Comments on: New Mazda3 to gain ESP as standard

By: Garry

Garry — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:12:56 +0000

Tim I know how you feel same with me,Tony what is your point????

By: pious

pious — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:20:52 +0000

understood, though saying that aussies and kiwis have rivalry is like saying that a dog has rivalry with its fleas. I prefer to look at it on the basis that the kiwis have to be reminded of their place, from time to time.

By: HAL

HAL — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:32:47 +0000

you’re probably right, but it probably won’t be me who you convince to go Volvo. My family is Norwegian and we have a sort of rivalry with the Swedes akin to Aussies and kiwis. My family would never let me live it down – a norwegian worth his salt couldn’t stand to be seen in a volvo or saab!

By: pious

pious — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:17:25 +0000

hahaha – every thing you say leads me back to the s40T5, though it was far better, IMO when it was FWD rather than AWD (AWD slowed it down a little and made it feel front heavy). Same engine as the focus. Second hand low klicks probably $30Kish. They look sweet too, kitted up, but then you’d have to become a bloody volvo driver. That or a second hand s60R – great performance, luxury etc, but horrible turning circle (it does really become a PITA). Sooner or later, I’ll convince someone to go volvo…

By: HAL

HAL — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:47:36 +0000

yeah, I do like the Mondeo, but I’m not 100% sure about it – it test drove quite nicely, but I didn’t entirely fall in love with the interior and centre console materials. Took the Focus Xr5 for a test drive too and loved it – the T5 engine sounds better in this than the Mondeo, but another annoying thing – no cruise control, which is crap when you live in melbourne with the speed cameras everywhere. Also when you option the leather the Focus turns from a 5 seater to a 4 – tell me, who is making those decisions, it’s madness!

anyway, the search continues.

By: pious

pious — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:29:03 +0000

Yeah, I dont think the s40 shape will last past the introduction of the new s60 next year – they are too close in size. Still a pretty car, though. Out of those, I’d go the mondeo. They are a verrry sweet looking car. I am holding out for the new shape s60 to replace the s40, but they are talking small engines at this stage, and my missus wouldnt drive anything that didnt do 100kph in over 7.5, so I might end up with the mondeo too.

By: HAL

HAL — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:07:54 +0000

Pious, fair enough. For me it was virtually a done deal that my next car was going to be the new 6 – thought they really looked the business. Depending on what you’re after they really are a beautiful car – but the more I looked at them and tried to convince myself that it was the one I was gonna go for, the more I found myself uninspired. I was excellent without being exciting – I find the rear end just too large and out of proportion with the rest of the car. Maybe my tastes have changed (or I’m going through an early mid-life crisis), but I am yearning for something akin to a 6 MPS. Am now considering the Focus XR5, Mondeo XR5 and am keen to check out the new 3 MPS at the MIMS this week. Can’t do the C30 due to the 2 door thing and the price when optioned up, and the S40 has just been around too long.

By: pious

pious — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:56:17 +0000

HAL, dont get me wrong, I still think mazda is right up there, but the car was far short of what I hoped it would be, given the part sharing with the focus and the volvo s40 (here he goes again about volvo…). I think I was hoping it would be an alternative to the s40, and save some bucks, but it fell short of my hopes. That said, I love mazdas, especially the gearbox, as I had the astina for a few years and would have kept it far longer except I couldnt fit the kids stuff in. Build quality in the sp23 I think was ace, ride was good, but handling was pretty ordinary, actually, a real put off. I’d have another mazda any day, and I reckon the look of the new(er) 6 is excellent.

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:45:48 +0000

According to a media release by Mazda, 60% of people who buy a Mazda 3; are women.

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:09:35 +0000

Thats it, I’m buying an SP25.