Finally got my Mazda3!

[sarsbars]

My poor little Protege5 has been rusting away for the past couple of years. It was going to fail inspection, so we've been searching for the past month for a Mazda3 GT hatchback. I originally wanted a first gen, but we stumbled upon a second gen and the hubs and I fell in love. After nearly two weeks of waiting for the dealership to repair some things, we FINALLY got to pick it up tonight. It's not my number one color choice, but it's growing on me.

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/132484499@N08/16791297954" title="20150507_181356 by Sarah Ebner, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8756/16791297954_3a9ec4f9cb_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="20150507_181356"></a>

I like the P5 better from the front. It's just cuter, but the 3 looks soooo nice from the back. The white taillights make it that much better. Not to mention it just looks sportier from behind.

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/132484499@N08/17411647782" title="20150507_181458 by Sarah Ebner, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7787/17411647782_78be237938_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="20150507_181458"></a>


So long little Protege
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/132484499@N08/17387614096" title="20150507_181808 by Sarah Ebner, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8770/17387614096_33cd30de7f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="20150507_181808"></a>


Unfortunately because it's a 6-speed and I'm new to driving stick, the hubs gets to drive it for the first month or so. I just hope he doesn't fall in love (of course maybe if he does he can keep it and I can find another one in Celestial Blue )

 

[Hank3]

Congrats! My fav color for the 2nd gen is the Liquid Silver. Been looking at 1st and 2nd gen Mazda3 GTs recently for when I upgrade from my Protege5. But it'll be some time yet before that happens. My P5 is still treating me well down here in the south. No rust to contend with. Maybe by the time I'm ready I can good a really good deal on one for around $7-$8K.

How many miles were on the P5 and on the MZ3?

 

[sarsbars]

Thanks! I usually hate silver or grey on cars, but I have to agree that the liquid silver doesn't look too bad on these cars, it looks especially nice on the newer models. This one's a nice dark grey, so I can tolerate it, plus it's just a nice car.

My P5 only had 120k on it. If it wasn't for the rust it would have no problem. Unfortunately it not only destroys the body, but the suspension components as well. I envy you southerners! The new 3 has 68k on it, but it was a good deal.

 

[GrasshopperCO]

Congrats on the new ride! I fell in love with the 2nd gen 3 the first time I drove one, but I couldn't afford it at the time (I got a 2 instead). Now that I can afford it, I got the 3rd gen 3 . I was wondering how your rust problem could crop up after 120k miles, then I saw you live in the Northeast...and that would explain it lol. Was it from Mag Chloride in the winter or just humidity in general?

 

[sarsbars]

Yea, whatever they use on the road is awful, and of course once the rust starts there's no stopping it. I probably could have been more preventative and gotten it washed more frequently. I am definitely getting weekly washes in the winter for the 3!

The 3rd gens are super nice. We sat in one at the dealership, and my husband said that if the sales-guy had pressured him more he probably would have bought one.

 

[nyexx]

Thanks! I usually hate silver or grey on cars, but I have to agree that the liquid silver doesn't look too bad on these cars, it looks especially nice on the newer models. This one's a nice dark grey, so I can tolerate it, plus it's just a nice car.

My P5 only had 120k on it. If it wasn't for the rust it would have no problem. Unfortunately it not only destroys the body, but the suspension components as well. I envy you southerners! The new 3 has 68k on it, but it was a good deal.

Nice. I picked up a 2010 3s Grand Touring Tech 6 speed sedan back in March for $8200. Has 88,000 miles.

Also my first car and I'm new to driving stick. I'll admit it wasn't the easiest car to learn to drive stick in but I've got it down for the most part. Good luck!

 

[GrasshopperCO]

Nice. I picked up a 2010 3s Grand Touring 6 speed sedan back in March for $8200. Has 88,000 miles.

Also my first car and I'm new to driving stick. I'll admit it wasn't the easiest car to learn to drive stick in but I've got it down for the most part. Good luck!

Yeah, the clutch is really touchy . It's not that much better in the 3rd gen 3s, but I'd rather have that than just feeling like I'm stepping on a marshmellow haha.

 

[DG_1234]

Unfortunately because it's a 6-speed and I'm new to driving stick, the hubs gets to drive it for the first month or so. I just hope he doesn't fall in love (of course maybe if he does he can keep it and I can find another one in Celestial Blue )

It is not going to take you a month to get comfortable with a stick shift. Maybe an hour at the most.

 

[nyexx]

It is not going to take you a month to get comfortable with a stick shift. Maybe an hour at the most.

It depends on the person. This was not true for me.

 

[sarsbars]

I just went for my first drive as the driver after only a week of driving stick. It's so much different than my husband's car. The clutch feels sooo loong, but I think I'll get the hang of it pretty quickly.

We went around a parking lot a few times just so I could get a feel for the clutch, and with my jerky driving we noticed a squeak coming from the front end when I turned a tight right. He popped the hood and pushed on the front and we didn't hear anything. It also didn't make any noises going over bumps. The squeak was not present when turning tightly to the left, only the right. Any thoughts as to what could be causing it?