Poor man's 3 series
01-22-2010, 11:58 AM
#81
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
Guess that settles that.
01-22-2010, 12:21 PM
#82
I currently own a 2006 Mazda 3s GT Hatch, fully loaded minus NAV and a 2007 335i Coupe nicely equipped w/ NAV.
I love both cars and the Mazda 3 is a great alternative when the wifey wants to drive the bimmer to work. I agree with a bunch of other members that other cars are "the poor man's 3" while the mazda 3 should be considered a "top of it's class" car. We have about 85k on the hatch now. It handles great, the interior has held up with little maintenance, and has not been a headache to maintain.
If people are buying the mazda 3 to feed their urge for BMW performance, I'd pass and choose another sports-inspired car, like maybe subaru. I loved my subaru leggy gt and would say that those cars should be considered in this discussion.
I love both cars and the Mazda 3 is a great alternative when the wifey wants to drive the bimmer to work. I agree with a bunch of other members that other cars are "the poor man's 3" while the mazda 3 should be considered a "top of it's class" car. We have about 85k on the hatch now. It handles great, the interior has held up with little maintenance, and has not been a headache to maintain.
If people are buying the mazda 3 to feed their urge for BMW performance, I'd pass and choose another sports-inspired car, like maybe subaru. I loved my subaru leggy gt and would say that those cars should be considered in this discussion.
01-22-2010, 03:32 PM
#83
My buddy owns an '08 328i, and my 3G TL is noticeably faster & handles better. We've taken a few roadtrips with both & he doesn't even bother playing around anymore. It could definitely be a driver's race but with comparable drivers the J32 wins.
Now if we're talking about the 8G Accord J35 w/ MT.. I think the 335i & M3 would have a match at the track. The TL-S recorded a faster lap time at Willow against the M3 (e92) & M5 (e60). The TL-S was slower than the M5 (e60) by 2.5s at the Streets of Willow though.
Willow Springs
Willow Springs - Streets of Willow
Regarding the "poor man's M3" My soon to be brother-in-law's gf drives a mazda 3s and I drove it the last time I visited them in LV. I was very impressed by it overall. It's inexpensive but it's still sporty, not anything anyone would take seriously but it's fun little car and it feels pretty roomy for being a small car. I definitely feel like there's more room in the mazda 3 than the 328i.. I've never driven a mazdaspeed3 but I'd definitely buy it over the 3 series value wise.. BMW M3 not included.. lol.
01-22-2010, 05:03 PM
#84
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
Driver, rubber, temps.. 
Keiichi "drift king" Tsuchiya who did the driving also tested the G35S MT & IS350.. the TL-S MT still bested them by 1.5 - 2s.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C0eem7IjwE
^ He's an insanely good driver..
Keiichi "drift king" Tsuchiya who did the driving also tested the G35S MT & IS350.. the TL-S MT still bested them by 1.5 - 2s.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C0eem7IjwE
^ He's an insanely good driver..
01-22-2010, 05:39 PM
#86
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
the RPM's on the gauge don't match the sound.. I'm guessing it was altered.
Last edited by Majofo; 01-22-2010 at 05:43 PM.
01-22-2010, 05:47 PM
#88
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
01-22-2010, 07:04 PM
#90
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
06-23-2011, 11:17 PM
#93
Pro
Thread Starter
My words have become a self fulling prophecy. My 3 to me is a poor man's bimmer. The handling is outgrageous good for the price. I've never enjoy a small 4 cylinder car as much as this.
06-23-2011, 11:33 PM
#94
I drive a Subata.
iTrader: (1)
Glad to hear that it's making you happy. 
06-24-2011, 05:32 AM
#95
Someday, an RS6 Avant+
I would have thought my Subaru was the poor man's car (the 2008/2009 version). With the specB package, the handling is pretty good. The power delivery is linear, but at best it would compare to a 328i. Even the looks are close:
It may be that the Mazda 3 is close in the handling department, and for that I don't know. Based on looks, I think the Subie is not that far off.
It may be that the Mazda 3 is close in the handling department, and for that I don't know. Based on looks, I think the Subie is not that far off.
