I'm car crazy. Ever since I started playing Project Gotham 2 for Xbox, I've been fascinated by cars. Before, cars were just tools to get from one place to another, but now I enjoy comparing them and learning how they work. I like to describe the Mazda 3 as a badass(!), feature-rich car in a stylish package. Put another way, to me, this car is the best in its class, and I will never look at cars the same way again.

Car History
I got my first Canadian drivers license in 2002. Since that time I have been driving around in a hand-me-down from my sister, a red 1993 Honda Civic. Considering the car's age, she was a real beauty, and I loved driving a stick-shift(except when using my cellphone!). I didn't have any major problems with the car, and were it not for my family - who insisted that I get something more safe - I probably would have kept the car for a few more years. Now, about a month and a half after taking ownership of my new Mazda 3, I have a new benchmark. I find it difficult when I'm out driving to contain my disgust for other people who are driving tame, bland Honda Civics - when for the same price they could have luxury on wheels in the form of a Mazda 3.



Intro/What I was looking for
Before I started my hunt for a new or used car, I had a rough idea of what I was looking for. To me, it really didn't matter whether I got a new or used car, but I had a few priorities. First, it had to be safer than the Civic-a little bit higher up from the ground, and another airbag or two wouldn't hurt. Second,I wanted a car with an excellent fuel-economy. Third,I wanted it to be be virtually worry-free - a vehicle that wouldn't require costly maintenance every month. Other wants included power windows, power doors, air conditioning and/or a sunroof, and it wouldn't hurt to have a little kick (acceleration), if possible. :)Lastly, if I had a choice, 4 doors would be more convenient than 2. Of course,price was also an important consideration. We were hoping to spend between $10,000-$20,000 Canadian(roughly $7,500-$15,000 American)

Other cars I considered :

2003 Pontiac Sunfire
2002 Volkswagen Jetta
2004 Honda Civic
2003 Toyota Corolla S
2003 Mitsubishi Lancer


My new car
I took delivery of my new Mazda 3 in mid-March of this year, and without a doubt it was the best purchase I have ever made. I consider this my true first car, and I plan to keep it for a long time to come. Here in Canada, the Mazda 3 has three different models : the GX, GS and GT - with the GX being the cheapest, and the GT being the most expensive. Just for comparison purposes, for the price of a fully loaded GT, you can also get a base Mazda 3 sport(five-door). I went with the GS automatic transmission. My 3 has a 2 litre engine with 148 horsepower and 135 pounds of torque. It isn't the fastest car I've ever driven, but it is the most fun to drive. I'm not someone who constantly puts their pedal to the metal, but I like to know that the extra 'zoom-zoom' is there, should I ever need it. To be quite honest, these cars are not the quietest cars you will ever drive. I had my brother-in-law take it for a test drive, and he said that while accelerating it's much louder than his V6 Accord. That should be expected. Having said that, when driving on the highway the car is quiet enough that a passenger can fall asleep.

The automatic GS model comes with a standard 4-gear tiptronic system, which allows for optional manual shifting of gears without a clutch system(in addition to the regular automatic mode). It's a nice feature to have-more expensive cars have it - but personally I don't use it much. Also, the manual tiptronic system does not have a 5th gear, so you have to shift back into automatic mode to go into overdrive. Speaking of shifting gears, my 3 came with a leather-wrapped shifter-lever and steering wheel, which were nice bonuses. Changing from 'park' to 'drive' is easy and after a few days I could do so without looking at the lever.

Cool Features
Two of the most useful features in this model are the automatic lights and the automatic windscreen wipers. There's a setting on the light switch which you can turn to automatic. Once you've done that, the car will automatically detect how dark it is outside,and it will adjust to daytime headlights or low-beam headlights appropriately. Whenever it rains, there's also an automatic sensor for the windscreen wipers. It'll detect how much rain is landing on your windshield and will adjust how often to clear the windshield by itself. You can also adjust how sensitive the rain-sensing mechanism is. Before I test drove this car I had no idea that such technology existed. I realize these are minor things,but a little less effort for me makes driving that much easier,and that much more enjoyable.


