Hi there! I just bought a 2006 model and I am trying to figure out if its a touring edition or not.

I know from the vin that its a 3i, but how do I determine if its touring edition or not?

I use to own a 2001 Ford Focus ZX3 with a few mods, but I got rear ended and I picked it up the Mazda for $4000. Couple small things, crack on the window, a couple dents/scratches, 160,000 miles, and a CEL that the previous owner said they took care off but popped on when after I bought it and was driving it home. I'm thinking O2 as there is no performance issues driving it.

How hard is it to change the O2's in the '06 model?

 

I'm thinking the most notable difference is power windows; it is my understanding the Sport models had crank windows and the Touring models had power. I hadn't looked into the Mazda3 until I bought my 2009 in late 2008, and at the time the above was true.

If I recall correctly, there are a few other obvious differences:

• Some (many?) Sport models didn't have Air Conditioning.
• Most (all?) Sport models had steel wheels and hub caps; the Touring models had alloy wheels.

 

It does have AC and power windows

 

Looks like a Mazda3 i Touring to me.

 

Thanks. I was a bit disappointed at first because the previous owner said it was the 2.3, but I was pretty sure it wasnt, but either way, besides the body blemishes, I'm pretty happy. Only real disappointment is the wife said no mods , she went me turn the zoom zoom into a Zoom Zoom. My Focus had quite a bit minor mods done and she blamed any issues it had on the mods, rather than it was a 15 year old car.

 

A few comments:

1. The 2.0 liter motor has only a few less horse power than does the 2.3, however the difference in torque is a bit more significant. That said, a well driven manual Mazda3 i should easily beat a Mazda3 s with an automatic transmission in a sprint.
2. There really isn't much you can do to enhance these motors beyond making more noise, so both you and your wife can be reasonably accommodated in your desires.
3. Point 2 in mind, if you have a manual transmission and want to turbocharge the motor, that will result in a significant bump in power.
4. Point 3 in mind, it is a relatively easy swap to put in a 2.5 liter Ford Durtac (same basic motor as the 2.0 and 2.3 MZR motors), and that will give a 25+ horsepower bump and a 35+ lb/ft bump in torque. Used/low mileage Duratec motors are both plentiful and inexpensive (like under $400).