HELP Buying MS3 is the tech option worth it
 

Going to buy a MS3 and was detating if the tech option was worth it? Other then Nav and lights whats the big deal.

Bose, push button start I believe.

Not really anything worth the money they charge for that shit.

I just think it classes the car up a notch.

I don't regret getting it at all.

And you can't forget the ever dependable rain sensing windshield wipers

^^^ what sway said

i got 2011 with techpackage, drove my friend around the first day and he decided to get one as well. but he decided to get a base one. now he told me he should've gotten the one with teck pkg lol . i bought this car as a daily driver so those little features u get with the tech package is worth it for me. if you're buying this car to go fast, save that money and put that on mods. Ironically now i'm getting more mods than my friend who has the base model haha

+1

Good.

Dunno what the hell this means.

Meh.

Probably the best feature of the whole list. Not a substitute for turning your head, but it's certainly going to instill higher confidence in lane changing especially if you need to change fast.

Oh, I know everyone LOVES this feature.


Fucking not. Piece of shit rain-sensing sensors wipe when you don't want them to wipe, and sometimes go crazy when it's just light spitting rain.


Looks nice from the back. But ultimately kind of useless.

Garbage.

I like this a lot. You may think "how hard can it be to turn a key", but now you don't have a key or a bunch of keys swinging from the key slot as you're driving. You can open and start the car without taking your gloves off. I sit in other cars and automatically reach to push the button (which isn't there). It's a nice feature which grows on you over time.

This is not standard already? ... hm

The 2012 with tech gives you mini nav, rain sensing wipers, push button start with proximity, and auto leveling HID headlights, and blind spot monitoring. For a difference of almost $4,000 my advice is, use your free smartphone and google to find your way, when you see raindrops turn on your fucking wipers, when you get in your car take the extra 1 second to turn the key and get a little exercise by using muscles to turn that heavy ignition, buy a HID kit from DDM tuning for $55 dollars (stock headlights already level), and when changing lanes don't be an old Asian woman, turn your goddamn head and check your blind spots.
It's not worth the extra money for useless "luxury" items. The base model 2012 comes almost as fully loaded as the 2010-2011 which base is pretty damn loaded. Bose stereo, bluetooth, Sirius radio, and all the steering wheel buttons you can handle.

I opted to go without..more moving parts, imo=higher likelihood of something breaking.

Tech package is $2135 according to the website.

That's what it says but after inflation and markup your talking at least 4 grand. I just did a quick search on new 2012 MS3 in a 50 mile radius from me and the prices ranged from 22,155-27,435. So you tell me what the price difference really is in real life.

Nagare-inspired illuminated headlight details
I think its this... the v-shaped silvery/black design

http://gallery.carreview.com/data/ca..._mazda3_07.jpg

If its without the tech-package, that part is just a simple reflector housing

http://buyersguide.caranddriver.com/...st0640_043.jpg

Have fun replacing you windshields when that shit is cracked or breaks with the fancy rain sensor shit itll be twice as much as my old school windshield. There's one thing right there i will always love to have control of bc sometimes it rains and since i wax my shit it beads right off so no need for wipers.

The only thing i miss are my headlights coming on automatically from when i had my 08 sierra, but bc i like seeing at night i got used to turning them on myself. Fuk bose!!! Remote start is the shit i gotta say another luxury i had when i had my truck but wayyy to much as an add on.

I couldn't agree with all of that more. +1

You can turn the rain sensing wipers off..

Because changing wiper blades is hard or expensive?? That's a pretty shitty argument.

Also like it was already stated , IT CAN BE TURNED OFF! I have mine on and its been absolutely perfect , comes on when it needs to and goes off when it needs to.

Turn off or on doesnt change the fact that the fucking windshield will be expensive as fuck to replace bc of that sensor shit, so who give a fuck if you can turn it off or on. Read a lil more carefully next time i didnt say shit about replacing wipers. Im not saying the tech package is shit, its just not worth what they charge for all the extra. And all that extra will cost more to fix down the road, can you fix a moving headlight or a rain sensing windshield sensor when your out of warranty nope prolly not so youll pay out the ass to get it fixed.

And if the price is really that big of a difference then I would replace it with a regular one.....PROBLEM SOLVED!! Any other petty ass gripes?

To some its not a petty ass gripe, you wiping your ass with fucking 100$ bills playa???

You say that now until you are shelling out the ass to have it converted from the fancy package to the regular one. I am sure auto leveling headlights aren't just a different headlight housing. You are talking wiring harnesses, relays, and possibly even a slightly different ECU. Same goes for the wiper motors and sensors. Oh and when you spend all that money and can't afford to fix it the right way and you just get the "regular" stuff, you'll second guess where that extra $3-4,000 actually went.

