Used 2005 Mazda 3 Sedan Consumer Reviews
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Over 320,000 miles still going
Lori, 10/21/2015
updated 10/25/2016
2005 Mazda 3 s 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
57 of 58 people found this review helpful
I love my Mazda 3, I have over 320,000 miles on the engine still going strong. I wouldn't own another car! 2005 model 2.3
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A Sad Day
Mike C, 11/28/2009
2005 Mazda 3 i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
41 of 43 people found this review helpful
This is my 3rd review here for this car and my last. I just traded it in last week with 184,000 miles. I couldn't have asked any more of this gem. Here is my list of maintenance and repairs over the last 4 years: 47 oil changes, 2 sets of spark plugs, 4 air filters, 2 sets of rubber, 1 radiator flush, 1 transmission flush, 1 set of brake pads, 2 head lights bulbs and 1 battery. All but the transmission flush was done myself. Unexpected repairs: Zero
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Not Bad!
flow_motion, 01/17/2011
2005 Mazda 3 i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
29 of 31 people found this review helpful
I bought a used automatic Mazda 3 Sedan January of last year. It had about 103,000 KM. One year later, it's now at 123,000 KMS +... This car rocks! It's been very reliable, has caused me no trouble. The dealership have been extremely curtious, and polite. I'll definitely buy another Mazda! I agree with one person though, the accessories at the dealership are way over priced. Nonetheless, this car definitely packs in the "zoom zoom". The auto transmission should've been 5 speed rather then 4. Gas mileage in the city isn't good for a 4 cyl engine. Those are the negs... The pos outweigh the negs 10 fold! Love the red interior lights!
Mazda 3 SP23 Manual
landj6, 09/15/2011
2005 Mazda 3 SP23 Special Edition 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
19 of 20 people found this review helpful
I bought my car in 2005 new with 33 miles on it. I love my car!! Today it has 191,000 and not a single problem with it! I have kept up with the oil changes and have done some work, changed belts, plugs, ect. just as a preventative. I put gas in it, change the oil, change the tires and drive the crap out of it! I'm not easy on cars, as you can tell from the 191,000 miles on it in 6 years! I recently have been thinking about trading it in for an SUV, but just can't part with my awesome car yet!
Super fun little car!
Sam, 02/12/2018
2005 Mazda 3 SP23 Special Edition 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
16 of 17 people found this review helpful
This car is super cute and so fun to drive. It has no problem getting up to speed, and at 201,000 miles it still has no issue. It gets a little louder at 90mph. I love going fast in it which may or may not be a good thing haha. It takes corners so well, and shifts super smoothly with the manual 5 speed. I bought it with 160,000 miles on it, and it was in nearly perfect condition then. I've repaired the normal parts like brakes, water pump, serpentine belt, and some front end stuff. The only bad thing I can say about it is I have almost put as much into it in repairs as I bought it for. Granted it is over 200,000 miles now, but none of the repairs have been major. I also have had an issue with headlights going out constantly. The plastic covers are very foggy too, so it is difficult to see at night. Besides those two things, I would drive my Mazda forever if I could! It gets decent gas mileage at 26 mpg, which I love! The seat warmers are amazing, bose speakers never let me down, and the 6 CD player is great. At this point, I just want to see how many miles it can go! I commute about an hour round trip per day, so the miles are accumulating quickly. I have faith in it :)
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All in the details
Ben MazdaSP, 11/18/2009
2005 Mazda 3 SP23 Special Edition 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
I got my Mazda SP after spending months researching and test driving sport sedans from EVERY other manufacturer. I was very meticulous and demanding. I then knew exactly what I wanted: a charcoal Mazda3 S manual. It took me weeks to find and was floored when I did. Great car! Transmission is superior to all others that I drove. The interior is designed very well; you can tell a great deal of thought went into every detail on this car. This car feels as though it should be 2-3 times more expensive than it is. I don't ever feel that I have to drive somewhere, I GET to drive somewhere! I've had it for awhile and still love it.It's done great both in the hot summer and on snowy mountain passes.
Work of Beauty!
