I've owned 2 first generation
I've owned 2 first generation Mazda 3's. I had rust problems with the first one, but you drive any car in upstate NY in the winter without washing the salt off that's going to happen. Super fun to drive, never had major issues, pretty quick if you ask them nice enough. If electric vehicles haven't adopted solid state batteries or super capacitor power packs by the time I look for my next car you bet I'm getting another Mazda 3.