Mazda 3 (1st gen - BK) 2003-2009

[Waugh-terfall]

We don't have that, our range starts with the 1.6. Is the 1.4 actually any good?

Erm, well, put it this way, my best friends Mum has just gone from a 1998 Volvo V70 SECD 2.5 Auto to a 2004 Mazda 3 TS 1.4 Hatch and she's not unhappy about it, in fact she loves the Mazda, sure she doesn't have the ability to kick the throttle and have an instant blast of power like she did (and quite often) in the Volvo but she says even though her 1.4 has, and I quote, 'the power of a potato' she doesn't really notice it much, even with 2 kids, the husband and dog in the car because it handles so damned well. She says it just wont lose grip and the chassis is amazing. The sound doesn't leave much to be desired though but I'm sure it can be easily rectified.

[NSXType-R]

the SP23 is a great everyday car, with the luxo pack sound system - a friend got his on thursday, couldn't ask for anything more in a daily driver.

What's a SP23?

[Ingolstadt]

my best friends Mum She says it just wont lose grip and the chassis is amazing.

Quite a mom i must say...

[Waugh-terfall]

Quite a mom i must say...

lol, She loves to drive, and she's a brilliant driver at that!

[jediali]

is she the stig?

[clutch-monkey]

What's a SP23?

err..it's got the 2.3L petrol engine, but is not turbo'd like the MPS model...it's the cheaper 'hot' version, for people who don't want turbo shenanigans, i believe... basically the top model before the MPS/mazdaspeed version?

i attached two pics of it from when he picked it up

[Ferrer]

Quite a mom i must say...

One of my friend's mothers changed her 328i for a 911 Turbo because she though the BMW was slow.

Honest.

[Waugh-terfall]

Christ! I wish my Mum was like that...
'She's just like, I want a new car Andrew... Can we get an MX-5..? A Golf..? Plleeeaaassse?'

[NSXType-R]

err..it's got the 2.3L petrol engine, but is not turbo'd like the MPS model...it's the cheaper 'hot' version, for people who don't want turbo shenanigans, i believe... basically the top model before the MPS/mazdaspeed version?

i attached two pics of it from when he picked it up

Wow, we Americans get screwed over again. We don't get a hot non-Mazdaspeed version.

[The_Canuck]

I really don't like this car

[NSXType-R]

I don't find anything wrong with it at all, especially the Mazdaspeed version. The only thing the Mazdaspeed really needs then is AWD because there is some torque steer I heard.

[The_Canuck]

I don't find anything wrong with it at all, especially the Mazdaspeed version. The only thing the Mazdaspeed really needs then is AWD because there is some torque steer I heard.

They're kind of a dull-ugly. Also they are far to common here...

In fact I don't like any Mazda...and I don't have that much against them, they're just unispiring. Even the RX8. Sure it drives well, but looking at it does nothing for me.

[Ferrer]

Wow, we Americans get screwed over again. We don't get a hot non-Mazdaspeed version.

Don't worry we don't have it either. Not that I'm much bothered though.

[clutch-monkey]

Don't worry we don't have it either. Not that I'm much bothered though.

yeah, i'd never consider buying one, but driving that SP23 around it's difficult to think of many new cars that would make as good a daily driver at that price.

[Ferrer]

yeah, i'd never consider buying one, but driving that SP23 around it's difficult to think of many new cars that would make as good a daily driver at that price.

Well I guess it depends what you search in a car. How much does it cost by the way?