Victor, 03/19/2010
2005 Mazda 3 s 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
The Mazda3 is just a fun drive. It doesn't just get you from point A to point B, it makes you want to go to point B. while some might see that as a problem, i think the worst part about this car is that you just want to keep driving. A lot of the reviews you read online say that they don't like the engine noise when your accelerating. But i see this as a plus, since it only gets loud when your trying to go fast. The Mazda3 makes 120mph feel like 40 and handles like it to. Great car great buy, I'd recommend it to anyone.
my wifes other man
KING OF NY IN VEGAS, 02/11/2009
2005 Mazda 3 SP23 Special Edition 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
My wife and I purchased our metalic red 3 new .Granted her commute to work is 7 miles round trip , this car has performed flawlessly.no squeaks or weird noises at all.All I've ever done to it was change the oil and rotate the tires .Thats's all it ever needed. Maintenance is very inexpensive. It's a little cramped for me at 6'4 305 lbs butit drives very well . It's quiet but very sporty. The handling in off the chain!The tranny has been reliable but needs another gear,the engine needs another 20-30 hp. MY wife picked it over the coblt because of it's cheezy interior,it has better styling cues than the civic which to her is a me too car.I highly recommend this car to anyone, its that good.
You'll never want to buy another car!
hmarie23, 11/10/2012
2005 Mazda 3 i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
10 of 16 people found this review helpful
I owned my 2005 Mazda3i for just over a year before it was totaled. I'm still mourning the loss of this car & with any luck will purchase another soon. I bought my mazdda3 used with 100,000 miles and drove it for 22,000 more. This car is extremely reliable, never had any problems with it (which is great since it had been in 2 minor accidents before I got it). Gas mileage was excellent -mostly highway driving usually got around 30 mpg which is great for a college student's budget! My only complaint (aside from the lack of any real space needed when I was moving) was that around 110,000 miles it began to shake when it idled, before that it was smooth sailing. You can't go wrong buying this car
Mazda3 fun
doc, 04/18/2005
2005 Mazda 3 i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This is a well designed car which strikes a fine balance betwen the competing demands of an economy car. The performance is well above that expected and is equivalent to a 2 litre Alfa Romeo with better economy and reliablity. It looks like a little BMW at a fraction of the price and runing cost. Economy is excellent 45mpg on highway at 60 - 75 mph. Only the sound proofing could be better. Handling, brakes and active safety are excellent. I would however like a six-speed to lower the revs at cruising speeds.
3 year 60000 mile test drive
mzdvr, 08/22/2008
2005 Mazda 3 s 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Been driving this car for 3 yrs now and still think it's the best car under $25,000. I haven't had any mechanical problems. Had a brake job at 50,000 and new tires. I live in the city and get a combined 27 mpg. I have a gas gauge which commonly reports mpg in the middle to upper 30s on the highway. There is minimal wear on the car after 60k such as a small area of the stitching on the leather seat has come out, a few exterior issues due to things happening to it.
I Love This 3
LA DRIVER, 06/12/2008
2005 Mazda 3 SP23 Special Edition 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
My wife and I bought this car back in 2005 when her Honda went out. Almost 3 years later I still love it. At about 300 miles per tank city/hwy driving can't complain. I just love the performance for such a compact car, leather seats, GPS, 6 disc CD, 5 speed man., when sitting inside it reminds me of my BMW at half the cost. Great power and lots of trunk space esp when rear seats are folded down. The 3 is truly a car in it's own, with aftermarket performance tires it handles as well as my BMW and is great to drive through corners and the straights. Over all this is a great car to drive in the city as well as the hwy. avg. of about 32 mpg hwy we make it from LA to San Jose in 1 tank. LOVE my 3.
mazda3 by Katie
jeromy, 05/30/2005
2005 Mazda 3 i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
A totally great little car. Mine is a stick shift and it's my first car. Easy and fun to drive. The only thing that was a little weak was the horn. It was like a circus clowns car. My Dad changed it for an Air Horn like a Ferrari.
Tough Car to Like
John Taylor, 07/17/2015
updated 07/18/2016
2005 Mazda 3 i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
10 of 19 people found this review helpful
I am a commuter but also a father with 2 smaller children and a wife. Therefore, I needed something reliable that would handle the challenges of our lives. With all the hoopla about this car, I expected to get almost 200,000 miles or 12 years of this vehicle, which I had purchased used at 30,000 miles for $12,000 almost 7 years ago (2008). While the first four years were non eventful, the following three were very painful. Specifically, the car would unexplainably turn off or, more commonly, just not start. I changed the battery, everything. I brought it to my mechanic; nothing. I needed reliability and this car was unreliable. I thought for a while that maybe this was a one shot experience. Perhaps. However, I found on the web similar stories of Mazda 3s from 2005 which suddenly don't start. This makes me wonder. At 143,000, I chose to give up. I am selling the car via a trade in to a dealer and getting a 2005 Prius with 112K miles.
