[Patrick del Poker Grande]

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Just to clarify, I basically was down to a Civic or a Mazda3i, which I am planning to go drive this weekend. Although with what I want to spend, if I want to get the Mazda, it will be a pretty bare bones version.

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The Mazda3 is a good car too. I've got the last production year (2003.5) of Protege5, which is what the hatchback 3 replaced. It's a great little car and at the time I bought it (January 2003), it was easily the best car in the market for the price (mid teens). It excells in handling, but it's a bit underpowered. A lot of people say they prefer the Protege5 to the 3, but the 3 does have a few more interior bells & whistles and a bit bigger engine (I think that's an option, though). They're good cars. If you can go a little higher in price, then I'd check out the Impreza, but I guess maybe you can't if you can only get the barebones 3. Whichever it is, if it were me, I'be choosing between a 3, an Impreza, or a Civic.