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Believe the reviews!
EW, 01/04/2008
2008 Mazda 3 s Sport 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
31 of 31 people found this review helpful
I never thought I'd write an online review, but I simply had to come back and confirm that this car is indeed every bit as good as people say. I needed to get a new car and heavily researched the Mazda3 in addition to the Honda Civic Si, Honda Accord Coupe, Mitsubishi Lancer, Subaru Impreza WRX and BMW 328. As you can tell, price was not so much of a issue for me as getting a car I really liked. I was worried that the Mazda3 was underpowered and too "economy" (i.e. cheap and mundane) for my tastes, but after driving all of the cars mentioned above I was left with little doubts. Without exaggeration, this car drives and handles like a BMW. I could not be happier with the purchase.
Getting a good, fun car can be simple!
kevin, 12/16/2015
updated 12/16/2016
2008 Mazda 3 s Touring 4dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
63 of 65 people found this review helpful
this car is fun to drive, while it may not have the same power as the new 3 or many new small cars now (2015) it still gets up and goes with the 2.3L motor 7.2 seconds to 60 in my test with a stopwatch and a friend with the 5 speed manual. the passenger motor mount is fluid filled and breaks frequently spilling the fluid and causing vibrations that feel like a bent rim but the mount is cheap to buy and easy to replace with a jack and simple tools. gas mileage is simply ok. its not great but not horrible i get about 25.5-28mpg average depending on how much highway i drive and how much fun i decide to have that gas tank, but i did not get it for the mpg but for the fun i have driving it. the seats are comfortable and me being just at 6' tall i have plenty of room to move around. the interior plastics are well made and feel solid and at 7 years old still look new. the a/c is ice cold. the regular non hid lights are still decently bright and when upgraded with brighter bulbs give great beam pattern. I have owned mine for almost a year and put 8500 miles on it and the only issue was the motor mount and a thermostat (but thermostats go out on 99% of all cars) the sunroof motor was also loose and quit functioning but 3 screws fixed that and its worked just fine since then. the car handles great and feels rock solid driving down the road. it does have a minor amount of wind noise but nothing that makes it unbearable, just noticeable (and may just be because its 7 years old) simply put this car is fun and handles great it seems to be built well and has not given me any major issues. just like all small mazda cars its zippy and fun. test drive one thats been well maintained (as thats what all cars need) and you will be pleasantly surprised at how it handles and the amount of power it has. Well I must say the car held up well, through a wreck in the rear that was not my fault a 11,000 pound f350 hit me and it was still drivable, got that fixed. then it got totaled by a wreck that was my fault, but it did its job and protected me. so I bought a 2011 to replace this one. they are great cars
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2008 Mazda 3 for sale near you
Showing 3 of 123 listings
- s Sport SedanMSRP: $7,25036 mi away
- s Grand Touring SedanMSRP: $6,99975 mi away
- s Grand Touring 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $3,90088 mi away
See all 123 listings
Great used car!
Jordyn M., 02/16/2016
2008 Mazda 3 s Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
38 of 39 people found this review helpful
I bought mine used with 72,000 miles. Pristine condition for a 2008 and so far everything is going great! Definitely recommend if looking for a used vehicle.
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Great Car for the money. Fun to drive.
Davie Boy, 07/10/2015
2008 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.3L 4cyl 5A)
33 of 35 people found this review helpful
I have a 2009 mazda 3i touring with 2.0 liter engine, 5-speed stick and 17" alloy wheels. I bought it new in 2009 and have been its only driver for 6 years and 90,000 miles. I like this car a lot. It's a great value. Heres the lowdown: THE GOOD: 1. Good gas mileage 2. Great steering 3. Great brakes 4. Roomy feel for an economy car 5. 2.0L motor has adequate power. 6. The suspension, steering and breaking are what make this car fun to drive. 7. Very Reliable THE BAD: 1. Noisy at highway speeds (wind, tire noise, engine) 2. Underpowered A/C in Florida heat. 3. Gasoline Cap is on the wrong side 4. Steering wheel hides the temperature gauge on the dash. 5. No real-time mpg readout on the dash / no bluetooth My 2009 was assembled in Japan and I was sorry to hear the 2015 model is assembled in Mexico. I have quality concerns about this so I plan to drive my Japanese 3i another 3 years before deciding whether to replacing it with another 3i.