06-24-2011, 11:53 AM
#96
Safety Car
You could get a G37 for 10k less - that is much more equipped, without too many performance sacrifices. Would I call that person poor? No, I would call them smart.
06-24-2011, 11:58 AM
#97
I drive a Subata.
iTrader: (1)
My gf had a fully loaded 325 for 5 years... it was SO FUN to drive. No problem whatsoever with it, and it never had any rattle. It was a very solid car.
I personally wouldn't mind driving a loaded 6speed manual 328i. I think it's a little bit overpriced, but there's just something about BMW.... it's fun to drive.
I personally wouldn't mind driving a loaded 6speed manual 328i. I think it's a little bit overpriced, but there's just something about BMW.... it's fun to drive.
06-24-2011, 12:00 PM
#98
Corn-Fed Mule
Join Date: Dec 2003
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Right now I'm in a 328i Loaner which is pretty basic and I hate it! The car has power and is nimble, however it rattles, the audio system sucks, no HID's, no power seats, etc. How people justify 30+K for this astounds me. The mazda 2 is a great car. Compared to the 3 series some aspects may appear tacky, but for nearly 2/3rds the price I wouldn't care. If anything I'd suggest you look at 1st Gen TSX with 6sp Manual. It'll be an upgrade from the accord in terms of luxury and as well have power, 6MT and won't be huge.
! No HIDs, crappy stereo and she paid $40k for it....and she still lives at home with her mother
06-24-2011, 02:13 PM
#99
Three Wheelin'
A MS3 a poor man's BMW 3-series? a Porsche Boxter a poor man's Porsche? I don't think anything can be a poor man's bmw unless it's a bmw! If I see a MS3 on the day, would I say...'oh, a cheap BMW.' Oh no. A mazda is still a mazda.
06-24-2011, 02:20 PM
#101
אני עומד עם ישראל
I agree. Calling anything a poor man's 3-series is such a pretentious statement, considering most 3-series on the road are less equipped than just about anything else in that price range. Do people not understand the importance of value anymore?
You could get a G37 for 10k less - that is much more equipped, without too many performance sacrifices. Would I call that person poor? No, I would call them smart.
You could get a G37 for 10k less - that is much more equipped, without too many performance sacrifices. Would I call that person poor? No, I would call them smart.
Thanks. I set a limit of 40k when I was looking for a new car. However there was no way I could touch a new 335i equipped the way my G is for anywhere near that. Not to mention the dealer went way below invoice on when they sold me the G. I'm happy with my car that's really all that matters to me.
06-24-2011, 02:39 PM
#103
Safety Car
an open invite to bash BMW...like every other BMW thread.
but seriously, the point of the thread was lost immediately. its pretty easy to go off-track when the basis argument was mazda 3 vs BMW 3-series.
but seriously, the point of the thread was lost immediately. its pretty easy to go off-track when the basis argument was mazda 3 vs BMW 3-series.
Last edited by ThermonMermon; 06-24-2011 at 02:41 PM.
06-24-2011, 02:43 PM
#104
Safety Car
Thanks. I set a limit of 40k when I was looking for a new car. However there was no way I could touch a new 335i equipped the way my G is for anywhere near that. Not to mention the dealer went way below invoice on when they sold me the G. I'm happy with my car that's really all that matters to me.
hahah. sorry, i grew up in an all jewish neighborhood.
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Hapa DC5 (06-24-2011)
06-24-2011, 04:38 PM
#105
I drive a Subata.
iTrader: (1)
Read before you post some BS.
It's just that some idiots who post without reading a thread.
06-24-2011, 04:50 PM
#106
אני עומד עם ישראל
we love a good bargain! Don't forget I'm asian Jew so saving money is runs deep in my blood lol.TBH, I'd like a to get a Nazi sled one day, but I'll live vicariously through my Jewish friend Jefford who seems to have forgotten about WWII.
I think I'm too Jewish, I mean Asian, I mean cheap to get one. I'll have to stick with my G. Plus we're buying a house in two years and I'm saving up for my Fat Boy lo.
