Toolong

It's a 'keeper'! Especially if only 20,000 kms. ????

I'm glad you posted this comment my way, DavisH., cos it gives me a chance to get a niggle off my chest, so to speak! By all means tell me your view on this, if you have a mind to. (Otherwise....if you think I'm talking nonsense, don't sweat it!????????) The local Mazda showroom has only the top variant for each model. Yesterday we went to visit to check out the 2 & the Cx3. The cx3, therefore was the top 'Comfort' variant. The stand-out differences in this top variant from the other cx3 variants - as far as I could tell, there might be others - were a few safety features, like the 360 degree surround view thing, nice suede leather trim.....and 18 inch wheels. My gripe is the wheel/tyre size, compared to the 16 inch size used on the 'lower' variants. I have seen this highlighted in many reviews of the cx3, and I know from my own experience, that the tyre profile used on the 18 inch, the 215/50 R18, will give a much LESS comfortable ride, on poor road surfaces, than the 215/60 R16 tyre used on the lower models. I know on GOOD road surfaces, the 215/50 R18 will no doubt be ok, and maybe even add more overall stability, handling-wise, than the 215/60 R16s, but where I live, a lot of road surface are pretty rough & pot-holed, so those 18 inchers are not what I need. I asked the salespeople if I could order the Comfort variant, but with the 16 inch wheel/tyre set up, paying the same price as I would for the 18 inch wheels. They said no, not possible. I explained the logic of it being a win-win for Mazda, and convenient for me, plus kind of a 'lose' for me, which I would accept. They said just can't be done. I'm not usually attracted by 'bells & whistles' too much, but I admit I do like that suede trim on the top model, and the 360 view monitor would be good for my wife....+ I'm not sure I could get over forking out so much for the next model down, with the hard plastic trim and no 360, despite having (for me) the better wheel/tyre set up. The sales guy suggested I buy it as it is, then trade the 18 inchers for the size I want. While it is possible I suppose, to do that, not only is it a hassle, but possibly it might effect the warranty (not sure). Another issue is that I think my wife has fallen for the CX3, over the Mazda 2! So while I'm now unsure about where to go from here re the CX3, and 'stalled', she's of the mind that it's the one for us.....or her, anyway! ???? Which brings me to the Mazda 2. Regarding wife being a VERY inexperienced, unsure, 4-wheel driver, and therefore getting a car that is small, zippy, easy to manouevre, and good quality....the Mazda 2 is the one for her....as far as I'm concerned! But she wants to run before she can walk, so to speak, and now sees the bigger cx3 is the one for her/us. We test-drove the Mazda 2 (I drove) and it seemed perfectly fine. We will test-drive the cx3 on Monday, and I shall be putting it through its paces on some bumpy surfaces! (If you, or anyone, is wondering why my wife isn't test-driving these vehicles herself, which would make sense, it's cos she is SO inexperienced that I would worry too much about disaster, unless we could find an unused airport runway to drive around! ????)

But there are a lot of nice accessories you can add on to make it a pleasant driving experience for your wife and to ramp up its resale value. Like, say, the roll-down see-through rain screens. What wife wouldn't appreciate that? ????????

Yes, I agree and think your prediction is likely to be the case. ????

Yes, I agree and think your prediction is very likely to be the case. ????

My local showroom now has the Yaris to look at and test drive. So will test drive next week. Think my wife prefers Mazda.....but I want to give the Yaris a chance. ????

Yes, I like them too. Actually did a test drive in one for the first time today - nice. Problem is......my wife has taken a shine to the CX3 that she sat in at the showroom. The CX3 is nice....and have a test drive arranged for Monday, so that will probably reinforce her liking for it over the Mazda 2. I like the CX3 too but think the 2 is better for her & her needs. So will see.....????????????

Thanks for your comments, DavisH. And thanks for the youtube reviews. Will watch them shortly, with my wife, to translate if necessary. ???????? Re second-hand crv's or second-hand cars generally, my wife is not keen. It's not a mindset that I think can change. (Which is a shame, cos if I could pick up a real bargain Jazz - now discontinued - it would suit her perfectly imo.) If she knew the whole history of a bargain second-hander & was close to the owner, etc....then maybe, but....???????? ????

Thanks, Vinny. You've just helpfully educated me somewhat as to the likely set-ups between manufacterers & dealerships. ???? I think I have been rather naive about this, assuming that the dealership policy is the manufacturer's (ie Honda) policy cos the dealership IS the manufacturer, in a way. But the relationship is more complex than that and I can, from your comments, understand that in a clearer way. ???? So that said......despite the WR-V having some rather cheapish-looking & naff features that I noticed as soon as I sat in it.......the WR-V had a certain character to it overall, notably the actual compactness of it, while still giving the impression of a larger vehicle. It's on the back-burner for me atm, but I'll be interested to know what coming reviews of it say.

As someone else suggested, I think it's an individual dealership thing. Their own policy. Not universal. Dunno for sure. ???????????? But you know, if they want me to part with the cabbage, I say hand me those ignition keys and let's ride.