Like the people who spend the extra $300 dollars or whatever it is for TPMS sensors for their winter tire set up because they need to know if their tires are low and they can't stand the light. REALLY?!?! Whatever did we as lazy ass Americans do before TPMS? Kick your tire. Is it hard? Ok good. Fuck TPMS. Same goes with a key versus a push button. Are people really that lazy that reaching into your pocket and exerting a little extra force to turn that key is such an inconvenience?

can you read at all???? Where the fuck did i ever say anything about changing headlights or anything else other the the windshield??? I have the tech package and there is no way in hell I'd convert it to a sport so I have no fucking clue where you got all that.

Lol, I just noticed a rock chip in my windshield , I have to get the windshield replaced, with the rain sensor. Found a good shop that saved me almost $200 luckily. And the rain sensing whispers are a little annoying sometimes , gotta stay on top of them with the sensivity switch sometimes

I have it and I like it, but they are proud as fuck of it.

Just get the tech package. It's NOT an extra $4k. Beat the dealer up and be prepared to walk out if it's not the deal you want. At the end of the day the extra $20 per month is very much worth it for the features.

And for me, the auto wipers have worked flawlessly. First time I've ever had them.


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OP - just decide for yourself. Really?I have it and like it. So what bfd, its still a speed 3. No one cares if you have it or not because its not anything special. I got it for the convenience of not having to get financing for aftermarket electronics and blind spot monitoring is the shit, lol.

If you get a speed, dont make any threads like "what intake should I get" or "whats the besr cbe"?

I don't recall paying $4k for tech.... In fact I paid like $200 over dealer cost on my '12 MS3 w/ Tech. So I paid... what... $1800 for Tech over base? Who gives a shit. Integrated Nav + all the other gadgets is fantastic. It's not like you're paying $1800 for just Nav...

And justifying getting the base model cause replacing the front windshield is more expensive? Seriously? On top of the fact I can't even recall the last time I had to replace the front windshield on ANY of my cars... Isn't that why we have full coverage?

If you're getting those kind of cracks on the front, quit tailgating.

Your a fucking tool. I'm not going to quote you AGAIN. I am saying where does it stop? First it's replacing the "fancy" windshield for the "regular" one. Then it COULD be the headlights. All I am getting at is I don't trust all that extra stuff on a car that only offers a 36,000 mile warranty. Because when it fails, not if but when, you will act all surprised and be like "but why?!?! It's just a fucking Mazda! My headlight motors and labor shouldn't be 1200 dollars!!!" people bought this car because it was cheap and fast and comfortable. Not because it has warming testical massagers and fucking latte dispensers. Lol

I passed on the tech on my '12 because the keyless ignition makes you depress the brake to start. So if you evr kill the car while driving you can't simply keep rolling and start it, you must hit the brakes and start that way.

Not correct. It requires you to press the clutch not brake.



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That's Gay. I bet it confuses drunk drivers though.


I also passed up on the tech. I would love led tail lights but honestly I wouldve night shaded them anyways. :/ I've also heard of complications when upgrading the Bose sound system. I also dont like that keyless start crap, my girlfriend has that in her Prius and we loose that key in her purse daily.

You can't beat the feeling of turning the key and feeling the car start. Especially when you got a few motor mounts upgraded.


Good luck with your purchase. Either way it's hard to be disappointed with the ms3.

It's the clutch not brake, which I bet you press anyway.

Also, unless you carry a purse you probably wouldn't lose you keys in one.


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Plus forgive me if I am wrong but if you kill the car in motion I do believe you have to come to a complete stop before it will let you start it again anyway. Or maybe I am just an idiot and it only seems that way to me. Oh well.

Another thing you don't need to "find" the key for our cars. As long as you know it's in said purse and you have said purse with you, the car will start, lock, and unlock just fine. The fob doesn't have to be plugged in to anything. It's all proximity.

I have full glass. It better not make a shits worth of difference when mine breaks.

The dealer I picked mine up from this past week didn't have Liquid Silver (my favorite color) w/ tech. I pulled the trigger anyway. To be honest the biggest thing I'm missing is the new Blind Spot Monitoring. I think that is a slick feature. The HID headlights, and LED tails are a nice touch too but retrofittable (I believe). Not a deal breaker.

The 2012 non-techs apparently come with the Bose System stock, I even have the sub-mounted subwoofer. To be honest I don't like the black button on the handles and rear passenger-side light that come with the tech package. I know it's seems so insignificant but silly stuff like that stands out to me.

