[Shop-talk] Let's run right out a get a Porsche

[Jim Juhas]

We are very pleased with the new Mazda 3. The downside is that the 
manual transmission only comes with the premium trim version of the car 
in its 5-door iteration. The body style is okay because my wife prefers 
that anyway. In another oddity, there are limited color choices, but 
again, we got a combination we like, a black car with red leather interior.

This is the fourth Mazda 3 we have had, the last one being a 2014 5-door 
that we retired after 100,000 miles. Same deal, had to be a premium trim 
level, with some features we wouldn't have picked if given a choice, but 
they are nice to have.

The car is responsive and enjoyable to drive. No turbo, and I see no 
need for it. The naturally aspirated car has a 13:1 compression ratio 
with effective valve timing adjustment, I think, what they call "Sky 
Active". The transmission is very smooth, gearing well spaced, and the 
suspension is firm but compliant. Mazda recently ended the independent 
rear suspension in favor of something called a torsion beam, but we 
don't notice any difference from the former model. This newest version 
has more sound proofing so it's quieter inside, so some of that visceral 
feel is diminished, but it's still nice. One small complaint is that the 
steering has less feedback than the 2014 did, but it's not significant.

We were able to shut off the worst of the nanny controls, like automatic 
braking and attempts to prevent you from changing lanes.

There are blind spots to be sure, but the radar warns you of cars in the 
space near the rear quarters of the car. The 2014 had that, too.

Jim


On 1/21/2026 9:00 AM, Jim Franklin wrote:
> How do you like the 3? I am car shopping after my boat (CX-5) was totalled. I had a CX-30 turbo as a loner a few years back and loved it, but test drove a '22 yesterday and it was not as I remembered. The Golf GTI I really want is super rare and I can't afford to wait. The normal 3 has way too many blind spots for me, but I might give in if the NA manual is fun enough. In Europe they get the manual with the turbo in the CX-30. All my dream cars (and bikes) live over there :-(
>
> the other jim
>
>> On Jan 20, 2026, at 7:28 PM, Jim Juhas<james.f.juhas at snet.net> wrote:
>>
>> Some approach technology better than others. We have a '24 Mazda 3 (because it's one of the few new cars that has a manual transmission) and it has not succumbed to the touch screen nonsense. There are switches and buttons to control most everything, although I'm sure they connect only to that big computer. It does have a touch screen for the navigation system (which you can also speak to) and audio systems, but remarkably, the touch function won't work if the car is in motion; you have to use a knob and pushbuttons on the console.
>>
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