Jazz And Mazda3

[st11x]

G'day,

We need a hatchback and are tossing up between these 2 cars. Would appreciate any comments on these 2, not looking at any other models as the wife has given me the ultimatum .

The Jazz will be around 730K all up while the Mazda will be around 1mil. I am leaning towards the Jazz as it seems to be more updated in terms of technology. The Mazda is very elegant , but as I recalled after testing the SP23 several years back in Australia, it hasn't changed much.

I am not looking for a car that goes 0-100 in the quickest possible time my budget can buy, but a comfortable ride on the highway. We will be going for a test drive soon.

thanks

Matt

[snowflake]

I looked at the Mazda 3 a long time ago, they have a new updated version now.

All I can say is that I love my Jazz. It is way larger than you would suspect and after 6 months it still surprise me every now and then...

Here is a picture of my lovely little car...

[st11x]

I looked at the Mazda 3 a long time ago, they have a new updated version now.

All I can say is that I love my Jazz. It is way larger than you would suspect and after 6 months it still surprise me every now and then...

Here is a picture of my lovely little car...

Thanks for your reply. When you say the updated version, you don't mean the new model right? I was looking on the net and it seems the Mazda3 is having a facelift, though the salesman told me they have just done it in Aug 08.

The Honda dealers wouldn't budge on the price; it must be a very popular car. I asked for either red or the dark gray color, and they are both out on a waiting period of 3 months. They said those 2 colors are not popular with the Thais. Even the Mazda has a 3-4 months waiting period on the red.

Matt

[onnut]

My wife has the Jazz, its a good car. I think the Mazda is more sportyish but I think over priced for what you get. jazz cruises nicely but does not have any guts whatsoever! it is roomy inside though, I have to say that I do not like driving it as I am very tall and it gets uncomfortable after a while. it is also very good on fuel.

[Gary A]

I think you'll find the Jazz rides better but the Mazda handles better. Unfortunately you can't have a smooth ride and good handling at the same time. The Mazda is MUCH better looking.

[snowflake]

All I can say is that the more you pay, the more you get...

If you get the same thing when you pay 705000B for one car and over 1M for the other, I would be plenty pissed off.

I got the jazz because I like it, I do not like the Mazda, so I guess the looks are very subjective... I do hope for all the people that bought themselves a mazda that it rides better than the jazz, it cost a lot more!

Wait let us compare the Jazz to a ferrari, which is better? I would never touch the latter here in Thailand, but boy o boy.. (wait back on topic)...

the jazz is roomy and comfortable, I am 187 cm, and I am willing to bet money that I weigh more than you. I can drive that car for hours without feeling tired or sore. I guess that is different if you come from an accord or BMW... It is not the same thing... For what you pay it is a good package, if you ask me...

Good luck finding a car!

[onnut]

All I can say is that the more you pay, the more you get...

If you get the same thing when you pay 705000B for one car and over 1M for the other, I would be plenty pissed off.

I got the jazz because I like it, I do not like the Mazda, so I guess the looks are very subjective... I do hope for all the people that bought themselves a mazda that it rides better than the jazz, it cost a lot more!

Wait let us compare the Jazz to a ferrari, which is better? I would never touch the latter here in Thailand, but boy o boy.. (wait back on topic)...

the jazz is roomy and comfortable, I am 187 cm, and I am willing to bet money that I weigh more than you. I can drive that car for hours without feeling tired or sore. I guess that is different if you come from an accord or BMW... It is not the same thing... For what you pay it is a good package, if you ask me...

Good luck finding a car!

im 110kg and am 195cm tall. the Jazz is to small for me thats why it gets uncomfortable. anyway, its my wifes car so I do not need to drive it that often. i am not knocking the car, its a great car for the price. i prefer to drive my car though as it has more room.

