Originally Posted By: bustednutz
Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
Originally Posted By: bustednutz
I bought my 07' Mazda 3 brand new. Never once have I ever had it in the dealership for anything at all. 40K miles and still silky smooth and everything works.
Count yourself lucky. I used to be a huge fan of these cars, but I'm less of a fan now that the 3s in my family have some miles on them.
My sister was the first family member to get a 3. She picked up a brand new 2006 2.0 model. Overall, her's has probably held up best. It has to be pushing 80K or 90K miles by now and is still a trustworthy car, but it hasn't been without problems. This one has lots of weird quirks. The clock resets itself at random, once while pulling out into the road it just shut off completely (no electrical power or anything), and the A/C has always been very weak. The car has done well considering the conditions in VT though. Sis doesn't think she will buy another, as the only Mazda dealer remotely close to her shut down a couple years ago.
My mom got a 2008 3 2.0 because she liked driving my sister's car. The '08 has not been so trouble free. The first year or two it was great, then quality issues began appearing. Seat belts are frayed already, which is completely unacceptable on such a new car that sees pretty gentle use. The seat fabric also shows wear, along with the super cheap carpet. My truck is 6 years older, with 3X as many miles, and way more abuse, and its interior looks newer than my mom's 3. The car also has annoying electrical gremlins with the radio and clock, and recurring power steering problems that were not fixed by the recall repair (performed twice on this car now). The car has been maintained by the book at an indy Japanese car shop because my mom doesn't trust the Mazda dealer at all. She says she won't buy another.
Not horrible cars, but they aren't the perfect Japanese small car that I once thought they were.
Thats too bad about your familys experience with the car. Mine is a 2.3L Sport. No electrical gremlins or anything. I do have to agree that the interior materials are inferior to other makes out there.
The engines are silky smooth and he transmissions shift fantastic. Mine is a 5sp Automatic. The resale value on these is excellent as well.
Most of the reviews at edmunds and other consumer sites give them excellent reviews. But yes, there are going to be a few bad ones in the bunch. Maybe yours were on the "cougar Ace". Look that up and you'll see what I'm talking about.
As for the OP.......I still say to stay away from the VW products. Very picky and finiky car. They still carry a certain cult status with them as well, and I know that die hard VW fans will disagree.
Yeah, mom's car may have been on the Cougar Ace! lol.
I have to say, I do love how the 3s drive. Much more of a driver's car than my dad's Civic Hybrid. They are definitely more fun than most of their competitors.
