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BEST BUY FOR YOUR MONEY
Drives great, this 2.3 engine is fast with the 5 speed. Nice looking for a 5 door. Close ratio gears makes it easy to shift.
Feels Great!
Every time I drive this car it makes me smile. The car handles extremely well, has good power and looks great inside and out. Have taken one 2000 mile trip and am very pleased. The seats were comfortable and had good support. The trip felt much shorter than it actually was. Mazda has done a wonderful job creating an an affordable car that feels anything but.
KB's Review
I bought an all-new 2005 Mazda 3s, 2.3L, 4-speed automatic transmission. It is the sunlight silver metallic paint with the black w/ red interior cloth. I got every option package on the car (ABS/SAB/SAC Package, Moonroof & 6CD Package, Sport Package, Xenon & TPMS Package, plus the rear wing spoiler). I am in love with my car right now. One problem though, is that after I got my new after-market sound system put in, because of the load in my trunk, now the rear tires are rubbing against the top of the rear wheel wells.
Excellent car but....
The 3 is a fun car to drive; call it a BMW 3 on the cheap. Mine has the 4 speed auto, which while detracting a bit in the fun-to-drive area, still is a blast to drive. Steering is tight, handling is crisp. It's just right. The main gripe is the pathetic air conditioner. That is one known issue with this car, and so far Mazda hasn't really addressed it properly. Outside of that, the fuel mileage could be better for its size.
Great purchase
Purchased the car in October 2004. The car has GFX package, leather with 5 speed tran. No problems to signal after 8K/7 months of ownership. Car is very stable, feels solid and tight, has a firm but comfortable ride. Engine is very responsive and is a good performer. Car can turn on a dime! , 5 spd tran shifts moothly. Can cruise with ease at 80 + mph.
Best in Class 3i automatic
55 year old. My last car was a Focus ZX3 5-speed. The quality and attention to detail is incredible. Mine is Rally White with the moon roof, ABS, sport pkg and all the air bags. The car handles much better than the Focus and has the aggressive look of a BMW. Fit and finish is world class and the materials in the interior are light years ahead of any of the products offered by the big 3. I looked at the new Civic and really disliked the new dash layout and that was the only other vehicle that I considered.
What a blast
This thing is so much fun to drive. Get the 2.3 motor (not the 2.0). It is so much fun to drive everyday. I couldn't ask for more car at $18,600. It's well built, handles like a dream, quick off the line and you can fit a piano in the back. Big strong brakes and a great chassis offers a stiff yet surprisingly smooth ride. The automatic transmission could be a bit more smooth but it's not bad. It boots around the city and whips easily into any parking spot. On the down side the seats are not comfortable. The seat hurts after 1.5 hours and it gets worse. I'm going to buy an aftermarket seat. The cockpit ergonomics could be better too. But I don't care and you shouldn't either.
Awesome car
I bought the Mazda3 after spending countless hours online researching similar vehicles. Once I went to the dealership and finally took one out for a spin I was hooked! It's got great get-up and the interior is hot. I have already put almost 2,000 miles on my new baby in the first month. I guess I should cool it, but i just have so much fun driving this car.
1 year Review for my 2005 Mazda3i
Car is quick for a compact sedan. Way more rear legroom than competitors and although some parts are shared between this and the Ford Focus, the Mazda interior styling outshines Corolla, Civic, Focus, Cobalt, but not Jetta. One major reason I decided on a 3 was because of engine performance. It seemed to out perform its competitors in HP at 148. One thing I've noticed about driving and do like is the quick acceleration at higher speeds (60+mph); this car really feels somewhat like a 6 cylinder at these speeds. The low speed acceleration doesn't seem that great. Everyone I know loves the interior, but here is where my complaints lie. The microfiber seats build static on your clothes and the glove compartment squeaks.
What a Blast
This is just the sportiest little sedan ever. I can't get over how much it resembles a BMW3. You get more amenities for your money than any other car in this class. And this is 1/2 the price of the Bimmer. It has just enough ZOOM to keep me entertained and the AT is fun to shift. I don't think you can go wrong spending under 20K here.