InvertedMind is looking to get a new car.  As much as a love (read: lovelovelovelovelove) my Mazda6's Zoom-Zoom,that second Zoom costs too much money in the gasoline department.  So I'm getting myself a new vehicle.  I'm quite fond of the styling of the 2008 Focus (although I'd love to have the luxury of waiting for the 2011 model when they finally — finally — bring the European version across the pond), so I'll be picking one of those up as soon as the right incentives come along.

That being said, my heart just skipped a beat when I saw the pre-release shots of the 2010 Mazda3.  We're talking BMW-quality styling at fully-loaded Focus prices.  I just wish these were about $3,000 cheaper, and also here now.  I give you exhibit A:

P.S. - About the Focus for a minute, in case anyone is looking at buying a smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicle: about $13,500 gets you a base model (manual windows, single CD in-dash with an auxiliary input jack, nothing fancy).  That's with no incentives.  Do your homework and wait for the right time, and you could be as lucky as the one guy who got $3,500 off between dealer and factory incentives.  Why is it worth it?  Does advertised 25 city/35 highway miles per gallon speak to you?  How about the actual achieved mileage results people have managed: most people seem to be getting between 38 and 43 miles per gallon.  For me, that makes it seem like I'm paying $2.50 per gallon again.  Sounds like a good deal to me.