By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Owners have had a love affair with the Mazda RX-8 since it first left showrooms as a 2004 model. Venture out onto the Worldwide Web and you will discover — despite assorted documented troubles and less than stellar gas mileage — that owners have very few unkind words.

Seldom have we researched such loyalty over a car even as people admit to problems.
It seems with a smile on their face and a song in their heart they take their quirky four-door rotary engine sports car in for repairs.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

A mid-sized family sedan needs comfortable passenger space to make it a first-class player in an extremely competitive segment.

One of the main objectives in purchasing an Accord, Camry, Malibu, Altima, Sonata or Fusion is hauling people. Accommodations for shoulders, legs and feet need to be more than adequate.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Mazda hit all the right notes with its first-generation Mazda3 compact sedan and hatchback, introduced for the 2004 model year. The Japanese automaker created a refined, stylish, well made, fun-to-drive compact that for six years has rivaled everything in its class.

Usually during a car’s five-or-six year life cycle, sales peak in the second or third year and start falling off; but people have discovered that Mazda uncharacteristically sold as well in its sixth year of existence as its first.