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Really Diggin it! My 3 Rocks!
Ok, 1st, bad stuff ... power steering is noisy, tires appear to wear quickly, doesn't get the gas mileage claimed, (28.5 hwy on recent trip), the a/c doesn't get super cold (tint the glass, fixed!), the seat material gives off tangles as it wears. But as far as everything else, I love it! I had a Pathfinder that got 14mpg, even at 28mpg is saving me tons of cash. It's peppy, handles great, looks good, quiet enough interior and with a new stereo, it's got good tunes too. The first owner had upgraded a few things, like 16" wheels and spoiler. The seat belt noise will drive you crazy though. Overall, I love it. May put a sunroof in, maybe aftermarket speed parts. All in all, it's great!
After 17,900 Miles ...
I still love this car. Yes, it has a few flaws but at less than $20K it's a deal. As stated before me the car/tires leaves something to be desired in rain and even more so in snow and ice. Yokohamas may have been a better choice than the Goodyears. Get the ABS package! It's a lil' pricey but includes side and curtain air bags. Also, get the 6-CD changer even if you don't think you want it (as I did). I plan to install a 22mm rear anti-sway bar to reduce understeer. In spite of what others have said here, I have raced cars and any factory front driver understeers too much. I think 25-32 MPG is excellent for a car like this one ... any car really, and on regular 87 octane fuel too.
- s 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $3,200814 mi away
- s SedanMSRP: $4,788851 mi away
- s SedanMSRP: $5,9991,160 mi away
Just purchased
Was checking out Subaru Impreza. Then dealer recommended me to test drive the Mazda 3. Loved it. Bought it. Been running smoothly. Lot faster then I expected. Gas mileage doesnt seem so great, but not bad. It came with afterstock Rims. Make it look really sporty get a lot of looks.
NO good
I purchased a Mazda3 Jan. 2004 to commute to school and work. I am very displeased with it. The worst problem is that, in automatic, when the vehicle shifts from 1st to 2nd gear, at around 2500 RPM, there is a great jolt. The car jerks a lot, sometimes more than others. I called the dealership and they told me that it was the "nature of the beast." They had gotten similar complaints, but there was nothing they could do about it. The car is also loud (belts and fans) and noisy inside while driving. I want to get rid of it.
1st New Car
After having researched this car I found that it was the best in its class. After having drove it, I found that it's the best on the road. This car looks good, feels great, and is priced even better. I bought this car with all of the options available and I am very pleased with the results of each of them. I have no regrets about my purchase, and recommened this vehicle to anyone.
The most rockin' car out there!
This car lives up to its potential. I've had a blast driving it so far. I mainly use it for school, but now and then, my friends and I go for a spin. Just an overall good car!
2.3L mazda3s sedan - great car!
You can't really find this kind of compact car elsewhere - its for people who want more than the low powered corollas and civics and don't want to pay mega bucks for the bmw/audis. I find it great to drive, everything I expected and more. I wanted something a little more powered and a little bigger than my old corolla, and this fits the bill exactly! Found out that my tire pressure monitoring system works - 3wks old and a flat tire =( I get about 25-26mpg and its about 50/50% city/highway driving. Insignificant minor flaws, super features. Brake dust is an issue, but thats only because the open spoked hubcaps make it visible - cleaning it can be a pain.
Great Buy!!!
It is a great car to drive has great agility turns corners very tightly and awesome interior. And above all that it is very great buy for less than 21k. Comes stand with all the great features. Has a kicking sound system too. Also you can even throw in a Navi system if you can afford it.
Great car, when everything works...
I am overall quite pleased with my 2004 Mazda3 5 door with automatic. I would agree with others that the manual may be a safer choice; my automatic just died with only 13,000 miles on it - very unusual. And it stranded us between Colorado Springs and Denver. It handles nicely, is quiet (with replacement tires), and has a great, functional interior. I love the steering wheel controls; use them all the time. It's a fun car, but this automatic problem, and an early ignition fault, make me doubt the long-term reliability of the Mazda3.
Almost Perfect
Saw it, drove it, bought it. I test drove the 5spd, then the auto (just for grins). The auto was excellent, and the auto-manual mode was great for times when I wanted specific gear control. Car is gorgeous, especially in the super-metallic red. (Edmunds doesn't list the Auto, so I review here.)
