well not everything you read is true... but if you have driven the two then ud know which is better... and i dont mean a quick test drive...

 

I had a 2005 Mazda 3 hatch and is was a great car with one BIG exception: the A/C absolutely sucked. It was dark gray, which didn't help, and even getting it tinted made little difference.

Other than that, it was fine. Great steering, handling (very little body roll), and brakes. I had a limited edition model, and the interior was very nice.

But since I live in the south, it had to go. I'm too damn old and cranky to be driving around sweating anymore.

 

I considered a Mazda3 too, but ended up going with the Fit. If you're looking for interior refinement and fun-to-drive appeal, the Mazda3 is probably the way to go. But if you're looking for practicality, the Fit is the obvious choice.

The Fit has much better interior space and better gas mileage for less money, that's what won me over. And it's still reasonably stylish and fun to drive. Also, I did not have a good experience with the Mazda dealer I talked to. I felt like he was trying to BS me on the price. Mazda dealers are famous for that.

Regardless of what you buy, however, I do recommend one thing: test drive a MazdaSpeed 3 if you can find one, just for fun. I drove one because it was the only Mazda3 on the lot with a stick shift, and holy hell was it a riot. You may not end up buying one, but you'll certainly remember driving it.

 

I am in the exact same boat. Ordered a white sport manual Fit but delivery date is sometime in mid Dec. I also looked into Mazda 3 but the Mazdaspeed version. The lowest price I could get is $23K. Still cost a lot more than the Fit. The 09s on on the lot now so I am hoping they would deal on the 08s but no luck so far. If I could buy a MS3 for $19 I would go for it.

 

I think C&D said that the Fit has a faster lane change test than the corvette. I'm not sure about the handling though.

 

My household has both Mazda3 sedan and Fit.
The 08 Fit Sport MT is mine and the 07 Mazda3 i-touring auto (smaller engine, 2.0) is by beau's.
We both love our cars. The mazda is faster, a little more upscale, heavier, nicer feeling interior (not that my Fit feels cheap).

The manual fit is so much more fun to drive than the auto Fits. I never got to test drive a manual M3, but the auto does have tactonic? shifting, similar to the paddle shifters in the AT Fit.
The Fit is cheaper to purchase and maintain, much more interior space, better fuel economy.

I've heard stories about the Mazda3s reliability going downhill after a few years. When we bought ours in 07 they were still being made out of the country tho (unlike the 6s) so we took a chance on that.

We love both cars. Enjoy your Fit, or mazda if you change your mind. For pocketbook reasons I would get another Fit if something happened to mine.

 

I test drove nearly every hatch from the Versa/Yaris on up through the Mazda3, as well as a couple of sedans which I dismissed for their impracticality (I needed the cargo space).

I was trading in a minivan.

It came down to the Mazda3 and the Honda Fit, and that was a hard one.

Ultimately, I decided the decision was simple: fuel economy OR zoom zoom.

Finally, I decided that because I was trading in a minivan, obviously I was doing so to save gas, and besides, the Fit is a fun car too, in its own ways. Plus, it's easier to fit stuff in the back of a Fit, AND it's a smaller car for parking places.

I haven't regretted that decision. I am sure if I drove both every day, I would probably enjoy passing on the freeway on a uphill in the Mazda a little more, but you learn to drive the car you drive daily. And besides, I am getting 36-39mpg on my 90-mile-per-day commute.