2007 Mazda 3: thoughts?

[iamme]

i know there was lots of Mazda 3 lovin' here in the past. Just wondering how those owners are enjoying their cars now. I'm in the market for a new car and the dealers is offering an '07 Mazda 3s GT (2.3L) w/ a few options for ~$22K OTD (purchase).

thoughts on the car? other car recommendations in that price range? any great rebates or incentives on more expensive cars that might bring the price down to my range?

 

[Riverhound777]

17k miles on my 2006 3s touring. Love it. Got mine for $300 under invoice after $500 rebate. I heard there is a new rebate for the 3, but not sure if that is over. I used mine on dec 31st of last year, the day it expired

 

[iamme]

unfortunately, i haven't seen any rebates or incentives for the '07 mazda3

 

[LS20]

see if you can get one used... 1 year old CPO cars are a steal because someone will have eaten depreciation.. which is pretty high on mazda

 

[NFS4]

Lovin' my 2006 3s GT Hatch. I think I have nearly 18k miles on it and I've had it for 11 months.

 

[iamme]

Originally posted by: LS20
see if you can get one used... 1 year old CPO cars are a steal because someone will have eaten depreciation.. which is pretty high on mazda

CPO = ?

 

[Dacalo]

I have had my '06 GT for about 4 months. I am getting rattles from compartment door which is annoying. I am not the only one, mazda3forums indicate other owners are experiencing this as well. It wasn't there of course when I bought it. I am thinking of using some weather strip to make the door fit better.

 

[iamme]

major differences between '06 and '07 Mazda 3's?

i know the '07 has an AUX input for iPods. anything else? does the '06 GT have xenon lights?

 

[Riverhound777]

Originally posted by: LS20
see if you can get one used... 1 year old CPO cars are a steal because someone will have eaten depreciation.. which is pretty high on mazda

I don't think that holds as true for the 3. Sure it loses some, but the 3 has a very good resale value. In fact after looking on autotrader I can only find three cars near me, all 2005 models with double my mileage listed for the same price I purchased my 2006 new, go figure.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Riverhound777

Originally posted by: LS20
see if you can get one used... 1 year old CPO cars are a steal because someone will have eaten depreciation.. which is pretty high on mazda

I don't think that holds as true for the 3. Sure it loses some, but the 3 has a very good resale value. In fact after looking on autotrader I can only find three cars near me, all 2005 models with double my mileage listed for the same price I purchased my 2006 new, go figure.

Yeah, the 3 has some incredibly high resale value.

 

[iversonyin]

Originally posted by: iamme

Originally posted by: LS20
see if you can get one used... 1 year old CPO cars are a steal because someone will have eaten depreciation.. which is pretty high on mazda

CPO = ?

Certified Pre Owned

 

[iamme]

ah, thanks.

 

[theeedude]

For $22K, I would go for the Mazdaspeed version. I say save your money and get the touring version for around 18K. Of course I am in CA, so I care a lot more about sunroof than heated seats.
As far as rebates, there is zoom zoom live, I believe you get $250 off if you go to the event. It was $500 last year That was great time to buy.

 

[iamme]

Originally posted by: senseamp
For $22K, I would go for the Mazdaspeed version. I say save your money and get the touring version for around 18K. Of course I am in CA, so I care a lot more about sunroof than heated seats.
As far as rebates, there is zoom zoom live, I believe you get $250 off if you go to the event. It was $500 last year That was great time to buy.

i haven't had a moonroof in a car for a long time, and i sort of miss it also, i never really thought much of heated seats until i tried them out on cold days.....not a bad option. we get both extreme weathers here in michigan.

i'm sure it's a fun ride, but i'd rather have the comfort than speed. the MS3 requires premium fuel, probably has a stiffer ride, worse fuel economy, and i'd assume the insurance rates are higher. plus, i don't fee like driving a manual.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

22K for a Econo-Hatch......

Seems high for what the car is and can do. You can get inot a Mazda 6 V6 for that money as incentives are high on that car. Get the 5-door and you have plenty of cargo room as well.

 

[iamme]

Originally posted by: Fmr12B
22K for a Econo-Hatch......

Seems high for what the car is and can do. You can get inot a Mazda 6 V6 for that money as incentives are high on that car. Get the 5-door and you have plenty of cargo room as well.

i'd like to get more opinions on this (maybe from mazda 6 owners). as far as the mazda3's performance, i found it to accelerate nicely and handle very well. it's not a stoplight rocket, but frankly, i don't care about that. compared to the civic i drove (feels sluggish until you slam the gas to hit high RPMs), the mazda 3 seemed quicker and more agile (ie, fun to drive). the mazda 6 was an option (with '06 rebates), but to get the V6 (at the same price), i'd sacrifice things like leather, moonroof, heated seats, xenon lights, rain sensing wipers, rear view mirror w/ compass and garage door transmitter, etc. i'd be getting some more room in the M6 of course.

but, i'm definitely open to hearing more opinions. i haven't purchased anything yet.

