NWR: Anyone have a Mazda 3?

jthennigar

My bro is checking out new cars, and really likes the 09 Madza 3.  Anyone have a Mazda 3 - good or bad experiences? 

kamd323

I have a Mazda 3.  It is a 2004 though.  I like it.  No big complaints but hopefully they have fixed the windshield wipers. that is the biggest problem I have had with it.  They are held on by a bolt in the front that is covered with a cap. This is a problem because in the winter if there is ANY ice or snow or anything that is making your wiper stick to your windshield, and you turn your wipers on, they try to go but because they are stuck the bolt will losten and they will stop working or get tangled up in each other etc.The first time this happened was in the snow on the way home from work and I guess I didnt clean off my windshield enough and while I was driving my windshiled wipers got TANGLED together.  It was really dangerous.  I made sure after that that i got all the ice and snow off that I possibly can which can be a real pain and sometimes still doesnt work.  I have since invested in a bolt tightener and make sure I get EVERYTHING.  Other than that though.. no other complaints!

2010mayday

My little sis has an '08 and the thing is really one of the best cars for the money.  I am more the luxury car type, but I still like driving hers every once in a while - I'm a car girl, so liking her car says a lot.  I'd say the only thing that surprised me about it is it doesn't get the gas mileage you would think a car that size should get, but it's still not bad.  Mazda has come a long way.  My twin sister has a '04 Mazda6 and has never had any problems.

Ainslie325

I had one, but have since moved on to a Subaru. I had the sedan and also test drove a Jetta, which I thought I'd like better, but didn't at all. The car felt solid, well put-together, ran exceptionally well, and had a decent amount of interior and storage space (huge glove box) for the size. I was satisfied.

jdiamon

I have an '04 Mazda 3...No Complaints. Love my car. Zoom Zoom Zoom.

kelmarfar

My FI has a Mazda 3.  He's actually on his second one because the one he bought new in 2005 was totaled in an accident last fall.  He replaced it with a barely broken in used '08 Mazda 3.FI loves his car and was so upset when the first one was totaled.  The only negative I've observed with his cars have been the tires- tell your brother if he buys new to research the tires.  FI barely got 20K miles out of his first set.  He has since found tires that he really likes and goes to whenever he needs to get new ones.On the positive side, the accident that FI was in that totaled his car was with a tractor trailer.  He was rear ended by a truck, thankfully going slowly, but still- a huge 18 wheeler rear ended his little bitty car.  The back end of the car was crumpled pretty badly, but the damage didn't even come close to the passenger compartment.  We were both really impressed that the car stood up so well to being hit by a huge truck.  FI actually drove it for 2 weeks after the accident until he got the final numbers from the insurance company.  FI had a Nissan Altima before his 2005 Mazda 3, and he was actually planning on upgrading to a Maxima.  He actually liked the Mazda 3 better and it was just a little more than half of the price of the Maxima.  He got the 3s, fully loaded, all of the bells and whistles.  His new car has even more than the last one- premium stereo, leather, heated seats... and he paid like $17K for it.  It's a great car for the money.

kmt_cas

I have an '07 Mazda 3 - I absolutely LOVE it.  Great car, handles amazingly.  The only thing I could say that needs to get better is the winter driving, awful in snow.  And if your brother is taller than 5'10 he might have some issues size wise.  I'm 5'10 and fit perfectly, FI is 6'2 and is too big to fit comfortably.  But overall, great car.  We did a ton of research.  I originally wanted a Jetta, I'm so glad I changed my mind.

kmt_cas

I'd say the only thing that surprised me about it is it doesn't get the gas mileage you would think a car that size should get, but it's still not bad.And I agree with this as well.  I get about 28-29 mpg.  Mainly highway driving.  I thought I would get more.  I do have the top of the line engine (well for the Mazda 3), I know a friend of mine gets better mileage on the lower grade engine so I'm sure that has something to do with it.  That said, I wouldn't trade my engine for anything, it has saved my bootie a few times!

Future Mrs. Pase

My sister had an 08 Mazda 6 and she like it but said she would never get another one for the sole reason that it was absolutely awful in the winter.