mazda 3 is a awsome car... with awsome quality

 

My sister bought a Mazda 3 back in 04 when they first came out. I have driven it quite a few times and it has some power. She has the 5 speed and it chirps going from first to second and third, not too shabby. The ride quality is nice and it corners well. The only thing I didn't like about the car is that the clutch feels too sensitive to me.

 

We currently have a Mazda 3 5-dr, a Mazda 3 4-dr, and a Mazda 5 wagon in the family. There was a time when we had 3 Mazdas in the family (2 miatas and 1 MPV). There was also a time when I had my miata, my brothers had Hondas. Now that I have an S and a BMW, my brothers have all Mazdas.

The 3 is definitely a good bang-for-the-buck econo sedan. I've driven quite a few different Mazdas (new or old, econo base models or sporty ones) and there's never a single model that handles bad even when stock and cheapo tires, including the heavy 2001 MPV (the weight on the front axle alone is about the total weight of my miata)!

Mazda engines are still a step behind Honda's not just in terms of power output but also in terms of technology and craftsmanship (my '80 civic already ran aluminum block and specific main bearing size for each oil journal to match the crank). Luckily, Mazda engines are at least tough and reliable (I've heard a 400+k km 626 engine was still running strong when the car was traded in).

I don't like the DBW on all 3 cars. In fact, there's not a single DBW in any car I've driven that I don't hate (including the F360 F1) but that's just me.

One interesting observation on the Mazdas in our family though is that fuel mileage doesn't seem that good. The 5 is understandable as it's relatively heavy and has a 4-speed auto. But with the manual in the 2 3's, fuel mileage is lower than advertised/expected. We wish Mazda put in the 5-speed auto from the 3 to the 5. The MPV with the 5-speed auto was FAST!

 

they are fun to drive, BUt they have the worst crash test rating in their class.
MAtt