Used 2010 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 5A) Consumer Reviews
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diehard080, San Francisco, CA, 02/17/2015
updated 09/21/2020
Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 5A)
95 of 101 people found this review helpful
When I purchased this car I was under the impression that car's would continually be made to last longer and longer as technology improves. Well that does not appear to be the case and this is why it will be difficult to ever let go of my Mazda 3 SGT HB A . I appears many cars these days are built more cheaply than ever and have a planned obsolescence built in where sometime before 100k major issues arise which cause owners to " just get a new car " . Well thats bunk / because any good car manufacturer has the technology to build cars that can easily last 300k . They often wont , and pack the car full of technological garbage that they sell people on needing instead of using those resources to put better parts in areas of the car that matter, like the engine ...for starters. Self parking , blind spot intervention, etc etc are computers that cost $ , fail at some point , make it more likely something will break and ultimately make people worse drivers by letting them falsely think they dont need to pay attention or learn how to parallel park. Whats really happening is the consumer is paying the auto companies to do R&D on your nickel for the inevitability of self driving cars / anyway- This 2010 Mazda GT was indeed a rare bird that you will likely NEVER see again . Thats why I will never sell it . It was a car that was built to last and was sold right before all the tech stuff you dont need, would have automatically be on ANY car that was at the top of the option spectrum . My GT has leather, Bose , Sunroof , Led Lights and bluetooth ..Which just barely made it into that year . So where did the rest of the $$ to build a $24k car in this class go ? ( and mind you there were many cars $10-20K more that weren't built like this one ) - Alloy rims , yes , Sport suspension, yes and of course all the other handling tech that did improve driving and could be turned off DSC , Abs etc - But heres the kicker that blows the german cars and other 50k cars away - the engine - No not the most hp (167 ) not the best gas mileage 25mpg avg. but the bulletproof components that car makers have all but cut out to save $$ , because after all who keeps a car 300k miles ? ..I DO . Mazda had a well build 2.3 liter 4 cylinder 16 valve dohc that was being used in thier Mazda 3 successfuly for years . in 2010 Mazda had already began work and massive investment into thier skyactive systems which eventually were launched in 2013 . They needed to spruce up the existing Mazda 3 and make it good enough to last until the skyactive line launch in 2013 - So Mazda decided to give it a few nice body tweaks and then address one complaint of 3 owners prior to 2010 -power ! So to save $ they took the existing 2.3 in 2009 , bored to 89mm and stroked up to 100mm making that bad boy into a 2.5 ! pumping out about 17-20 more hp and more torque , but even better - they made it literally indestructible. They took thier aluminum alloy block and forged in 4340 steel molybdenum piston sleeves to reduce friction and deliver high-heat resistance - making this engines cooling fan seldom ever kick on . Since it was bored and stroked they upgraded to a forged steel crankshaft with 8 counterweights. There is a flexible joint between the crankshaft and the flywheel for resonances reduction at the middle and high revs (2,000-5,000 rpm) of the engine. The engine has a cassette type balancer unit as well. It has two balance shafts driven through a gear directly by the crankshaft. Bottom end also received forged powder-metal connecting rods and new aluminum pistons with graphite-coated skirts. !!! god damn !!!! Take that BMW ! The engine has an aluminum alloy cylinder head with four valves per cylinder. On top of the head, there are two overhead camshafts driven by a maintenance-free timing chain equipped with an automatic chain tensioner. The valvetrain has shimless, mechanical bucket tappets (no hydraulic tappets). Intake valve lift is 9.1 mm; exhaust valve lift is 7.8 mm. The 2.5-liter engine is equipped with variable valve timing system for the intake valves only (Mazda's Sequential Valve Timing or S-VT system). Like the 2.3, the 2.5 has a plastic variable length intake manifold. The system name is the Variable Induction System or VIS. The VIS provides long ports layout for low revs and short for high engine revs. Those manipulations increase the pulsing effect of the airflow and draw more air into the cylinder for better efficiency and performance. The 2.5 engine has an electronically controlled sequential, multi-point fuel injection and ignition system with individual direct ignition coils. The exhaust gases go through a stainless steel exhaust manifold/header with a heat-insulating layer and the catalytic converter. Unbelievablely reliable engine for a car that can be bought for under $20 k in the base model ! So the upshot is , that its one of the most trouble free reliable engines built by any car company and rivals the legendary 22re engine that toyota
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30K mile UPDATE-
diehard080, Daly City, CA, 10/12/2012
Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 5A)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
I have revirewed my 2008 versus this 2010 and already have concluded it just that much better. I will focus on the passing of time,servicing and performance continuity. I replaced the Avid-Yoko's which I found on the harsh side like the previous 08-09 suspension set-ups but slightly more ameinable to all-around driving with a bias towards all-out sports car tuned firmness. I installed Bridestones new Pole Position S-04's and even though the overall tire is heavier at 70-90mph this car is silent and super-stable at 85 I'm turning 2900 rpms and its not even breathing hard -this damn 2.5 wants to be ridden to 120+ and sprout wings. Everyting else is tight and right ! Just oil/filter and gas .
Mine is the 5 door Grand Touring Edition - loaded
Hoss Cartright, Earl Park, IN, 05/11/2020
Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 5A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
My first Mazda - (Toyota person for many years) Bought it with 43,000 miles in June 2015 and it now has 75,000 miles. Zero problems, pretty sure mine is as max-loaded as it gets? Even leather. Mine is Grand Touring Edition black with black leather. I do not like the "smile" of the grill design and the black body color erases this common styling complaint, so for that, I feel fortunate. My first car with blue-tooth and I use it for phone and music. My wife and I use it primarily as a once per week "grocery getter" to the city. I have had the back seats folded-down since day one and use it like a little "go-kart mini-van".. I love the headlights that self-adjust and turn when cornering. The 10 speaker BOSE sound system is incredible. At 60,000 miles first replacement set of tires. I do my own oil changes every 5,000 miles and use synthetic. I will miss this car, am handing-it-down to a Niece this month of June 2020. For a ten-year-old car, it still holds-up with the features of the new models.
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Gets better N better
diehard080, San Francisco, CA, 03/29/2012
Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 5A)
9 of 11 people found this review helpful
Yes its been 2 years since my 2010 was purchased as I traded my 2008 . This car has not failed to continue keeping me looking forward to my next drive . Its broken in properly as I polled the white tape off the paint myself with 2 miles on the odometer. I see people that have cars they complain about and usuall with a car this solid built 100% in Japan there 1 of 2 things going on here . #1 they work for Toyota or Honda and hate Mazdas becuase they rock the socks off those granny mobiles or you bought a Mazda with 10-15 demos thats been hammered into hell by the salespeople and non-buyers that just want to floof a new car and ruin the engine by doing so .These are top notch rides
Makes long commutes fun and sporty
ThrilledCommuter, 05/17/2010
Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 4cyl 5A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I love this car! I considered an Audi A3 TDI, which was easily $15K more, but am ecstatic I got the Mazda3. More Money does not equal a better car! My Mazda3 has the technology package and moon & tune package, so I am smiling all the way to work. It performs pretty well, and has awesome cornering. However, downshifting can sometimes be slow. But that is the only mediocrity I have with the car. My mileage varies from 25 - 28 depending on how much highway driving I do. But that is something I expected before buying. The technology package rocks! I don't mind the navigation screen size, and love the bluetooth audio streaming. Very comfortable all around, and hints of high quality material.
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