Well I was a little pissed when I saw this, but I guess this whole universal part idea was going to happen sooner or later. As soon as my dad accord craps out I think I'll suggest him buying this car apposed to the Mazda 6 I like it much more. Now I'm just not sure whose interior I like better my 8's or the new.....

Mazda 3:

 

thats too bad
its almost identical

 

I've always liked the idea of a car company having a distinct "DNA" across their product line, both interior and exterior.

A good example of this is Audi -- at least in the A4, A6, and the new A8, the exteriors have similar overall lines. BMW has moved towards this as well, with, IMHO, less successful results (especially the ***-ugly 7 series). Cadillac's "Art & Science" theme, while polarizing, is another example. (As an aside, I like Cadillacs from the front, but they all have ugly asses, without exception -- and the "Art & Science" theme is going to look dated, very quickly). But I digress...

So when a car company comes up with something very attractive like Mazda's RX-8 interior, I see no problem at all with the DNA making its way into other models. Especially when all their models are supposed to be "sporty" -- why not sneak in the DNA of their flagship sports car?

One drawback to this (again, my opinion) is the tendency to "water down" luxury cars/brands by adopting their DNA/features on more basic cars (I'm sorry that sounds so snobbish, I don't know how else to put it). For example, Nissan has adopted the Infiniti steering wheel and other interior features into their vehicles. Makes it more difficult to draw a distinction between a high-end Nissan (such as the new Maxima or the Murano) and an Infiniti, which is supposedly Nissan's "performance luxury" brand.

And then there's the issue of one manufacturer "ripping off" features of another -- Honda is guilty of this in the new Accord, which from the back end is almost indistinguishable from a Mercedes!

 

but they dont have a tach that revvs to 10k!

but i do like it...



andrew

 

cars gunna be a huge hit
________
Storz & Bickel Volcano Vaporizer

 

it shares the chassis with the up coming version of the focus, so it should be among the best handling cars of it's class.

although I think the hatch version is far better looking than the saloon,

good luck to them, it would be nice to be driving just one of a strong line up from a maker growing in respect.

 

Nobody mentioned that the 3 and 6 get something many 8 owners wish was an option...an anolog speedo.

I personally have been converted to the digital.

 

I miss my digital speedo when I jump into my wife's Mazda 6.

The new 4 looks good, but I still prefer the 6. It's a true medium size car - my family can go on a long trip in it and still emerge relaxed.

 

It's just means that we (Rx-8er's) will be able to get cheaper interior peices when it comes to replacement, cuz there will be more wrecked ones and mass production always brings cost down.

 

Mazda is making some sweet looking cars.....the 3 reminds me of the RX 8 interior......very similar which makes it a cool next choice after I get tired of the 8(doubt that will happen!) I first saw this on the website! Nice photo's.

 

Im loving the digital
I think its nice to have

 

I've hear that you've had a huge mattress installed in your garage and that you sleep with the RX8.

... why do you whisper "Maddie I love you" into it's wing mirror before you got to sleep ? :D

 

you cant prove that

 

word i love the digital too

the mazda 3 is lookin tight man
mazdas bringing out a lot of sweet cars
________
*** CHEERLEADER

 

Yup, Mazda's on a roll....

 

I saw a three the other day and thought it was a pregnant 8. It looks really similar from the tail-lights to the lip on the trunk....even the wheels looked like the stock 8 wheels, but fatter.

 

The DNA is solid !!! The 3 will be a hit - period. Looks like a great car for the kids. John

 

Mazda is rolling hard!
Nice

 

Baby RX8!
Mini Me!

 

those of you that keep your car for a long time will be glad that you can get alot of these parts at a junk yard.. since alot of the parts are identical. Sure the FD was unique and had probably 0 parts shared with other cars in Mazdas line. As a result u have to buy from Mazda for just about anything you want. The plastic center air vent is $148.00, the drivers side window switch is over $200, you get the idea.

 

Seriously, I thought about the hatchback 3 before purchasing my 8. I liked all of the styling that it shared with the 8, the tail lights, head lights, interior, the colors and it had something the 8 didn't have, a wider color selection, the Lava Orange almost made me buy it, I just couldn't find one with black leather interior within 100 miles or maybe I'd not be a member here.

Why did I buy the 8? Can you say Renesis and quick? I could have saved about $8K with a 3 but would it have been more fun? Probably not. It's still a sharp looking car though, that I have to admit.

 

Go for the best of both worlds... a 3 or 6 for the wife and a 8 for the husband... This way you get to drive both of them :D

 

WHAT? The Accord's rear has been criticized by many as the weakest part of the design. Someone in Road & Track said it looked as if it had been left in the microwave too long. It never made me think of the well-executed Mercedes designs.

Just my opinion. (I happen to agree with the poster's other style comments, which I didn't quote.)

 

he is implying that the taillights of the accord COUPE are identical to mercedes lights. They are triangular and taper to a sharp point on both ends.

 

The look is similar, but certainly not identical! I doubt there's a single interior piece in common between the 8 and the 3. It's very nice, but wrecked Mazda3s will be of NO use for parts for an RX-8.

PS - the 3's analogue speedometer is lame - 0-100 km/h is only using 1/4 of the possible sweep, and 220 is barely 2/3 of the possible sweep! Whatever happened to legibility? I much prefer the RX-8's digital speedo to an illegible analogue speedo!

Regards,
Gordon