May Consider Buying A Mazda 3

[Mattones]

I want to sell my 98 Mazda 626LX V6 before it hits 190km. Its at 187kms. Hoping to get back half of what I spent last year on it. (Second owner)

Are the mazda 3's good cars? From what I have seen on the street they look nice and ride smoothly. Also if anyone knows what is the trunk space like in them? I am going to buy used of course. I am going to check the Mazda dealer near me and see what prices are like.

[TheCheez]

Overall I really like the vehicle. If I had the same needs now as I did when I got it I wouldn't hesitate to buyout the lease or look for another. My friends who drove it liked it, the drivers that took my drunken self home liked it and when I got it(05) the performance, ride, fit and finish really were much better than competitors.

The only issues I have with mine is how Mazda handled the door locking vulnerability and cost of some parts that needed replacing. The stock tires are 205/50/R17 on my car which were $275 each for crappy tires and wear out extremely quickly - ~30km. Windshield also seemed pricey at $700 installed, maybe this is normal these days?

I have the sport model so can't comment on the trunk space in the sedan but I love the hatchback.

[cwb27]

Overall I really like the vehicle. If I had the same needs now as I did when I got it I wouldn't hesitate to buyout the lease or look for another. My friends who drove it liked it, the drivers that took my drunken self home liked it and when I got it(05) the performance, ride, fit and finish really were much better than competitors.

The only issues I have with mine is how Mazda handled the door locking vulnerability and cost of some parts that needed replacing. The stock tires are 205/50/R17 on my car which were $275 each for crappy tires and wear out extremely quickly - ~30km. Windshield also seemed pricey at $700 installed, maybe this is normal these days?

I have the sport model so can't comment on the trunk space in the sedan but I love the hatchback.

Don't waste your money getting Goodyear Eagle RS-As... There are WAY better brand name tires for much less money.

[Legend24]

I like this vehicle as well. I've done a bit of research and it seems pretty solid all around. I'm considering the 2004 Mazda3 sedan. They look really nice in and out and for an entry level car, they have a lot of available features.

Ones that I have been looking at are around the $9000 mark, give or take. I find they are a good bargain.

[iam_immigrant]

Overall I really like the vehicle. If I had the same needs now as I did when I got it I wouldn't hesitate to buyout the lease or look for another. My friends who drove it liked it, the drivers that took my drunken self home liked it and when I got it(05) the performance, ride, fit and finish really were much better than competitors.

The only issues I have with mine is how Mazda handled the door locking vulnerability and cost of some parts that needed replacing. The stock tires are 205/50/R17 on my car which were $275 each for crappy tires and wear out extremely quickly - ~30km. Windshield also seemed pricey at $700 installed, maybe this is normal these days?

I have the sport model so can't comment on the trunk space in the sedan but I love the hatchback.

My friend has this car and when he wanted to get it replaced because he got a chip they told him that the windshield is supposedly rain sensing so that's why it's so expensive/more than usual/others.

[hi-tech]

I've been testing both the Mazda 3 and Civic Si lately, I've found the Si to be leaps and bounds better than the Mazda. Every thing from the exhaust note, to the ride and handling, the wonderful 6 speed MT, the fit and finish which is incredible for a car in this price range. The Mazda is a great car don't get me wrong, I love the build quality and styling, the dash is really great too, but Honda is hard to beat.

[TerryB]

I've been testing both the Mazda 3 and Civic Si lately, I've found the Si to be leaps and bounds better than the Mazda. Every thing from the exhaust note, to the ride and handling, the wonderful 6 speed MT, the fit and finish which is incredible for a car in this price range. The Mazda is a great car don't get me wrong, I love the build quality and styling, the dash is really great too, but Honda is hard to beat.

Comparing against a regular Mazda3 is not fair especially with the price difference. Go compare it against the Mazdaspeed3. ...I think you would change your mind in a hurry... I hear that very good deals can be had on the Speed3.

Every place I have read about sport compacts...the Speed3 wins.

[The_Professor]

I've been testing both the Mazda 3 and Civic Si lately, I've found the Si to be leaps and bounds better than the Mazda. Every thing from the exhaust note, to the ride and handling, the wonderful 6 speed MT, the fit and finish which is incredible for a car in this price range. The Mazda is a great car don't get me wrong, I love the build quality and styling, the dash is really great too, but Honda is hard to beat.

That's ********, why would you compare the Si to a normal Mazda3? As the poster above mentioned you would have to compare the Mazdaspeed3 to the Si and then it's a totally different ball game.

If you like the Civic better that's fine, you're entitled, but don't compare apples and oranges.

[ImJJ]

I have a 04 Mazda3 hatch lease expiring on June 9th if you are interested.

Car is in OK condition, 56000km.

Overall the car is OK but the maintainace is too expensive for me.

[b0rk]

I've road tested the following cars in the past month:

- Subaru Impreza
- Honda Civic
- Pontiac Vibe (e.g. Toyota Matrix)
- Mazda3

I really like the Impreza for its sheer speed and power, but the Vibe gets big points for being overall spacey and nice to use. The Mazda3 ranked lowest because it felt cheap and plasticly all round (I test drove during heavy rain) and I could "feel" the rain drops beating against the bottom of the car.

[cwb27]

I've road tested the following cars in the past month:

- Subaru Impreza
- Honda Civic
- Pontiac Vibe (e.g. Toyota Matrix)
- Mazda3

I really like the Impreza for its sheer speed and power, but the Vibe gets big points for being overall spacey and nice to use. The Mazda3 ranked lowest because it felt cheap and plasticly all round (I test drove during heavy rain) and I could "feel" the rain drops beating against the bottom of the car.

I think this is the first time I've ever heard someone say 2 things you've said...

Mazda3 being cheaply built...

A Pontiac Vibe/Matrix being called 'spicy'. Anyone that I've ever know has called them under powered.

[BartBandy]

I think this is the first time I've ever heard someone say 2 things you've said...

Mazda3 being cheaply built...

A Pontiac Vibe/Matrix being called 'spicy'. Anyone that I've ever know has called them under powered.

He wrote "spacey". As in "2001: A Spacey Odyssey"

Did Stanley Kubrick predict the Honda minivan?

[lesnar]

beware of rust issues in Mazda cars.

[cwb27]

He wrote "spacey". As in "2001: A Spacey Odyssey"

Did Stanley Kubrick predict the Honda minivan?

hahaha, oops..

[airmail]

The tires are brutal in the winter...be prepared to buy a better set of tires