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Traded Fit for m3, I feel young again.
damian35, 12/05/2008
2008 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.0L 4cyl 4A)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
Reminds me of my 1982 Rx7 except it's much better. It's all in one, powerful engine response, adequate mpg, sporty handling, nice suspension, loads of features in comparison with honda vehicles in this price range. Tremendous quality build. The trunk space is adequate for a car its size and I'm really happy I bought this car. It's simply the best bang 4 the buck. The stereo and sound system are awesome even when it's not the top one offered in the se version. I love this car because it's the best in it's class. I recommend it to anyone who wants the best car out there, look no more.
Fun to drive with great value
Dennis, 07/15/2008
2008 Mazda 3 s Touring 4dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
I don't know where you can get a better car for the money. The body style, fuel economy, and "fun to drive" factor is amazing. I downsized from an SUV and wanted something sporty but under $20K for mostly city use. After 2,500 miles I am getting 24 MPG in town and 30/31 MPG on the highway. The Mazdaspeed 3 was even more exciting but it was too much car for my ice and snow roads. My only minor gripe is that the seats are a little firm for my taste.
Fun and reliable
k robbins, 04/07/2010
2008 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.3L 4cyl 5A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
I drive about 30,000 plus miles per year so I am in the car a lot and the '08 Mazda 3 is my favorite car yet. I have Nissan Maximas, Honda Accords and Civics and the Mazda has proven to be the most fun and reliable car thus far. It handles well and feels more like a sport car than an economy sedan. The Mazda 3 has amenities that are usually only found on higher end cars such as the automatic windshield wipers, heated seats, zeon headlights, automatic moonroof and auto climate control. The absence of a truck release from the remote is about the only option I miss. Interior carpet and plastics are cheap but leather seats are adequate and comfortable.
No Compromise
Montana Driver, 06/10/2008
2008 Mazda 3 s Touring 4dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
Traded my 2002 Miata SE for this car. Wanted an all season car without giving up much handling and fun to drive. Shopped Civic Si, WRX, Altima Coupe, Mazdaspeed 3 and GTI; chose a Mica Copper Red Mazda3s Touring 5M for price, fuel mileage (premium fuel not required) and versatility. Figured I was making a compromise for enconomics sake. My 1st drive was over a winding mountain pass here in Montana and I haven't smiled like that since I got the Miata. Of course it doesn't have the kick in the pants acceleration of a WRX or V-6 Nissan, but the handling and transmission is more then up to the task. I'm 6'4" (yes I fit in the Miata) and found the front seats as comfortable as any I tested.
Mazda 3 high milage reliablity
ksmike, 03/14/2013
2008 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
I have a 2.0 liter, 5 speed manual that I bought new in 2008, which I use for commuting to work in a rural area. 175000 miles now and still get 34-38 mpg (depends on the tires and season). The only part replaced was a new power steering pump was replaced as a recall. Other than that, changed tires every 40,000 miles (you have to have frequent tire rotations due to positive camber), oil changes every 5000 miles, coolant flush. I have not even changed sparkplugs, needed an alignment, or even needed to have the brake pads replaced.
I'd buy it again
gregf5, 05/18/2015
updated 01/31/2022
2008 Mazda 3 s Touring 4dr Hatchback (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I purchased this car new in 2008 and owned it until 2019. It had almost 170k miles on it when I sold it, and was still running great. The car performs and handles very well, has excellent fuel economy and plenty of storage space. The one weak point on this vehicle is the suspension. During the time I owned it, the front axle was replaced once (covered by the extended warranty), and the cv joints and struts several times. Aside from these items, only routine scheduled maintenance was needed. Overall, I was quite happy with this vehicle, and if I had it to do over, I'd definitely buy it again.
