MX-3 is a very good car, i never had problems with the engine or transmission (well i changed it when i bought the car). The thing is that this is a very good car BUT very expensive for the maintenance, the AC is good and you can freeze an ice cream. Well the thing is that I had problems with the power window control, for the first time the right window control stopped to work and then the left window starts with the same behavior, i went to the dealer and they wanted to sell me the control for $150 dollars, oh man. Then I went to the junkyard and I bought a used one for $50 dollars. 4 months later it stopped to work. I decided to leave that pretty car in my yard until finding another control and now I have 2 months using the bus. If you have money you should buy a Mazda.