Perfect Car
I've been looking for a car for almost a year now. I just purchased the 2004 Mazda 3 s with the Automatic transmission. It's about time a manufacturer built a car under 20k that has a ton of features. It drives like sports car, very stiff suspension and steering. I've been getting around 28 mpg fuel economy which is great since gas prices are so high now. It turns heads every where I go. I really like the style. The stereo system rivals mosts peoples home theatres, and the in dash 6 disc changer is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
2004 30,000 mile review
After owning this car for almost 2 years I have noticed a few things.. First of all when I got the car I assumed that over time the steering and suspension would lose some it's tightness and precision. This has not happened. The car handles like it did the day I purchased it. I'm still not sure how I paid $20G Canadian and got this level of handling. My own fear stops me in a fast turn. Not the car. Very smooth. Secondly, when I bought it I was worried about the reliability and craftsmanship of Mazda vehicles. So far, only the regular maintenance has been performed. So to wrap this up; 2 years, fun to drive, no problems. Great car!
great
it is fun to drive all over the city. great little car for the buck
mazda3
this is a great car to start out with, the design is great, fun to drive
Mazda 3 Hatchback
Dealerships said there was shortage of Mazda 3. Hard to budge on price. Compared this car to Toyota Matrix and Subaru Impreza/Forester. Mazda3 was best performer. Car had lots of safety feature including ABS, side air bags and curtains. Also Xenon HID headlights and tire pressure monitor. Hatchback comes standard with 17 inch alloy wheels. I made my purchase in May. There were no rebates and 3.9% financing is a bit higher than Toyota (0 to 1.9%) or Subaru (1.9%). If you can wait till August, you may get a better deal. The leather seats were kinda cheap looking but aside from that the car is built very well.
ZOOM ZOOM
I LOVED THE TEST DRIVE SO MUCH I BOUGHT ONE RIGHT OFF THE SHOW ROOM FLOOR. I WAS SO AMAZED.A FUN NON EXPENSIVE RIDE THAT ACTUALY HAS EVERY OPTION I WANTED.THANKS TO ALL THE PEOPLE FROM MAZDA I FINALLY HAVE THE CAR OF MY DREAMS.
Great ride
Having owned an Audi A4 for several years, Mazda's 3 feels very similar. A solid drive...doesn't feel like I'm driving a compact. Plenty of muscle and a beautifully designed interior/exterior. Mazda really outdid themselves with this one. For the money, I can't imagine more in a vehicle.
avoid ticket
Only testdrive it, have not bought it yet. It is very fast and fun to drive. Always go where I pointed. On twist road, it stick to the road but has a little uncertainty. This car is too fast, so I would guess I will get some tickets for the speed.
Class by Itself
The Mazda3 is truly in a class by itself. Its larger and more solid than the Civic or Corolla, but more nimble than the Accord or Camry. The closest competition is the Jetta that costs thousands more. The 3 feels like a European sport sedan due to the amazing handling, precise shifter, and powerful engine. All these great characteristics while still delivering a smooth, quiet ride. There's also the great styling (inside and out), quality interior materials, and luxurious available features. Thanks Mazda, you've delivered by far the best car for the price.
Do you love to drive?
If you're looking for a 5-door car stop, you just found it. The 2.3L is quick- get the leather tim, if you can . If your a stick driver you may find the "3" feels more like a VW then a Honda or other like imports. Over all- for the money this car will be hard to beat!
Great fun
I have had this car for two years and it is still fun to drive. Handles great; 30 mpg highway, 25 city. My daughter is learning to drive on it and loves it also. Very practical and somewhat sporty. Am very pleased!
awesome ride!!!!!!!!
take a test drive and you will be sold~ we love it! our first new car. wish the mileage was a little better, but hey! looks like lexus, feels like BMW!!!
Mazda 3 S
Great power delivery: it almost feels like a V6 engine (very similar to a VR6 Jetta I used to own). Great handling: Its roadholding is 0.87g according to C/D mag. That is close to Infiniti G35(0.88) and higher than Acura TSX (0.85). Interior: The individually sunk dashboard looks spectacular especially at night. Remote radio controls placed on the steering wheel comes in handy. Exterior: It looks a little chunky from certain angles but overall looks very sharp.
I love this car
I almost bought a MazdaSPEED Protege, but after the dealer convinced me to test drive the 3, I was hooked! It is almost as fast as the MS Protege, handles on par (for my tastes atleast), and doesn't ride like it is a go-kart. Add to that the fact that I got features like xenon headlights, 6-disc CD, and a moonroof for $2,000 less than the MSP, which didn't even offer those features! It is a great car that seems to be well built. I highly suggest buying one!
Excellent!
This car runs very nicely! Handling is very responsive and the looks are just very appealing! It is very hard not to stare at it all day long. The interior is spacious too, with lots of legroom and headroom, and the layout of the interior center console is beautiful!
