so we are giving our 2003 Protege 5 to her 15y.o. son who lives in Kansas, so we needed a new car
the lil pro5 has been to the shop 1x in 108,000 to get a new timing belt, last month, so to say the least we are very happy w/ mazda products, this is my 4th mazda product.
we were going to buy a NICE car, since i was promised a $1 raise above min. wage!!!!
but she drives kinda in the hood and works at a hoodish hosp. so we decided to buy a reasonable car again. pay it off quick, then buy a nice "sunday" car.
2012 Mazdaspeed3
263 hp
280 ft/lbs
3200 lbs
5700mi and not even 4 mos old
HIDs
Nav (her SIII has a bigger screen, lol)
Bose
Sirius (4 mos free trial hadn't even been activated yet)
ABS and other elec. stuff
blind-spot detection
all for a little over $20k (a VERY good deal)
has some tq steer, but nothing crazy, broke the tires loose in 1st and 2nd pretty easily. ride is taut but we like it like that! lol
only real downside is mediocre gas mileage on premium gas, we expect mid 20's
hopefully will be a good little car like all our previos mazdas