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VERY FUN CAR
Christopher Hester, 10/03/2017
2005 Mazda 3 i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
i bought this car from a buy here pay here lot not expecting much. during the test drive i noticed it likes to move! i drive this car daily and not a day goes by that im just not thrilled to jump in it and drive it to work! i took it on a road trip to see my mom about 500 miles away non stop driving and i couldn't have been happier with a car that has 180k miles on the clock. i took it to the race track by the house and for a cheap daily...it grips! i call it my green rocket. by far the best car ive ever owned! i will drive this car until the wheels fall off and then glue them back on and drive it some more =) wow! such a thrill to drive! p.s. i only paid $1900 usd for this car ;)
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Great car
Lee, 02/09/2016
updated 08/10/2017
2005 Mazda 3 i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 6 people found this review helpful
It's been a pleasure owning this car, just wish it held its value better for trade in/ resale. Have moved on, now into a 2016 VW Passat. It was time.
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Already Rusting???
Nae, 10/07/2009
2005 Mazda 3 i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I purchased my 2005 Mazda the winter of 2004 love everything about the car, the feel of the car on the road, the suspension is tight, it has great get up and go for 2.0 and great gas mileage. It could use better interior lighting i.e. the window controls need more lighting and the my cigarette lighter light went out already? In 2007 I noticed my 2005 mazda 3i was beginning to rust around rear wheel wells and the undercarriage. I have taken my car into numerous Mazda dealerships for rust problem and have been told due to environmental factors they will not fix the corrosion? I highly doubt I will purchase another due to exterior quality it sad everything else is great about this little car.
Awesome!
Kristina, 06/10/2008
2005 Mazda 3 s 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I have absolutely loved this car! It is fun to drive, pulls uturns on a dime and is so comfortable that 3 people for 15 hours in the car was no problem. I am so happy with this purchase!
Zoom Zoom, indeed!
Michigan_guy, 12/11/2008
2005 Mazda 3 i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I've owned an '89 Toyota Tercel, an '02 Chevy Prism and now the Mazda. Love. It. It's got a lot longer gear ratio than most 4-cylinder cars and at highway speeds can very capably accelerate past everyone else who's not having as much fun in their car. The interior has an excellent design, the exterior looks fluid and lean and all of the mechanics seem above average on dependability and ergonomics. I might never buy a different car.
Started burning oil after 150,000 miles :(
emMaz23, 07/02/2022
2005 Mazda 3 s 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
My 2.3 L sedan started burning oil after 135000. Dealer mechanic and one outside mechanic just shrugged and said, "it's old." Blamed it on the piston rings and suggested the engine would have to be rebuilt to correct. This apparently is a problem in especially the 2.3L engines. The air conditioning compressor is also giving out after 160,000 miles. Blows hot air after a few minutes on hot days. There is also a known rust defect that affects the rear wheel wells. Mine was not immune. Mazda is aware of it for the early model years, but won't reimburse the driver for the defect. Overall, I loved this car. I've had it for more than 17 years. Up until the last couple years, it was very reliable. I now have more than 170,000 miles on it.
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Miata-class fun, Audi A4 practicality
Bryan in Central VA, 06/16/2005
2005 Mazda 3 SP23 Special Edition 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Plenty of creature comforts (heated leather, Bose, Xenons, ABS, steering wheel controls)...looks like a little BMW 325. I wanted something japanses to replace my service issues on my last three Audis and two Passats. This car is smaller and less expensive but even more fun to drive. Strong engine (w/5- spd) loses steam at 65 mph+ 9great around town baut looses punch on highway. SP23 was ltd edition and I have not seen another in 3 months of ownership. I would not have considered its "peer economy" competitors. Buy it for style & handling - not price. SP23 thinks its all grown up. A relative bargain for a "euro" sedan. Combination of Jetta/A4 and Miata. Practical fun with reliability.
