# Help! the Mazdaspeed3 is butt ugly, but it's a rocket! Too tempting. Other alternatives? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 3, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-mazdaspeed3-is-butt-ugly-but-its-a-rocket-too-tempting-other-alternatives/516181 "2009-11-03T17:53:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-mazdaspeed3-is-butt-ugly-but-its-a-rocket-too-tempting-other-alternatives/516181/21 "2009-11-05T20:33:04Z")
Thanks a lot folks for the ideas. I just pulled the trigger on a gunmetal-gray VW GTI 4-door. Can’t wait till it arrives! Boy am I happy I didn’t go for the Mazdaspeed3. I definitely would feel great sitting inside, but I would have to look at that silly grin every time I walked up to it. My wife pointed out that the interior of the VW line (Jetta, GTI) is way better than the Mazda, so that was also a data point. I will never feel the full brute strength of the Mazda again, but I’ll get pretty close 🆒. (Oh yes… about that reliability, I suffered with a Jetta already. Weird electrical issues, and I had to fix three of the four windows. Expensive but fun.) ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-mazdaspeed3-is-butt-ugly-but-its-a-rocket-too-tempting-other-alternatives/516181/22 "2009-11-05T20:36:13Z")
I think all hatchbacks are ugly, but think that’s a very pretty car for a hatchback. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-mazdaspeed3-is-butt-ugly-but-its-a-rocket-too-tempting-other-alternatives/516181/23 "2009-11-05T20:40:46Z")
My husband doesn’t seem to like hatchbacks much, either - I think they’re very cute. Can you say what it is you don’t like about the looks of hatchbacks? ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-mazdaspeed3-is-butt-ugly-but-its-a-rocket-too-tempting-other-alternatives/516181/24 "2009-11-05T21:39:30Z")
Mini Cooper S. Bit slower stock, but better handling and much more attractive. If you need more room, the Mini Clubman S. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-mazdaspeed3-is-butt-ugly-but-its-a-rocket-too-tempting-other-alternatives/516181/25 "2009-11-05T23:50:41Z")
Here’s the exact model, down to the color and options, that I ordered: [2010 Volkswagen GTI](http://www.cars.com/go/features/autoshows/vehicle.jsp?vehicletype=production&autoshowyear=2009&vehicle=production_volkswagen_gti) Click on the “photo gallery” part on the right to see the better pictures. Should be here on Monday or Tuesday. I can’t wait! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-mazdaspeed3-is-butt-ugly-but-its-a-rocket-too-tempting-other-alternatives/516181/26 "2009-11-06T05:51:40Z")
Oooh, shiny. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-mazdaspeed3-is-butt-ugly-but-its-a-rocket-too-tempting-other-alternatives/516181/27 "2009-11-06T16:00:24Z")
Good luck. You _will_ love the GTI. You _might_ have loved the Mazda. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-mazdaspeed3-is-butt-ugly-but-its-a-rocket-too-tempting-other-alternatives/516181/28 "2009-11-06T16:10:01Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > My husband doesn’t seem to like hatchbacks much, either - I think they’re very cute. Can you say what it is you don’t like about the looks of hatchbacks? Their short squattiness just doesn’t do it for me. They aren’t sleek, even when they actually are fast. I prefer more curves on my cars. I like them to look long. I guess the difference is that ‘cute’ is a criteria you would consider to be a good thing in a car. ‘Cute’, is a bad thing for cars IMO. I want sleek. I like the Mazda better than the GTI myself, but I’m only looking at them superficially. I’d have to drive both to have a real opinion on it. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-mazdaspeed3-is-butt-ugly-but-its-a-rocket-too-tempting-other-alternatives/516181/29 "2009-11-06T16:13:18Z")
My daughter thinks my Mazdaspeed3 is an SUV, and my girlfriend’s mother thought it was a PT Cruiser! :dubious: I like hatchbacks personally, much more functional and useful than a sedan. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-mazdaspeed3-is-butt-ugly-but-its-a-rocket-too-tempting-other-alternatives/516181/30 "2009-11-06T17:05:29Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > I love the Protege5, the looks of that car were a big factor of making me consider a Mazda. I just wanted more power! Heh. When I bought mine, I was also considering the Honda Civic (SI, I think. I forget.). I just plain liked everything about the Protege5 better, and the three whole extra HP over the Civic was just another bonus. 🙂 It’s pretty peppy, even if it only has 130 HP. Of course, in typical fashion, they came out with a more powerful model just a few months after I bought mine. Oh well. I’m really happy with my car. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-mazdaspeed3-is-butt-ugly-but-its-a-rocket-too-tempting-other-alternatives/516181/31 "2009-11-06T17:19:49Z")
Awww, but it’s so cute! And look, it _LIKES_ you! ! ! ! :retches quietly:: ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-mazdaspeed3-is-butt-ugly-but-its-a-rocket-too-tempting-other-alternatives/516181/32 "2009-11-06T18:26:39Z")
I think the only solution to the grille issue is to buy the black one: [![](http://autos.ca/galleries/2010/thumbs/mdm-4119-2010-mazda-mazdaspeed3_pw-009-4119.jpg) ](http://autos.ca/galleries/2010/thumbs/mdm-4119-2010-mazda-mazdaspeed3_pw-009-4119.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2009, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-mazdaspeed3-is-butt-ugly-but-its-a-rocket-too-tempting-other-alternatives/516181/33 "2009-11-07T03:10:01Z")
Mmm. 2010 Mustang GT. 0-60 in 5.2 seconds. Glass roof. Neato. But that’s just me. I won’t drive anything that has a hatch or 4 doors as even an option. Sedan, Schmedan. Hatchback, Snatchback. Won’t drive 'em. Uh. No offense to those who do … 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cullain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Cullain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cullain)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-mazdaspeed3-is-butt-ugly-but-its-a-rocket-too-tempting-other-alternatives/516181/34 "2009-11-07T20:14:13Z")
I’m not a fan of hatchbacks, but i love my 4 door mazda 3s as much as I could possibly love a car - 5 years later I’m still thrilled to drive it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-mazdaspeed3-is-butt-ugly-but-its-a-rocket-too-tempting-other-alternatives/516181.md?page=1)