Safety
The Mazda 3 models all come standard with driver and passenger-side airbags. According to a Canadian website, side airbags are not available. Unfortunately, traction control is not available on any Mazda 3. ABS brakes are unavailable on the GX model, optional on the GS model and standard with the GT. I'm not sure what kind of braking system the 3 has, but I've found the brakes to be very responsive. Unfortunately, only an immobilizer comes standard with all the models. If you want a complete security system, you have to get someone to install it.

Looks
Visually, I find the Mazda 3 to be one of the most attractive cars on the market today. To me, it's very sporty and stylish looking. Looking at it from the front, you might think this is a muscle car(after a test drive,you might have the same impression!!!). I chose the metallic silver color, which is featured in the Mazda 3 commercials on TV. There are at least 8 colors to choose from, including Indigo Blue and Black Mica. When I'm walking around the neighbourhood, and I see a Mazda 3 go by,I still turn my head to look at it - to me, it's that pretty!!! :)

Inside and outside, the car lights up amazingly during the day and at night. When you turn on the stereo, the car even says "Hello" on the digital display. A few dozen bright orange LEDS light up the audio and other switches in the front-middle section of the car. Unfortunately, for some reason there are no LEDS for the automatic window controls, which are on the driver's side door. I have heard that there isn't any LED controls for the sunroof buttons either, but I cannot confirm or deny that. My GS model comes with 4 speakers, but you can get 6 speakers on other models. For my purposes - listening to the radio most of the time, and occasionally a cd - the speakers are great. You can mute the volume, or you can change it to be quiet as a whisper or loud enough to make your ears ring.


Comfort
I'm of an average height, and I've found that I fit nicely in the Mazda 3. My head isn't anywhere near the roof, and I'm able to adjust the seat and the steering wheel to my liking. Speaking of which, the GS model has an 8-way telescopic steering wheel. The interior in my Mazda 3 isn't made of leather, but it is comfortable enough. Leather seats are only available on the GT model. My GS model came with the power package, which included steering wheel mounted controls for the audio system and cruise control.
I've found the air-conditioning system to be superb - and it works really quickly. Within a few minutes of turning on the car, cool air is pumped through the vents. The same goes for the heating - the interior of the car is heated up quickly and very comfortably.
This is my first experience with cruise-control, and I would recommend it to anyone who intends to drive on the highway once a month or more. I won't lie to you: another thing I dislike about the Mazda 3 hatchback is that it doesn't have much room in the back seats. There is more than enough space for a car-seat for infants. However,if you had to drive with two adult passengers in the back for a few hours, chances are they would be uncomfortable. I found that there simply isn't enough foot-space. Another minor quibble I have with the MZ 3 is the lack of space for my right foot while in the drivers seat. When my right foot isn't on the accelerator pedal, I usually like to let it rest off to the right-side. Unfortunately with the Mazda 3 they have a panel protruding out in that area,so unless you keep your right-foot absolutely straight(on the pedal), you won't have room to rest your foot elsewhere. I hope you know what I mean--if you don't, I hope you'll understand what I mean when & if you go for your test drive.


Amenities
If you go for a test drive, you'll find that the passenger-side glove-box is the largest you've ever seen. I don't know why they made it so big,but you can almost fit an entire adult arm inside it!! There's almost enough space for a full-size DVD player! :) Several other compartments provide ample room for loose change, maps or anything else your heart desires. In addition, the four-door Mazda 3 also has four cup-holders, with one in the driver's door and the front passenger's door, and 2 in the mid-section of the car.
You can fit one or two large bags in the trunk as well,if need be.

Conclusion
Overall, I've found my Mazda 3 to be fantastic. When you put your foot down on the accelerator, this car really has a lot of kick. It's fun to drive, and very comfortable. Even better, this car is affordable. For the price of a Civic, you can get a car that has a similar fuel economy with much more horsepower.

One final note : if you would like more info, I highly suggest that you visit http://www.mazda3forums.com/ .
Amount Paid (US$): 1
Condition: New
Model Year: 2004
Model and Options: GS,automatic,power mirrors,power locks,power doors,AC,etc.