Bottom line, I pretty much impulse bought a 3 S hatch tonight, that's how pleased I was with it.

I'm 6'5" with 36" inseam and was looking for a sport compact. It's very very hard for me to find a small car (cruelly, my preference) that I can drive and be comfortable in.

I had my choices narrowed down to the Dodge Caliber, the Matrix and the 3 was the unknown quantity. From all the reviews, the 3 was at the top of the list if I could fit. I liked the Caliber, but in RT/AWD trim it felt a tad slow and overall handling wasn't the sport feel I wanted. The CVT trans is quite nice though.

Well, the fit of the 3 was great. It was quite a surprise actually. My right leg hits the console but that's the story of my life, at least with the 3 it has a nice gentle curve to it and my leg isn't pressing on the sharp corner of the console like in the Caliber, it's just leaning on the side of it.

I took both a manual and the 5sp auto out and spent a good bit over an hour driving through town and up on the local freeway. The salesperson was oddly enthusiastic and was prodding me to 'get on it' the whole time....a rare quality. So I had both of them over 90 several times. I was stunned at the overall solid feel of the car and the fact that it just plain rides on rails at speed.

The manual shifted great and again, amazingly, I had a huge amount of clearance for my left leg...about the best clutch placement and room for my leg of any car I've driven. The feel of the stick was fantastic. But...well call it age setting in, I have to admit I've liked the last five years with an automatic that has cruise control.

I took the auto out, not expecting to like it nearly as much and I was again shocked. The 5sp auto is a really firm and slick shifting trans and the auto-stick function will solve my hatrid of autos in foul weather as when you select a gear, it pretty much sticks to it, so you have engine breaking to control the car....finally!

I'm still stirring over the fact that I nearly impulse bought a car but I have no regrets. I just didn't expect the total package that the 3S represents.

If you're thinking about this car and you haven't driven one yet....bring your checkbook.

 

Welcome and congrats on the purchase.

 

Now you know why the rest of us on here love Mazdas.
Welcome.

 

You have one of the best looking and best value cars for the money! Congratulations on your purchase. ...I discovered the M3 last year when I was on a college field trip in the woods. While everyone was waiting for the class to arrive (all in their own autos or carpool arrangements) this classmate pulled up in his Mazda3. It had style. It looked like he pulled up in an Acura. ...It was so awesome. ...8 months later, I bought one for myself. So you could say my purchase was on impulse too, before I had even seen the inside or been for a ride.

Seth

 

I put several hundred miles on it yesterday and confirmed my initial instincts. The car has enough room to change driving position that I'm fine in it. It is a pure pleasure to drive.

It has been years since I had a car that was quick enough and nimble enough to just point and squirt my way to lane positions. I didn't realize how irritating it was to me driving my full sized Dodge Ram pickup until I spent the day on the road yesterday.

I had probably 50% more room in the Dodge pickup but because of the couch like seats, it would put my *** to sleep and kill my circulation in the same amount of driving I did in the 3 yesterday. The nice supportive and firm seats of the 3 were much more comfortable.

After the trip yesterday, I don't miss that old pickup one bit. If I need a load of mulch, I'll have it delivered.

I'm as happy as can be with this car.

Now I just have to get around to ordering one of the aux-input mods for the stereo and figuring out some clever alternative to the lousy ashtray it has. The only two flaws I can find with it.

 

Congrats on the buy! My fiance and I just bought a gray 3s GT, awesome car!