Eitehr way I think the tech package is a good buy considering "everything" you get with it. Sure you can go though it and pick it apart piece by piece and explain why you wouldn't "need" it. Truth be told if I had the option to get tech when I did I may have considered it, however I'm not crying a river because I "missed out". I didn't buy this car for technology. I have plenty of that kind of stuff in my 2011 335.

Nothing was really worth it to me, so I passed. If the nav was bigger it might have been a different story.

Huh

Push button start/keyless entry and Bose is, to me, the best features of the tech package.

i'm not electronically inclined and if i got a base model, i'd deal with the cheesy sound system before dumping hundreds into a sound system and then paying someone to install it all. I have a 2010 w/ tech and I love the Bose system.

as for the keyless features, i like being able to leave the "keys" in my pocket and just go in and out of it, start/stopping it without having to turn any keys.

the nav is worthless, get a GPS for $100 at Sam's Club for when you actually need one.

Yes.

<Has keyless go on both cars.

I don't mind the small nav screen
Maybe the rest of you fuckers are blind


---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=44.739795,-93.107801
-Jake

I still use mapquest...

I had my super expensive rain sensing windshield glass replaced out of pocket last year. I would have to look up my receipt to be sure but I remember thinking it wasn't any more expensive than a regular windshield.


Zigatapatalka

From what I learned on German cars, more electronics is really nice but will heart you on the long run specially if you trying to keep the car longer than 5 years, because that's where the issue start popping up.

if you are out of warranty and have some issue with the push starter button, rain sensor etc, etc, you'll regret your decision.

But if you want to drive the car for the 3 years warranty Mazda is offering and trade it in or move one, they it'll be a good choice to get those if you are paying for it.

Don't forget the finance charges adding on the top of it.

just my 0.2 cents.

Are we really having a holy war on a tech package?

Fucking Jihad on all of you!
























































I still like my start button...

All good info except the base 2012 do NOT come with Sirius. They come with Bose and are Sirius ready but it is an additional $300-400 add on. It is the only thing I was upset to find out when I bought mine.

That's why I'm leasing the BMW andcfinancing the Mazda.

Yeah technically true. That was an easy bargaining tool so I guess I kind of forgot that I got Sirius thrown in for free on my base model.

I definitely would have if I had realized it when signing the paperwork.

Tech ftw!! Lol

Tech pkg is what $2100 add on? Worth it. Keyless start/entry is worth it alone. If $2100 is such a worry I think the base 3's start out at around $18,000.

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LOL niceee

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I think most people missed the post where I said I did a 50 mile radius of MS3's and the price varied between 22,xxx-27,xxx. Correct me if I'm wrong but my math says that's a 5,000 dollar gap. The option might be 2100 but there is dealer mark up and everything else.

The $22k is less than MSRP. A base MS3 lists for $24795 after destination fee, tech package is $2135. Obviously, the list that you pulled up has some base cars listed for less than MSRP, and some loaded cars listed for MSRP. I'm sure that there are loaded cars listed for less than MSRP as well that would more closely reflect the $2135 option. Mystery solved, can we shut this fucking thread down now? Sometimes, I wish I was still a mod.

Thanks for quoting me and all but I didn't ask the question nor do I really care. I drive a gen 1. OP said nav and lights and those were the only other things I could think of, which covers most of it.... at least you better answered OPs question.

My 2011 tech package MS3 got a stone chip in the process of dealer transferring the car. What sucked was, we didn't know the windshield had caught damage until after I signed the paperwork, drove 11 miles and cracked the windshield.

Dealership only charged $200 for a factory windshield, but an aftermarket windshield with sensors and all was only going to cost $100 deductible through AAA Insurance.

TL : DR windshield isn't expensive through insurance.

That's only if you have a cheap deductible which not a lot of people do bc it pushes the cost of insurance up. How much would it be out of pocket??

~ Sent from my GNexus running Cm9~

Dealership quoted me at $1198 to replace the windshield with a factory replacement. We worked it out where they split it with Mazda USA and only charged me $200 for the OEM replacement instead of an aftermarket replacement through insurance.

Holy crap dude that's insane, that's what im talking about though, some poor guy might not get that lucky and have to pay that. A lil crazy for a windshield, to much tech into something that can get damaged so easily.

~ Sent from my GNexus running Cm9~

But that's also a dealership price for an original part. An after market one would cost a shit ton less, especially if you don't get it from the dealership.

Its still gonna be more than a regular windshield nuff said, end this thread.

Oh I'm not saying that it wouldnt be, I'm just saying that's the only reason why its so high

Dear OP,
No.

ha! i had to laugh at this one.....leasing a BMW yet he's got a JB4 N55 Stage 2 chip on it, a catless DP, swapped out the springs, put in a CAI....did I miss something.....good times.

