How to Trick Out a Cheap Car

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of @ Aug 27, 2008 05:37:23 AM

Whoops!

Rick Newman here, author of this story. Ryan and Doug are right about the MP3 jack on the Mazda3. That's a mid-life improvement I failed to notice. Story has been corrected.

As for side-curtain airbags - if it's not standard on ALL models, then it's optional. Mazda and all automakers should make such an important safety feature standard across the lineup - you shouldn't get less safety if you can only afford the base model. Next version of the 3 almost certainly will have standard curtain bags.

of NY @ Jul 31, 2008 10:17:46 AM

Advice is to Research...LOL

"Another popular car in that class, the Mazda3, doesn't have an MP3 jack,"

False--MP3 is standard on all 2008 Mazda 3 models.

"and curtain air bags are an option."

False on all versions except 4door Mazda 3iSport (so false on 8 models out of 9).

"That's because the 3 was introduced several years ago, and it's an older design. A good way to figure out which standard features you should expect is to research..."

Sounds like you should take your own advice and thoroughly research on your stories. Hope you’re not an alumnus from my school: I'd be embarrassed if you were.

Doug of NC @ Jul 31, 2008 07:35:45 AM