If you can get the Mazda3 at a cheaper price, then go for it. Like you said, they are very good competition for each other so the deciding factor would be the price.

 

I was looking into both as well.

The few things I liked more about the Mazda3 over the tC:
Steering wheel. tC is too thin
Hatchback. more usable space in 3, without having to put rear seats down.
Lower stock riding height.
Nav option.

 

It is a simple choice. Do you prefer 2 door or 4 door. If you need 4 doors for kids, kids in the future, friends dog etc. than the Mazda 3 using you S or X plan is a better deal.But if you don't...

I looked on Mazda incentives and there is NO $3000 rebate for college or anybody buying the Mazda 3. It is $500 for college, that is it.That means a Mazda 3i with a stick is around $16,500 at window sticker, which is similiar to a stick tC. With the deal you save $1300 to $1600 dollars at most even usingthe rebate. The 3 would be the smaller engine and no power roof and no alloy wheels. That really isn't much of a deal if you want the gear. Not to mention if you finance with Toyota you can get $400 from them as a college grad.

If you grab a loaded Mazda 3s you will spend around $18000 to $19000 using your deal vs $17,265 for the tC auto. If you add leather and some other gear, lets say $2000 worth, the price is still awfully close.

 

Go to Europe where a Focus is considered a family car.
Take a trip to London, where most people drive two seaters. I was there for 14 days and I saw one SUV. I ____ you not.
Ever seen an Audi A3?

Big cars are an American thing.

 

No idea who told you the college grad discount is $3000, its only $500 as rickbreitenfeldt stated. Before the tC came out I was looking at the mazda6. I love the exterior, but once I got inside, I said no thanks! Didnt care for how cheap it felt.

 

first off, not trying to flame....just trying to make sure you don't expect something that probably won't happen. okay, first off, did you actually check the program and make sure that it apply's to both cars? because first off, scion won't allow a car to sell for invoice, unless every other comprable car is selling at the same price, it's probably the second hottest car on the market. prius being the first. oh, and from what i hear, the mazda 3 is not that far behind. so, why would a dealership sell a car, which they can't keep on the lot, for any less than the market allows? i know how our fleet dept. works, and not every car applys. just wanted to let you know that, before you went in to buy the car....

 

If you work for Ford, or have a close friend/family member who does, then yes, they do offer these pricings on Mazda's. As an employee of a large defense contractor, I also have similar discounts available for any domestic car brand. It still didnt compare to the cost/features of the tC, and I wont even get into reliability comparisons.

 

That's what makes the downsizing so surprising.

 

I own one of each. 5spd tC and a 5spd 2.3S Mazda3


The Mazda 3 is a bit lighter so it feels a tad more agile. However, it rides very hard to get that. My tC with TRD springs is much softer but still feels almost as agile. I haven't been able to push my tC as hard as the 3 though since it's not broken in.

Power wise the tC feels stronger. Probably isn't faster though. But it feels as if it is.

The Interior of the cars are both great, but the tC feels MUCH more upscale. It wins hands down. The only features I wish it had from the Mazda3 are the telescoping steering wheel, the deep glove box, and the audio controls on the steering wheel.

Looks....I like them both but tC looks better to me.

However...my tC is rattling already. Typical of a Toyota. The 3 has no rattles and three times the miles so far.

 

In my opinion, the Mazda3 has a much smoother transmission and the ride is much better than in my xB. The way I had it equipped, it would have cost me nearly 20k, but I got my Scion xB for 14k and I'm rather happy with the money that I saved. The interior of the Mazda3 is much nicer, but you do get what you pay for. I don't know... unless you're as cheap as I am, you should probably go for whatever car makes you happy. I actually came to the dealer to test drive a WRX STi and I ended up with a Scion xB... figures. I still have more cargo space and I'm averaging 35MPG.

 

I was comparing a Mazda 3 to the tC when I was looking for a car.

To get a 3 equipped like a tC (s model, 17" alloy wheels, etc) the MSRP started at 19,500. And that was before any stereo options or anything like that, I was fairly spartan on equipping it, just what the base tC has.

If you can get it for invoice, I suppose it brings the price a bit closer to the tC. Remember the 3i model only has 130hp!

 

bro,

Get the 3, it sounds like your leaning towards it anyway; you dont need our opinion. Buy the car you want, if you buy the wrong car you'll be kicking yourself in the head for the rest of your ownership of the vehicle.

As for the tC. Been happy with mine, no rattles as far as im concern. Yeah the sunroof pops but damn, the car is under 20k not 35k or 40k. (got to keep that in perspective).

If you do decide to buy the tC, put your name down on it, the longer you take, the longer it will take to receive.

my opinion--(dont really matter anyways)
"that's the rub"

x