Which Trim is the Best to Get?

I plan on buying my Mazda 3 in March (This is a good time to buy because it's right before the first quarter ends and dealers have to meet their quotas).
My dream is getting the Grand Touring Model. Buying the S Touring seems useless to me because the GT is very close in price to the ST.
The only logical choices for me are the iTouring and the Grand Touring. The main difference being the 2.0 and and 2.3.
 
Which model is the best? I don't really need the navagation system, from what I've heard, its really not all that great and I can buy a Garmin brand one from Amazon for about $79 bucks and stick it on the dashboard.
 
I desperately want the moonroof, it just makes the car seem so much more open. The rear spoiler is  a must as well,It doesn't look tacky and it seamlessly makes the car look a lot more sexy. 
I usually don't like spoilers but I don't particuarly like the back of the Mazda 3 without it.
 
The heated seats and climate controls are nice, but not absolutely essential for me if it can save me a couple of thousand. I also don't need the dimming mirror with directional compass because my navagation system will tell me which direction I'm going in.
 
So here are my questions:
 
-Is there a huge difference between the 2.0 and the 2.3? I've heard that the 2.3 accells faster, but that the 2.0 is still good, and it gets better gas milage.
 
- Does anyone have the S Sport? I wouldn't be adverse to getting this model, I just haven't heard that much about it.
 
-Will I regret not getting the GT model because of the heated seats and climate controls?
 
My goal is to put down about $5,000 and get a 48 or 60 month lease. I only want to pay $19,000 tops. Which model should I get? Which options are essential? I would appriciate any input at all! Thanks Guys

well my figures are in canadian and i payed 24001 for mine. and i put 14k down on it. i bought the 3 GS which is basically all power everything lumbar support 15" alloys. its a nice car. no sunroof. but its a nice car. look into those. im not sure how much it will run you in the USA

quote:

ORIGINAL: jaimie08mazda3

well my figures are in canadian and i payed 24001 for mine. and i put 14k down on it. i bought the 3 GS which is basically all power everything lumbar support 15" alloys. its a nice car. no sunroof. but its a nice car. look into those. im not sure how much it will run you in the USA

 
 
Wow, thats about 25K in the USA. Wow, I've never seen anyone go above 23...you could've gotten the Mazda 6 for that same price! But its still a great car. And why did you only get 15" wheels? I don't know if its different in Canda but the GS should come with standard 17" Wheels. You also should've gotten a sunroof if you paid that much for it, i'm not an expert, but the Mazda 3 with all of the equipped options in the U.S. costs around 23,500. So I'm not sure what happened. But thanks for your response! I appriciate your input!

well i bought my car brand new. and this was about 2 months ago. back when the american dollar was more. yea probably now it would be cheaper but im happy with my car. and yea i got 10K left to pay for it. so hurray. but the GT was more expensive i believe. which is the 2.3. it came with all the 17" wheels, the sunroof. all those nice things. but my car looks good for what i payed for

first things first. Go with the 2.3l engine, it is much more refined than the 2.0 the only downside is the less gass mileage, but even so its only like 2mpg. As for gt or touring, the only thing the gt gets for the extra 1-1.5k your going to spend is led tailights, auto climate control, and i think leather. The touring has the same safety features, rims, etc. as teh gt but is lacking the 3 options listed above. The 2.0 will also have less amnenities even if u get teh gt.

quote:

ORIGINAL: npoll212

first things first. Go with the 2.3l engine, it is much more refined than the 2.0 the only downside is the less gass mileage, but even so its only like 2mpg. As for gt or touring, the only thing the gt gets for the extra 1-1.5k your going to spend is led tailights, auto climate control, and i think leather. The touring has the same safety features, rims, etc. as teh gt but is lacking the 3 options listed above. The 2.0 will also have less amnenities even if u get teh gt.

t
 
Okay, so I should definately go for the 2.3? Thanks. I was leaning towards this anyway because I don't want to feel...inadequate...when the 2009 2.5 comes out. I believe the GT also has heated seats to go along with the taillights and climate control....thanks for your input! I have 4 months to make my decision!
 

The GT comes with auto: climate, wipers, and xenon headlights. It has heated leather front seats and an alarm system. i think it would be worth it to spend a little extra and get the top of the line car so you know you wont regret buying the car.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lev

The GT comes with auto: climate, wipers, and xenon headlights. It has heated leather front seats and an alarm system. i think it would be worth it to spend a little extra and get the top of the line car so you know you wont regret buying the car.

