bullaculla

Well the six speed CLs is gone, got this for a bunch of reasons. Mostly cause I rarely use the car since my daughter came along and we drive the Rav4L most of the time. Also since my wife cant drive stick so she gets stuck at home if I take my baby girl anywhere. I'm also paying more for my mortgage so I wanted to buy something cheaper so I can still afford to eat. I'd rather have a nice house than a nice car. It kinda makes me sick thinking about all the money I sent on cars and bikes when I should've been saving for a house. But I never planned on getting married with children and a buying a house. You know what they say...
If you knew then what you know now...

anyway.

It’s a 2005 Mazda3 hatchback. 4 speed auto . Really needs a fifth gear. I got the ABS/ curtain airbag package, The HID/tire pressure monitor package, and the appearance package. The car really handles well. Short on power but is adequate. I know it’s a huge step down from the Acura, but I really need to save money...for now...
I like the hatchback cause it comes with all the good stuff. Bigger engine, 17inch alloys, mild bodykit, powers everything. Just got Huber optik ceramic tint today
the only thing I didn't like about Mazda is the packages. If you want something you got to buy something else. Like my HID package comes with the tire pressure crap. I wanted the 6 disc changer, but would've had to buy the tiny little sunroof too. other than that I like the car. My wife loves the way it drives. This is my first Mazda. Actually after high school, every new car I ever bought were all acuras. '
91 legend coupe (bought used tho) '99 CL 3.0, '01 CLs(PDG) '02 RSX (wife) '03 CLs 6spd.
Now this.



Didn't get the leather

And a shot of the wife’s car

Talk about family cars

Minch00

Cool

bullaculla

the xenons are really cool. there is a little dial with four positions so you can change the angle of the headlights so you dont blind people if you got a heavy load in the back. like the fat chick you dont want anybody to see in your car.
j/k!!!

55M2G7L

nice, at least you made the right decision for your situation

njzprettyboy

nice color!

55M2G7L

yea i have to agree, nice color, needs a nice wax

DarkSithCL

iTrader: (1)

It's a happy car...I like them...good MPG too, right?

Python2121

very nice car, hid's are sweet, wish i had them

i love the style of the hatch, i could imagine the 4speed being a little slow but if the wifey cant drive stick not much choice (except for teaching her)

bullaculla

Thanks guys. glad you approve I didnt care what color was available as long as it wasn't red, black, yellow or orange. I really like the color too. Luckily this one had the options I wanted. the ABS and Xenons.
I plan leaving it stock. learned my lesson with the CL. the only thing i'm gonna do is replace all the speakers with some polks or infinitys, and put in a good 4 channel amp. stock system sux. except the SP23. but that was way too expensive.

Python2121

how is the fit and finish and button feel and engine noise?

bullaculla

Its really well made. everything fits nicely. everything is firm and solid. I didn't know this but its somehow based on the Volvo s40. so it feels really solid on the road. the plastic parts do feel cheaper than the CL, but it fits nicely. I think the interior is comparable, if not better than my wifes old RSX and is light years ahead of my friends Matrix. The steering wheel has audio and cruise control buttons that includes and mute button for phone calls or whatever. not the first car to have this, but unexpected on an economy car. and there are blue LED illuminated gauges with red backlighting. too cool

bullaculla

oh and the engine is really quiet. except after 60mph. then you realize its a four speed.

Python2121

i would love to pick one of these up used in a few years

F23A4

Mazda3 = Best looking subcompact on the market today!!!! Congrats Bull.

F23A4

95gt

On my list of next cars. Same boat as you. Need to make a smart decision and use that extra car payment money on the family.

car looks great though.

1killercls

We just bought a mazda 6i a couple moths ago and love it.

Here is my fave Mazda Forum.

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/index.php?

Zoom, Zoom.

CL Platano

Looks good very practical.. You should of sent me the 6spd

Black CL-S 4-Life

Nice choice. I love that car.

dom

That car has really grown on me, nice choice.

Hatch > Sedan (not even close IMO)

F23A4

Looks like I have a new forum to troll.

bl^5

Congrats on the new ride mang!

