Hi guys I'm looking for a fairly decent priced hatchback with some good power and gas milage and the Mazda 3 is one I am considering. Looks like it would be a fun car to play around with and build a killer sound system in like I had in my old hatchback that was hit headon by an electric truck two years ago. I was wondering, have any of you come across any problems one should be aware of and how is your gas milage? I'm driving a heavily modded SS Silverado at the moment and only getting 6mpg in it, so its time for me to find a nice lil car to play around with. This BRS bodykit made me really like this car.

 

welcome to the forum. You'll find a ton of great info here if you do decide to buy one.

I'll say this about buying a mazda 3.

1. They are great cars. Build quality is great, handling is great, power is decent.

2. They aren' the hottest on gas milage but anything would be better than your truck. IIRC my 3S hatch with the auto trans averaged around 26mpg in the city and 30-31mpg on the highway.


If you plan on modding a 3 get the 2.3L S model with a 5speed or just buy the MS3. For the money it can't be beat by any car on the road today.

 

Thanks for the info. They look like a pretty solid car. I wont be doing alot of modding to this car since I have a 350Z being built so I'll probably hust do I/H/E and build a sound system. Mainly looking for a car that can be a reliable daily driver driving an hour to and from work. The Mazdaspeed looks nice but sadly after my car accident I got nerve damage and cant drive stick anymore.

 

You may not be real happy with a 3S automatic. I had one and really wished I had bought the stick. The engine didn't seem nearly as peppy or sporty. Capable, but not impressive.

You could always buy the automatic and put a hiboost turbo on it and stick around the 280wtq range and be fine..

 

well I think that depends on whether or not it was the 5speed auto or the 4 speed auto. I think the 5 speed auto is as close as you can get to a clutchless manual.

 

The 5spd auto is better feeling ... although I have felt far better auto's, like my old M3.

 

Thanks for the info. It's been crazy busy lately and I didnt even have time to go look at them till last saturday, but the Toyota dealer where I live is straight up crooked. I may have to go to Kansas City to order one when I decide what I want. I am convinced though that this is the car I want as a second car. Now that C12 is $14 a gallon here I think I'm trading off my built truck for it.