Well, its not actually here yet, its being delivered on Friday.

Managed to get a sneaky pic of it when I was passing by the dealers at the weekend.

Car:

Mazda 3, 2.2D Sport, 185PS, 5 door hatchback.

Aluminium Silver Metallic paint

Engine:

2184cc 16v turbo diesel with DPF

183bhp @ 3500rpm,

400Nm/290lbft @1800rpm,

0-60 in 7.9s

134mph top speed

50.4mpg combined

149g CO2/km

Transmission:

6 speed manual.

Chassis & Suspension:

Front: Independent suspension with MacPherson struts, 4 point rubber mounting system with liquid filled bushes.

Rear: E-Type multilink suspension with monotube dampers and low mounted springs to maximise load compartment space.

Brakes:

300mm ventilated disks up front, 280mm disks on the rear.

Spec:

Being the Sport, its top spec. The only options available are xenons or leather, of which mine has neither (although you can only have one or the other!)

Also:

• Heated front windscreen
  
• LED rear lights
  
• Auto wipers
  
• Auto lights
  
• Rear parking sensors
  
• Folding mirrors
  
• Bucket type seats
  
• Heated seats
  
• Premium BOSE surround sound with Richbass woofer, digital amplifier with 7 channels and 6CD autochanger
  
• Integrated 4.1" sat nav system
  
• Bluetooth hands-free phone with MP3 player control
  
• Blackout finish dials with red/blue illumination
  
• Welcome mode lighting (footwell and door grip illumination etc)
  
• Auto dimming rear view mirror
  
• Keyless entry and start/stop button
  
• Cruise control
  
• Front and rear electric windows
  
• Dual zone climate control
  
• Privacy glass
  

Plans:

• Full Baker21 detail
  
• Mazda RX8 18" alloys in dark silver
  
• Eibach lowering springs (Mazda accessory)
  
• Interior silver bits
  
• Mazda iPOD connector
  
• Rubber boot mat
  
• Illuminated scuff plates.
  

It was difficult choosing a car, but with all the spec etc I think its hard to beat!

Roll on Friday!!! :D:D:D

That looks wiked, top spec and quicker than an original Octavia vRS!

I would have thought Mazda could have done better than fitting rear suspension from an E Type Jag though

Nice but I'd be careful mod'ing a company car.

Technically accountants could class your mods as belonging to the car if you were to ever part ways....

Yeah, nothing would be done without lease co approval, but everything would be Mazda supplied so it shouldn't be a problem.

Also chuffed its only cost me £125 more than the 306 to insure

Very nice Tom, Bit tight on Mazda's part though, Xenons were standard on the previous model Sport!

I thought you were broke?

Nice looking car Tom and an Awesome spec

You gonna keep this one longer than 6 minutes ?

Carl:thumbup:

Looks a nice car that Tom

And a very impressive spec for standard

Also liking the performance stats...wonder what they are like remapped

Cheers

Damo

Very nice Tom, Bit tight on Mazda's part though, Xenons were standard on the previous model Sport!

TBH I'm happy to sacrifice xenons for the other additional spec

I thought you were broke?

I am, although I'm a month into my new job, for which remuneration is much improved over the old one Debt free within a year now is the plan.

Nice looking car Tom and an Awesome spec

You gonna keep this one longer than 6 minutes ?

Carl:thumbup:

Its a lease car so 3 years, and as residuals aren't amazing theres every likelihood I'll buy it as the company car scheme has been scrapped for a measely allowance.

Looks a nice car that Tom

And a very impressive spec for standard

Also liking the performance stats...wonder what they are like remapped

Cheers

Damo

Indeed an amazing spec!! Nearly ordered an Octy vRS CR170 but they are somewhat lacking in kit and was more expensive. A big draw to this car was the impressive kit list, nothing is an option and even metallic is standard on the 185! On the 150 (still a 2.2D) you lose sat nav, rear sensors and metallic paint. Another appeal was that it was available so quickly, any other colour except the dark grey would have been a factory order, and I'm not the most patient of people. A bit of a shame as the red is metallic and looks awesome.