I am in the same predicament right now. Just got a house and had a baby a year ago. Got rid of the Ack and got the wife an SUV so I have been driving around her old college car for the past year and a half but it is falling apart so I am now in the market for a "new" car.

Mazda3 is big on the list because it offers navi but I don't want to buy new so with it only being out 1 year the used car market isn't seeing to many of them yet. Acura TSX w/ Navi is tops on the list but the used car market is the same with it. I am pretty sure that I will just wait until I find a TSX with a 6 speed and Nav for under $22K (probably the end of the summer). Now if for some strange reason an SP23 with the brown leather and Navi pops up used for under $19K first, I will pick it up. I know they don't have Nav in Hawaii so that didn't play a factor in your decision (you should really be happy you don't have the Navi addiction it is very annoying).

What is the used car market like on the Island anyway. It seems like it wouldn't be to good...

bl^5

Oh yeah, try www.mazda3forums.com too I hate there setup because they have so many topics, but there is some good info there.

1killercls

Come on over!!!

F23A4

Sidenote: my 15 y/o son is looking at cars to purchase next year and one of them is the Mazdaspeed Protege. So lookout the screen name 'F23A4,jr' (aka 'Little F') soon.

Zapata

sweet but AT

cheepung

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ighlight=mazda

Yes, another Mazda 3 owner that agrees with me. I have both TSX and Mazda 3 HB. 5 speeds on the MZ3. It is a fun car.

Beltfed

Good choice, definitely one of the better looking sub compacts on the market.

AsianRage

Props to you for looking out for your family. I ain't diggin' the 5dr Hatchback styling, but it works. My fiance got the RAV4 as well, albeit it's the S edition, but that's pretty good.

Anyway, stepping down from a very modified Acura should say alot to your wifey. May you get more love.

SpeedyV6

:traitor:

Jaydef03

you should have stayed with ur 91 acura legend

i would do anything to get the type II with close to no miles

TheTriads

True that!

Although I think Mazda 3 is a fugly car. Given your reason, I'll respect you

bullaculla

I would have liked to, but mine was really worn out. I traded it in '99 for the 3.0 CL with 110k mi. on the car. the dealer gave me $8000 back then! held its value well.

GTRspeeder

i am also gonna get a 3 hatch soon. are you thinking about modding it? there aint really much mod for that car. only couple of exhaust, couple intake and like 1 header available for that car. there is a bunch of nice body kit.

the only big company that make exhaust for the 3 is Borla, Magnaflow and AutoExe (JDM!!). all the other company are called Traxas, Vibrant and Corksport. someone on the 3 forum contacted Apexi and they said they are testing and resaerching a exhaust for the 3. they said its gonna be a N1 and World Sport. BTW, the 1 header that is available aint even street legal. the intake are AEM, INJEN, Umnitza and AutoExe.

here is a link to the bodykits...
http://mazda3forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=6674

here is a link to exhaust... (dont like the sound that much)
http://mazda3forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=16612

sorry for the long post

bullaculla

No. leaving it stock. there is also an adjustable rear sway bar and various other braces for the 3.

1killercls

There are MANY intakes available for the 3. Also some other goodies.

http://www.cp-e.com/home.php (Items here work on the 3 motor as well.)

Another point of interest is the reason for no header available for the car. It Already has one from the Factory!

Doom878

Props to you for not trying to hang with the Joneses and killing your budget. I'm going to be in your situation in a few years as my Accord payment is almost done and me and the wife are in contract for our first house. So when I'm about your age I should be in the car market and will likely go practical as you have. Because man do 2 doors suck to have.

Time For Sleeep

Wow. That's a lot of body kits available for that car. I like most of 'em though... although they start to get a bit ricier and ricier at the end of the list...

Good luck with your ride...

SSMTL01

Nice little car-
I'm not 100% sure but I believe the ford focus/mazda 3/volvo s40 all share a chasis

bullaculla

kind of.
its the second generation focus that isn't available in the US. only europe.
the volvo s40/50 and a few more concept cars are built on the same platform too.