New car time ~UPDATE

[DarkSideAccord]

older mazda 3 are sooo much sexier

and mazda is actually trying to buy out ford's share... so maybe ford will be out of the equation soon

 

[jwong512]

yess.... my mazda 3 is in teh running

mazda quality is miss or hit (esp the rx8), but the mazda 3's are well built

Agreed. The stock suspension is quite amazing. My friend has the first generation of the hatchback and although the 4 cylinder is slightly impressive, it's turning capability's are amazing. It feels like a highly modded 6GA's suspension but it's actually stock . Some people might say the tranny's suck but my friend drives with the + and - function everyday and he has 100k on his and it still runs strong so it's definitely stronger than a 6GA tranny. Plus, it gets decent mpg .

 

[RedRyder]

^Thanks guys, definitely looking for any feedback from people on the Mazda3, as it is being considered.

Still looking for more feedback from anyone who has experience with an older one...

 

[KO iNfAmOuS]

mazda33333333333333!!!! go for it! Great cars!!! have to get the 5 door though!!!! Great on gas, stylish and just drive it!!!!! I dont need to say anymore. They are reliable as well, no worries on that end.

 

[98ExAccordwv]

^Thanks guys, definitely looking for any feedback from people on the Mazda3, as it is being considered.

Still looking for more feedback from anyone who has experience with an older one...

I had one as a rental about 5 years ago. Drove it for like 3 weeks. It wasn't a bad little car.

 

[itsallgsho]

Sup bro. I can personally say the 04-09 Mazda3 are pretty good cars. They're like the newer Civics of the Mazda world, haha. I bought my wife an 05 bout 3 years ago, for about... $13k with 45k miles. Red, 4dr, Auto.
Tranny shifts smooth, motor picks up nice (much better then the 6GA =/).
Comfortable seats (its the car we take on road trips). Nice red interior/dash lights.
Steering wheel is nice/small and perforated. Turning/handling is tight and nimble.

So far, no issues. Just regular maintenance. Its been treating us good. I dont lose sleep or anything worrying bout its reliability. Plus it has OEM blackhoused headlights, with projectors! Has OEM side markers, the glove compartment is huge (you can fit a 6 pack in there) and it even sits lower then my 4x4 accord..... -.-
The only thing i've done to it is get 15% tint all around, looks great, and omfg no dot-matrix.

My only regret is buying the base model (noticeable missings are the sunroof and foglights). My buddy has the 3 as well, but with a sunroof, and its big and fantastic (dont quote me on that one.....).

 

[Raul]

What about 01-05 lexus is 300? Its good looking, reliable, luxurious and shouldnt be very expensive.

 

[mkdb89-02se]

^ i like this guy...agreed 13k 04 shldnt b to hard to find under 80k miles

 

[RedRyder]

I had one as a rental about 5 years ago. Drove it for like 3 weeks. It wasn't a bad little car.

Sup bro. I can personally say the 04-09 Mazda3 are pretty good cars. They're like the newer Civics of the Mazda world, haha. I bought my wife an 05 bout 3 years ago, for about... $13k with 45k miles. Red, 4dr, Auto.
Tranny shifts smooth, motor picks up nice (much better then the 6GA =/).
Comfortable seats (its the car we take on road trips). Nice red interior/dash lights.
Steering wheel is nice/small and perforated. Turning/handling is tight and nimble.

So far, no issues. Just regular maintenance. Its been treating us good. I dont lose sleep or anything worrying bout its reliability. Plus it has OEM blackhoused headlights, with projectors! Has OEM side markers, the glove compartment is huge (you can fit a 6 pack in there) and it even sits lower then my 4x4 accord..... -.-
The only thing i've done to it is get 15% tint all around, looks great, and omfg no dot-matrix.

My only regret is buying the base model (noticeable missings are the sunroof and foglights). My buddy has the 3 as well, but with a sunroof, and its big and fantastic (dont quote me on that one.....).

Thanks guys, good to hear. I think I would put the 3 on equal footing with the Corolla when it comes to reliability. Makes sense that less would go wrong with a small 4cyl car.

lol @ dot matrix. I have heard that the Mazda3 suspension is a bit tight and it's a firm ride. We'll have to test drive one. gsho thanks for commenting as an owner, very helpful to hear that.

What about 01-05 lexus is 300? Its good looking, reliable, luxurious and shouldnt be very expensive.

Not a bad option Raul and I agree, but it's hard to find them around here in good condition with lower miles, most of them have over 100k. Kind of like the RX300, the 1stgen IS was such a popular car that people bought them up and held onto them...thus hard to find with lower miles. Mpg is 18/25 which isn't great but it's not a deal breaker. Perhaps we'll look at a 2002, thanks.