Just out of curiosity...

[nissangirl74]

who here owns a Mazda? As the title reads, I'm just curious. It seems like more and more people are making the switch. We have THREE in our driveway at the moment. Who'd have ever thought that?

[dre1507]

Bex, you just don't how bad I've wanted a miata in the past two months. Truthfully, I'd be getting one as my next purchase if i didn't need to carry at least two passengers at any given time.

[frapjap]

This is my second Mazda, but it won't let me vote twice.
It would be highly unlikely that the current one I own would be my last.

[RicerX]

The wife-to-be is currently DDing my MS3, so I'm DDing the Z. But it counts

[Kompresshun]

This is my third Mazda and my dad had two that I remember of. I've had two FC RX7's, then the Miata and my dad had a 1st gen RX7 and a early 626 Turbo.

I've always been a huge fan of Mazda personally. The only reason I didn't buy one when I bought the Five Hundred is I couldn't find a Mazda 6 or MS3 that wasn't beat to hell with a million miles. When it's time to replace the Five Hundred, I fully intend to replace it with a Mazda 6.

[Extreme Dimensions]

Rocking a 92 miata on koni yellows. The new mazdas are amazing, specially the Mazda/mazdaspeed 3. Great gas mileage, great performance, fun to drive, and room up the wazoo. I think the mazda3 is ahead of its class, but people still are not too familiar with the mazda brand. If Mazda had the reputation toyota has (excluding the throttle recalls lol), i think it would outsell the camry by a lot.

[Looneybomber]

Never owned a mazda, but my roommate has a mazda3 and a mustang gt.

I considered the Miata, but due to its lack of power, I bought an s2k.
I considered the RX8, but due to it's lack of MPG, I bought an s2k.
I considered the MS3 as a family car, but due to it's lack of leg room and MPG, I stayed with my explorer that's paid off.

I would have voted "no, but would consider them" since I have considered them in the past, but right now, Mazda, like Nissan, doesn't do anything for me. I might consider the MS3, but 22-23MPG (rated 18 city) on fuelly.com says I'd be better off getting a used vette, elise, s2k, 911, Jag XK, 135i, 335i, 335d, etc...Something with equal or better MPG, performance, and RWD.

[nissangirl74]

At this moment, the ad on the right side of my screen in a 2014 Mazda 3...

also, Chris I would absolutely rock a new MAZDA 6. So hot and you can get it with a manual.

[Extreme Dimensions]

Never owned a mazda, but my roommate has a mazda3 and a mustang gt.

I considered the Miata, but due to its lack of power, I bought an s2k.
I considered the RX8, but due to it's lack of MPG, I bought an s2k.
I considered the MS3 as a family car, but due to it's lack of leg room and MPG, I stayed with my explorer that's paid off.

I would have voted "no, but would consider them" since I have considered them in the past, but right now, Mazda, like Nissan, doesn't do anything for me. I might consider the MS3, but 22-23MPG (rated 18 city) on fuelly.com says I'd be better off getting a used vette, elise, s2k, 911, Jag XK, 135i, 335i, 335d, etc...Something with equal or better MPG, performance, and RWD.

Everyone has a different budget, but i agree with the S2k choice, and it will always be smarter to keep a paid of car instead of picking up a car note. I'm about a grand into my miata, including the konis and a new soft top lol. I wanted to purchase an S2K, but went with a genesis coupe instead for the 100k warranty and "newer looks".

[krash]

I WILL own an FD after I graduate

[Kompresshun]

At this moment, the ad on the right side of my screen in a 2014 Mazda 3...

also, Chris I would absolutely rock a new MAZDA 6. So hot and you can get it with a manual.

I love the new Mazda 3 as well, but I think i'd rather have a little extra space and get the 6 instead. By the time the 500 needs to be replaced, I should be able to buy the current body style 6 at a pretty reasonable price. I prefer to buy things for myself that I can pay for in cash anyways.

I guess it all depends on if I can replace the 500 on my own terms or not though. Currently i've put 19k on it in 11 months and it's still going strong, so i'm going to try to squeeze another 30-35k out of it before replacing it.

I WILL own an FD after I graduate

I love the FD, but I don't really want one. I fully intend on adding an FC to the fleet down the road too though. I want either another Turbo II or a FC 'vert.

[krash]

Turbo II's are sweet! There are a few guys I know that have FC verts in MD. Looks a lot like the 240 convertible, so obviously I'm a fan The only thing I dont like is the little a-pillar window thing.

FD has always been one of those "hero cars" for me since I was a kid (along with supra, skyline, viper, etc). And in a few years I might actually be able to snag one. So if I can, then I can fulfill a childhood dream

[Kompresshun]

I miss the hell out of my Turbo II. It was an absolute blast.

My hero car has always been a Porsche 930(80's 911 Turbo). That is really the only car that I have always dreamed of owning, that would actually be within my reach of owning.

