anybody have a new Mazda3?

Interested in a very economical car with a soul. Is it?

I have some seat time in one. The car itself, yes. It's like they sat down and said "how can we execute this like a Miata?"

I think the iPad display for the information center and iDrive knob would scare away the typical manual everything GRM messageboard goer.

Also, they get very expensive with options, to where I'd be cross shopping a Civic Si.

In reply to MCarp22:

I priced one out and it was more expensive as a 6 with the exact same options. Why is that? Therefore, I would cross shop the 3 and 6 to see if you really want the smaller size. Aside from the smallish hatch, the 3 doesn't do anything for me vs the 6. The 180 lbs or so of curb weight is worth it.

A coworker who I commute with just bought a 2015 leftover. It seems nice enough. Was not as quiet inside as I would like. He's getting 34 mpg with the slushbox.

Mom and dad bought a skyactiv auto 3 in the fall when the c5 spit a trans in oregon. Currently its on itsway back ffrom California again. They've pounded 30k on it so far with a lifetime fuel average of 41.2.

They love it.

I borrowed it for a week while working on my protege5. Fun littlecar. Much nicer ride qquality and less nvh than my 175k protege5. Handling is a little soft and a little too much undetsteer for me, but its also on almost worn out stock all seasons, and a commuter car alignment. I drove it preyty hard, and pit almost a thousand miles on it. Comfortable, and the push button trans was plenty responsive. Definately not as much soul as the p5, but more than the camry I had. Add a better rear bar, upgraded shocks and springs, and it'd be a hoot.

I couldn't get used to the iPad looking thing thats stuck in the dash. Never could figure out how to change the damn radio station.

Coming from a 2005 civic sedan, my "fun" metric is pretty low.

I'm eyeballing a leftover 2014 isport hatchback, on the lot for 270 days. Probably because manual.

Pretty basic.

I test drove a new 3 and a new 6. Liked both a lot.

Bought an NC Miata hahaha. I still think a 3 is in the future when our Prius dies (if it ever does...)

Well, I do now.. or rather, I will on Tuesday.

Test drove today, then my local dealer matched the Truecar price, so the deal was done. Fun car on my test drive. Hatchback with Skyactiv 2.0 and 6 speed manual.

Congrats! I like them with the manual. Miata DNA in it for sure. More enjoyable than my Fit.

In reply to clutchsmoke:

Felt pretty quick, using the butt gauge. I never had a six speed, either. This is pretty much a base model but it's a great replacement for my 2005 civic LX.