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Honest Assessment from previous BMW own.
Ben, 03/04/2009
2008 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
A month ago my cherished 323Ci had a meltdown. Living in L.A., I loved taking it through the mountain twisties on the weekend. With this economy, I decided to be prudent with replacement car. My ratings are based on expectations of the class, and not comparisons to my previous luxury car. I'm quite pleased with the handling of this compact. Though somewhat under-tired, it can stand up to a road like decker canyon blvd (23). The clutch is light in feel, but gives you a good sense of it's action through your foot, gearbox is excellent. Had the opportunity to test the brakes in a panic stop in my first week of driving, and they're probably in the top 10 of any car under $100k.
So wonderful I bought another one
teamsc10190, 03/01/2015
updated 03/07/2018
2008 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
16 of 20 people found this review helpful
I had a 2006 Mazda 3 SGT that was my favorite car I'd owned since the early '70's. I decided late in 2009 that I needed to have another one but the second generation 3 was already at Mazda dealerships, sporting a vapid grin that I hated. I needed to find another first generation 3. The search for a SGT variant took me four years to find a low mileage pristine example CA car. When a 5-sp manual, White Pearl with navigation surfaced I pounced on it. It was well worth the effort and the wait. This car consistently delivers in smiles per mile. With the third generation 3, Mazda recovered the sexy face in a more capable and complete package that will be on my short list in the future. Four years down the road, I'm still a fan. Mazda produces the best unsung cars in the marketplace.
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Beware of this Car
George R., 07/09/2015
2008 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.3L 4cyl 5A)
20 of 26 people found this review helpful
Mazda claims they are a different type of car company but as I am dealing with an issue they have revealed they are no different than GM or any other big car company. I lost my power steering a month ago while driving on the highway. When I returned home to find out if anyone else had experienced this problem I was surprised to see that my supposedly very reliable Mazda 3 had major problems with power steering issues. There was a recall back in 2010 for this problem. When I called Mazda customer support to report this issue I was told my car (I am the 2nd owner) was recalled and repaired back in November of 2010. When I mentioned to them that this repair obviously failed again they said they were not responsible to do this repair a 2nd time as per government guidelines. When I asked them if they had replaced the power steering pump and assorted pieces with upgraded pieces that insured this would not happen again they said this was the case. I mentioned to them this was my second Mazda and I would hope they would do something for me since this was obviously something they were aware of. They said they could do nothing for me. When I continued to argue my case with them, they suggested I bring my car to my local Mazda dealer to confirm the issue (The dealer did so $120 later for diagnosis, $1,293.00 for the repair). They mentioned to me they do have a "Out of Warranty" policy for some repairs but made no promises. When they finally called back after 2 weeks, they reiterated they could do nothing for me despite confirmation that the repair done back in 2010 reoccurred with the new parts. I then asked them to reimburse me for the diagnosis since they requested I have it done. They again said no. Great customer service! Needless to say I will never purchase another Mazda.
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Very sturdy!
Clear Eyes12, 06/04/2019
2008 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.0L 4cyl 4A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Bought used in 2011 at 50,000 miles. Now at 133,000 miles. Only had to replace the headlights and fog lights due to damage. Everything else has worked great on this car. This is my daily driver and road trip car and I have no complaints on its performance. Planning to push to 200k and beyond!
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The best "driver car"
gary, 05/20/2008
2008 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 4A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I bought the Mazda 3i 4dr 2.0. And it's a great car. Handling is amazing. Ride quality is firm but absorbant. Road noise is also low. Pretty good power. Fuel economy is about 25-28 mpg. good engine. smooth trasmission. Interior is beutiful, exterior styling is unique and attractive, i pod jack built in. Im 6'2 and fit comfortably except my right leg very close to console. I sold hondas and toyotas this car exceeds both civic and corolla in overall value. This car offers more performance better looks and far better handling for less. Can't beat that.
