zoom-zoom
 

I just got a new car!!! I'm very excited about my purchase and wanted to share that with all of you in GC.

It's a 2004 Mazda 3s 4 door sedan. The link will take you to Mazda's website about this model.

The details of my particular vehicle are:

2.3L 160-hp inline 4-cyl, 150 lb-ft of torque, 5-speed manual, "Winning Blue" exterior, black leather interior, rear wing spoiler, 17-in alloy wheels (sport package), 4 wheel disc brakes, ABS, dual front and side curtain airbags, sliding moonroof, 6-disc in dash CD changer, steering wheel mounted audio controls, adjustable angle Xenon high intensity headlamps, tire pressure monitor, fog lights, keyless remote entry, air conditioning, cruise control, auto-dimming rearview mirror with outside temperature guage, and best of all, there were only 3 miles on the odometer when I took it out for a test drive (it had just arrived at the dealership five days before I did)!

I got a good deal on my trade-in and also got $500 for being a recent college graduate, so I'm happy with the financing terms.

I love my new car and just wanted to share (... ok, and maybe brag a little too ;) )!

I KNEW this would be a Mazda thread! The GPDad is considering a 3 for his next car - he has a 626 right now. Our family has 3 Mazdas, and we've owned two prior to the current fleet. They're awesome cars and you're going to be happy with them.

And I'm glad you got the stick because an automatic Mazda is a waste of a good engine.

Congratulations!!!:D

Re: zoom-zoom
 

I want a 3 in the worst way.. I LOVE THEM! Enjoy!! :D

I drove an early Miata for 12 years and loved it. It was like a high tech MG. But then I drove little roadsters most of my life starting in high school.

All of the Mazdas we've owned have been great cars. Congratulations.

Re: Re: zoom-zoom
 

This car ****ing ROCKS!!! The exterior looks like a sporty compact car, the interior feels like a 3-series BMW, and driving one can only be adequately described as: "zoom-zoom!" (I'll agree with GeekyPenguin though that choosing a manual transmission is absolutely the way to go with this car.)

Mine came with most of the available options and upgrades available and even then only cost in the $20-25k range all said and done (tax, license, title, etc). It's definitely worth the investment!

Nice!!!


.....Kelly :)

I'm planning on getting one, probably within the next year. I want one in lava orange though. And of course, mine will have to be a manual. I test drove one a few weeks ago and LOVED it, but the salesman I was dealing with was a jerk and they weren't offering any good incentives... so I'm trying to wait until they offer something good (if that ever happens).

You should see if your company offers any sort of incentive program for you - my dad's employer gets a huge discount on Ford (and thus Mazda, Volvo, Jaguar, etc) vehicles.

I'll probably end up buying a 3 for my next car because I was planning on getting another Protege - I've been driving Proteges only since I got my permit and I can't think of a car I'd rather have. Mazdas are such an awesome value. :)

I used to drive a 1993 Volvo 240 and LOVED it. It was built with the aerodynamics of a brick and the engine of a lawnmower (116 horsepower if I remember right.) But I LOVED that car. Everyone should have "their" car. The one they always remember and love to drive.

SAEalumnus, I hate to get girly on you but I don't think you mentioned what color.

I split driving time in my friend's new RX8 going down to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl a few months ago. The rotary engine is sweet! Burns a little oil though, but I think that's normal.

I want the Mazda 6 soooooo bad. My friend works at a Mazda dealership and told me he'd get me the car at invoice plus all the rebates but it's the whole lack of money thing I've got going on that is keeping me from buying it. :(

Congrats of your new car, btw!

It is normal... my brother has one and he is a mechanical engineer.. he explained to my why it does it, but I really don't care.


As for me- I love my Miata!
WOOHOO!
ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM!
Mazda makes cars that like curvy roads!

He did, he said it was "winning blue."

I just bought one!
 

Had to bump this thread because I just bought one. It's pretty much the same as SAEalumnus', except the color is lava orange and it doesn't have a spoiler or the dimming rearview mirror. But it DOES have a navigation system. I'm in love with it :D

My wife bought a Mazda 3 almost a year ago, it pretty much rules. No problems with it so far, it is fully loaded (minus navigation system and xenon headlights). No problems at all, really affordable and a great ride. Just tinted the windows, it looks like a sporty BMW..

Yes, my next task is to get the windows tinted, when I have a little extra cash lying around.

I just got my windows tinted for Christmas. It definitley helps keep the interior cool (and looks nice too)! Congratulations on your new car!!!

My wifes newly tinted windows (got them tinted for our anniversary), got her pulled over about 2 weeks ago. Warning for tinted windows and must have it removed - on-your-honor (yeah, like we're going to do that), warning for her Al-Fuzzy dice hanging from the mirror, and a $170 speeding ticket.

Beware, some cops are straight up pricks.

Some tinting is legal, some is not. The law in California can be found in Sections 26708 through 26708.5 of the California Vehicle Code which you can read for yourself here. As was explained to me when I got my windows tinted, provided your vehicle has left and right side view mirors, then you can install tint of any darkness you like on the rear and side rear windows. Tinting of the front side (driver's door and front passenger's door) windows is only legal in the case of minimal UV protection -- this film is basically worthless as tinting because it requires a minimum of 88% of visible light to be transmitted [see 26708(d)(1-5)] and is essentially a transparent partial UV filter. Any tinting film on the front windshield is illegal and apparently results in an automatic 2 points on your license.

As I understand it, having tinting on your front side window transmitting less than 88% of visible light (basically film of any shade other than clear) is not a moving violation, but is something for which you can be cited if you happen to get pulled over for something else (like speeding, for example). I decided I didn't want to deal with the hassle of "fix-it" tickets every so often, so I only tinted my rear and side rear windows.