1 Month In: Thoughts After Trading in My Mazda 3

[eddieparker]

Don't know if anyone will find this useful, but thought I'd share my thoughts regardless!

I've gone from a manual transmission 2015 Mazda 3 to my new 2023 Mach E GTPE, and I'm loving it. Generally a straight upgrade in a lot of ways.

Things I'm loving most about the new car:

- It looks phenomenal.

I've never taken so many pictures of a car before, or stared at it in the garage. I know there are cars other people may say are prettier, but not to me! Love this thing.

- Instant acceleration is a blast.

I have a theory that we're in a really nice window right now where there's enough ICE cars out there that you can still step off the line to get better position on the road, or overtake someone if need be, but in a few years (decades?) when everyone has electric it'll be a more even playing field... Still a fun time to have an EV!

- Speed adjusting cruise control & blue cruise

Blue Cruise is still sort of a gimmick for me - it works on maybe 5% of my drives, but it's neat when it does. Doubt I'll renew it when it expires if it doesn't have some sort of mammoth improvement, but when it does work, it's magic. Love that this car lets me go between "I need to go somewhere fast" -- i.e., driving it myself -- or "I'll go with the flow" and ride along in bluecruise/hands-on-cruise easily. Suits both my driving styles.

- Gas station stops are now just for food! Home charging rules!

- Android Auto

There are some gripes here but the integration by and large is pretty nice. Definite upgrade from just having bluetooth enabled phone.

- Frunk

Unfortunately my frunk is a bit packed right now - but I love having it carry stuff that used to rattle around in my trunk previously. Would love a bigger one - no chance for an OTA for it?

Things I Weirdly Miss About My Mazda 3:

- Driving standard

This is relatively minor, but there was something that made me feel even more in control driving stick. I get more performance out of the GTPE but the human-machine connection is definitely not as tight when you feel like you're driving stick... Ahh, nostalgia.

- Control Knob

I doubt Ford will read this or integrate it, but honestly the "knob" that the MachE has on it's screen, the Mazda has right where the gear shifting knob is on the MachE. It was super nice to be able to manipulate things right at your fingers, vs having to lean forward. First little while I'd use the shifter by accident and I'm glad that never resulted in anything bad...

- On-wheel button placement

I'm really noticing now that I drive and my left hand is the one that's predominantly on the wheel. My right arm will either be grabbing my water bottle, changing navigation, or just resting on my lap.

On the Mazda this was great because the buttons on the left of the steer wheel were ones I used the most - next song / last song, volume up. On the Mach E I find I rarely need to use the buttons on the left, but I mostly need the ones on the right.

Dunno if this is a "me" thing but I thought it was curious. I doubt those buttons are reassignable but if an OTA for that ever happened, that sure would be nice.

Things I Wish Were Better About the Mach-E

- Chimes for muted messages in android auto

I'm unclear if this is Android Auto or Mach-E or some combination, but I have a thread with some friends that I mute due to volume of messages and only check sporadically. But the Mach-E doesn't care and chimes for all of them (but weirdly doesn't show their text on android auto). So when the guys let loose my car sounds like a video game with chimes and it's incredibly annoying while driving.

- The Price

I mean I paid for it so obviously it's fine enough, but youch does it sting the wallet. I still have to introduce it to my friends as my stupid mid life crisis purchase, but what are you going to do... Buy used?!

- My wife now likes it

She's very resistant to change but now she's liking it so I'm noticing less and less time for me to use it... Although she does wish I got the grabber blue...

Anyhow, curious if anyone else agrees/disagrees with my read of it. Still love the car!

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[HuntingPudel]

Re: Driving Manual. This is why all of my other cars are manuals. ??

Re: Frunk. It’s for chilling in. ??

 

[AliRafiee]

The reason the steering wheel buttons are on different sides is that Japanese cars are designed at right hand drive and then move the steering wheel from one side to the other and not flipped.
Look at a right hand version of your car and the steering wheel is exactly the same.
American and European cars have the audio controls on the right side.

