Honda civic si vs mazdaspeed3
- Thread starter sunny4201
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AutoXRacer
Member
More reliable...? Are you trying to say Mazdas are not reliable?
My previous Mazda was traded in with 204,000 miles and she ran as strong as she did when she had 25,000 miles. She was raced at least 4 times a month on track days and autocross; plus she was my daily driver of 130 mile daily commute.... Can't get more reliable than that...
The 2007 Mazdaspeed 3 has had a couple of recalls... The 2008s, none so far, and I don't expect any...
I'd go with the Mazdaspeed 3... I think Hondas are over rated anyway...
Good luck with your decision...
My previous Mazda was traded in with 204,000 miles and she ran as strong as she did when she had 25,000 miles. She was raced at least 4 times a month on track days and autocross; plus she was my daily driver of 130 mile daily commute.... Can't get more reliable than that...
The 2007 Mazdaspeed 3 has had a couple of recalls... The 2008s, none so far, and I don't expect any...
I'd go with the Mazdaspeed 3... I think Hondas are over rated anyway...
Good luck with your decision...
Have you test driven both of them? A buddy of mine (a honda salesman) has a new Civic Si. The car is very nice, super roomy (feeling at least), and the futuristic gauges and stuff are cool too.
I'd say lets be honest... Honda has a very good reputation regarding reliability. Personally Mazda wasn't on my radar up until a few months ago, so I can't speak for Mazda's reputation.
Performance: To me, the Civic Si looks fast but is a little slower, conversely the MS3 sorta looks slow but is actually quite fast.
I'd say lets be honest... Honda has a very good reputation regarding reliability. Personally Mazda wasn't on my radar up until a few months ago, so I can't speak for Mazda's reputation.
Performance: To me, the Civic Si looks fast but is a little slower, conversely the MS3 sorta looks slow but is actually quite fast.
Sleeper vs Ricer
I would test drive them both. Because of the height and curb weight, they are going to feel and drive very differently.
Hard to make a choice on numbers alone, when the cars are designed so differently.
I have a 2007 MS3 sport, my fiance has a 2007 Honda Civic Si 4-door; without bias I can tell you somethings, however let me 'tint' them so you understand my perspective:
I am 6'4" 320lbs, size 46 waist, 32 length. I am a Big-Boned individual; have a even layer of padding, but am not 'obese' any longer; this is to clarify 'fat' from just 'big and tall'. That said:
I love my MS3 seats WAY better than my g/f's Si. Her lumbar supports bite into my back and I don't quite fit between them; they must be made for more narrow people. My seats, on the other hand, are fantastic and I fit like a glove -- the lumbars work wonderfully. I HATE her dashboard; I tell her we should plant corn on it to make a buck off the extra real-estate. I don't understand why the dashboard in the Civic is as big as my glovebox; I really like how big my glove box is, btw - and a passenger can get into it while sitting in the seat. Not in hers, it opens right into my knees, and then is TINY as hell. Perhaps the knees thing is 6'4", but not the tiny space in it; the MS3 glove on the other hand can realistically hold a fricking 12 pack. On performance, her gears are very crisp, though I really don't care for the way the shifter is; it reminds me of an Atari joystick. I like her display inside, the 'look' is indeed futuristic or very 'techy' feeling; MS3 is more like a cockpit kind of feel, I think F-14 is to MS3 as Blackbird/F-22 is to Si. MS3 feels more 'tried' and 'analog' where the Si is like the cutting edge, just the way everything is lit and displayed. For drink storage/door spaces MS3 is cool, I can fit a drink in each door, two in the middle, and one in each door and two in the middle in the backseat; Si is two in the middle front, two in the middle back. The door slots in Si are not big enough for more than magazines/PSP/CD players. Acceleration; she has more 'equity' in 1st and 2nd, but like has been said, I'd PWN her every time in her Si with my MS3. I don't like how our first gear is sometimes (under hard pull/WOT) more of a 'hurry and get to 2nd' than a real 'gear', lol. Under normal acceleration it is fine. Headroom is equal in both; I am a bit more comfortable sitting on either side of my car than hers, I think for a shorter person the layout of her car provides perfect 'resting' spots for long drives, such as the door trim molding for your right/left arm depending on where you are seated. Mine is seemingly made for me, the resting places are intuitive. Both cars have awesome armrests; these things are like Texas, gone are the days of shifting/pushing subtly for space with the person beside you like in a movie theater. Her car has better stock sound/stereo, but mine makes cool lights left or right on the deck when I change the volume.
Helpful, I hope.
