Faults:

Stock tires wore out at 26k miles, but see below for details.

General Comments:

To elaborate on the stock tires above: this car lends itself to very spirited driving and I am far from a lead foot. The car's sporty suspension handles so well that you will find yourself taking turns harder :) So I happily take responsibility for the tires wearing out so quickly (and I'm getting ready to replace them again, haha).

There was a voluntary safety notice on the power steering fluid (?) and my dealer was able to get me in and fixed relatively quickly.

Definitely opt for the 2.3L if you can. It's hard to believe this car is in the same category as the anemic Civic and Corollas.

The auto transmission comes with a "manu-matic" mode, which is fun but I don't use it very much.

It has a very deep glove box. More like a boot box.

The interior is high quality, doesn't feel like you're in an econobox. Except for some slight tearing on my steering wheel, the interior has worn and aged really well. While I opted for the base model, it still comes standard with an aux jack and ambient temperature on the radio display (which can be hacked to show fuel stats like average/current MPG and remaining distance).

Rear seating is a bit cramped. I would not recommend putting anybody over 5'2" back there.

Hatchback is very spacious and convenient for toting things.

Not a lot of safety features on the base model, but you can get side airbags on the next trim up.

Faults:

Nothing bad, not even the slightest thing, happened to me, as I kept the car for just 6 months.

General Comments:

Super family sports car. It can be used both as a sports car or for family purposes.

A real head turner.

Nice looks and a wider front.

Very little ground clearance, and easily gets hit from beneath even by a very small speed breaker.

Backroom becomes noisy after the car goes 170+.

Ultimate road grip.

Truly a worthy car.

Faults:

Coolant leak in early 2012, bad gasket at engine, repair cost roughly $250 mostly labor, including refill with new coolant.

Check engine light came on in 2009, covered by warranty, PCV not working properly, components replaced (would have cost several hundred out of pocket, so very good that the warranty covered it).

General Comments:

The 2007 Mazda 3 is a high quality Japanese vehicle (made in Japan), built on a frame engineered by Volvo.

It provides wonderful cornering, with a firm European style ride. The firm ride is something I like, having previously owned a Volvo and a VW. But if you prefer the cushy ride common in American nameplate autos, you may find the experience a bit rough.

The 2.0 engine I have is a great size for this vehicle. It provides very good fuel economy (mid 20s in city, mid 30s on highway) along with more than enough - but not exceptional - power. The power is better than you'll find in most econoboxes.

The automatic transmission is Tiptronic, meaning you can if you prefer choose to select the gear you are in. I quite like this feature - I use it nearly all the time.

This compact is as large as you can get and still be considered a compact. Despite this, the trunk is slightly small versus some of the competition. The driver's seat and front passenger seat are very comfortable, the driver's seat especially has many adjustment options. The rear seating is better than many compacts, but an adult or even teenager sitting back there will not forget they are in a compact.

I have the black-based interior, which is aesthetically very pleasing IMO. The glove compartment is HUGE.

The keyfob does not include a trunk release, which is a pain.

Not all models come with side airbags and anti-lock brakes. If you are very concerned about safety, make sure you check out if the car you're interested in has these features.