 
Thanks me too! I am trying to get the price down to 19K...I hope it works out!
 

Go with the MS3 Sport or GT.  You won't regret it. The only downside is they don't come with a sunroof.

2.0 or 2.3, say what you will, but I can't wait until they come out with the electric car and we don't have to worry about the damn gas anymore.
 
I have the gs sport with 16's and moonroof, power everything and the 2.0.  Don't like having GT at the end of any named car I owned.  Besides everyone has probably gatherd that I am cheap when it comes to buying gas. 
 
I paid about 24,600 for mine.  Good interest rate too.  We know the cars are cheaper in USA.  That's all us Canucks are talking about these days.  Can't understand why cars/suvs are cheaper in US when are dollar is better right now.
 
Never wanted leather either.  Would have liked the traction control and some other things you get with the higher end. 
 
But, in the end, everyone who writes/reads this forum is in love with their M3. 
 
You will be too.  Welcome to the club. 
 
 

i got my 3 hatch, used...its an 2005 in superios condition with 22k miles on it and i payed only 12,000USD...amazing deal, i know! my friend works at a large mazda dealership here in NJ so he found me exactly what i wa slooking for :D

shaved

Agreed.  Shave them side-moldin'.  They don't do much anyway.
If you're worried I can tell you that before I did mine I too worried about dings, but 2 years later.... nothing.  I get more stones chips on the from end than door dings.  It makes the body look soooo clean.
Now to delete the turn signal repeaters.....  
 
 

you know what. i really like the side mouldings. im not sure why. it just looks really good IMO. as well as those turn signals. those turn signal things really are quite neat. ohh btw 600 POSTS yeea. only 142 more posts and i will be beating mrspike

I have the 2.0i touring model and I am very happy with it, except that you can't get power locks and windows without being forced to buy the extra airbags and ABS too. The 2.0 has good power for an economy car, and it has 16inch wheels and the spoiler. It costed around 18,500 overall, when we bought it, then a couple months ago prices went way down so we got screwed I guess.

And you had a problem w/that?  ^ ^ ^  I'd want the air bags and certainly the ABS (and got them too.)  And yeah, 18.5k sounds a bit high for a base i model.

quote:

ORIGINAL: jaimie08mazda3

you know what. i really like the side mouldings. im not sure why. it just looks really good IMO. as well as those turn signals. those turn signal things really are quite neat. ohh btw 600 POSTS yeea. only 142 more posts and i will be beating mrspike

 
 Of course you do!  You're Canadian!!    
One of these days soon, and I have to have my grill painted... and get a GV lip too, I'm gonna install LED side mirrors and have the bs fill those stupid holes in the fenders for those stupid turn signal repeaters and I'm gonna have one of the cleanest sided Mazda3 HB's around... turbo or non-turbo.
So there!!!!!
 
                                               
 

i think im gonna cry for that comment lol. its not cuz im canadian.. its because i like the look of them. im sure there are americans that like them too. bahaha take that 

OK.  We'll put it to a vote.  Here are two pics of my car.  One is original, the other a "chop" of what it might look like w/o molding (the molding has actually been gone for well over a year now) and repeaters.
What do you guys think?
 

 

 
 
 
 
 

My 3 S HB was 19125 on the sticker, only option was the A/T, but I got it for S plan so it was a little less
Virgin, is the molding taped on? If so I see a lot smoother side in the near future.

Si!  It is. 
A little dental floss, old guitar string, etc to get 'er started and a gentle, patient hand to finish 'er off and voila!
You may need to wash and wax the area, but other than that, ya' got it!
 
 

yeaaaa okay richard you win on that one. it looks sexy. but i like my car with how it looks... although when i pay off my car i plan on doing a few things to it... but not making it a ricer thing. and siberexpress... why would you get this car in A/T.. its soo much better in standard... unless you dont know how to drive. not trying to be mean or anything its just this car is just sooooooo much better in 5spd 

^ ^ ^  I have to agree w/ya' there, yungun.
 
 

yayyyyyy i win on something.. i feel so special now

Thanks Virgin, Fishing line and a little Goof off I should be styling
 
Jamie, the A/T was so my wife could drive it, since I learned to drive on a 4 on the tree (Renault) and have driven everything from that to 13 speed Road rangers to a 5 speed with a 4 speed Brownie.