Don't Waste Your Time & Money on the Madza 3

A few years back, I contemplated getting the old Mazda 3 (A) 1.6L sedan, which was going for RM115,000. After checking out the Ford Focus S2.0, I decided against the Mazda 3.
Over priced and under powered, the Mazda 3 just didn't cut it.
Two years later, the new Mazda 3 arrives on Malaysia shores. And guess what? It's still over priced (at RM108,000) and under powered.
Ironically, the 1.6L version also comes with the 'S' badge. Well, who is Mazda kidding?
At only 103 brake horse power (Bhp), the 125Bhp Waja CPS would leave the Mazda 3 S in its exhaust wake and in the dust. Imagine what the 145Bhp Focus S would do to the Mazda 3?
No, as usual, Mazda gets it wrong with the 3 series. Not only does the car under perform, Mazda seems to think that it can trump the Toyotas and Hondas that dominate the Malaysian market with the silly Mazda 3 - that silly smile of the new Mazda 3 seems to suggest as much as well.
Yes, the Mazda 3 (A) 2.0L performs much better than the 1.6L version, but compared to other cars in its class, the 2.0L version is still over priced and still under performs.
So, don't waste your time and money on the Mazda 3.