I find that annoying since if I wanted to use my right hand I would just grab the knob.

 

[Billyk24]

Your GTPE has a feature many of us wish we could have: magna ride suspension.

 

[silverelan]

Don't know if anyone will find this useful, but thought I'd share my thoughts regardless!

I've gone from a manual transmission 2015 Mazda 3 to my new 2023 Mach E GTPE, and I'm loving it. Generally a straight upgrade in a lot of ways.

Things I'm loving most about the new car:

- It looks phenomenal.

I've never taken so many pictures of a car before, or stared at it in the garage. I know there are cars other people may say are prettier, but not to me! Love this thing.

- Instant acceleration is a blast.

I have a theory that we're in a really nice window right now where there's enough ICE cars out there that you can still step off the line to get better position on the road, or overtake someone if need be, but in a few years (decades?) when everyone has electric it'll be a more even playing field... Still a fun time to have an EV!

- Speed adjusting cruise control & blue cruise

Blue Cruise is still sort of a gimmick for me - it works on maybe 5% of my drives, but it's neat when it does. Doubt I'll renew it when it expires if it doesn't have some sort of mammoth improvement, but when it does work, it's magic. Love that this car lets me go between "I need to go somewhere fast" -- i.e., driving it myself -- or "I'll go with the flow" and ride along in bluecruise/hands-on-cruise easily. Suits both my driving styles.

- Gas station stops are now just for food! Home charging rules!

- Android Auto

There are some gripes here but the integration by and large is pretty nice. Definite upgrade from just having bluetooth enabled phone.

- Frunk

Unfortunately my frunk is a bit packed right now - but I love having it carry stuff that used to rattle around in my trunk previously. Would love a bigger one - no chance for an OTA for it?

Things I Weirdly Miss About My Mazda 3:

- Driving standard

This is relatively minor, but there was something that made me feel even more in control driving stick. I get more performance out of the GTPE but the human-machine connection is definitely not as tight when you feel like you're driving stick... Ahh, nostalgia.

- Control Knob

I doubt Ford will read this or integrate it, but honestly the "knob" that the MachE has on it's screen, the Mazda has right where the gear shifting knob is on the MachE. It was super nice to be able to manipulate things right at your fingers, vs having to lean forward. First little while I'd use the shifter by accident and I'm glad that never resulted in anything bad...

- On-wheel button placement

I'm really noticing now that I drive and my left hand is the one that's predominantly on the wheel. My right arm will either be grabbing my water bottle, changing navigation, or just resting on my lap.

On the Mazda this was great because the buttons on the left of the steer wheel were ones I used the most - next song / last song, volume up. On the Mach E I find I rarely need to use the buttons on the left, but I mostly need the ones on the right.

Dunno if this is a "me" thing but I thought it was curious. I doubt those buttons are reassignable but if an OTA for that ever happened, that sure would be nice.

Things I Wish Were Better About the Mach-E

- Chimes for muted messages in android auto

I'm unclear if this is Android Auto or Mach-E or some combination, but I have a thread with some friends that I mute due to volume of messages and only check sporadically. But the Mach-E doesn't care and chimes for all of them (but weirdly doesn't show their text on android auto). So when the guys let loose my car sounds like a video game with chimes and it's incredibly annoying while driving.

- The Price

I mean I paid for it so obviously it's fine enough, but youch does it sting the wallet. I still have to introduce it to my friends as my stupid mid life crisis purchase, but what are you going to do... Buy used?!

- My wife now likes it

She's very resistant to change but now she's liking it so I'm noticing less and less time for me to use it... Although she does wish I got the grabber blue...

Anyhow, curious if anyone else agrees/disagrees with my read of it. Still love the car!

what, no pic?

Im really curious what MagneRide is like. There’s some uneven sections of highway that make me really question my life choices.

 

[DevSecOps]

- Frunk

I've owned 4 EVs which means that I've had 4 frunks. Only the Rivian has had a button to open it. The other ones require an app, door pillar code or opening from inside the vehicle. I don't use the frunk on any of the other EVs because I find it a hassle to open it without a button.

