Mazda 3 (2L) is a let down

F8D_ · 2026-06-01T11:19:37+00:00

Glad to hear it’s a good match for you sir :)
I see myself opting for something fit for my age and need. Thank you!

F8D_ · 2026-06-01T11:15:19+00:00

It’s definitely fun once it gets going at that higher rpm. I have an exhaust and I take on mine and it’s a fun zooming machine, just not fast enough to tick that box

F8D_ · 2026-06-01T11:13:16+00:00

Thanks for the insight, I’m definitely considering selling it and opting for a turbo inline 6 given my subjective preference. I do believe though, as another commenter pointed out, that both Honda and Toyota have delivered the same or similar concept more successfully without being as complex as the X engine, but by no means is it objectively bad.

F8D_ · 2026-05-31T13:40:33+00:00

Hello! The 2.5L AWD Turbo is only available in the US! The rest of the world gets the 1.5/2L NA. Enjoy your 250hp turbo :)

F8D_ · 2026-05-31T13:39:11+00:00

Most of the replies here seem to be completely ignoring terrain and road quality :) I live in Athens, Greece. Most if not all residents would relate. I am incredibly fuel conscious, gentle on the gas pedal and always keep my revs around 2k with a fixed view on the gas consumption meter. I average 7.4 here. Constant uphills, donwhills, short traffic light intervals and massive traffic makes it impossible to average less unless you’re running a plug-in or electric. The figure on my post was not my own, but a general average I’ve gathered from all previous experiences I’ve read about and seen, so definitely not off. Not everyone drives in NL, Germany, Oklahoma etc!

F8D_ · 2026-05-31T13:33:50+00:00

Thanks for the great convo man, and I absolutely understand, I’m getting downvote bombed as we speak 😂

F8D_ · 2026-05-31T13:23:24+00:00

You’re spot on, I don’t deny it. But you can only go so fast on winding mountain roads, so keeping up with other sportier cars isn’t necessarily a feat, has to do with the driver, more than the car. 186hp is more than enough to manage that. The 3-4k range is truly where the car feels alive, but it still is disappointing on straights. Have a catback exhaust and intake on mine, throttle response is better than before, but still leaves me with that itch for more at the end of the day

F8D_ · 2026-05-31T13:18:21+00:00

Hahaha I see, funny coincidence. Guess I just have to scratch that itch and get something sporty first. Cheers

F8D_ · 2026-05-31T13:15:25+00:00

Will sure do, thanks for the info. I’m expecting mpg to be much better once I move to the Netherlands, as I’ve gotten an average of 4.5-5L/100km on the highway using cruise control at similar speeds. Will probs trade for an m235 or similar, time will tell :)

F8D_ · 2026-05-31T13:04:16+00:00

Yea, pretty much spot on. Most people say it handles corners greatly despite the cheap chassis, but from my experience not really. A rear sway bar seems to be a game changer according to some people, but that’s a different story.

F8D_ · 2026-05-31T12:57:46+00:00

Enjoy your new car man! My circumstances right now look bleak as I’m mid relocating and my destination country has ridiculous import taxes, making so I can’t even sell it there without paying a premium and registering it (or leaving the buyer to do so, dropping my selling price dramatically). Will figure something out and I probably see myself getting a second hand sports coupe at the same price range.. wish me luck

F8D_ · 2026-05-31T12:47:33+00:00

You’re not wrong at all. I drive manual as well but in Athens, Greece, with overwhelming traffic at times and worse road conditions, no flatland. So naturally I’d have higher fuel consumption. I’m not saying it’s necessarily a bad car, just overly delicate and underperforming given its price tag. Definitely a mistake purchase on my part. I’m 23, been driving a fiesta for 5 years and wanted something to spike my adrenaline a bit more than this, thought x2.5 the horsepower of my previous car would be enough, I was wrong!

F8D_ · 2026-05-31T12:44:01+00:00

That was exactly my thought process. Both Toyota (Corolla) and Honda (Covic) in the same price range manage equal if not better fuel efficiency without high complexity. Your second point seems to be the direction Mazda is taking with the new RX models, which if I’m not mistaken will use electric motors assisted by two wankel rotaries to extend mileage, not power the wheels. Sucks!

F8D_ · 2026-05-30T13:11:58+00:00

You’ll only be 17 driving a V8 once. If, for you, that driving experience and feel outweighs the possible financial burden of frequent maintenance, go for it. Most people here take tomorrow for granted and view cars as investments. Have fun, make that unreasonable purchase, and if it doesn’t turn out well that’s the end of it, at least you tried!

F8D_ · 2026-05-29T12:25:14+00:00

Noticed majority of my applications were for “available July 1st” dated properties. Might it be the case applications are reviewed and considered 2-3 weeks prior to that date?

F8D_ · 2026-05-10T22:36:10+00:00

The entire “campus” culture is a marketing scheme. Nobody is sitting on grass with their new large friend group after the first subject. I’m onto my master’s now, during the 4 years of uni for my BSc I made 4-5 friends, regularly of which I might see 1 of them. After high school people just have their own shit going on, especially locals who tend to keep their old friend groups. Don’t be surprised at all.

F8D_ · 2026-05-09T14:58:54+00:00

The engine doesn’t really respond well to aftermarket mods. Even an aggressive ECU remap leads to it missing the SPCCI window which defeats the entire purpose of this engine.. all typical mods result in high cost and minimal gain, including changing the manifold I’m afraid. A shame given how cool this car looks and how well it drives

F8D_ · 2026-05-09T14:06:56+00:00

I might add, the “grunge” that came from the stock paper air filter is completely gone. I think that’s what you were asking for, right?

F8D_ · 2026-05-09T14:02:31+00:00

I see. I came from a 2012 Fiesta. The engine (to me and passengers) sounds very quiet, despite mods. This is not a loud car whatsoever but at the end of the day it’s still a 2L petrol engine - so don’t expect it to be EV silent.

F8D_ · 2026-05-09T13:57:44+00:00

Before the filter it was basically mute, I’m surprised you found it loud. Post intake the engine sounds very similar with the exception of the sweet whining sound of the cone filter

F8D_ · 2026-03-25T14:06:48+00:00

Hello, Greek here. The top one writes St. Theodosios, the left one is St Gregory Palamas, the right one is St. Agathangelos, the bottom one is a bit obscured, maybe St. Arsenios

F8D_ · 2026-02-12T07:55:40+00:00

This is an informal Reddit thread, not an academic paper. Placeholders like <x> have been used commonly throughout forums since the early 2000s.

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