Additional Comments to My Last Review
More comments here of Mazda3 for buyers/owners to note. Again this is a great car, simply the best in class. Few improvements here but all are minor. Exterior styling is great. Head lights should be pointed slightly higher. On downhills, the lights fall a bit short. The red tail lights are a bit dim and small. Should be brighter for safety reason. Though the bumper reflective tapes help a bit. For s model, you get black plastic in real bumper. But it's more scratch resistant, good when loading cargo. Real bumper does flex a bit.
2009 I Touring Value
After my previous kicked the bucket I was in the market for a new car. I test drove a couple of other vehicles but after getting in the 3, I knew it was the vehicle for me. I did quite a lot of research on every possible vehicle and was originally planned on a economy car. However, the price, performance, and quality was exactly what I wanted. The Mazda 3 is a great car, and does exactly what you would like it to. It loves to be driven, it looks beautiful and stands out (without being ostentatious), and is a dream for someone who prefers smaller sized fun driving cars. Sure you could buy a better mpg, economy car. But for the price you will NOT find a more fun to drive vehicle for the money.
THIS IS A GREAT CAR !
I test drove this Mazda3 and a 09 Corolla S. I was very disappointed with the Corolla. For about $900 more i got a great handling fun to drive hatchback with a 2.3L engine,5 speed auto w/manual mode,4 wheel disc brakes,DSC, and 17" wheels,crystal pearl white paint to name a few. This car pulls strong through out the whole rev band, and handles like a go cart. I am very satisfied with my purchase so far. Just wish it had a little more cargo room. Kinda tight fit for my golf clubs.
Living Up to most of the other reviews
I found the Madda 3i touring Value Sedan had the best overall interior quality look and feel, and the standard equipment package included everything I wanted. Driving it over the past few weeks confirmed that I made the right choice. The seats are very comfortable, the car is nimble, very maneuverable and a pleasure to drive.
typical mazda, great for the $$
Have owned a number of Mazdas over the yrs, all good except the American built 1999 626 - it was junk. Mazda 3 is recommended by me and i do lots of driving. problems ... rear view mirror set too low from dealership, almost wrote off car on third day due to blind spot ... hesitates on a damp mornings going up hills. dealership said knew nothing about it, until i gave them a list of 4 other mazda owners with same problem, and they admitted they all do it. I can live with it, but am careful to put in decent brand name gas, that helps. .... seats are a bit worn after 18 months and underside of glove box all scratched otherwise, its fantastic, too bad they changed the body style this yr