so i recently purchased a 3. i know some people down at my local mazda dealer so i got a pretty decent price on it. i got the 3i 2.0L. im pretty pleased with it, fun car to drive. im not big on cars, i pretty much know the pedal on the right makes it go, the one on the left makes it stop, and the round thing in front of me steers it thats as far as my car knowlege goes well i got the 4 speed auto sport transmission, i personally think its fun to drive, and plus me and manual do not mix well. but id just like to get some feedback from some real car enthusiasts, who know what they're talking about. some pro's, cons, etc. also, what is a safe rpm to shift gears + & -. thanks!

 

Most of the enthusiasts end up picking a true manual, for a variety of reasons that are important to them individually. For me personally, it was the gas mileage and the fact that it forces me to be more interactive with the car.

As for when to shift, you CAN shift right at the red line for max HP, but why? You can still have a lot of fun with it without beating the crap out of it.

Edit: The other difference it cost. For what I would have paid for the auto, I get a CAI, new exhaust, and my stereo transported from my old Protege.