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2010 Mazda3: First Drive
2010 Mazda3 Sedan Smiles For The Cameras
2010 Mazda3 Sedan Shows Off New Design, Peppy Engine
New Mazda3 Sedan To Debut At LA Auto Show... Duh

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Tossed Accord taco salad over Malibu face
04/04/09

In reply to 2010 Mazda3: First Drive
I know Im nitpicking....
Are there plastic bits covered in a chrome-plastic in the Speed3...?

Also..
Too dizzzy from reading the specs..

1. Can ya get the Focus-for-Europe-now-coming-here RIMS for this car?

2. What other interior choices for colors are there? Looks like swaths of grey / black plastic...

3. And does TINT come standard or optional on all glass except the driver and front pass doors?
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Andrew Didorosi
04/04/09

@Accords went nuts became a 70 Purple Barracuda:

0. I'm not sure which plastic bits you're talking about.

1. Why would they sell you Focus rims? I think not.

2. Black and "Dune" are the only interior choices.

3. All cars have a wee bit of tint, but nothing you'd notice. No special amount of tint here.
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driggity
04/03/09

In reply to 2010 Mazda3: First Drive
So does the transmission feel more connected than in the old Mazda3?
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Andrew Didorosi
04/04/09

@driggity: Yes, great shifter. Like I said in the article: Although the throw a bit long, the movements are precise and well-adjusted.
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Potatosw✭tter
04/03/09

In reply to 2010 Mazda3: First Drive
Well, that's the last time Mazda gives you one with the Tech Package installed.
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Andrew Didorosi
04/04/09

@Potatoswatter: Good. Down with electrons!
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Big Stig
04/03/09

In reply to 2010 Mazda3: First Drive
Mazda did to the 3 what Mom did to the Boz Scaggs shirt- ruined a perfectly good thing. Pity.
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Andrew Didorosi
04/04/09

@Big Stig, Luxury Yacht Captain: Nope, close, but nope. It's that the 3 and Boz were perfectly good alone without the dazzle. The dazzle just directs attention away from the inherent beauty of either. Still a great car.
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Vkoslak
04/03/09

In reply to 2010 Mazda3: First Drive

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Andrew Didorosi
04/03/09

@Vkoslak: Heart click for you, good sire.
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MarywithanM™
04/03/09

In reply to 2010 Mazda3: First Drive
Andrew (again checks that it is Andrew), I'm sure that like me, you needed no help in losing popularity. Stop blaming your mother or you'll never get off punishment.

Also, you may want to blame the long-gone MPH writers for any bedazzlement. In they're review of the '06 Mazda3 they said that only high-priced prostitutes should be understated.

ps. acres and aces?
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MarywithanM™
04/03/09

@MarywithanM the Jalopwrench trying to loose Ash78: /ps: that didn't take long to fix
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Andrew Didorosi
04/03/09

@MarywithanM the Jalopwrench trying to loose Ash78: Everybody was kung-fu fighting

Those cats were fast as lightning

In fact it was a little bit frightning

But they fought with expert timing

They were funky China men from funky Chinatown

They were chopping them up and they were chopping them down

It's an ancient Chineese art and everybody knew their part

From a feint into a slip, and kicking from the hip

Everybody was kung-fu fighting

Those cats were fast as lightning

In fact it was a little bit frightning

But they fought with expert timing

There was funky Billy Chin and little Sammy Chung

He said here comes the big boss, lets get it on

We took a bow and made a stand, started swinging with the hand

The sudden motion made me skip now we're into a brand knew trip

Everybody was kung-fu fighting

Those cats were fast as lightning

In fact it was a little bit frightning

But they did it with expert timing

(repeat)..make sure you have expert timing

Kung-fu fighting, had to be fast as lightning
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carguy
04/03/09

In reply to 2010 Mazda3: First Drive
Has the seating position improved? I love my 08 3 but the seats make you feel like you're sitting on a chair in a box. Also the 08s have no remote trunk release and have a very annoying two step dash illumination that is either too dark or blinding.
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Andrew Didorosi
04/03/09

@carguy: The driver's seat was great - but the passenger seat gave exactly that feeling - and no adjustment could fix it.

Again, the seats in the Speed3 should remedy any of those problems. Have you seen the buckets they're putting in the new MS3? Gorgeous.
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philibuster
04/03/09

@Andrew Didorosi: What is it with passenger seats that suck so much ass? I can't stand the passenger seat in my car because it's so damn tall. It makes me feel like I'm going to roll off it. The driver's seat though is fine. What the hell.
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If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face
04/03/09

@philibuster: Personally, what's the worst is when the passenger footwell isn't big enough. I should be able to put my feet straight on the floor, underneath the dash. But they cram so much shit under the dash now that this is impossible in a lot of newer cars. Combine that with an undersupported, barely adjustable Camry bucket seat and your 12 hour road trip is going to be pure hell.
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Feds
04/03/09

In reply to 2010 Mazda3: First Drive
So, from this review we've gleened that:

1. Andrew has mommy issues.
2. You should buy a low spec 3 and an aftermarket sat nav.
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Andrew Didorosi
04/03/09

@Feds: Yeah, I've got mommy issues. Your mommy. In bed.
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OldeEnglishD
04/03/09

In reply to 2010 Mazda3: First Drive
I always kick myself when I see a Mazda 3. When I made my last new car purchase I needed to get something fuel efficient, affordable, that had some utility to it. Due to extenuating circumstances I needed to do it in a hurry. I ended up with a Vibe, which is ok but if I had had a little more time to do some comparison shopping I am sure I would have ended up with a Mazda 3.
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RLJ676-LS3 Commuter Car - for the environment
04/03/09

@OldeEnglishD:

Or HHR SS (if you don't hate the styling).

