Mazda uses the slogan "zoom, zoom" and it fits well. My former car was a Mazda 626 which was an unexpected purchase while walking through the lot between Honda and Toyota. I liked that car so much that I actively sought out another Mazda for my next vehicle. I happen to enjoy a manual transmission and Mazda puts me behind the wheel of a car sporty enough to feel luxurious without breaking the bank. The elite trim with leather interior, upgraded sound system, and sunroof makes the ride to and from work enjoyable. As a smaller car, it does have limited leg room for us taller guys (6' 2'') but it's adequate. Having an onboard GPS system may have been nice a decade ago, but with smart phones everywhere, it seems like wasted space. If you're looking for a fuel efficient car, this is not it. Despite the small size, you'll get about 24 mpg. But overall it's worth it. Newer Mazda 3s have a redone grill which looks like a cheesy smile, but the pre-2010 version has a much more refined look. The current model has a sleeker look overall, but I still think the 2007 model has a clean shape to the hatchback version. The original plan eight years ago was to pass this car on to my son when he got his license. He has the license now, but not the car. I still find it too much fun to drive. I think that just about says it all.

The car handles really well! This car is my first and the one I actively learned to drive in. Before I had worked with larger vehicles like SUVs. This one is perfect for a beginner! The car also looks rather sporty and adorable. Mine is light blue and really seems like a "me" car. Especially since the front looks like someone doing :D <-- that face. It's pretty cute! The downside is that it is an "older" car. It's almost 10 years old at this point so it's missing a lot of the more modern features that today's vehicles seem to have like built in GPS, Bluetooth, etc. Another thing I love about the car is that the back seats can fold down and give greatly increased trunk space. The trunk is already very spacious, but fold down the backseats and it's even better! It's perfect for transporting larger props or a giant pair of wings! (I'm a costumer/cosplayer and I go to a lot of events).