 I bought this car in 2008 looking for a sporty hatchback on the cheap.  At the time there wasn't much in the offering, unlike today where it seems like hatchbacks have caught on again.  It's a great car for most occasions with plenty of "get-up", lots of room with the seats down, and a great exterior (imho). Unfortunately it's not without its problems: anything exhaust related (EGR valve for instance, the fact that it has TWO cat. converters that like to fail!) and of course the headlights, as most other reviewers have mentioned.  All in all it's a fun car, but if I had to do it again I might have spent a little more money and gone for a Mazda3.