Mazda 3 rocks!
Richard, 11/27/2015
2008 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.0L 4cyl 4A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
This car has been absolutely reliable. The handling is superb. It looks sharp. Wish the mpg was better- 26-27, but that's better than many for a comparable vehicle. Tires are expensive as it's considered a sport car. You'll need snows- all seasons don't cut it. I love this car.
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Love Became Hate Relationship
Anneow, 07/09/2018
2008 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.3L 4cyl 5A)
8 of 10 people found this review helpful
Bought the 2008 S GT 2.3L sedan brand new due to fun handling. My family has owned a Mazda 323 for years and the quality was really good. We were very disappointed by the quality of this vehicle. Very soon after we took delivery, we saw that the paint was very thin and chipped very easily. We had to put a 3M film over the hood. The carpet wore out int the first few months. Then it was the auto door locks, engine mounts, and struts needed replacement. at 60K, needed new ABS system. Around 75K control arm, cv joint, etc broke. The worst is transmission failure at 79K miles. We don't push the care and put low miles on it. It is very well taken care of; always maintained at dealership. I can't believe the many issues it gave us over the years. We will be getting ride of it at less than 90K miles. We won't be getting another Mazda. They are not reliable anymore.
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Fun but problematic
rusxdrums, 03/24/2015
2008 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.3L 4cyl 5A)
9 of 12 people found this review helpful
I love driving this car. I hate how many things have stopped working. Air Conditioner, electric windows, electric door locks, Stereo. All broken. I'll not be buying another mazda. My wife bought a VW rabbit pretty much the same time I bought the mazda and her car still drives like new. FEH.
Unsatisfied with the Warranty & Dealer
Mazda3 itouring 4 dr, 08/03/2010
2008 Mazda 3 i Touring Value 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 4A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
I bought this mazda3 new and 3 months later I had brake/rotor problems. I took it to the dealership 3 times in 11 months, they mechanically fixed my rotors and 1 month later the same problem happened. My steering wheel shook every time i braked. I called Mazda one month later and the dealership and Mazda said i was not under warranty. What? Whatever they did to my car was not sufficient. I am still dealing with the problem and found out today i have a manufactures warranty for 3 yrs/36,000 miles. So, everyone lied to me and still nothing.
Great, fun car!
Fred, 11/26/2010
2008 Mazda 3 s Sport 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Purchased as a one owner vehicle with 34000 miles. A joy to drive with taut handling and smooth manual transmission. Light clutch that took a bit of getting used to. No issues with rattling or brakes. Prefer having a coolant gauge that the new models don't have. Comfortable seats, better than average stereo system and Ipod jack is a plus. Great acceleration in second and third gears and very stable at speed for a relatively light car. Mileage averages 27-28 combined city/highway. A bit noisy at speed but figure that is the sacrifice for a preferred stiffer suspension. Love it!
Fun and Zippy Car at a Great Price Point
Sue S, 04/18/2018
2008 Mazda 3 s Sport 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I purchased this car in 2007 after driving one as a rental (during car repair). I fell in love immediately! I have owned mine now for nearly 11 years, and it has been a blast. Zippy with quick pick up, handles well, breaks are sensitive and crisp. The interior is very basic, with a CD player and a place to plug in a phone or MP3 player. Air conditioning is strong and cools quickly. Instruments are well placed. No major repairs or surprises over 10+ years and it has been reliable and dependable. My only complaint is that over time, it has become more noisy with highway driving, and the driver's seat a bit more uncomfortable. That said, I would certainly buy this car again - it is a blast to drive, handles well and a great price point. Still going strong at nearly 78,000 miles!
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I've had a few problems
Jessica, 09/24/2010
2008 Mazda 3 s Touring 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.3L 4cyl 5A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I traded in my 2002 Civic for my Mazda 3... I've had 4 Honda's in the past and regret my Mazda purchase some days. To start, the tires had to be replaced at 22,000 miles, my rotors are warped, and my a/c stopped working this summer because I had an issue with the thermostat. The only thing that the warranty has covered is the problem with the thermostat. It's not bad to drive and it starts every morning, but I certainly won't be purchasing another Mazda in the future!
