When I was first looking at newer cars, I wasn't quite sure what I wanted since I'm not typically a car person or know anything about cars for that matter. I had owned a VW and Dodge in the past which both relied me pretty well. Now was time for a nicer car I could afford and I had to do a little research. After searching up the best cars of 2013 I came across the Mazda 3. It looked so beautiful that I had to see for myself and I'm glad I did. The model I found is upgraded and I managed to talk the price down since it had been on the lot for 6 months. Having owned this car for 6 months now I can honestly say it's the best car I've ever owned. Some of the reasons why are: It's newer, It has only 10,000 miles on it, it has air conditioning, a moon roof, heated leather seats, full stereo, and much more. This car has almost everything I want and is so pretty to look at, and also fun to drive. I can honestly say the car doesn't have many cons. The only thing I wish was different was a lot of the black interior. It looks beautiful when clean, but when it gets dusty it sticks out like a sore thumb. I find myself cleaning the car constantly because I want it to look nice. Other than that the car drives beautifully. I can take it on the highway and it doesn't even feel like I'm driving. All the parts are new and I change the oil consistently.

The 2008 Mazda Speed 3 is a great little hot hatch for the money. The exterior varies only slightly from the base model Mazda 3, but under the hood, it packs a 263hp turbocharged engine mated to a six speed manual gearbox. The clutch is very heavy, but also has a lot of grip and very little play. The steering is crisp and responsive, but there is a hint of under steer from the front wheel drive layout. Mazda did their best to eliminate this with a mechanical limited slip differential, but it still can be felt under heavy acceleration. The seats are very comfortable bucket seats that hug your body, while the rest of the interior is acceptable, it is nothing to write home about. Featuring an AUX jack and a CD player, with optional XM radio, I found the stereo to be adequate. The rear is comfortable enough to hold two adults, or three if you got comfortable with one another. The seats do fold down for plenty of storage area. Enough if you needed to make a quick trip to the lumber yard.

Overall the car drives alright. Having driven several others as a valet, and especially some luxury brands, this particular car falls in the middle range for drivability. It is quick on the pick up, slightly jerky between gears, and the brakes are touchy. The economy of the gas mileage is the biggest benefit, however, and it is a decently smooth ride.