Mazda Sp 2.3
culinarykid, 09/21/2005
2005 Mazda 3 SP23 Special Edition 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I love my Mazda3 SP 2.3. I have the navigation, Bose system, 18 inch rims and brown leather. I am telling you for the price of the car and the things you get, it's a awesome car. I can not tell you how many people roll the windows down on their car to tell me how sharp my car is. The color is great too. The color on the SP you can not get on any other Mazda car. That's what also makes it special. If I had to tell anyone who was looking into a new car I would totally tell them to look at the 3.
Been great so far!
nathanh2, 01/22/2011
2005 Mazda 3 s 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought it used with 46,000. It now has 58,000 and I have had no problems with it what so ever. Gas mileage has been pretty good although the car is small and I would expect it to get better. But other than that it has been golden. No mechanical problems. Turns on a dime. Rides beautifully on the highway. Put good tires on it if you haven't already. I had the Eagle RS-A and as soon as I switched them out the car was much quieter and rode a lot smoother. A/C can be a little weak. But it seems to do fine if you turn it up another notch. All around a very good car. I am very happy with it and I don't expect that to change
Friday afternoon car
Allen G, 07/15/2008
2005 Mazda 3 i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Purchased brand new. Looked great, sporty, fun to drive, typical great Mazda clutch. However, I feel my car was built on a Monday morning or Friday afternoon, I had nothing but problems with it in the year & a half I owned it. Pieces of trim falling off, just about every sensor/idiot light would come, check engine, air bag, etc. needing a trip to the dealership. One time it would not start and had to be towed to the dealership, luckily it was in my driveway at the time. I was very fortunate that the dealership/Mazda had a loaner car program, which I needed on several occasions, otherwise those expenses would have added up, but I still had to take time off for drop off/pickup.
Teething problems ?
Alan, 03/19/2005
2005 Mazda 3 i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Sport badge should be dropped as handling is rather poor. Believe it can be attributed to the electro hydraulic power assisted steering. Just doesn't suit my driving style, really disappointed !(have now covered 14000 miles) Steering creeking and growning for second time despite mod. Road noise excessive and distracting. Wheels tend to track the slightest rutts in the road surface. Air con lacking. Radio reception poor. Accessories extortionately priced. Drivers seat beginning to lose support and fabric baggy dispite me only being of average weight.
so-so for the 3
Sillycat, 12/22/2005
2005 Mazda 3 s 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I thought the 3 was an awesome car, very cute and sporty, but at 3559 miles, it needed a new engine, due to spinning a bearing. Very disappointing! The dealership was not that great at helping me through the situation. I am looking at selling it, because I can no longer trust it.
ZOOM-ZOOM
JUICE88, 06/07/2006
2005 Mazda 3 SP23 Special Edition 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I've owned the car for ten months, so far a pleasant experience. Great value for the money. Definitely a set of snow tires in the winter solves any traction problems.This car is fun to drive.
BEST car in class
Sergio, 09/29/2005
2005 Mazda 3 i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Easily best car for the money (reliability to be seen). The car is very quick with excellent handling with 205/55R16 tires. I opted for the 2.0 for the mileage (28 MPG city driving on 1700 miles). Very nice and roomy interior. I will echo the complaints about the weak A/C, and the remote trunk opening, but they are not show stoppers. Seats are a little hard and the doors do not auto-lock when the car is started.
Fun, Hot, Reliable, Good buy!
mazdaisgreat, 07/15/2008
2005 Mazda 3 s 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I love this car to death. It's such a great buy for what what you get. It's stylish and fun to drive. I've never had one problem with it. The only complaints are that the trunk doesn't open with the remote. The AC/heater is a little weak too. But I live in San Diego so this is not really a big problem for me.
How fast am I driving?
Waldemar, 06/29/2005
2005 Mazda 3 i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
The Mazda3 is fun to drive and gets good mileage. I bought it fully loaded with automatic, ABS, and side air bags. I like the car's handling, feel for the road, and the manual mode on the automatic transmission. On the other hand, a nearly fatal flaw is that the speedometer and other gauges are so far recessed into the instrument panel and unlit that they're extremely difficult and tiresome to read on sunny days within 3 hours of sunrise/set or driving in and out of shade. I have to stare at the instrument panel for a second or two to let my eyes adjust to the darkness before I know how fast I'm going. The gauges are fine on cloudy days and fantastic at night.