Worth it
Overall a really nice car. Had a few problems at the start like dusty back brakes. ECU had to be reflashed twice and thermosat went bad but the dealership took care of it. A-
Mazda 3 Hatch Kicks BMW Butt
After having an extremely high car payment and maintence bills with my 2000 BMW 32i I, I started shopping for a more reliable car with a lower price- point. I had owned a Mazda before and was at the dealership to look at an RX-8 when I saw this funky, cool Mazda3 5-Door on the lot. I was intrigued. I took it for a spin and was hooked. It has an engine that will move, looks that will turn heads and features that rival the BMW. And it cost about half of what I paid for the BMW four years ago. I walked out of there spending $24K including TTL and got a fantastic car with xenon, navigation, leather and more. Mazda 3 5-Door. A great car--a great value.
great Car!!!
I fell in love with this car since I first saw it. I love the design (interior and exterior) and it's a lot of fun to drive. I think is a great car to go school and do your shores. Pretty comfortable too.
Oh so fun!
What a fun car to drive. The sport A/T is great. If you are sitting in traffic, just stay in auto. If you want to have some fun, you can shift yourself. I'm having a great time driving this car and it didn't break the bank.
This is the Best Econo (Not)
This is not an economy car. The 2.3 liter is a joy to drive: I've zoom zoomed ~350 miles in the three days I've owned it. The car comes alive in third and the 40-85 mph acceleration is incredible. 52-48 weight distribution and built in roll bars eliminate body-roll and instill confidence behind the wheel. No Honda, Toyota, or Nissan sedan can come close to the 3's performance.
What a lemon!!!
Aside from the excellent engine and nice features, the problems I have had outweigh the positives by a lot. In the winter when it was really cold, the heater only marginally works, now in the summer I find that the A/C is only mediocre as well. After bringing it to the dealership multiple times, they insist that it is fine and within the normal range. And after only 10,000 miles they had to replace the transmission. I had it in for two oil changes previous to this and they never realized that transmission fluid was low. When they took the transmission out the fluid was almost gone and it was burnt. Thank god for warranties.
If you're tired of Hondas Get the Mazda3
Just bought it!! I love the way it handles. Has great get up and go! Interior is awesome! If you are tired of seeing the same old Honda on the street...this is the car for you! I love Mazdas so I may be a bit impartial. I would give it a nine out of ten on an overall scale.
The Best in Class
Looked at and drove all the leading competitors; Corolla, Civic, Sentra, Focus, Lancer. While a couple of the others were pretty good, in my mind there was no comparison. IMO, the 3 is the best vehicle for the price. Great handling, peppy acceleration, European looks, and the ability to get side airbags, alloys, sunroof, and ABS all together. Beautiful paint. Originally, I was just going to go buy a Corolla. Then I drove it. I couldn't get a comfortable postition to drive. Civic nice but old design. Lancer seemed cheap. Focus was fun to drive, but I don't like the looks or the reliability reputation. Very happy with the Mazda 3.
Mazda
I haven't owned this car for a whole year but so far I love it. I have no regrets on buying it. I have never ownes a Mazda before and haveno problem with buying another one later on. The design og the car is awesome and more sportier than the other mazdas before. the performance is out of this world. it will get up and go at no time! I can't stay away from driving it! zoom zoom zoom is right!
Not bad!
The blue is a very nice colour.
Major Change
You have a lot to improve. Mazda you need to higher who sense of what a car needs. Executive do you watch "Pimple my ride.?" First, you need an automatic engine; Get the gas tank on the driver side ; Leather heated seats, Remote controller, better gas mileage;more room at the back; Better stereo please.!!!
Don't buy it!
I've had to the car into the dealership once a month since I purchased for various problems with the brakes and the check the engine light.
Problems at 2000mi one week for an appt
I got my car in March 2004 and loved it. Fun to drive. Just yesterday the trouble started. The check engine light came on. I called to get an appointment at the nearest dealership, 15 miles away. Their next appt was 6 days from now. I wrote to Mazda to complain and their response was to try another dealer. If I chose to not go to another dealer at least 30 minutes away, that is my choice. I was just floored by their lack of concern. If I had read the forums here on Edmunds on Mazda customer service instead of just the glowing reviews here I might have made a better choice. Read them for yourselves.
Will I buy it again?
