SEXY MAMA
Nothing wrong with the car at all... even with the high miles for the year.
This car is amazing... it drives exactly like a BMW3 series... i love the fact that the stereo can be controlled at the steering wheel. Its has excellent handling and runs very smoothly. It has an excellent price... very well built.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 9th February, 2006
Perfect beyond description for it's class!
Everything has basically been in tip top shape.
The Previous owner didn't do much scheduled maintenance, but I got all the fluids flushed and it's fine now.
The clip that holds the privacy cover up in the hatch gets fatigued due to design and sometimes have to be replaced.
I used to work for a Mazda dealership service department and that's where I fell in love with the car.
The carrier bearing in the front axle has a tendency to leak. If it does then the front axle has to be replaced. If your vehicle is under warranty, you should have it checked because it can get pretty pricey.
A Mazda technician that I keep in touch with says that small amounts of oil leaking from the rear main is completely normal and not worth wasting money on fixing it.
All the technicians have said that the 3S is the most dependable and well designed car on the market in it's class. Rest easy when you go with the 3.
I love this car and will not drive anything else until the day I die.
The handling is second to none.
The outside appearance will break necks as you go buy. I have passed police officers on the highway and I caught them gawking at my car. They forget to pull you over.
Very Powerful. AEM cold air intake is a must. They run around $216.00.
You cannot put a turbo on this car without voiding your warranty. Make sure the JUICE is worth the squeeze. They also cost around $4,500 dollars to get, and good luck getting a certified tech. to put it in.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 2nd January, 2006
You'll love this car!
I hope this doesn't jinx me, but nothing out of the ordinary has gone wrong yet.
It's been great.
(Even after driving it from Alaska to California... and those roads are no joke)
Car handles great.
Very comfortable.
Even the basic model is pretty "zippy" and impressive.
Highly recommend.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 20th August, 2005
I'm in Love
That "dead spot" in first gear that others have noted. It's true. That's the only performance flaw I've been able to notice.
I just love my Mazda 3. It handles great and it has power comparable to some 6 cylinders I've driven.
Mazda definitely designed this car with the driver in mind. From the front seats, the interior is awesome. Everything is in easy reach and is quite appealing to the eye.
Mazda should have added three to six inches between the back and front seats. Though the back seats are deep, they have less leg room than my 2 door Cutlass.
Surprisingly, the fold down rear seats seemed to be an afterthought. The outside padding on the rear seats doesn't allow them to fold down correctly and I have to pull my drivers seat up just to get them down.
The multiple organizational features in the trunk are a really nice addition, though the trunk floor compartment needs to be a little deeper to really take advantage of it.
Dual compartment center console and largest glove compartment I've ever seen. Both awesome.
The moon-roof buttons could use some illumination.
The speedometer seems a little cramped, making it hard to tell whether you're going 50 or 55 (which could make a big difference in a 45 mph zone... are those red and blue flashing lights I see behind me?).
The doors, near the base of the windows could use a little padding, as it finds your funny bone perfectly when you put your arm up on the door.
Most of these negatives are rather mood points. The Mazda 3 is only in it's second model year and needs a little time to "mature". They certainly don't make me regret my purchase one bit.
Overall, Mazda put a lot of thought into the 3, and it shows. In a couple more years, I don't think any other compact on the market will be able to touch it. Even now it seems like they're having a hard time competing against the 3.
If it's any bit as reliable as the car it replaces, the protege, Mazda will have no problem stealing Honda and Toyota's thunder when it comes to the compact market.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 10th May, 2005
19th Dec 2005, 16:18
I would have to concur with this review. I've had my 2004 M3S for about 4 months now and absolutely love the car. For a 4 cylinder, it is very fast, handles great, looks good both inside and out. What really impresses me is the attention to deals. The lights on the dash are beautiful. With the back seat down, there is a ton of room. You pull up the trunk floor, there is a plastic tray for when you haul messy things which also comes out for easy cleanup.
My only negative remarks are that the speedometer does seem cramped, do wish there were oil and battery gages instead of idiot lights, but feel these are minor items.
Over all, this a well thought out and a fantastic car.