The 3 is a nice car, i was sooo close to getting one, waited about a month and out came the Scion TC. I was like, a coupe hatchback ... finally something like an Integra but NOT. Anyways, the 3 and TC are really nice either way. The 3 is more and the color choices suck. Look around, 70% of them are the dark grey color.

 

Down here in the dirty south of Texas, woman and ___ men drive the 3... Just an observation. I love those damn projectors on the 3 though! haha

 

my uncle bought a mazda3 about a year ago and he is happy with it. I have driven it a few times, and I must say they are nice. I was thinking of buying one until i fell in love with the tC.

after I got my tC, i let my uncle drive it around for a bit, and he admit that he liked the ride and handling a ton better than his mazda3. He said he wants to trade it in for a tC, but he cant get a good trade-in value. so just think about it... IMO, the tc is a better car and more bang for your buck!

 

I have both, the tC is better.

 

scion looks better

 

the mazda3 have projectors and hids as an option....and they do have 17inch wheels

 

I had to make the same decision. I decided on the tC for looks, price, and the Toyota reputation. I got my 06 the other day and couldn't be happier.

 

How tall are you? I had my wife at the dealership to look at the tC and had her sit in it; she liked it a lot and then she asked me to sit in the car (since I would be driving it) and being 6'1" I had told her that I "fit" with some "adjustments" to the seat. She saw my knees less than one inch from the dash with the seat all the way back, and tilted, too, so I didn't hit my head on the roof. I assured her that the knee airbags would protect my legs, but the steering wheel was in my lap (and fully adjusted upward). She asked whether or not the car had a "gonad airbag" to keep me from being sterilized in the event of an accident. That killed the tC for me. So I showed her the xB next, and she hates it - says it looks too much like the PT Cruiser we have (the interior, I mean, though I disagree - I think she means the upright seating - too much like the PT and our Sienna Van).

I fit better in the Mazda 3, myself, but I'm still pulling for a Scion. Either choice you make, you'll get a great car; Toyota has an awesome reputation for quality, and I think Mazda's (though I've never owned one) are fairly good, too.