????????????....high horsepower is not what floats my wife's boat.....so to speak. The colour of the vehicle does. And what really appeals to her most, is the vehicle that's at least one up-grade in the models range above that model I suggest is what we need. ????

I will check that site out, Vinny. Thank you ????. Like I mentioned to someone else who kindly responded to my post to you, I think there was (just) enough about the WR-V, from an all-too-brief look-over to spur me to give it another chance. So I will check out the site you provided to see if something can be sorted. Frankly, not impressed with this particular Honda dealership, tbh. Maybe another....though some distance away.....might be more ready to give me what I need. We'll see. Again, thanks Vinny & thanks for the link. ????

No, I didn't ask, DavisH.. I should have done. But she was so clear that a test drive wouldn't be available - and that's that! - that it left me too baffled to enquire further. I'm guessing that had it been possible to book a test drive she would have suggested it, to keep me on the hook, so to speak. But she didn't. Oh well. Unfortunate that I hadn't got far doing a thorough check up inside & out before she told me about the test drive no-can-do. Shame, cos got the impression it might be worth giving the WR-V a chance to win me over. I'm gonna go with what you suggested.....check out other Honda outlets, esp a larger one if possible. Thanks for your response, DavisH. ????

Just thought I'd mention it - went to check out the Honda WR-V today. Seemed nice. But no vehicle to test drive. That stumped me. In fact, no test drives available for any of the Honda vehicles in the showroom. Company policy. How does Honda think that makes for a happy customer, I wonder. ???? Oh well. ????

Yes, I know what you mean. I'm a bit wary of brand new models. Wait until the problems have been ironed out is best! ????

Yes, finding out these details, about what exactly I am getting in the package and what I'm not, is going to be important for me. ????

Personally....I love the March! Wife's opinion? Very 'Thai', let's put it that way. ????. And I truly regret to say that. ????

????'.....consecutive Mazda 2's'. ? Interesting. Very interesting, in fact. I like the CX3....very much......and my wife does too.....but I myself have a sense that a Mazda 2 might be a good starting point (she's not an experienced 4-wheeler) for her.......or do you think we could safely 'skip' (so to speak) the Mazda 2 and just get a CX3 ? ????

You actually ask rather too many questions to keep track of, georgegeorgia! ????????......but they are all questions to which I can relate to and to which I feel inclined to respond. I have yet to know what precisely it is that will see me 'shuffle off this mortal coil', but know it is waiting to be given a name soon, I regret to venture, by doctors I'm reluctant to meet anyway, anytime soon. My guess is cirrhosis of the liver. (Does anyone know how to spell 'cirrhosis'? Tbh, I think even dictionaries just guess...????) But my present awareness of this likely outcome reminds me of things I learned some time ago. My mother died of terminal pancreatic cancer in 2010. My own 'inner takeaway' of the mentality of my mother at that time, based on both research then, but mostly intuition, was that there is a profound shift in 'normal mindset' to 'the other'. Or........'another'. By which I mean an opening of perceptions that are not consistent with the natural, usually unconscious, 'I'm alive, and will continue to be so for a period ahead long enough to cause no concern at present' mentality of the non-terminally-diagnosed. So a shift from that norm to....often poetically termed.....the abyss. When that happens, things will take their course inexorably, and will almost certainly be, oddly enough, a blessing. What I describe may appear to have a very grim tone to it, but in fact, none was intended, for there really is no 'grimness' to it....actually. ????????

Absolutely amazing! But I would have a few questions & doubts.... However, yes, it is amazing! Wow!! ????

Tbh, LosLobo......me as a real 'little lad' always preferred Dinky or Corgi car models of American cars like Mustangs or Camaros....or Italian stuff, Dino Ferraris, etc. Cars that seemed to exude sexiness, flair & class. I find a lot of cars these days seem designed to give off an aggressive, brutish kind of vibe. The Mazda 3 for example is one of the few that for me harks back to my old Dinky car ideal! The Yaris special is nice, but gotta admit I was never really a speed or power kind of car lover. (Just as well, as I'm the owner of a 15 year old Isuzu Hi-Lander that gets overtaken by guys on bikes with sidecars selling Thai sausages! ????)

True enough, I reckon. ????.

So.....a bit of POS then?! ???? Your assessment doesn't surprise me, (and was also quite amusing! ????), but I will say this for them: They must be a nice little 'earner' for Mitsu, as there are, it seems to me, so many of them bombing about! ????

I ain't against a bit of speed myself....????....but the risks on the road here preclude getting a healthy kick out of speeds like that, for me. Call me Grandad, but it's a safe, Bonneville Salt Flats type thing.....or a mug of cocoa and an early night. ????????

The specs in the City hatchback brochure they gave me say 13.5 cms for all models. If for any reason I actually did choose to get a City (though I'm doubting I would, atm), I wonder if different profile tyres would provide a sufficient increase in height off-ground to make a crucial difference? ???? But then, it doesn't seem great that you buy a vehicle and immediately need, in those circumstances, to fork out for different tyres! Read with interest your concise summary of your opinions on each brand you looked at. ???? Mitsubishi, btw, do (or did?) a small hatchback called the Mirage. I see loads of them around, so there must be something good about them....but for some reason my wife's not keen to get one. ????