Fun, reliable and economical car
Jeff in MA, 07/15/2019
2008 Mazda 3 i Touring Value 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I LOVE my 3i Touring Value. Nearly 80k on it now and nothing but routine maintenance done. Mine has the 2.0 engine with 5 speed manual transmission. I change my oil/filter every 3k with high quality synthetic oil. Gearbox oil changed every 30k again with high quality synthetic. I broke the right front strut on a pothole and replaced the struts. Rear shocks getting weak at 70k so I replaced them. Just did the brakes for the first time and one set of tires. That's it. Once a year I drive to Ontario and on the highway get 34 MPG. Around town about 26-27. Comfortable, sporty, fun, reliable and economical, and a hoot on winding mountain roads. One of the best cars I've owned, and I've owned quite a few.
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2008 Mazda 3 s GT
David Nally, 12/11/2016
2008 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Not for everyone; trade-off for handling is harsher ride, for light weight is more interior noise and, because the car encourages the driver's involvement, the gas mileage is not like a Civic or Accord. I personally accept these trade-offs for the handling, steering and performance. Spend a day driving on a curvy mountain road and arrive at your destination with a smile on your face.
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Zoom Zoom!
Melissa, 07/30/2009
2008 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.0L 4cyl 4A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Have had my Mazda 3 for 1.5 years now. Great turning radius-so fun to drive on country roads. The car has a lot of pep even though on Highways when you really need the acceleration it can be lacking (it is only a 4 cylinder:)) I love the design of the car, especially the back end. I do not like the way the '10's look at all as they have tinkered with the unique exterior. Overall, the car handles great and is fun to drive around the city but good for longer trips too. I tried to save money and buy the base model which was a huge mistake (but not mazdas fault). No key fob, no power windows, no power locks, no cruise control, no bose etc etc... Next time!
I Love My Blue Baby!
Maxine1981, 05/16/2010
2008 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.0L 4cyl 4A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Bought my Mazda3 used in July 09 with a little over 6K on the dash. As of this writing, it's a little over 15.5K. I enjoy driving this car! for a little 2.0, it moves just enough for me. (this is my first car ever--don't need it to be any faster ;-) ) I absolutely love the sporty look.. the xenon head/tail lights and spoiler are cool. Stereo has enough bass and treble for me. The A/C could be a wee bit cooler, beige interior is ok, just gotta be careful with stains.
Not bad. But its "sportiness" saps its usability.
CW46, 09/01/2022
2008 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
While this car has a commendable interior-- robust, attractive, practical, easy to use-- the biggest downsides of the vehicle are its "sporty" demeaner and the infuriating cheapness/lunacy of Mazda engineers in designing some of its parts. Firstly: the steering is FAR TOO HEAVY. Makes this vehicle a chore to drive and an absolute nightmare to commute in for more than 5 minutes. Then, we have road noise (and some wind noise) that intrudes into the cabin with a cacophony that drowns out any hope one might have of listening to music or having a conversation. Next is the relatively dismal ride quality, that (while not the worst) is akin to driving a Conestoga wagon through a rock quarry (or pot-hole infested Midwestern roads). Lastly, the engineers at Mazda decided to stray from established car design logic that has prevailed for the past several decades to put cheap plastic hinges in the car door handles that readily break and require dismantling the door to fix, and H7 headlight bulbs in the headlight housing that will surely convince you to drop your Mazda3 at the junkyard rather than spend hrs wrestling to replace your headlights. On the positives side: the 2L engine is strong enough for most uses, interior is robust, and the exterior is handsome and still has a low enough trunk deck for you to still see out the back window. If Mazda had made handling and ride quality more on par with the Corolla, this would be a FAR better car than it actually is. But its sporty nature makes it hardly palatable for anything more than a 3 minute drive to the store or a friends house.
