Month: December 2014

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Mazda3 – The Ian Botham of Brilliant All-Rounders?

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Ian Botham, or Stuart Metcalfe? You will know one of them but the two are forever linked by a cricketing bond – they were both brilliant all-rounders.

The only reason you haven’t hear of Metcalfe is that he once played for my team at Sale Boys’ Grammar School in Manchester. And although he probably works in IT now, Metcalfe once took all ten wickets in a match and scored 50 runs.

The Mazda is a great all-rounder too. It’s not especially brilliant at anything but it does everything you ask of it very well. It looks good, drives well and is very comfortable.

The trouble with all-rounders is that it’s hard to offer up a unique selling point. The VW Golf is the best all-rounder I can think off – the Botham of the hatchback world. The Mazda3 is better than a Metcalfe, probably more likely to be found surfing the edge of international cricket than playing in the first team…

 

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Mazda3 – The Beeping Car Hell of Owning A Mazda3?

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I don’t need to be warned that my ‘bleeping’ Mazda3 is unlocked, locked or that I’m walking away from the keyless ignition system with the fob in my trouser pocket.

No, in fact, I’m old enough to know that if I leave a car with a key in the ignition it’s likely to be nicked. And I’m not stupid enough to leave the Mazda unlocked if I’m not driving it.

So why does the 3 beep every time I press the key fob, or when I get out of the driver door with the key in my hand? This morning the alarm went off after I left the dog in the car and walked away.

What if I was at a filling station and wanted to walk in and pay, leaving a passenger in the car – would the alarm sound then?

So, come on Mazda, I know a lot of your customers are American and your US dealers live in a constant state of public liability insurance hell, but let’s get rid of the beeping car nonsense. We’re a bit too grown up for that on this side of the Atlantic…

 

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Mazda3 – A Sleeper Hit That Grows On You With Time…

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The more I drive the Mazda3 the more I like it. It’s a ‘sleeper hit’ – a car that looks ordinary but slowly grows on you, with every bend it encourages you to enjoy it more.

As well as undercutting most rivals on price, the 3 is one of the best to drive. It sits well on the road and encourages the driver to press on. It’s comfortable, roomy and eager to please.

And I’m enjoying the styling more too. I may have been a little harsh with the ‘clown’s shoe’ remark – it looks purposeful whichever way you look at it.

The 3 is also packed with equipment. Yes, our test car is top spec but the list of kit includes ‘bendy’ headlights that self dip, heated leather seats, a stonking stereo and keyless ignition. Not sure I like all the beeping when you walk away from the car but hey-ho…