06-24-2011, 05:13 PM
#107
Three Wheelin'
06-24-2011, 05:16 PM
#108
Banned
I don't think that it is about "handling characteristics", it has more to do with the go-and-get-it-attitude.
I owned 6 Mazda before my BMWs.
06-24-2011, 11:53 PM
#109
e92 335i
wow did a TL-S really just get compared to an M3 and M5? after owning both (335i and TL-S) I wouldn't put the latter on either the level of refinement or on the same plateau driving - experience wise. If someone were to tell me the 3 series was a poor man's BMW, I would agree when it came to the lower end 3 series 323s and 325s and base 328s, but for new fully loaded 328s+335s that poor man must be making a lot more than the majority of people I know...
Last edited by ladiesman217; 06-25-2011 at 12:04 AM.
06-25-2011, 12:25 AM
#110
I remember when the Nissan Maxima was considered the poor man's 5 Series...in 2002 I cross shopped the Maxima SE with the 530i.....for 12K less with the Nissan I got more power, 6 speed instead of 5, Torsen limited slip diff, HID lights, much better premium stereo, more roomy rear seat and better long term reliability....yes the Bimmer had wood trims, slickier stickshift and the RWD....when I tested both, I named the Maxima the smart man's 530i 
In 8 years of ownership I never replaced even a light bulb....
In 8 years of ownership I never replaced even a light bulb....
Last edited by saturno_v; 06-25-2011 at 12:32 AM.
06-25-2011, 05:50 AM
#111
Senior Moderator
......which is why I was happy the thread died off. Unfortunate resurrection. 
06-25-2011, 10:11 AM
#112
Well, in this case, it was an update by the OP, which I thought was interesting, anyway. But I'm probably weird.
At any rate, I test drove both "3s" along with some other cars. The Mazda 3 did have excellent feedback and responsiveness and was better than many other cars in any class, but my test drive of a 328i was astoundingly good. Granted, the BMW salesman knew exactly what roads to take to show off the car, but there is nothing quite like the feel of being pushed around curves and hills by the rear wheels, especially mixed with the sound of the inline 6.
I think describing the handling prowess of the Mazda is difficult, so comparing it to something well known for its capabilities in that area is common. I found both excellent but different. For me, however, there are concerns: For the BMW, long term cost and reliability, difficulty in finding a used one with the options I want, wanting the sports seats but thinking the lower profile run flats that come with that package would not mix with the roads--some of them dirt--where I live; for the Mazda, I'm mainly concerned about rust, but there are a few other niggling things.
Incidentally, I also test drove a G35 sedan and a few 1G TSXs. I drove the G35 in the rain on fairly uninteresting roads. I felt it handled nicely, but the lack of steering feedback bothered me. The TSXs have been mixed. The ones I could take on good roads either had extremely worn tires (one with a massive bubble, I saw afterwards) or the least expensive replacements available, so the results are unfair.
OK, so, there's no way anyone's going to read all that.
At any rate, I test drove both "3s" along with some other cars. The Mazda 3 did have excellent feedback and responsiveness and was better than many other cars in any class, but my test drive of a 328i was astoundingly good. Granted, the BMW salesman knew exactly what roads to take to show off the car, but there is nothing quite like the feel of being pushed around curves and hills by the rear wheels, especially mixed with the sound of the inline 6.
I think describing the handling prowess of the Mazda is difficult, so comparing it to something well known for its capabilities in that area is common. I found both excellent but different. For me, however, there are concerns: For the BMW, long term cost and reliability, difficulty in finding a used one with the options I want, wanting the sports seats but thinking the lower profile run flats that come with that package would not mix with the roads--some of them dirt--where I live; for the Mazda, I'm mainly concerned about rust, but there are a few other niggling things.
Incidentally, I also test drove a G35 sedan and a few 1G TSXs. I drove the G35 in the rain on fairly uninteresting roads. I felt it handled nicely, but the lack of steering feedback bothered me. The TSXs have been mixed. The ones I could take on good roads either had extremely worn tires (one with a massive bubble, I saw afterwards) or the least expensive replacements available, so the results are unfair.
OK, so, there's no way anyone's going to read all that.
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