I'm assuming you don't take advantage of the free maintenance package from BMW? I can't imagine taking the CAI and DP off every 5,000 miles....

$238.67. That is what I paid total, with no insurance claim, to have my super duper rain sensing windshield glass replaced. They came to my house, removed the old glass put the new one in for $238.67

If you pay more than $300 you are getting fleeced. Now you know the facts so stop speculating.

My 10 didnt have tech package.. The 12 does.. I enjoy all the added stuff except the NAV.. My galaxy nexus has a larger screen. Other than that, the h/l are phenominal. My 10 had DDM's and they are JUNK compared to the OEM bi-xenon. To OP, make up your mind yourself. EVERYONE has different opinions... BTW I have MORE mods on the tech car than the non tech car...

i got the tech package on the speed because they gave me a deal. i love the bose system, but some audiophiles might say it's shit. i traded in my 2010 2.5 3 for the Speed3. in the 2.5, i had the sunroof and bose system (Mazda lets you split up the tech package on anything below a Speed). i really wanted to keep the bose system, so they gave me a deal. as a result, i got the nav (which i HATED for a long time, but i like it now), push to start, etc.

if it's worth it is always going to come down to personal opinion. but i have a 2010 MS3, so it sounds like the '11 and '12s come more loaded even at the base level.

2010 Tech Pkg FTMFW!!!!

As for the BSM warning, that shit is about as annoying as the rain-sensing wipers. My MZ6 has that crap and anytime a guard rail or raised median comes into play the fucking thing starts going crazy.

Oh and the Navi is shit... well at least mine is, roads that don't exist + that bitch doesn't like taking the HWY.

OP - answer is easy. If you want the tech package, then get it. If you don't want it, then get it anyway because you will have buyer's remorse for not getting it. Lol.

Yeah, the BSM is a joke.. I am my own BSM.. There is NO way I could rely on that thing. I think ive only had two instances where I completely didnt see the person and we didnt even come close to wrecking.. The BSM is too inconsistent on this car..

I can confirm that I have started my '12 MS3 w/Tech while doing about 15 miles an hour. Clutch/neutral worked.


That brings up another question I have been wondering about though. There is no safe way to compression start one of these is there?

Theres another thread on here listing what people paid on their MS3. I dont think anyone is paying a markup. I paid $24,300 before TTL on my 2012 CWP with Tech. Thats shopping all of both Los Angeles and San Diego counties over the phone/email. It wasnt the cheapest price I found either, other colors were way cheaper especially silver, but it was the cheapest CWP to me so I went with it. Its market dependent but I would think if any place was paying a mark up it would be socal and we certainly are not unless you are an idiot.

My BSM works flawlessly. Its not meant to replace good driving but only assist it which is never a bad thing IMO. If it prevents a couple of close calls then in my opinion its paid for itself.

Part of the fun of leasing/financing/owning a car is modding. Not to mention, with my track record, this 36 month lease will be in my hands longer than most of the cars I've bought modded and sold. It's a sickness my friend.

:knockedout:

Get the tech......................bunch of cheap asses. It is still only a $24k car. You ever seen a racecar with a key in a ignition switch? The adaptive headlights are not $55 upgrades they actually turn and level to adapt. I don't know what this $4 to $5 talk is the difference when I bought mine was $1500 after negotiating. Sticker don't mean shit. More shit to break.......we are always fucking with these toy cars anyway. Just another reason to drink beer with the boys. Come to think of it I am going to tell wifey I have to fux with my adaptive lights and go have a cold one in the man cave.

I swore I read somewhere that the nagare headlights where like $900 or something like that. so if you consider that its pbbly worth it value wise lol. It depends on if you care about that stuff man. If any of these things sounds like something you might want, then just go for it or you might regret not getting the tech.

just read this one lol well said +1

Well I made the decision and got the white car with Tech for 23.100 and really love the car. Now to learn all the buttons...lol

By the way in Florida if you get a chip or crack in the windshield it cost nothing to replace, goes through the insurance at no cost to you or your rates. Florida Law:fest30:

I wanted the tech package only for push button start (Got spoiled) but got a great deal on a non-tech. I don't regret it *shrugs*

...aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand /thread.

You're kidding right?!?! You got a CWP with Tech for that price and you had to make a thread to decide?!?!? That's what some people payed for a base! It's a no brainer. OP please don't start a "my exhaust smokes in the morning" or "is it bad to push in my e-brake button?" thread next!

I could have gotten the base for 21,500 so yes there was a price differance

Maybe I'm retarded when it comes to the Nav, but I could not get it to go any secondary route. I typed in Dallas to Albuquerque. And no matter what I tried, it wanted to go through Oklahoma City.

Sooo I just used my phone.