Mazda 3

Because I live in the city and don't really need a car on a regular basis I use Zipcars. The last time I got one it was a Mazda 3. It was a nice ride and the tiptronic transmission was kinda fun to play with.

The Mazda 3 is a VERY sweet car. When my 1st GTI was totalled (stupid idiot driver ran a stop sign! :() I looked at the Mazda 3, only problem that it was going to take about a month to get what I wanted: i.e. a manual transmission. I didn't have a month to wait for it, so I got another GTI.

But had I been able to get a manual 3, I would have gotten it in a heart beat. My brother has a Protege5 and its been a great car for him. I say go for it, you'll really like it!

I like them :) I almost bought one but I needed more room and didn't like the hatch back version of it.

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Originally Posted by lenastorms

Mazda - Ford....Same thing or same parts anyway :rolleyes:

It's not a bad looking little car ;)

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Not quite...

Some cars share a lot of parts and platforms, like the Tribute/Escape, and the B-Series/Explorer and some other sedan (MX6 and 323). But most of the other cars are completely separate. So, it depends on which Mazda/Ford car.

But with the M3, what they did is they brought the Mazda BJ platform (used by Mazda protege) and the Ford C170 platform (Ford Focus), and sent them up to Germany to get looked at by Mazda, Ford, and Volvo engineers to create a brand new platform called the C1. The C1 is now a combination of Volvo's safety features, Mazda's maneuverability (Zoom-zoom!), and Ford's cost-savings expertise. It is a really awesome platform.

The C1 platform has been in use by the M3 since 2004 and then the M6 in 2006. It is also in use by several Volvo models. For some reason, Ford has not put it in their cars yet. Well, Ford Focus is using C1 in Europe or so I heard. But for sure, nothing in the US. Ford Focus in the US is still using C170.

Anyway, this is all technogeek all intended to say the newest Mazda M3 model is a SWEET little car that is not the same as any Ford.... YET. :D

I didnt read through all the posts...I stared the hot RX-8 for too long...one of my fav "reality cars" (ones priced such that I may actually be able to get one if I want it someday)...as opposed to a Lotus anything...I love the Elise.

I really like Nissan 350Z's too.