[neverdie]

I looked at both too but also the Honda Civic. I prefer the Mazda BUT a couple of things were pointed out to me by a thai friend (whos a ford salesman) & I think he might be correct too, Thais like hondas, so the resale might be a bit better on the Honda & also the servicing is a little cheaper on the honda. Have you looked at the Honda Civic?

[st11x]

Thanks for all your replies.

I managed to test drive both of them. The Jazz feels so much more open and airy, maybe it's because it is taller and has the glass at the A-pillar. The side mirrors also look very big even though they are not. I am only 1.7m, so it is plenty big for me.

The Mazda has very nice interiors indeed. However, it does seem a little cramped. From the outside, it looks so much better than the Jazz.

Performance wise, I can't really pick out any difference; granted I am a very slow driver. The test routes did not have any hills, so maybe the Mazda with the 2.0 engine might triumph over the Jazz?

Can't really say the Mazda has a 300K THB advantage over the Jazz, so I'm leaning towards the Jazz now. Had to fight the wife though, she has already been seduced by the interiors of the Mazda, never mind anything else

neverdie, I did look at the Civic. The dash looks very nice, but as it didn't have a hatchback version, we gave up the idea.

I was interested in testing the Focus TDCi with the 6-Spd gearbox, but the dealer doesn't have any. It will be a while before they come ot Chiang Mai unfortunately.

Thanks

Matt

[neverdie]

All I can say is that the more you pay, the more you get...

If you get the same thing when you pay 705000B for one car and over 1M for the other, I would be plenty pissed off.

I got the jazz because I like it, I do not like the Mazda, so I guess the looks are very subjective... I do hope for all the people that bought themselves a mazda that it rides better than the jazz, it cost a lot more!

Wait let us compare the Jazz to a ferrari, which is better? I would never touch the latter here in Thailand, but boy o boy.. (wait back on topic)...

the jazz is roomy and comfortable, I am 187 cm, and I am willing to bet money that I weigh more than you. I can drive that car for hours without feeling tired or sore. I guess that is different if you come from an accord or BMW... It is not the same thing... For what you pay it is a good package, if you ask me...

Good luck finding a car!

im 110kg and am 195cm tall. the Jazz is to small for me thats why it gets uncomfortable. anyway, its my wifes car so I do not need to drive it that often. i am not knocking the car, its a great car for the price. i prefer to drive my car though as it has more room.

Onnut, that is a nice looking car in your avatar, what is it?, what year model is it?

[Plus]

Ford is worth the wait, but you mentioned performance is not an issue for you, so...

2.0 l Mazda will certainly beat 1.5l Jazz or it's 1.6l smaller sibling but there shouldn't be a big difference between those two, Mazda's a bit heavier, should be a tad slower.

[onnut]

im 110kg and am 195cm tall. the Jazz is to small for me thats why it gets uncomfortable. anyway, its my wifes car so I do not need to drive it that often. i am not knocking the car, its a great car for the price. i prefer to drive my car though as it has more room.

Onnut, that is a nice looking car in your avatar, what is it?, what year model is it?

Neverdie,

it is a 2008 Honda Accord, 2.0 Liter version. thank you.

[tomartoh]

Bought the Mazda 3 sport in 2005. I think it is a great car. Goes fast and goes around bends fast as well. Almost a hot hatchback, although in the UK

and some other countries there is one. Maybe have a look at a second hand one, there seems to be a few about and good prices.

[dingdongrb]

I rented a 2008 Honda Jazz for almost a year. I just (2 weeks ago) bought the top model Mazda3 (2.0L Hatchback)... It is still new (approx 700km) so I been riding it easy trying to break it in right as I'm hoping it will last me years to come. I love the 3 so far but ask me again in 6 mths or a year to see if I have any problems. I will say that the 3 is much more sporty looking than the Jazz. It has more comforts and extras than the Jazz did. (i.e. Great 6CD Stereo, leather seats, sunroof, more adjustments to the seat, larger storage in the back, better AC, auto ext mirror 'fold-back', outside temp thermometer, a glove box so big you could put a case of beer in it, the inside definitely doesn't look cheap like the Jazz....and more). It is designed with the Volvo safety airbag system (2 airbags and 4 curtains). I hope I never have to test them out.

