best motorcycle manufacuturing facility, yet it will also have the lousiest and worst-quality vehicle manufacturing assembly plant in the history of this country.

Fair advice to HCPI: Act now before your quality gets even more stinky.........

that's probably a good advice to them but in fairness to HCPI even other Mfg. sites are not immune fm. problems. ( though i'm not sure about the Power Window problem is it supplier quality defect or not but ultimately HCPI is responsible.) remember a few months back Honda NA also had problem on the 8th. Gen Civic esp. window frame seal that caused annoying wind noise at speed...

[Blackraven]

that's probably a good advice to them but in fairness to HCPI even other Mfg. sites are not immune fm. problems. ( though i'm not sure about the Power Window problem is it supplier quality defect or not but ultimately HCPI is responsible.) remember a few months back Honda NA also had problem on the 8th. Gen Civic esp. window frame seal that caused annoying wind noise at speed...

Quite an interesting point there. Or it could also mean that the NA plant (probably Ontario factory or one of the plants in the US) could also be losing its touch in quality.

In any case, I won't be considering any unit made by HCPI. I'll only show interest for those that are made in Malaysia, Thailand or those from Suzuka, Japan.

No HCPI-made vehicles for me unless they upgrade and improve.

[number001]

Quite an interesting point there. Or it could also mean that the NA plant (probably Ontario factory or one of the plants in the US) could also be losing its touch in quality.

In any case, I won't be considering any unit made by HCPI. I'll only show interest for those that are made in Malaysia, Thailand or those from Suzuka, Japan.

No HCPI-made vehicles for me unless they upgrade and improve.

Just curious, are there any more conclusive evidences that really pinpoints the Sta. Rosa as mass producing absolutely sub-standard products? Aside from the ES Civic fuel tank issue, which I think is a supplier issue and a not manufacturing one anyway. Of course, Psylocke is unfortunate to receive a lemon unit (every production line has a certain percentage of lemons). We have a '06 CRV and we are quite happy with it since it seems to beat our Fortuner (CBU from Thailand, btw) in terms of quality. And no, I'm no apologists for Honda.

[niky]

RE: Drive-by-wire issue? Supposedly a hyper-ground kit cures drive-by-wire lag in US Mazda3s.... so it could possibly help for the Civic. Or if you want the simple solution, buy a grounding wire (preferably with gold-plated connecting points) and connect the throttle body directly to the ground terminal (don't mix them up!!!!!) on the battery.

This should (hopefully) improve throttle response.

Truthfully, when I test drove the Civic 1.8AT, I was disappointed with the initial acceleration and was expecting much more for "140" hp. But an AT is an AT... oh well...

[niky]

The tank issue wasn't actually a supplier issue, just a manufacturing mistake in the welding of the tank straps, I think.

[pdc2]

I don't think that build quality is solely dependent on the manufacturing facility. I would say that it depends on the monitoring of quality by the car manufacturer. Take for example the case of previous BMWs. They are being assembled in a plant being maintained by Columbia motors which was the facility used before by the old Mazda 323s and some korean cars. Does this mean that the quality of BMWs are questionable?

[shuyin5]

Hi Guys,

i really want a mazda 3. i test drove it, it was awesome. but my friends and 3 other known mekaniko told me not to go for mazda. #1 reason was ang pyesa mahirap daw maka bili. pero about the engine wala naman silang sinabi na sirain. yung pyesa lang daw talaga ng mazda mahirap hanapin kahit sa banawe. is it true guys ? i should go for honda na lang daw.tested and proven na daw.

im like 80% mazda 3 to 20% honda city or civic. pero disagree sila.kaya im searching for a mazda mechanic to tell me what others think.

T_T

[foresterx]

Hi Guys,

i really want a mazda 3. i test drove it, it was awesome. but my friends and 3 other known mekaniko told me not to go for mazda. #1 reason was ang pyesa mahirap daw maka bili. pero about the engine wala naman silang sinabi na sirain. yung pyesa lang daw talaga ng mazda mahirap hanapin kahit sa banawe. is it true guys ? i should go for honda na lang daw.tested and proven na daw.

im like 80% mazda 3 to 20% honda city or civic. pero disagree sila.kaya im searching for a mazda mechanic to tell me what others think.

T_T

dapat you get what makes you happy not your friends, since you'll be the to purchase it and drive it. for sure honda parts will be easier to find since honda has been in the philippines for so long and mazda kelan lang tayo nag karon. pero i'm sure it won't be that hard to find parts for the mazda.

[GTi]

The Mazda 3 is getting old, unless you have it tuned, the 1.6 is slow, a guzzler. Though it really does look good despite the age, especially the interior. But then, the new one's fast coming, unless you're after the discounts, not a good time to be getting a Mazda 3 now...