Love our SP 2.3 Sedan
pats1, 08/17/2005
2005 Mazda 3 SP23 Special Edition 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bought this car 5 weeks ago and have 2500+ miles on it already - lots of highway driving. What a great car!! Love the carbon gray mica with the black leather (don't see any like it) and this one is loaded with most everything except NAV. Last tank was 29.2 MPG. Very fun to drive - handles like a dream. Acceleration was a pleasant surprise. Added another SP 2.3 badge to the trunk lid - makes it look that much better. Bose is awesome. The rain-sensing wipers work great. The car rides and handles much better than the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic (yuk) we test drove.
2005 3 S With Automatic Tranny
Sandy, 07/07/2005
2005 Mazda 3 s 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Just got this car last Saturday, and it's pretty awesome. Took about 4 days to get the car in the color we wanted...Sunlight Silver. The 3 with the 2.3 L engine has plenty of power and it shifts so smoothly. The interior looks like it came from a more upscale car. The two tone seating fabric is pretty grippy and the leather steering wheel and shifter just add to the upscale feeling. This is our 1st Mazda and we are thrilled with the car since we've had it. Zoom Zoom!
Lots of room to PERFECT, not improve.
ericrsmith, 06/28/2007
2005 Mazda 3 SP23 Special Edition 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I LOVE my car. This is my third Mazda. My wife refers to it as "the other woman." I could have bought more car when I bought this one, and that will only become more true in the future, but I can't picture myself without this car. There is not a car made for under 35,000 that I would even trade this car for. The car handles like a champion and is wicked fun to drive. It is a beauty and has drawn countless compliments. It has proven to be reliable and inexpensive to maintain. Several friends have compared it favorably or even directly to a BMW 3 series. All of that said, read the laundry list of suggested improvements below.
Well Done!
J Delo, 07/27/2010
2005 Mazda 3 s 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
I have an 05 Mazda 3 S and I just hit 170,000 miles. I purchased my Mazda new in Nov of 04. I am a rough on the vehicles I use and I needed something that could handle my "abuse". The Mazda 3 stood up to the test. I have literally run the engine to its limits. Note that even though I am bad about performing regular maintenance, the Mazda still survived and continued to run well. I thought in the beginning that this vehicle may not handle me as an owner. I am proud to say Bravo Mazda 3! Well done!
Has everything for little money
zoomer, 08/02/2008
2005 Mazda 3 i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
This car had everything I was looking for: wonderful manual transmission that is extremely fun to drive, enough oomph, horsepower, great gas mileage, cool looks, plenty of space for the family of four, great value for the dollar. I still love it.
Great Outside, Cheap Inside
Good but Cheap, 07/28/2009
2005 Mazda 3 i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 3 people found this review helpful
I have owned this Mazda for 3 years. Its a good car. Engine is quite and peppy. Very reliable. Just add gas, change to oil regulary and go. The thing that gets me about it the cheap and tough to clean interrior. In typical Japanese automotive fashion, its cheap and plastic. The cloth on the sests attract any dirt and I always have to use a sweater shaver on them to get rid of the fuzzballs the fabric makes. The fabric trim on the door came loose. (Repaired under warranty) The carpet is difficult to vacuum, hold objects like velcro. The air conditioning could use more power. The horn needs a boost too. The windshield wipers need a intermittent adj. The tires wore out at 30,000 miles.
What a beauty!
Markus Thormann, 03/01/2005
2005 Mazda 3 s 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is a wonderful car. I compared it to other similar cars in its class (Civics, Jettas, Golfs, Subarus, Corollas) and the M3 stands above all of them. I am elated to have purchased this car!
fun car to cruise in
Larry, 03/29/2005
2005 Mazda 3 s 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
So far my experience has been excellent. I love the way it handles, and it gets great gas mileage. For a 4 cylinder it's got some power. I would definitely buy another one in the future.
Great little car
skyrkt, 10/15/2009
2005 Mazda 3 i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have the very stripped down and base 3 sedan, that means I don't have A/C or any options. Even without A/C and things like that this car is still amazing. No problems with the car since I bought it new. I love the manual transmission, and the build quality of this car. I love my 3 and my next car will be another Mazda.
