Opinions on the Mazda 3 Sport

Mazda 3 Sport is in front of my favorite list for a new car.
What is your opinion about it?

Can you answer the poll questions also?

Bit of a vague question methinks? I prefer the looks of the Pagani Zonda myself.

Edit: Actually it gets a good review here:

http://www.whatcar.com/car-review/mazda-3-hatchback/604/

Click on the customer reviews - they are always worth reading.

http://www.whatcar.com/car-review-readers.aspx?RT=604

good old Wankels...

No Wankel in Mazda 3, sport or not, that's a RX-8

I have owned Mazda 323s and 626s. Mazda is a very good car. Onest, I wouldn't ie!

Mazda...includes some Wankels...That's all I know...don't get all spec-geek with me!

Reviews fairly well. Not really my cup of tea in the styling department.

Edit: Being a Mazda, it's reliable, it recently topped a reliabilty survey. One thing the japs do well is reliability, puts their far more expensive European competition to shame

Onest female opinion based purely on the way it looks: ugly little thing. Don't buy it.

Aero i am sure by now you know why everyone repeats the word "honest" !

Pretty Ugly car, but hey at least its not a FIAT.

ok, honest mistake...

Mazda 3 is just a Ford Focus underneath the skin, which means it's an honest car that probably handles better than a Golf, but doesn't have as nice an interior. I'd certainly consider one as a daily drive, but I'd look seriously at a Focus too.

So we have two "uglies" and a "not my cup of tea" for the styling.

Not too many saying it is a thing of beauty then huh?

Not unlike myself. Ugly but practical.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think BMWs are ugly at twice the price!

Beauty may well be in the eye of the beholder.

But yer man who started this thread was by definition actively asking for opinions from others...therefore negating the opinion of the beholder.

And the 100% opinion of the masses so far is that it is a bit of a Wayne Rooney.

Notice how the Mazda is photographed from the rear 3/4s with the photographer low down - it's to hide the ugly high roofline. As JE says - not a looker, but practical. With cars like these I don't think looks matter too much anyway.

For tall people, those high rooflines are an essential part of deciding on which car to buy.

Granted that BMW 1er is a true frog. Competes for one of the ugliest of all time. The Mazda is a little better but not much. Here's a closer look:

[img]http://www.channel4.com/4car/media/M/mazda/3/03-large/06-mazda3-f3q-st.jpg[/img]

I'm not a very big fan of how Mazda 3 looks from the outside, but from the inside it's quite nice and I realy like how I feel in the driver's seat.
Mazda 3 sport seems to be quite practical with it's relatively big trunk.
Also the high roofline is a plus because I'm tall.

That's fair enough, though a high roofline isn't always THAT important - I'm 6'2" or so and I've driven much lower cars than that without a problem - all depends how the seat slides/driving position really - a high roofline is more important for passengers, especially in the back.

When I bought my 626, the criteria was that my father and I could get in the front without having to sit crook-necked and that we both could get in the back without cramping our legs too much. He is 6'4" and I am 6'2" (only his legs are longer). My Mazda won out over quite a few similarly priced cars.

The roofline is a HUGE issue - I agree - no point in buying a car without headroom.

Last 3-4 cars I have bought I have NEVER had a test drive. My test drive lasts about 20 seconds in the showroom whilst I see if I fit. I am 6'4" with a long back and regular 34" legs.

So 90% of cars are a NO-NO before turning a wheel. So hell yeah - if it's comfy then buy it and ignore what everyone else says.

I have a Volvo so clearly don't give a fuck about image.

OK, we're all talking about the same thing here, but take a Focus for example - it's chair is actually mounted quite high so it makes no odds about the roof.

However, if it's comfy, likely to do the job you want it to do, and if you prefer it over the competition for whatever reason, and can't find a good reason not to buy it, then I say buy it. Personally I'd have a Golf, but Mazda 3 would be on my list of testdrives.

As for testdrives, JE, I'm about to put money down on a car I've never even seen, let alone driven.

I´m driving an ´89 626. It´s been in the family since well - 1988 (bought the new model.) Great cars IMHO (also the 323). However, these were the good ol 1980´s. How about now? According to Wikipedia, the firm had it´s bumps. Also, it´s controlled by Ford now. Are Mazda cars still good value? Will it last me 20 years if I buy a new one today?