Used Mazda hatchbacks for sale near Palatka, FL

Previously we have owned a 2016 Mazda Hatchback with the 2.0 liter engine and manual transmission. Our biggest complaint with that car was the lack of power. We were not expecting a performance car, but the 2 liter engine in that car was just anemic. My wife didn't feel safe trying to pull out into traffic. We recently purchased a 2024 Mazda 3 Premium with 2.5 liter engine and manual transmission. While still not feeling like a sports car (it is not one) it does have considerably more torque than the 2016 we owned previously. Things we like about the 2024 model: - the bump in power - fuel economy - the interior. the seats are somewhat firm, but comfy. The dash is nicely layed out - the buttons on the console are useful - heater/AC controls are buttons and knobs - easy to use - the heater fan! We have had several Mazdas, and the fan has always been underpowered. the fan in this car is adequate - two driver settings that will put the seat in the correct position, as well as let you set the brightness of the heads up display - seat heaters Things we don't like: - auto sensing wipers. the only way to use the intermittent wipers is with the 'auto' setting, and it operates properly only intermittently at best - the door for the gas filler. it is not difficult, but if you don't know how to do it, you may need to google (what I had to do at the gas station) - Fully electric parking brake - I would prefer a manually operated brake. - The pedal area is somewhat narrow. I have somewhat wide feet, so I have to keep that in mind, as some shoes make driving cumbersome. The reliability question was required, which is a rather lame requirement when one has owned a car for a month. I gave it 3 stars as I have no idea yet as to the reliability.

Chris Dunn was wonderful in helping through my first time purchasing through a dealer. While I was signing paperwork, he came in to let me know the tank had been filled but while the service was doing a quick power wash, a chip of paint came off. He made sure the paperwork was amended to add that it would be fixed at no cost and I would have a loaner. I will be dropping it off this weekend, and he has been sure to keep in touch that service had called me to make sure everything is taken care of. Even confirming date and time I plan to drop off so the loaner is ready to go. I was referred by a friend who'd purchased his truck here, and I would definitely go back for future vehicles.

I haven't owned a 4 cylinder in a long time. I had a turbo 5 Volvo, a 6 cylinder accord, and a Mercedes c300 6 as my last three cars, then before that I owned a last model year RSX (2006, I wouldn't count the new ones) for a long time so that's the closest comparison to this. I think the RSX felt a bit more sporty (I didn't have the Type S), but as for power they're a pretty close match, and I bet the Mazda 3 would smoke it off the line with it's torque heavy engine. I think the RSX looked more sporty too, it had probably a more mature styling to it that I appreciate now even more than I did when I owned one, but I will say every time I look at my Mazda 3 I like it more and more. I've seen a thousand of these on the road and never had a strong opinion on them, but my girl in red keeps growing on me, and when I take the dog out for walks I circle the car and look it over and understand it more and more. I have a 2018 fully loaded GT, and the interior is mostly it's strongest positive. The facelifted w204 is easily the nicest looking interior I've ever been in, and the accord maybe the most comfortable, but this is incredibly close to the accord in terms of comfort and only lacking in slightly worse seats and less room. The seats are great though, but the 2012 accords were some of the best I've say in. The fake leather has a great balance of firm and give to it, and what's even better is the whole interior is wrapped in a similar nice synthetic material that's a joy to be wrapped in. I've never owned a car where my arms are supported on both sides in such a comfortable manner. I'm 6'1 so I keep my seat low but I feel like I have a good deal of room, in fact, I test drove a 2023 (gen 4) Mazda 3 that was an incredible price, about $800 off from my 2018 and even less miles but the new interior design is nowhere close to as good as what we get in the gen 3. You have almost no room to spread your legs out in the newer models and that's a deal breaker for me. The one major weakness of the 2018's interior is the tablet on top of the dash looks hideous. I think I mentioned earlier my model is fully loaded, and I mean it. But what's that mean, a premium sound system, some exterior trim pieces tacked on? Nope, here we have some genuinely cool features. Adaptive headlights that turn with the wheel, a heads up display that's projected on a piece of clear plastic that raises up when you start the engine and can show speed, road signs, blind spot info, next GPS heading, etc. We have automatic windshield wipers, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, a great Bose sound system, paddle shifters. My car has more bells and whistles than my wife's high trim 2023 Tuscon. I really love my little Mazda, and I'm hoping to take it down some back roads to see if I can enjoy the driving part as much as some others do, as I've mostly spent time on the highway or in stop and go so far. This was a purchase I was unsure of 3 days ago when I made it, but every couple waking hours something pulls me to that car, whether to drive it or just to sit in it. I know now I've made a great choice.