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Looks like Christmas came early for a few of us.

'06 Mazda 3 s hatchback in Titanium Grey (my first new car!):

My previous car was a '94 Saturn SL1. Needless to say I'm just a wee bit happier with my new ride.

It has amazing handling, a fantastic and responsive engine (great power for a 4-cyl, too), and a great interior with plenty of headroom and lots of cargo room (which my dog will surely appreciate). I ended up buying a little sooner than I first thought, but with a better financing rate than anticipated, and the newer (and more expensive) 07's starting to phase out the 06's, and the fact my Saturn was starting to act up (idling at close to 2k rpm instead of the usual 1k, rattling sounds that weren't there previously...), I figured it was a good time to go.

Now excuse me while I take my new car for a drive.

Very nice, Adam! I like the sporty looks and handling of the Mazdas. Have fun driving around.

Stay away from those speeding tickets, okay?

Very nice Adam. Good looking, practical, and I like the color a lot.

Zoom, Zoom.... Nice ride. Congrats!

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Very nice, Adam! I like the sporty looks and handling of the Mazdas. Have fun driving around.

Stay away from those speeding tickets, okay?

Heh, thanks for the warning. I've discovered that this thing corners like it's on rails. Scary good handling.

Congrats! Looks really nice. Now all you need is a "powered by Mazda" decal and you're set!

Too bad the spoiler isn't bigger.

Very nice, Adam, but if you were a bit smaller you'd fit into a MX-5!

The Miata-now-MX-5 may be a great roadster, but I need something a bit more practical. Plus something that I can fit in with the top down, too.

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Plus something that I can fit in with the top down, too.

No kidding! I test drove one and couldn't see folding myself into one on a daily basis. Miatas are built for small people. I remember haven't to stoop down in the seat in order to see the traffic light. Fun to drive but not very practical.

See! Smaller is better!

LOL!

"Folding" is for young "normal" sized people. I have owned a couple of MGBs in my lifetime. While I could be considered "normal" sized (5'10"), at my age, I would be reluctant to "fold" myself into another MGB or a Miata. Funny how your wants change with age. When I was young I wanted "cool."

Now I want comfort.

The Mazda 3 is nice. I personally am not a fan of "hatchbacks", but it isn't butt-ugly like the 1990's vintage hatchback.

I would happily drive your car around, no problems, so if you get tired of it, let me know.

New toys are nice. I like the color too!

Hey...Hayward Mazda!!! I wonder if it is in the same place it was 20 years or so ago when I was in college....Cal State Hayward....now called Cal State East Bay (what were they thinking!!!???).

Congrats on the new ride!

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When I was young I wanted "cool."

When my dad was young he used to own a '58 Corvette that he happily crammed himself into. He's 6'1". With certain cars it doesn't matter how bad you fit, you just keep on squeezin'.

Boy, that's one car he wishes he still had. Sold it right after he got drafted.

I have to admit, I'd be willing to squeeze into a '58 Corvette. One of my dream cars. It was the first year for the dual headlights.

I wouldn't turn down a 57 Vette either.

Wow...those are some great looking examples!

Gotta admit, I wanted a '58 Vette in light blue with white sides from the moment I saw the In 'n' Out commercial...

Nice ride Adam, Congrats!

I really like the new ride. The wife wants to get one of these for her next car.

I really like the new ride, too.

I took it on a short trip down Hwy 1 past Half Moon Bay and it continues to impress all around. The total package of handling/ride quality/interior/looks is really something for the price. I still get a little giddy every time I go out and see it parked there.

That's always a great feeling! Glad to hear that you like it so much... maybe I'll have to consider one.

Adam, I am very jealous. I've been *this close* to buying a Mazda 3i on a couple of occasions. Then my wife snaps me back to reality with the property tax bill or some such. That is clearly my favorite of the economical cars. Come give me a test drive! I'm only about 800 miles away.

Congrats. Enjoy!

He also is very good at picking beers.

Mmm... Elysian Bete Blanche Trippel...

Well, Washington (Olympic National Park to be specific) is on my list of places to take road trips to, so who knows, I may be able to stop by one of these days, Tom!

I hate to rain on your parade... but I think you bought too soon...

Heh. Reminds me of a Barenaked Ladies song.

I just came back from an overnight trip to Yosemite. Definitely still loving the car.

If I had a complaint from this first road trip, it'd be that I didn't get close to the advertised 32mpg highway. Best I got was about 28, which is still good, but not 32. All the other features I'm happy about cancel that one out, though.

On another good note, the future iPod hookup I had included in the original purchase price has been installed, and it's actually a lot cooler than what I was expecting. I was expecting just a standard Aux input jack, but instead got a third party "iPod Integration Unit" (link) that charges the iPod and gives me control of the iPod through my stereo/steering wheel controls (can ffwd,rew, back, next, and have it go back or to the next playlist or album). Plus the cord comes out through the ashtray, which is big enough to fit my connected iPod mini inside with the tray's door closed, so I get all my favorite tunes without any wires or iPod showing. Nice!

Cool, I just bought a DICE unit, should be arriving today. It's for my FJ. Granted $150 is a lot to pay for an adapter but I felt that looking at the scroll wheel and playlists while driving isn't the safest thing in the world...

<napoleon dynamite> Lucky! </napoleon dynamite>

You're just jealous because he's been chatting online with babes all day.

The new Mazdaspeed 3 made the cover of both Car and Driver and Motor Trend this month. It is compared to the Subaru WRX, no slouch, and wins the comparo ...