This is a long overdue post so I please bear with me.

When I first got my car, the first thing I went out to look for are colleagues – people with the same make and model.  Thanks to the internet (and a link by one of the Mazda Agents) I discovered not one, but two Mazda owners group.

First off, theres http://protegetech.org which is basically a group of Mazda owners, from the Mazda 323 lines and downstream.

Its’ perfect for me, as you will see, we have mazdas in the family (3 to be exact).  To put a pun on it, we’re what you might call a Mazda Familia.  These guys are fun to be with and are almost always a barrel of laugh when you get to join them in their eb’s, thanks to a few outspoken “characters”.  If you have a 323, Lantis, Astina, Friendee, or any model of Mazda, here is the crowd for you.

Now, I’m pretty sure you all know i’m driving the entry level “3″, so I was really glad that there is one that specializes on this series of Mazda.  Guys, if you have a Mazda3, there’s a group for you out there, and its ClubMazda3.  At the moment it’s housed in another mother-forum for car enthusiasts – http://teamrage.ph but I bet soon there will be something in store for us.  The club just met to kick-off again the membership drive and other activities.

So why did I join these groups?  Well as in my previous fascination with Palm OS devices and Apple gadgets, the only way for me to learn to care for my gears is thru the advice of peers (like in www.mapalad.org and www.philmug.ph).  I learn more from the experience of long time owners and experts and I intend to practice what I will learn from them.