I got my tC last week. I love driving it because it rides smooth and quiet. There is no road noise because of the insulation around the passenger compartment. Even the trunk is lined with carpet
all the way around. There is little sway around corners even in high speed. It is quicker to accelerate than the Camry and has very upscale options. My tC is a lot more inexpensive than the mazda3 for the options included.

1manila

 

congrats to you

 

Just to clarify, how does owning a tC related to a subject header of having both the tC and Mazda 3? Please explain.

Kevin

 

which do you think is better in your opinion?

 

Some people I know are on the fence about buying which car. I may be able to give insight on what is the better car based on their needs and the little I know about the peculiarities in each one. I'm sorry, I should have made myself clearer.

1manila

 

sweet man, what do ya think? too soon for a comparison test? It's completely different after owning a car for a few weeks, you get in its 'groove' on how it likes to drive. Let us know, bro.

 

I like the Mazda 3, but it's a rebadged Focus. No thanks.

 

Wrong. The new Mazda3, Ford Focus and Volvo S40 share the same platform, which was developed jointly. They all have their differences. The Mazda3 uses Mazda's newly developed 2.3L engine which Ford will use in the Focus (so the Ford uses a Mazda engine, not the other way around.) The Volvo has a Volvo designed engine, which won't be shared by anything. Suspension tuning is unique to each vehicle, but most suspension parts are interchangable. No body panels or interior parts are interchangable. Plus, the Mazda3 is built in Japan, not in the U.S. like the Focus. (Ford owns a controlling interest in Mazda, so there are some vehicles that are "rebadged" and roll off the same assembly line: the Mazda Tribute and Ford Escape and the old MX-6 and Ford Probe, for instance. The Mazda6 is built in the U.S. but has no Ford equivalent.)

1manila, can you tell us a bit about how your tC and 3 compare? I feel that the tC is a little faster, has an equally sporty suspension with a little less harshness over sharp bumps and feels more solidly constructed than the 3. Also, as much as I like the 3's interior, I think the tC has a cleaner look and better driving position. (I'm comparing the tC to the 2.3L 3s with the 17" wheels.) Your thoughts?

 

did you get the 4 door/hatch or the sedan. i really like the hatch-back. its gotten great reviews. it is a bit more than a rebadged focus...styling is a lot better. they should have figured a way to put the SVT engine in it...that would have been hot.

congrats and welcome!!!

 

Mazda 3 2.3L sport auto sedan v. tC Scion 2.4L auto

I lprefer driving the tC scion because of the following:

1. The tC suspension absorbs more bumps than the Mazda 3.

2. Tc is quieter because it has more insulation in areas that Mazda3 does not have ex trunk

3. Tc scion A/C feels stronger. Mazda 3 AC sounds noisier. They may both be on par after one hour of driving time.

4. Tc scion feels more solidly built. Or to put it in another way, I feel safer dring the Scion then the Mazda. (mind over matter)

5. tC scion has better visibility pheripherally. I can see better around than in Mazda 3.
Stock rear view mirror in Mazda 3 is too small. I had to modify with a larger clipon mirror with curved sides at the ends to see my blind spots.

6. Both are quick to accelerate. Fun factor is the same. Mazda 3 has the optional sportronic gears which I never use at all. Dash in mazda 3 and scion have both pluses and minuses and they cancel out.

7 Acessibility to parts under the hood is better with tC scion. Air filter is easier to replace


8 Scion has more accessories which Scion supports and guarantees.

9. With both cars sitting in garage, i prefer to drive the tC scion.

1manila

 

Nice to know how you feel about each car...you rock!

 

[quote="JasonH"]Wrong. The new Mazda3, Ford Focus and Volvo S40 share the same platform, which was developed jointly. They all have their differences. The Mazda3 uses Mazda's newly developed 2.3L engine which Ford will use in the Focus (so the Ford uses a Mazda engine, not the other way around.) The Volvo has a Volvo designed engine, which won't be shared by anything. Suspension tuning is unique to each vehicle, but most suspension parts are interchangable. No body panels or interior parts are interchangable. Plus, the Mazda3 is built in Japan, not in the U.S. like the Focus. (Ford owns a controlling interest in Mazda, so there are some vehicles that are "rebadged" and roll off the same assembly line: the Mazda Tribute and Ford Escape and the old MX-6 and Ford Probe, for instance. The Mazda6 is built in the U.S. but has no Ford equivalent.)
[quote]

The fact that they are affiliated is enough to dissuade me

 

Heh. Steer clear of Jaguar, Aston Martin, Land Rover and Volvo then too. Ford owns all their car operations.

 

dont hate on the 3.. i am still very fond of the 3, even though I picked the tC. Although it is everywhere now, at least with my tC id be one of the few...

 

Both cars are very good. I test drove both of them. Think the tC is rather unique and also a Toyota built car so I chose the tC. But you can't go wrong with either one.

Kevin

 

What kind of deal did you get on your 3? From what I can tell you can get a comparably equipped 3 for the same price or just over the tC.

a lot of people on Edmunds are complaining about the 3's AC. Not sure if it's isolated or not. I know you say the tC has better AC... is the 3's weak?

By the way, did you get the moonroof?

Right now I'm leaning towards the tC over the 3, but that depends on how long it'll take to find a tC.

 

It depends on what options are important to you. The sunroof on the 3 is an option while it is standard in tC. The 3 could end up more expensive because the options are sequentially added. For example you can only get navigation if you have the sideairbags added etc.
The AC in the 3 is noisier at the higher settings (more air) than the tC. I think both are comparable in function but the styling and design in tC is more user friendly- less noise and does not intrude into regular conversations. The tc probably has more insulation between the passenger and the engine compartment. I think the 3's AC fan motor is too close to the vents that you can hear it working. The 3 AC is pretty strong and you have to modulate the setting after a while. Depends on where you live I guess.

1manila