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Nice looking, fun to drive
Elizabeth, 03/02/2020
2008 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5A)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2008 Mazda 3 SGT in late February 2018 with 104,000 miles on it. Its now got 129,000 on it. So far I've replaced tires once, and had an alignment done all for $475. The bad news is my a/c quit working and I had to get a new compressor which was $800 complete. But more bad news is the air quit working again not long after that and so from here on out I will be stuck driving without any air which extremely sucks because my car is black on black with leather seats. I sweat my ass off in it last summer and am not looking forward to having to do it again this summer but I just don't have the money to get a new compressor again. I still have 2 more years to pay on the car so maybe when its paid off I can then pay to get the air fixed. I think I got a faulty air compressor is what happened.
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Back suspension costing a fortune!
Not Happy, 07/09/2017
2008 Mazda 3 s Sport 4dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
8 of 12 people found this review helpful
Beware. Noises from trunk, moved everything. Went to mechanic, new shocks/mounts. Still makes noise over bumps. No luck repairing it. Also had to get new wiper motor. No accidents, but hood is loosened from front side plates, the list goes on. CHEAPLY made vehicle. Back hurts from hard seats. It's a total waste of my money.
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Fun to drive - with a few problems
snoble2, 01/15/2012
2008 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5A)
5 of 7 people found this review helpful
I bought this car new in 2007 - the car has more options than entry level luxury vehicles (328i, g35, a4, etc) at half the price. I went with the Grand Touring trim since it packed so much bang for the buck. This car is fun to drive and carries Japanese reliability. It feels connected with the road (not like BMW, but more so than other Japanese models) Major issue with this trim level is that the tires wear out every 15k miles - OEM even sooner. the OEM tires are absolute garbage. Mechanic says car has negative camber causing uneven and quick wear on tires. Computer component failed at 48k miles and Mazda fixed even though warranty was done. (It took them a month to diagnose)
LuVmAzDa
Zippie, 02/25/2008
2008 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I traded up from a 2002 Honda Civic LX. I was a little iffy about trading a Honda for a Mazda as I have never driven one, but I'm so glad I did. I love this little car, it handles like an Infiniti and even the interior is comparable to the Infiniti. This little car is surprisingly fast and it has that agressive street racing look. I love this car. :)
I love it
newowner, 02/26/2008
2008 Mazda 3 i Sport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I have recently purchased a Mazda 3 and love it. It is a fun and stylish car with excellent handling. It also is much roomier than you would expect. I am happy I choose it over simlar cars in its class. It delivers the most bang for its reasonable buck.
Fun and economical
mehra, 12/11/2007
2008 Mazda 3 s Sport 4dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
A car you should have if you are looking for practicality, fun and power. Mileage is great and balance on curves make it strongest in its segment/category. Great resale value and lot of things are already included in the base 's' model.This is not possible in civic as the required options make it $3k more expensive than Mazda3. There are no Cons, other than car could have used little stronger AC.
Best car I ever owned
trf10412, 09/28/2007
2008 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.3L 4cyl 5A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
By far this is the best quality car that I have ever owned. I had a 2005 Mazda 3s and I loved it. Just traded that for a 2008 Mazda3 Grand Touring 5 door. This one is even better that the my first one. The standard equipment is incredible.
Sweet Ride, Designed in 2004
detroit1701, 04/17/2008
2008 Mazda 3 s Touring 4dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
The Mazda3 5-speed hatch is a great car to drive -- good handling and driving dynamics. Designed to compete with the VW Golf / Rabbit, it offers similar performance and fuel economy out of its 2.3L 156 hp engine. The only thing keeping this car from blowing out the competition is fuel economy. The next generation 3 should address these issues.
