Finally got me a Mazda... a Mazda3 that is.

My trusty 1995 Ford Probe GT died two months ago after 243,000 miles. I came across a steal of a 2001 Wrangler that I couldn't pass up so I've been driving that for the past two months. Although it's been a blast to drive with the top down this summer, the 21mpg was killing me on my 90 mile a day commute. Filling up every 3 days sucks.

So while looking for something sporty, practical, and economical, I came across this 2004 Mazda3 5-door. A friend of mine had it for about a year and a half and it just so happened he wanted to sell it.

He got it as it sits and hasn't added a thing to it- just normal maintance. The first owner was a rich kid who's dad payed for all the upgrades. To be honest, I'm not even sure what is all done... I still need to really go through it.

It has the 2.3 liter mated to the 5-speed transmission with 122,000 miles showing. Larger front/rear sway bars, front strut brace, tien springs and struts, poly engine mounts, 225s vs the stock 205 tires, and a short throw shifter. Also has DARK tint, intake, some off-brand exhaust with a fart can (it has to go... I'm too old for this much noise- has a good tone but too much volume), aftermarket clutch, and supposidly, the ECU was tuned. I don't know how to verify that- the first owner told me buddy, the second owner and that's what I was told... I don't put much faith in that though. I know the first kid auto-xed it in SCCA events and did fairly well. My buddy was teaching his fiance how to drive manual in this car... and because of that, along with the auto-x, the transmission blew about a year ago and was replaced with a used one along with a new clutch at that point. The fiance was then banned from driving the car. haha

So far I'm loving it- handles very, very well. Feels quick and zipppy, but not fast. Enough power to have fun but not get in too much trouble. Corners flat and stable- will pick up the rear inside wheel on hard turns. Still on my first full tank of gas so I'm curious to see what numbers I get. My commute is almost all highway... everyday.

I may get back into some local auto-x events as it's been a while. My only plans are to get fog lights to closer match the factory HIDs and an i-pod adapter. I really can't think of anything else to add to the car as it's a lot of fun as it sits. I've modded/messed with all my other cars but for this one, I think it will stay the way it is now.

Looks nice!

How'd the Probe die?

thanks- it was a combination of a broken bolt with a broken bolt extractor stuck in it, loss of motivation to fix it, and the need for a reliable car.

Went to replace the crank sensor only to have the bolt snap... then an extractor break off in said broken bolt. At which point I was just done with working on it... seemed like something was going weird every other month so it was time to just cut all ties and move onto something reliable. I had no motivation at all to fix it only to work on it later that month when the next thing went. It was sold to a guy in Virginia.

I've really enjoyed my 3. I bought it new 5 years ago this month and it's been pretty darn good. I'm just under 60k miles with mine, and it's now starting to need some things. The dampers at all 4 corners no longer feel like they used to. It's time to do the front brakes again (I drive city almost exclusively).

Also, I feel like the lower rear engine mount is dead or dying. Then again, I know that it's a problem on these cars, it's had some wheel hop since the beginning, and I am probably subconsciously looking for a reason to buy the CP-E mount.

Excellent purchase. Id love that car and im sure you will too. I had a great ownership experience over ~65k with an 04 mazda3 that i sold at ~130k with no real problems other than worn struts and a loose engine mount (what a coincidence?).

dont those not get that greaT MPG for their reletively small size

CarKid1989 wrote: dont those not get that greaT MPG for their reletively small size

That's true. I've got the 2.3, and I average about 26mpg, almost entirely around town. On the highway, I do a lot better, somewhere between 32 and 34 mpg.

dont those not get that greaT MPG for their reletively small size

It's really the 2.3, but the hatchback body automatically means 2.3. The sedans could get 2.3 optionally. Yes, they get like 4-6 mpg less than the 2.0s. My 2.0 avgd 30 in town and could break 40 on the highway.

From what I've gathered, I can expect 32-34 on the highway. My commute of 90 miles a day is 95% highway so I'm hoping it turns out well.

There isn't a used Mazda3 available for sale in this state, and precious few within a 100 mile radius. I want one for DD#2 but no luck.

Vigo, how was the 2.0 vs a 2.3?

Honestly, i couldnt tell you. If you wanted a quick car and had no plans for boost you'd probably want the 2.3 and if you want a hatch you're stuck with only 2.3.

Having said that, if you wanted a quick car you should plan for boost anyway because i have beat 2 modded 2.3/5spd hatches in long, high speed races... One in a SOHC neon, and one in a dodge dynasty. Take that as you will.

Personally, over time my preference has switched to the sedan body style and if i was to get another one id be looking for a 2.0/5spd/sedan. My .02

I want a reasonably fun-to-drive, reliable car for my daughter. And she doesn't want a hatchback, so it would probably be the 4-door, not the 5.

But it's not going to be either of them considering that I can't even find one for sale, let alone for what I would consider spending for a car for my kid.

Thanks!

I think you're on the right track. My fiancee bought the car brand new at the age of 19 or 20 and had no trouble with it in 130k other than a very early injector problem fixed under warranty. In the ~65k i was sharing it, I did one set of pads on each end and replaced the battery.

It was fun to drive even with 195/65/15 house brand tires on it, and it was more fun when i bolted 245/45/16s to it. It got great mileage and the interior held up very well other than very slight issues on the door panels.

Honestly i would have kept the car if it was manual and if the fiancee hadnt thoroughly trashed it with coffee and fender benders over the time she owned it. We sold it to a teenage girl who totalled it in a week, but im sure she loved it for one week, and she didnt die, so there's that.

I think it's a perfect car for that sort of person. Although, for a young driver i would look for one that has abs as it was not standard on all of them.

Good luck finding one.

Is it a dog with the 2.0/auto combination? Way back in 2004 I test drove a 2.3/auto and it was OK, though we bought something else. Dear Daughter #2has expressed interest in driving a stick, and has had a few lessons, but I think she'll probably opt for a slushie. It also increases the pool of available cars by at least 400%.

[EDIT] Also, does 'S' automatically indicate the 2.3 and 'I' indicate the 2.0? Or are they independent? Is the S worth the premium?

Thanks.

When I bought mine (2007), S was the lowest trim level with the 2.3. There were a couple levels of i trim in the sedan, then the S, then a couple levels above the S, using the 2.3L.

The hatchback started at the S, moved up the 2 levels, and topped out as the Mazdaspeed3.

I wasn't interested in sedans, so I never drove the 2.0L. The 2.3 is nice though.

Our car would get 37 regularly on the highway so i think your number is normal.

The 2.0/4spd only feels slow at those awkward speed ranges 'between' gears.. Being stuck in 2nd barely above the speed it would downshift into 1st happened frequently and it had little power there. Likewise, bottom of 3rd was.. uneventful. However, we had ours up to 120 several times and street raced a handful of slow cars without getting depressed. It beat a 3.4/auto 95 firebird i owned at one time. Also harassed a stock looking 89-90 crx si on the highway and seemed to be losing only slightly.

Im 95% certain the 5spd adds major acceleration and fun factor to the 2.0.

I'm sure the manual is the most fun option, but I'm not sure it's the preferred option. We'll see. Don't really need the car till next spring probably, but I like to start shopping early.

Thanks for the input!