 

[CorCentral]

Originally posted by: iamme

Originally posted by: Fmr12B
22K for a Econo-Hatch......

Seems high for what the car is and can do. You can get inot a Mazda 6 V6 for that money as incentives are high on that car. Get the 5-door and you have plenty of cargo room as well.

i'd like to get more opinions on this (maybe from mazda 6 owners). as far as the mazda3's performance, i found it to accelerate nicely and handle very well. it's not a stoplight rocket, but frankly, i don't care about that. compared to the civic i drove (feels sluggish until you slam the gas to hit high RPMs), the mazda 3 seemed quicker and more agile (ie, fun to drive). the mazda 6 was an option (with '06 rebates), but to get the V6 (at the same price), i'd sacrifice things like leather, moonroof, heated seats, xenon lights, rain sensing wipers, rear view mirror w/ compass and garage door transmitter, etc. i'd be getting some more room in the M6 of course.

but, i'm definitely open to hearing more opinions. i haven't purchased anything yet.

I have a '04 Mazda 6i hatch with 23k miles on it and it's great. Just put my 2nd set of new tires on it (switched Mich Pilot PS2's to Mich Pilot Exalto all seasons) because of the move from FL to TN. It's a fun car to drive. I get 25mph in all around driving and about 31mpg highway.

Me and my wife really enjoy it. The hatch kills the sedan for trunk space. I would steer clear from the 3 or 6 sedan just for that reason. The 3's headroom seemed shorter also (I'm 6'1) and of course the back seat in any 3 is cramped. Remember this if you have kids or like to buy bigger items without the need for delivery! I just purchased a computer desk (unassembled), 19" lcd monitor, HP all in one printer and then went grocery shopping. It all fit I did have to put the rear seats down but it's still nice.

Here's a pic of my 6

My Mazda 6i

 

[Kelvrick]

Might be too big, or the image "wrong" for you, but I love my Subaru Legacy wagon.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Originally posted by: iamme

Originally posted by: Fmr12B
22K for a Econo-Hatch......

Seems high for what the car is and can do. You can get inot a Mazda 6 V6 for that money as incentives are high on that car. Get the 5-door and you have plenty of cargo room as well.

i'd like to get more opinions on this (maybe from mazda 6 owners). as far as the mazda3's performance, i found it to accelerate nicely and handle very well. it's not a stoplight rocket, but frankly, i don't care about that. compared to the civic i drove (feels sluggish until you slam the gas to hit high RPMs), the mazda 3 seemed quicker and more agile (ie, fun to drive). the mazda 6 was an option (with '06 rebates), but to get the V6 (at the same price), i'd sacrifice things like leather, moonroof, heated seats, xenon lights, rain sensing wipers, rear view mirror w/ compass and garage door transmitter, etc. i'd be getting some more room in the M6 of course.

but, i'm definitely open to hearing more opinions. i haven't purchased anything yet.

Edmunds gives a loaded up Mazda 6s Grand Sport Hatch at $23,844 after $2,500 rebate. MSRP is $28,270 Invoice at $26,132

This has every option but 6spd Automatic & Navigation.

 

[aphex]

I have a 05 Mazda3 and love it, put 50k miles on it in 1.5 years and havent had a single problem...

 

[iamme]

Originally posted by: aphex
I have a 05 Mazda3 and love it, put 50k miles on it in 1.5 years and havent had a single problem...

wow, that's a lot of driving! :Q

 

[Danman]

I have an 06 Mazda 3 S. I put on 25K miles on in 7 months at my previous job. Now I'm only driving 20 miles total a day....which is nice.

But nevertheless, I love my Mazda. It's fun to drive, practical, and it's god damn hot. Unfortunately, I don't think you'll find any incentives on them since they sell pretty well.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Anyone in the Southeast looking for a used one?

See my sig

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Danman
I have an 06 Mazda 3 S. I put on 25K miles on in 7 months at my previous job. Now I'm only driving 20 miles total a day....which is nice.

But nevertheless, I love my Mazda. It's fun to drive, practical, and it's god damn hot. Unfortunately, I don't think you'll find any incentives on them since they sell pretty well.

It's Mazda's best-selling model.

 

[Tremulant]

I've said this in other threads, but I'm looking to buy a Mazda 3s GT or Mazdaspeed 3 GT when the lease on my current car is up.

The only things steering me away from the MS3 are its manual transmission (I'd need to learn), that it requires premium fuel and that it gets less MPG (than the 3s). That said, I don't think I'd have a big problem with the increased fuel costs, plus I hope to either be closer to work or travelling less by that time.