I LOVE THIS CAR
MIALT, 04/14/2009
2008 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I spent a long time looking at cars and this is the best bet for the money. I live in New England and have no problems in snow, mud, or rain. The traction control works wonders. The features of the grand touring have everything I need. It handles like a charm and I find I get about 26 mpg with both highway and city driving. The manual is a blast, the stereo is phenomenal. There is a bit of cabin noise when your on the highway but I usually have the radio up. Overall, I have had no problems with this car and plan to keep it for a long time.
First Mazda
BBK, 12/30/2007
2008 Mazda 3 s Sport 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.3L 4cyl 5A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I had to buy a new car. We've purchased Hondas since 1980. A lot of bang for the buck compared w/ a Civic. Solid build quality. Great drive experience. More standard features than Civic. Bigger engine.
Great Car for the right driver
Tom, 03/15/2009
2008 Mazda 3 i Touring Value 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Overall, excellent choice and I'm very happy. I decided between this and the 2008 Toyota Corolla...my last car was a 1996 Toyota Corolla, which did the job, and got great mileage; was ready to move on though, and the Mazda3 had always caught my eye. Fun to drive, handles great, easy on the eyes; My 3 is blue with a beige interior. If you want a car to get you from point A to B that will never fail, with great mileage, get a corolla. The Mazda3 mileage isn't great (26 comb). I was getting 32 combined in my corolla. But...if you want a more all around package, go with the 3; no problems with it at all, and have gotten a lot of compliments on it; definitely feels a lot more expensive it is.
Great Car
Bassplyr_10, 06/01/2008
2008 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.3L 4cyl 5A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I was looking for a new car for a long time that had good gas mileage and didnt use super unleaded gas. I wanted a sporty looking car that looked good inside and out. And this car was perfect. I drove other high end cars such as the Audi A4, Volvo S40, and Subaru WRX, I personally think that the interior of this car beats all of those car, the leather is awesome and it is very comfortable, I would recommend this car for any driver, young or old!
Fantastic car - better than expected MPG
archway, 07/22/2008
2008 Mazda 3 s Sport 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I switched from a very reliable and efficient S-10 after 15 years of daily use. Almost 2000 miles on the Mazda3 so time enough to review: really good interior comfort (I'm 6'2), great acceleration with the 2.3 L engine from a stop (though not quite as eager when merging onto the highway), and stylish, masculine exterior. I like that this is close to the end of the production cycle so the bugs are mostly (hopefully) worked out -- learned this lesson from the '93 S-10. This is really 2004's best car with fewer trouble spots and 2008 technology and safety equipment. Best of all, I have averaged a better than expected 32 mpg with roughly 70% highway driving and heavy A/C use.
Wow!
Jay, 08/02/2007
2008 Mazda 3 i Touring 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.0L 4cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This is truly the best available vehicle retailing under 20k. It has all of the benefits of a Civic with supperior styling. The interrior is even on the lower trim models is nicer than many more expensive vehicles. If you test drive an compare it to a Civic, Jetta, or Sentra you will be blown away. The car is flat out awesome.
bang for the buck
prazvt, 11/24/2007
2008 Mazda 3 s Touring 4dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Interior design is superb, ergonomic, tasteful,. the 5mt shifts nicely, and the engine doesn't sound obnoxious. Climate control is almost too effective. Aux input works beautifully. All available speaker systems (bose and stock) stink. Replaced the speakers (but not tweeters), so that's remedied. Aux input works w/ iPod beautifully. 27 mpg thus far which is awesome! No rattles or initial failures the first month. Corners wonderfully. Thus far, no real torque steer under hard acceleration. Great clutch - not on/off or stiff. Awesome brakes, though sometimes I've noticed squeaking. Steering wheel controls work well.
2008 Mazda MAZDA3 s Touring
Sal, 03/05/2008
2008 Mazda 3 s Touring 4dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I was shopping for a new car, had a 98 Honda Accord for 11 years, needed something sporty and fresh. I really liked the styling of the Mazda 3 and was attracted to the many features and 156 HP. Love at first sight at the dealership, took it for a test drive and was impressed by the tight handling of this car. Have put about 800 miles on it so far, mostly highway miles. I find the mpg is a bit lower than I had hoped for, but it might be that I just can't go slow in this car! So far my best mpg is about 28 when I keep it on cruise control 70mph. So many great features-roomy, stereo is awesome with 6 cd changer, tight cockpit, bright orange instrument panel, safety features-great deal for 17k!!