It was the most beautiful in its class when it came out. In fact it's one of the most beautiful still. But will I buy it again? I've been trading-in my cars every 3 years just before the warranty expires, since 1991. I have never bought a domestic {for obvious reasons} nor have I bought the same model of the same manufacture, twice. In other wards, no one has impressed me that much to get me to return. The Mazda 3sport, is no exception. For my taste; It is underpowered. I need at least a 100hp for every liter. I also do not need an engine bigger than 1.8L. The customer service {just like all of the previous manufacturers, at least 6 anyway}, is indifferent, at best.
Quality Compact
My search for a new compact lead me to two cars in the end. Both the VW Golf TDI and the Mazda 3i had features that attested to their quality build. They both handled the road nimbly and had adjustable seats/steering columns which were important for my short wife. The Golf TDI is a stylish car that gets great milage but its reliability seemed questionable after reading all of the reviews. The Mazda 3i seemed to be a little more reliable in the long run. In terms of fuel economy, nothing can beat the TDI's 49mpg, but when you consider all the smog that it produces, Mazda's clean burning engine is much more environmentally friendly.
Great car for the cash
I've had my 3 for about 3 months and have logged 5000 miles. This is the most fun and precise machine I've piloted that comes in the under 20K range.The steering is tight and the body roll is slim.The suspension allows if not encourages spirited runs through the twisties and the engine delivers good power and torque.The transmission operates smoothly and the shifter has that "snick-snick" feel like a well-built Euro machine.Everything about the car in my opinion is outstanding except the carpet.The leather seats are attractive and supportive,what went wrong when Mazda was picking the carpet?
Fun to drive and WOW the power !!
This is my fourth Mazda so it goes without saying that I enjoy the reliability of them. This; however, is the most fun car I've ever driven, ok so it's tied with my RX7. The sport package (2.3) is worth the extra money and the look of this car gets really turns heads.
Great little car
I've had the car for a little over a week so I can't really rate the reliability, but this is a great little car to drive. Looks awesome and rides even better. Mazda has a winner with the 3...I'm zoomin.
Nothing like it until BMW 1-series
I was wishy washy on my new car purchase for over 8 months i couldn't decide. When i saw the 3 hatch with the xenon & leather i said: all this for under 20K? Ride is fun, but no so fun to get into too much trouble if you know what I mean. Didn't test an auto, but the manual tranny is sweeet.
My Ride
I have this car and out of all the cars in theis class that I test drove this one not only looked the best but handloed better than any of the others such as, Acura RSX, For Focus, Honda Civic, and the Voltswagon Golf.
EXCITEMENT after 3 DAYS of OWNERSHIP
From a family owning a 2003 BMW M3 conv.,a 1999 BMW 528i,a 1989 Chrysler T/C by Maserati, and a 1965 Ferrari 330GT2+2, I think I know a bit about quality automobiles. I'm a college student in Savannah, Georgia. My Dad and I picked up the Mazda 3 three days ago, and have fallen in love with it. THis car replaces the 1991 Volvo 740 I used to drive, and the Mazda is SO much more FUN, even though I'm just learning how to drive standard. Even though the trunk is sort of small, there's ample room for golf clubs IN the trunk and out of view, without folding down the rear seat. I like this since I am on the Golf Team and carry my clubs wherever I travel. The Velocity Red paint-job is a real hit, too
Great, inexpensive hatchback option
Had it for 2 months now after having a BMW 328 for 3 years. I love the hatchback area and rubber mats. It drives fine although not the power of the 328. Very comfortable and a great low cost alternative for an econo-sport car. If you are expecting 28mpg, forget it. in city driving I get 23mpg, on highway at 80mph, I get about 20mpg. They need to fix this.
My First Mazda, And Loving It
When looking for a brand new car during fall of 2004 after selling my modified 97 Civic, I test-drove many different cars. Three factors were important to me. First, the price. Second, the performance and reputation for reliabilty. Third, how much i was attracted to not only the exterior, but the interior. The Corolla-S, Sentra-SER,Saturn Ion,Mitsubishi Lancer,Chevy,Ford,Honda,Hyundai and Kia models did not satisfy all three factors for me. When I test-drove the 2004 Mazda3S, not only did it cover all three bases,it was the only car that made me smile. It was also the first time that i sat in a Mazda, and I was in love. Beautiful inside, gorgeous outside, and a kick-ass motor.Very responsive
A COOL CAR TO OWN
I LOVE THIS CAR - GREAT LOOK - PIZZA BOY LOVES TO DELIVER TO OUT HOUSE. HE SAID - COOL CAR!
Awesome so far...
I've had my Mazda3 for about a year and a half and have not had any problems as at all. The ride and handling are awesome. I test drove the Civic, Corolla, Ion and Focus and hands down, the Mazda 3 was an easy winner.