I'm still planning to go for M3 despite all these, you can refer to earlier posts in this topic or refer to:
LYN Mazda 3 Club V8

M3 owners give really positive comments on the car even with common knocking sound problem.

how about the new civic? would you consider... if the specs not much difference from m3 but pricing definitely higher than even a full spec m3... hahaha

I did consider and read a lot comparisons from overseas for Civic VS M3.
But i've always like M3 since the day it launched in Malaysia, Civic design is also pretty nice actually.
But i heard the waiting list is already more than 3 months, and it havent even officially launched yet.

From overseas review, they say civic is more like an all-rounder car, while M3 is more like a driver car, with better handling but smaller leg room and boot space. But i'm looking for a car to be mostly driven alone, maybe sometimes with my boyfriend, so i think leg room doesnt really bother me. If talk about boot space, M3 backseats are foldable, but i heard civic ones arent. So if you take into account on the foldable back seats, actually M3 should be able to fit in more large items.

And Civic's new features do sound very cool, with walk-away auto lock, remote engine start, smart monitoring system (still not sure what it is). But remote engine start sounds not so practical for me, a bit like for show purposes. I think it's only good when you park under hot sun, and u have time to walk near it, start the engine remotely and wait for the aircond to go cool; or in the morning u warm up your car before driving it?

Walk-away auto lock seems M3 HS got that setting in MZD? But M3 has a lot other safety features, like Smart City Braking system, Adaptive front lighting, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, high beam control, etc. And with 3 years free maintenance.

Anyway just my thinking.

Thank you for pointing out between these two.
I came from driving a Proton Saga BLM, now wish to jump to M3.
I think those nyek nyek is not that loud kot if compare to my current car. because my current car ady full of nyek nyek, and i used to it already...

haha... i think m3 will be best selling than civic... if only asian mentality not in place... space is a concern.... either way.... the m3 still look very sporty even until now... the civic is futuristic but not really nice from my view... hahahah

Civic LED headlights look really cool actually, but overall design i still prefer M3. While M3 have lower price and more practical features (to me, might not applicable to everyone la). But Honda of coz better RV than Mazda.

Mazda's drawback so far from what i read is just NVH and knocking sounds.

if i'm not mistaken the new civic has foldable backseat and ISOFIX too, most new car has it

m3 high spec has auto lock, but the base spec one doesn't have it

blind spot monitoring aka rear-view monitoring is damn useful, although it is not so "high tech" like civic lanewatch but it works reliably

lane departure is just for show only, most of the time is annoying if you like to change lane without signal

high beam control only works at very dark road without streetlight, very good if you drive in those hill road like hulu langat and ulu yam

smart city brake wont work when you going faster than 30km/h, there is another better autonomous system call Forward Obstruction Warning for higher speed which is not available in malaysia model

maybe you should go test drive a high spec m3 first then you will know how it feels being in the driver seat

Den i'm really not sure though, no folding seats is what i read from PaulTan post on May 12, 2016.
PaulTan website Civic 2016

Or maybe Thai spec and Malaysia spec different? They mentioned that:
"There are no folding seats, courtesy of a crossbar at the end of the boot, which is not in the US-spec car."

Haha, ya i should but havent got the time to go test drive yet

too bad then, but i think most of the time we dont need to foldable rear seat, but it is a good feature to have though

Ya, i also believe most time we dont need, unless we are moving house or going ikea for shopping.

But i think it would sound funny if a C Segment car could not fold their seats.

http://www.caradvice.com.au/446602/2017-ma...urfaces-online/

A photo claimed to be from a brochure for the facelifted Mazda 3 range was published online overnight...

that is some minor change.... really wont notice even driven on the road... except the turn signal maybe....

Any driver here thinking to get Knight Sport bodykit for their M3?
im not seller...just asking where to get only...

I never use the foldable seat, not even once

Anyway just my 2 cents as a Owner (not Salesman)

The nyek nyek sound, yes is annoying sadly there isnt a fix solution as of now. Been 2 years + since the launch of CBU and this problem still occur. Good thing is, Mazda is doing something i have changed the Lower arm bush twice (once a year, when i send for service) and usually after i changed, its perfectly fine only after a certain period you will notice the same issue again.

Maybe mine is CBU, as i found out from owners, CKD tend to happen less likely after changing their lower arm bush..

Other that this issue, so far i don't encounter any problem with my Mazda 3. Oh beside my Resale Value

Anyway, Mazda is really a fun car to drive, if you're emo just volume up and drive around with your favourite song

After awhile you will feel

Rexxstyling - PJ (0126842212)

If you are from JB, can go Singapore look for JDM Autocare. They also have the bodykit

Thank you Jim.
But i live in Penang. Any recommended bodykit shop from Penang?

If you are really interested to get M3, try to join this group to ask the owner what's their thought.
M3SA Facebook.

PM the admin.

As an onwer of Mazda3, I don't find the sound is a big issue. Just a let down why the noise is there even though the issue has been identified. Should the production line using the latest part so that new owner no need to get the replacement themselves. And agreed on the NVH is not really on my expectation for a C segment. Eventually, you will get used to it after sometime.

Anyway, the kruk kruk and ngek ngek sound is not always there. It just happen when you go over bump or uneven road surface (knocking noise), and during rainy days or your lower arm bush gotten wet (squeaking noise).

My case, i got my bump stopper replaced, knocking sound is gone. Squeaking noise I don't even bother about that, becoz it only appear when wet + go over bump, the movement of the arm causing that squeaking noise. It is not like making noise all the way you drive, just on some certain scenario only.

So far no dashboard rattling noise is detected, but I have another noise which is tickling "tick tick tick" due to some vibrations on wire sockets. still trying to figure the way to eliminates the noise. Hahaha...

Better still, wait for the Civic X, test drive both, only then make your decision.

** If you are around Puchong Setia Walk tonite, we are having a TT and gathering over there.

old school proton solution, shove cloth in all the gaps! stuff the joints!

Ya, i do see a lot owners say that is not a big issue I think probably it doesnt really bother when I really got the chance to hear the sound.

I have been a fan of Mazda3 since the CBU launched, after doing some research and comparison vs the Civic X, i still prefer the design of M3, and i think the features of HS is still more practical and useful to me, comparing to the remote engine start, walk away autolock, electric parking brake, etc from Civic X. I will still go for M3 i think, since the Civic waiting list has gone really long now. Will testdrive the M3 and see how it goes tomorrow.

Bump stopper is part of the lower arm bush?

Nope. They are different parts.

Not everyone encounter with both issues.

Knock (kruk kruk) noise - bump stopper
Squek (ngek ngek) noise - lower arm bush

If you are not in hurry, why not wait for the facelifted M3? It has better center console, arm rest, electronic parking, new front grille, new rims. And most probably no more the same issue as on now (let's pray for that), better noise insulation perhaps?



Also please be remind the Mazda does not offer good discount like how the other did, 5k, 8k or more than that. Mostly you'll only find 1k - 3k depends your SA, and how far you can nego with your SA.. Freebies also varies from everyone.

Oh ya, when you go test drive, try bring the car go to those housing area which has bump for you to test. Plan your test drive route, be it housing area or highway, test it until the SA hahahaha.. Just kidding.

But try to test drive it at every road condition as you can, test the acceleration, the shifter.. Some people just cannot accept the characteristic of Skyactiv engine, linear power delivery. Means, there is no "ohhmm" when you accelerate hard. But when you feel it is fast, perhaps you already pass the speed of 120km/h. That's how i feel during my test drive.



This post has been edited by toonny: Jun 3 2016, 03:05 PM