2.3 Manual Trans Rebuilt at 11000 Miles
golfdoc, 03/29/2005
2005 Mazda 3 s 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought the Mazda 3 after years of owning Toyota's & Honda's. I have never had any major mechanical problems with any of these vehicles. Was I surprised when after owning my 2004 Mazda 3 2.3, my manual transmission was stuck in second gear. Now after 16 months and 11,000 miles my 3 is at a dealership getting the transmission rebuilt. It's had 2 recalls and is also waiting for the glove box to be replaced at another dealership because it sticks. The only plus is Mazda paid for the tow and the dealer is paying for my rental car. I will NEVER buy another vehicle manufactured by FORD motor company. There is definitely truth in the saying you that a FORD will be (F)ound (O)n the (R)oad (D)ead.
Nearly perfect!
Dan, 03/30/2005
2005 Mazda 3 s 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I was debating between a (Toyota) Scion TC and a Mazda 3. After researching, testing, and spending some time with each car, my only regret is that I wasted so much time with the TC. I settled on a 2004 3s (2.3 engine and trim extras). The quality of the parts and build is simply amazing for a car in this price range. If you spent 10 minutes in either car, the difference is night and day. Anyone in the market for a sedan under 25k should look everywhere else first, then when you see this car you'll be even more amazed at what they offer you for the price. For the gas mileage people: i'm getting BETTER than rated (i'm at 28/35) at 1,300k...so it's not even broken in yet!
After 4 SUVs I fell in love
Kristen, 06/05/2008
2005 Mazda 3 i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have previously owned 4 SUVs (2 Fords and 2 Jeeps), so I was more than a little hesitant to exchange my 4x4s for a compact sedan. That is until I drove the Mazda3. I drive 50+ miles to school and back 5 days a week, and this car makes the commute fun. I love on-ramps and passing. The car has so much zip. I love, love, love the fuel economy! I record my average for every tank, and it's always been around 35mpg (33-36). The driver's seat offers great visability-something that I was afraid of missing after driving SUVs. Regular oil changes, and you are good to go! I get complements on my car all of the time. I couldn't be happier with my Mazda! Civic beware!
I love my Mazda!
Kec5142, 06/21/2008
2005 Mazda 3 s 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I haven't had a single problem with this car. It runs like a champ and looks great. I have kept my car in excellent condition and I keep up with routine maintenece so it runs like it does. I love this car.
Wonderful Car
Shaboom, 04/01/2005
2005 Mazda 3 s 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I am a mature male professional who enjoys cars and has owned many varied makes and models over the years. This Mazda 3 S is one of the best cars I have ever owned. I considered many alternatives this time, from Mini to Saab 9-3 to Nissan Z. All things considered, the Mazda 3 is far and away the wisest choice. My car has just about every available option and every accessory, (even after-market heated seats) other than the Navigation system. Really impressive styling, both inside and out and the black perforated leather makes the interior.
Still Lovin' It!
mubutterfly, 04/12/2005
2005 Mazda 3 i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I've had my 3i fully loaded for almost a year now. I still love it! So much fun to drive, around town or on long trips it's done well. Performs great in the Arizona heat as well, AC cools down quickly, though it could get colder a little faster. Accelerates great on freeways, perfect for speeding around the snowbirds. Overall I have no complaints about the car. Maintenance experience has been great with the dealership, and had no problems to take it in for.
Great purchase
Mazda3 for fun, 04/18/2005
2005 Mazda 3 s 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
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.
A College Student's Dream
Camille, 04/28/2005
2005 Mazda 3 s 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have had my mazda 3 for almost a year now and I love it. I've driven it from the coast of California to the coast of Florida and I couldn't ask for anything better. The ride is smooth, reliable, and enjoyable.
Hot Lil' Ride
Kam Kam, 04/20/2005
2005 Mazda 3 s 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The first time I saw this car I wanted it. I thought it was going to cost more than I could afford. I was shocked at how affordable it is. I was so happy that I didn't have to settle for any bland looking, low horse powered, uncomfortable compact car! The Mazda3 is a blast to drive! It drives very nicely and handles corners like a breeze.
I love my 3
jason, 04/16/2005
2005 Mazda 3 i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car is a blast. It has about every feature you could want standard.It also has the best horsepower to gas mileage ratio. I think I'm gonna buy another one.
I LOVE this car
cyn, 08/23/2010
2005 Mazda 3 s 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car in college over 5 years ago and put 85,000 miles on it - no mechanical problems whatsoever. It's extremely reliable, inexpensive to maintain, handles well, plenty of storage area, and has good gas mileage.