[Looneybomber]

Speaking of hero cars, 1996 Viper GTS in blue with white stripes. 14 y/o boys dream car.
I'd love a Lambo Countach, but that will always be outside my price range.

[krash]

5th grade, as soon as I found out I could get an email address, it was [email protected]

[nissangirl74]

That's awesome!

[OriginalWheelman]

Ever since we bought the Mazda2.... I'm Looking at RX-7s, RX-8s, Miatas... Yeah...

When i was buying cheap fun cars 10 years ago, I was all over 240s and Zs. I still love my old Zs. But looking at cars built in the last 10 years, I'm looking at Mazda. Mazda still makes driver's cars. I should send a thank you letter to that jerk at Autonation who tried to rip me off on the Versa. And tbh, I only suggested we go drive it because of all the good things you had to say about the the 3.

[Jesda]

I buy them whenever I can because I like having them around. Just sold a Mazda 3i and two Miatas.

Would love to find a Protege 5.

[Kompresshun]

5th grade, as soon as I found out I could get an email address, it was [email protected]

My username on AOL back in the day, probably around 17 years ago roughly was ViperGTS07(random digit picked by AOL).

[skydragoness]

I remember years ago a lot of people were getting Subarus on the forum...now it's Mazdas. I've went from two Nissans to a Subaru as a 2nd car then a Miata and currently a Subaru again. I think I'm going to go full circle and get a Nissan next! If I were to get a Miata again it'd definitely be a NB, or even an NC ...I really liked the STR class prepped one I got to co-drive a few weeks ago. IMO, I always thought of Mazda as having good looking/handling cars with nice interiors.

[AZhitman]

Would love to find a Protege 5.

Totally underappreciated car.

Looked for one for quite a while for Dar, but they got snatched up as soon as they hit CL.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Mazda's biggest loss with me is the lack of RWD outside the Miata. Having said that, if I WERE in the market for anything FWD, Mazda would be my first destination. The new 3 is a great car and also happens to be the best-proportioned compact car in the history of The Universe. It looks GOOD. That doesn't happen very often with small cars. They can look "okay" or "good for a compact" or "not hideous" but actually looking really good is almost unheard-of. Combine that with a great chassis, solid powertrain options, and Mazda reliability (one of the few Japanese makes which has not yet traded solid build quality for volume sales), and you've got a winner.

The 6 is also superb, but if we're stepping into midsize territory I'll take mine with a longitudinal driveshaft and +2 cylinders please.

Miata is an obvious "yes." If I could, I would. I don't have a justification for a topless 2-door I can barely fit in, but I sure wish I could FIND such justification.

And the late-model Protegé was a serious winner. Very gutless, but it didn't matter. It was like the B13 Sentra in being sort of a small, FWD take on the classic BMW formula: light on power, big on fun. I'm of course partial to the wagon and endlessly annoyed that Mazda never offered the MazdaSpeed package on wagon models. One downside to the Protegé, though, is the fact that it's one of those cars where the fit-and-finish levels are visibly disparate between entry- and higher-tier packages. Cheap Proteges look pretty cheap, but nicer ones look quite classy for what was in reality a very miserly and economical little budgetbox.

[breadbox]

My 02 MP5. s*** motor for performance, but its fun to drive. Plus I always liked how they look stock.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

96 Miata here. Debating whether or not to stick with Mazda for my new car purchase once I return to the states or go with the Focus ST. Miata will get garaged and await a V8, engine was on its last legs when I put it and storage and I doubt sitting stagnant for 7 months is going to do it any favors.

[dre1507]

Had the privilege of driving an mx7 a few times today, and I must say that I really liked it. I consider myself a decently big guy, and I had no problem fitting comfortably inside. Most of all, I liked the 3rd pedal and shifter. The clutch engagement was really nice. The shifter, on the other hand, could use a bit more smoothness, but it's nothing to complain about.

[Bubba1]

If I were to replace my Z, the only Mazda I'd consider is not a Miata, but probably an FD RX-7 twin turbo. A truly great sports car and IMHO the best RX-7 ever made by far, and I've driven every gen RX zoom zoom. After driving an FD on track several years ago, it was "Miata who?".

[szh]

I have owned two Mazda's in the past:

1. a 1980 Mazda RX-7.
2. a 1986 Mazda 626 GT.

Good cars, both of them!

Z

[nissangirl74]

96 Miata here. Debating whether or not to stick with Mazda for my new car purchase once I return to the states or go with the Focus ST. Miata will get garaged and await a V8, engine was on its last legs when I put it and storage and I doubt sitting stagnant for 7 months is going to do it any favors.

I drove the Focus ST before I drove the Speed3 and there really is no contest. Some magazines that did comparisons said they were neck and neck, some say the ST / 3 won, but IMHO the Speed 3 is much better. The ride was better (the ST can be very harsh), more passenger room, feels like more power, steering feedback was better, the seats are 1,000,000,000X better, and I think it looks better too. Either way, make sure you drive them both (like-you-stole-it) before you buy.