Yet another engine failed
densem, 05/17/2013
2008 Mazda 3 s Sport 4dr Hatchback (2.3L 4cyl 5A)
8 of 14 people found this review helpful
"It must have love but it's over now..."Just as so many of them, my engine failed at just 28k very light miles. Bought the car used (Certified) at d Mazda dealership with only 19k miles. No warning signs, no lights, not even signs of oil consumption. Noticed a subtle rattling noise over 2500 RPM, took it to the dealer - death certificate issued in 2 hours. The car was still under Mazda power train warranty. Mazda Motors of America refused to honor it. Used top shelf synthetic oil, name-brand filters, never seen jiffy-lube places...kept all records and receipts and yet - warranty denied due to "lack of maintenance". Save yourself the trouble, do your research, on the 2.3l engine. Don't buy.
Not Happy
Not Happy, 11/29/2008
2008 Mazda 3 s Sport 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 5 people found this review helpful
Tire noise is very loud! This is a 2008 that is eight months old with 24,000 miles on it. This is my work car and is driven quite a few miles a day. I was very happy with mine, until the miles started adding up. Besides the tire noise, there is a loud noise coming from the right front fender area. The Mazda mechanic at the shop said he couldn't here it because of the tire noise. They contacted the Mazda rep, and he came to the dealer in Ottawa IL., but they didn't even show him my car, and I was told Mazda would pay one third of the cost to replace the tires, if they were replaced at the dealer. Dealer wants to put a different brand of tire on it so it will solve the problem.
2008 Mazda 3 2.3L
Sea Cay, 12/04/2008
2008 Mazda 3 s Sport 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
After a full year of driving, I am still very happy with my 3. I researched several cars before purchasing, including the Ford Focus and Civic, but I got the most car for the money with the 3. Build quality and creature features are superb. Performance and handling are excellent, fun to throw into turns, and though it does not have the umph at acceleration of the Speed3, it is still fun to drive after a year. I live in snowy New Hampshire and went last winter without snow tires, and was sorry that I did. That being said, I still got through several storms with no problem. As a testament to safety, I was rear- ended at a stop light the first month I owned the car(!!!), and was uninjured.
Nothing but a headache
Dan, 07/18/2017
2008 Mazda 3 i Touring 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
8 of 20 people found this review helpful
This car should be great. It looks good, handles really well, and, from reviews, is reliable. The first two are true of my car, but it's been as reliable as a mid 70's Fiat. It breaks down more than John Boehner. Not only does it stall more than Herman Cain answering a question about Libya, the root cause took over a year to diagnose. Part of the problem ended up being a dirty EGR valve, the other part of the problem is still undiagnosed.
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
Mazda Is Horrible In Snow
Scott Mayer, 12/29/2009
2008 Mazda 3 s Sport 4dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 12/07 (2.3L 4cyl 5A)
3 of 7 people found this review helpful
I would be happy with my Mazda if it weren't horrible in the snow and ice - absolutely ZERO traction. And the braking system they have in it is awful as well - loud and unnerving.
Great car til 100k miles
DE Rudd, 06/17/2016
updated 12/27/2017
2008 Mazda 3 i Touring Value 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 4A)
2 of 4 people found this review helpful
I just get the car paid off and the clutch shocks brakes needed replacing. Not much room in the back for passengers Large trunk. Great winter car
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Beat a Civic in All Ways !!!!!
Mike F, 07/06/2008
2008 Mazda 3 i Touring Value 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
We looked many different cars and the Mazda 3 is perfect. More opitions for less money and more room than most. Runs and rides like a sports car. And the 17 inch wheels and very stylish. We would advise anyone it get one over the Civic.