I wish Ford and other EV mfgs would add a button somewhere up front to open the frunk. It's such a small thing, but at least for me it's always made a big difference between a permanent storage place vs one I use routinely.

 

[eddieparker]

what, no pic?

Im really curious what MagneRide is like. There’s some uneven sections of highway that make me really question my life choices.

Forgot my car pic tax!

I guess I've never not had magneride, but having done my research before I figured a nicer suspension would gain wife approval.... So far it seems to be working pretty well.

 

[eddieparker]

I've owned 4 EVs which means that I've had 4 frunks. Only the Rivian has had a button to open it. The other ones require an app, door pillar code or opening from inside the vehicle. I don't use the frunk on any of the other EVs because I find it a hassle to open it without a button.

I wish Ford and other EV mfgs would add a button somewhere up front to open the frunk. It's such a small thing, but at least for me it's always made a big difference between a permanent storage place vs one I use routinely.

I hear you. I don't mind the pillar code (feels sorta like a panic room I can open, so I'm still in the honeymoon phase with it). But given how big the keyfob is you'd think it would have a frunk button on it...

If I am to complain, it's that a bunch of those buttons are in the UI of the screen but the screen is *so slow* to open up that it's impractical.

 

[eddieparker]

The reason the steering wheel buttons are on different sides is that Japanese cars are designed at right hand drive and then move the steering wheel from one side to the other and not flipped.
Look at a right hand version of your car and the steering wheel is exactly the same.
American and European cars have the audio controls on the right side.

I find that annoying since if I wanted to use my right hand I would just grab the knob.

Oh that theory certainly seems plausible. It's a shame because as you mention - it's a definite usability flaw. Our Chrysler Pacifica I believe has 'paddles' behind the steering wheel and at least they split up the left/right hand between "next/prev song" and volume respectively, which is at least slightly useful.

 

[DevSecOps]

I hear you. I don't mind the pillar code (feels sorta like a panic room I can open, so I'm still in the honeymoon phase with it). But given how big the keyfob is you'd think it would have a frunk button on it...

If I am to complain, it's that a bunch of those buttons are in the UI of the screen but the screen is *so slow* to open up that it's impractical.

If you like using the door pillar a lot I would suggest that you get PPF for it. Eventually you'll notice that the buttons you use for your code will have oils and slight scuffing, which only makes it easier for someone else to guess it, and it looks bad. I noticed this with mine and put PPF on about a year after ownership. Wish I would had done it from day one. It's super easy to apply.

For Christmas everything at TWRAPS is 20% off with code HAPPY2024

https://twraps.com/products/b-c-pillars-clear-protection-film-ppf-for-mustang-mach-e

 

[DevSecOps]

American and European cars have the audio controls on the right side.

Let me fix that for you ...

Legacy American and European cars have the audio controls on the right side.

Both Rivian and Telsa have it on the left. Since I drive, normally, with just my left hand I love it on the left.

 

[AliRafiee]

Let me fix that for you ...

Legacy American and European cars have the audio controls on the right side.

Both Rivian and Telsa have it on the left. Since I drive, normally, with just my left hand I love it on the left.

I don’t think those would count since you can assign what you want to the unmarked wheel thingies.

 

[DevSecOps]

I don’t think those would count since you can assign what you want to the unmarked wheel thingies.

Huh? That's just for a button depress. The volume and audio controls are still on the left for both of those brands and you can't change that. So yes there's American mfgs who have volume on the left.

 

[AliRafiee]

Huh? That's just for a button depress. The volume and audio controls are still on the left for both of those brands and you can't change that. So yes there's American mfgs who have volume on the left.

I guess I have bad/incomplete info.

 

[Hammered]

Forgot my car pic tax!

I guess I've never not had magneride, but having done my research before I figured a nicer suspension would gain wife approval.... So far it seems to be working pretty well.

These cars need black wheels to go with the trim!

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