2.3 with 5-speed bliss!
5-spd is smooth & fun to flick through the gears. Motor has a sweet spot at 4,000 RPM. I love to rev this baby! It begs to be pushed! Seats are firm and comfortable. I found myself blasting off a country road & onto a highway, changing lanes, and almost planting my front end into a police cruiser. This car is going to get me into trouble. I drove a bonneville before this. I felt age 55. Mazda3 makes me feel 25 (I'm somewhere in between). Big improvement from the Protege (loud, buzzy & underpowered). Mazda3 looks great from almost all angles. This car cuts corners like a henkel carving knife. Fantastic BMW- like driving experience!
I LOVE MY NEW CAR!!!
I wasn't looking to buy a new car but was forced to after I totaled my old one. I only looked at the Corolla, Civic and the Mazda3 and for the money, this car was the best deal! Definitely more bang for your buck! Its a smooth ride and although when standing outside the car, it seems a bit noisy, inside, Sometimes I dont feel or hear anything! I keep thinking it stalled at the stoplight. (oh wait that was my last car! :-) I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, zippy, cute ride! The 6 CD changer is great and the 6 speaker system is quite good. My 5 year old niece says this is the coolest car ever! I have to agree!
IT WILL TURN HEADS
this was my first new car and all i can say is wow,i took my new car to virginia and got 32 mpg there and 29mpg on the way back,every where i go people turn their heads especially with the sport 17 inch rims.And at a good price range also u really cant go wrong.if u want a sporty car that turns heads,looks like a million bucks and feels great to drive then this would be it.
Mazda 3
I dont own one of these yet, but I have looked at them and I have to say they are very nice looking. Inside they have all the features you would expect from a compact, and it is pretty comfortable. I didnt get a chance to drive it because the dealer didnt have the model I was looking for, and why waste time on one I'm not going to buy. Thats all I have to say on it now.
New Protege...No Way!
I just picked up my new 3 (hatchback), and there is no comparing this car and the car it replaced, the long-lived Protege. Everything about this car is great! The styling, the interior, and all of the standard features! I traded in my 2002 PR5 without a second thought. After one test drive I had already made up my mind! The car is so great in the styling department...It's almost like BMW and a Benz got together and produced the new Mazda 3. Excellent build quality and materials. To drive it, is to love it!