I will say that both the Jazz and the 3 are roomier on the inside than most who have not been in one could imagine. The 3 is a little longer than the Jazz (I believe) but the Jazz is taller. The 3 is much more tighter in the turns than the Jazz. I don't know what this 3 will do for speed as I stated I am gently breaking it in. But with the Jazz being a rental I had that little bugger up to 180kph on my last day renting it and I think that little 1.5L still had a little something to give. I had driven it from Chiang Mai to Surin (approx 1000 km) and traveled doing 140kph for long stretches with no problems. The Jazz seemed to me to have bad 'blind spots' at the channels where the side windows and windshield meet.

I can't say anything about anywhere else, but here in CM the folks at the Mazda dealership were much more friendly and knowledgeable about their cars and selling me one than the Honda dealer. One thing about buying a car in LOS vs. back home in the USA, here in LOS there is no negotiation on the pricing. But you can always ask and usually receive extras. I received: tinted windows, 1st yr top end insurance, 1st yr registration and road tax, car tag holders (not cheap ones), top grade floor mats, full tank of gas, rear bumper sensors installed, and to top it off they threw in 2 Mazda umbrellas...

All I have left to say is: Zoom Zoom Zoom....... :D :D

[AndyFarang]

I rented a 2008 Honda Jazz for almost a year. I just (2 weeks ago) bought the top model Mazda3 (2.0L Hatchback)... It is still new (approx 700km) so I been riding it easy trying to break it in right as I'm hoping it will last me years to come. I love the 3 so far but ask me again in 6 mths or a year to see if I have any problems.

Hi dingdong - I know its only 3 months hence, but how goes your Mazda 3 so far?

Been thinking between that and a Civic. And what made you go for the 2.0 vs 1.6l? I heard 1.6 Mazda might not be so long lasting for longer journeys...

cheers

andy

[Spaniel]

We have had our new Jazz about a month now and 100% satisfied. I didn't look at the Mazda so cant comment on it but highly recommend the Jazz. You're right, not much negotiating on the price, but as dingdong pointed out try to get a as many freebies as possible. We were able to get the first year insurance free, registration, car cover, undercoating and paint seal, floor mats, license plate holders (the good ones not cheapie plastic ones) window tint, emergency kit, umbrella. We got the Model V AT (SRS) which was B 650,000 and took about 2 months

[yabaaaa]

Thanks for all your replies.

I managed to test drive both of them. The Jazz feels so much more open and airy, maybe it's because it is taller and has the glass at the A-pillar. The side mirrors also look very big even though they are not. I am only 1.7m, so it is plenty big for me.

The Mazda has very nice interiors indeed. However, it does seem a little cramped. From the outside, it looks so much better than the Jazz.

Performance wise, I can't really pick out any difference; granted I am a very slow driver. The test routes did not have any hills, so maybe the Mazda with the 2.0 engine might triumph over the Jazz?

Can't really say the Mazda has a 300K THB advantage over the Jazz, so I'm leaning towards the Jazz now. Had to fight the wife though, she has already been seduced by the interiors of the Mazda, never mind anything else

neverdie, I did look at the Civic. The dash looks very nice, but as it didn't have a hatchback version, we gave up the idea.

I was interested in testing the Focus TDCi with the 6-Spd gearbox, but the dealer doesn't have any. It will be a while before they come ot Chiang Mai unfortunately.

Thanks

Matt

We have the new jazz sv model with paddle shifts and using them in "S" mode turns it from a snail into a little rocket. Using it in Auto mode its nowwhere near as fast. You have to rev the nuts off it but they are built to handle it and coming form someone who had many a motorbike revving the nuts of them is fine for me.