I'd like the Vibe much more if there was a GXP.
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A strolling player
04/03/09

@rlj676-Carbon Footprint Size - Clownshoe: Seriously, how hard could it be? There's still a Matrix XR-S, right?
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OldeEnglishD
04/03/09

@rlj676-Carbon Footprint Size - Clownshoe: Exactly, a GXP version would be so much better.
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Mad_Science
04/03/09

@rlj676-Carbon Footprint Size - Clownshoe: The real tragedy is that in place of the Matrix-based Vibe, GM had the opportunity to make a Vibe based on the Subaru's WRX.

Let's see: Popular, AWD Sports car? Why would we want to do that?

Maybe they couldn't find a way to fit enough ribbed plastic side cladding on it.
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Mad_Science
04/03/09

In reply to 2010 Mazda3: First Drive
Hey, look! Lake Elsinore! Hwy 74 is a killer drive.

With every review of each new Hot-or-Not Hatch, I'm feeling more and more satisfied with my '06 WRXagon.

It does what I need, nothing more, nothing less (beside the occasional tire-roasting burnout).
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Jeb_Hoge
04/03/09

In reply to 2010 Mazda3: First Drive
So in other words, don't buy the satnav or sat radio, and all is good? I like it!
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Andrew Didorosi
04/03/09

@Jeb_Hoge: Right on.
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philibuster
04/03/09

In reply to 2010 Mazda3: First Drive
How's rear legroom with a tall guy in the driver's seat?
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Andrew Didorosi
04/03/09

@philibuster: Not huge, but you'll fit.
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Andrew Didorosi
04/03/09

@Andrew Didorosi: That's what SHE said.
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BSAKat
04/03/09

@Andrew Didorosi:

You're not allowed to respond with a "That's what she said" to yourself. Bad form, Didorosi, bad form.
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.357
04/03/09

@BSAKat: Hey, Michael Scott sets himself up for "That's what she said" jokes, so it's OK. It is more funny when someone else sets you up for it though.
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jark
04/03/09

In reply to 2010 Mazda3: First Drive
That top picture is dirty. Clean your lens dude. Or at least photochop the spots out with the patch tool.
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Ray Wert
04/03/09

@jark - now with plausible deniability: Actually, we're assuming those are UFOs.
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Andrew Didorosi
04/03/09

@jark - now with plausible deniability: After being in California for three days, our poor lens was irreparably covered in smug.
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Bret
04/03/09

In reply to 2010 Mazda3: First Drive
Such a happy car... I will bedazzle it with happy trees.

Sorry Bob Ross moment.

Love the character line on the doors, nice touch. Oh, and Diddles, you need to clean the dust off of your lens, it's a distraction in an otherwise good lead shot.
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A strolling player
04/03/09

In reply to 2010 Mazda3: First Drive
So, good car, shit navigation/radio?

To fulfill my duties as a Jalop normally I'd say "rabble rabble" and move on, but if I'm going to buy a new car the navigation and, in particular, radio are pretty important to me. To use Clarkson's analogy, it's like meeting the most beautiful girl in the world, smart, witty, good in bed... and she's got a beard.

I like the looks a lot, but I like the Fiesta a lot more, in just about every way. Also the interior's too busy at night.
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Das ASHloch (achtundsiebzig)
04/03/09

@A strolling player is: Gold Member!: I'll echo your comment and request that manufacturers just go back to Double-DIN instead of trying to compete directly with the everchanging aftermarket.

At least let me pick my own ICE.
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Leeeeena the Jalopchick
04/03/09

@A strolling player is: Gold Member!: What did he say that in reference to? I can't place it, for some reason.

P.S. Rabble rabble rabble!
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A strolling player
04/03/09

@Leeeeena the Barkeep: If memory serves, it was on the subject of the Mazda 6 MPS's radiator grille, in the comparison with the Mondeo ST220 and the Vectra VX-R.

I feel like it was the first episode in series 9 or 10 or something.
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.357
04/03/09

@A strolling player is: Gold Member!: Gillette, the best a (wo)man can get.
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A strolling player
04/03/09

@Ash78: I keep seeing ICE and thinking "internal combustion engine" instead of "in-car entertainment", and now I'm thinking "yeah, it would be pretty great to have a 427 in there!"
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brandegee
04/03/09

@Ash78: Hearty agreement (thinking about failed attempt to graft an auxiliary plug unit into proprietary Saab electronics).
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