The one I drove was tight as a drum, but still rapid. I don't think anyone remaps Mazdas as there isn't a large market and the engine isn't shared with any other brands. I can live with 183bhp :P

Bought a Mazda 6 2.0D 143PS on a 57 plate which at the time was the biggest diesel they did, lovely car, only thing that let it down for me was the lack of tuning potential, only Rica offered a remap and only one of there UK agents would do it at stupid money, though that may have changed

Im assuming you've got the 173PS 2.2TDCi lump out of the mondeo with a bit of a tweak to it? test drove a Titanium X before I got the passat and it felt positvely slow to the Focus 2.0TDCi with Stage 1 Code Red i was borrowing at the time, I bet yours will go like stink though in the smaller car

Nope, its a brand new Mazda unit, in no way related to the 2.2TDCI Ford lump

That's some spec Tom and something I wouldn't have thought of looking at, well that's not true as in my job I am always looking at lamp design as Mazda have some strange ideas.......:eek:

Love the colour and the wheels mate and would be interested in some interior pics and more exterior pics when you get the car......

All the best and hope you enjoy it, also all the best with the new job........

That's some spec Tom and something I wouldn't have thought of looking at, well that's not true as in my job I am always looking at lamp design as Mazda have some strange ideas.......:eek:

Love the colour and the wheels mate and would be interested in some interior pics and more exterior pics when you get the car......

All the best and hope you enjoy it, also all the best with the new job........

PM me a price and available days for a new-car detail and you can see it in the flesh, I'm based in Banbury most of the time now you see.

PM me a price and available days for a new-car detail and you can see it in the flesh, I'm based in Banbury most of the time now you see.

You have PM.......

Oooh, now I'm booked in for some Baker21 treatment, looking forward to it!

ITS HERE!!!

Colour is amazing now they've waxed it, a nice silvery grey, it suits the car very well.

Bit annoyed though, its done 76 miles despite being delivered on a low-loader. Lease company accepts up to 80 miles, so it sounds like the dealer know the game exactly, and it wouldn't suprise me if they'd used it as a demo. Regardless, I don't have a leg to stand on, so have accepted delivery, especially as a factory order is 16 weeks.

Also a tiny scratch (2mm long ish) on the rear offside door. Its not noticeable unless under very close scrutiny, so its been noted although I'm not going to make an issue of it.

Pics to follow at the weekend

ITS HERE!!!

Colour is amazing now they've waxed it, a nice silvery grey, it suits the car very well.

Bit annoyed though, its done 76 miles despite being delivered on a low-loader. Lease company accepts up to 80 miles, so it sounds like the dealer know the game exactly, and it wouldn't suprise me if they'd used it as a demo. Regardless, I don't have a leg to stand on, so have accepted delivery, especially as a factory order is 16 weeks.

Also a tiny scratch (2mm long ish) on the rear offside door. Its not noticeable unless under very close scrutiny, so its been noted although I'm not going to make an issue of it.

Pics to follow at the weekend

Good news Tom, sure we can get rid / hide the scratch on Sunday..........

A couple of pics as I couldn't help myself.

Let the modding begin...

and end with mazda3forums sticker

Looks great Tom - nice one

Is it just me, or on that rear pic is the exhaust not central in the recess? Or just a trick of the eye from the angle of the photo?

Steve

Nice looking motor Tom, More aggersively styled than the previous model.

And are you going to be able to get any work done for the rest of the day?:P

Nice looking motor Tom, More aggressively styled than the previous model.

Some might say that wouldn't be difficult! :P

Looks great Tom - nice one

Is it just me, or on that rear pic is the exhaust not central in the recess? Or just a trick of the eye from the angle of the photo?

Steve

Trick of the eye, its set quite deep in the bumper.

Nice looking motor Tom, More aggersively styled than the previous model.

And are you going to be able to get any work done for the rest of the day?:P

I agree, the styling is great, although its not a huge amount different from the other trim levels.

Already been out "on site", done about 20 miles. First impressions are that the BOSE is stunning, although the "centre point" (5.1 surround imitation) is pointless. The ride is spot on, nice and firm, but supple too. Engine is seriously refined, and very petrol like. Oh and its FECKING QUICK! Feels much quicker than my old 2.0TFSI did thats for sure, and its certainly quicker than the demo I drove. Oh and the gearbox has the nicest, shortest throw shift of anything I've ever driven.

Will do a proper review when its got some miles under it.