I am 6'4" 320lbs, size 46 waist, 32 length. I am a Big-Boned individual; have a even layer of padding, but am not 'obese' any longer; this is to clarify 'fat' from just 'big and tall'. That said:
I love my MS3 seats WAY better than my g/f's Si. Her lumbar supports bite into my back and I don't quite fit between them; they must be made for more narrow people. My seats, on the other hand, are fantastic and I fit like a glove -- the lumbars work wonderfully. I HATE her dashboard; I tell her we should plant corn on it to make a buck off the extra real-estate. I don't understand why the dashboard in the Civic is as big as my glovebox; I really like how big my glove box is, btw - and a passenger can get into it while sitting in the seat. Not in hers, it opens right into my knees, and then is TINY as hell. Perhaps the knees thing is 6'4", but not the tiny space in it; the MS3 glove on the other hand can realistically hold a fricking 12 pack. On performance, her gears are very crisp, though I really don't care for the way the shifter is; it reminds me of an Atari joystick. I like her display inside, the 'look' is indeed futuristic or very 'techy' feeling; MS3 is more like a cockpit kind of feel, I think F-14 is to MS3 as Blackbird/F-22 is to Si. MS3 feels more 'tried' and 'analog' where the Si is like the cutting edge, just the way everything is lit and displayed. For drink storage/door spaces MS3 is cool, I can fit a drink in each door, two in the middle, and one in each door and two in the middle in the backseat; Si is two in the middle front, two in the middle back. The door slots in Si are not big enough for more than magazines/PSP/CD players. Acceleration; she has more 'equity' in 1st and 2nd, but like has been said, I'd PWN her every time in her Si with my MS3. I don't like how our first gear is sometimes (under hard pull/WOT) more of a 'hurry and get to 2nd' than a real 'gear', lol. Under normal acceleration it is fine. Headroom is equal in both; I am a bit more comfortable sitting on either side of my car than hers, I think for a shorter person the layout of her car provides perfect 'resting' spots for long drives, such as the door trim molding for your right/left arm depending on where you are seated. Mine is seemingly made for me, the resting places are intuitive. Both cars have awesome armrests; these things are like Texas, gone are the days of shifting/pushing subtly for space with the person beside you like in a movie theater. Her car has better stock sound/stereo, but mine makes cool lights left or right on the deck when I change the volume.
Helpful, I hope.I used to own a new Civic SI but that was a few years ago. I currently own an 08 MS3 GT and did a pretty extensive car search which led me to the Mazda.
I personally think a new, red Civic Si is a really sharp looking car. A girl at the dealership had JUST bought it and I must say, I never thought much about the looks of the MS3.
I test drove the SI and then about two months later, the MS3. I bought the MS3 about a week later. On top of that, I also really like the looks of my MS3 more everday for some reason.
It's like a girl you meet and at first, she doesn't seem all that hot. Then, after hanging out with her and grabbing a few beers. She gets hotter and hotter because of her personality but she was never bad looking to begin with.
In the same way, this car is a jewel that you will enjoy for as long as you own it.
I can't think of one thing that I like more about the SI than the MS3.
What is your pro/con list? Maybe we can help you after knowing that?
ps. the Si is quick...sorta. the MS3 is quick for sure.
I personally think a new, red Civic Si is a really sharp looking car. A girl at the dealership had JUST bought it and I must say, I never thought much about the looks of the MS3.
I test drove the SI and then about two months later, the MS3. I bought the MS3 about a week later. On top of that, I also really like the looks of my MS3 more everday for some reason.
It's like a girl you meet and at first, she doesn't seem all that hot. Then, after hanging out with her and grabbing a few beers. She gets hotter and hotter because of her personality but she was never bad looking to begin with.
In the same way, this car is a jewel that you will enjoy for as long as you own it.
I can't think of one thing that I like more about the SI than the MS3.
What is your pro/con list? Maybe we can help you after knowing that?
ps. the Si is quick...sorta. the MS3 is quick for sure.
Totally agree. MS3 is like the girl who hangs out with you and longs for you and listens to all your chick issues and is with you through all the dramas; one day you have beers and one thing accidentally leads to another. You've had your first test drive and what you never considered (a hatchback/stationwagon; c'mon, let's be HONEST) is the love of your life. The day I had my 3s in for an oil change and test drove the MS3 was the day I fell in love. I didn't buy that day, but I was already madly in love and knew she was exactly what I was looking for; it always happens when you aren't looking for it, hehe.
I contemplated both. I could have saved a few $1000 by going with the Honda.
I drove both. I really like the Honda but do not like the stacked gauges. The Civic feels much slower than the MS3. It feels like 80% of the power is at 20% of the rev range. That's all well in good but you really have to row the shifter on the Si to get any level of performance out of it. Handled beautifully though. The MS3 is the lazy man's car. Who cares what RPM it's in. Gas and go.
Civic Si = scalpel
MS3 = sledge hammer
I had one of the first MS3s. (the first one in my area) I've had a few recalls and one reoccurring check engine light that was fixed with an updated intake manifold valve that was of poor design. My dealer has been great. They get me in and out on the same day.
I drove both. I really like the Honda but do not like the stacked gauges. The Civic feels much slower than the MS3. It feels like 80% of the power is at 20% of the rev range. That's all well in good but you really have to row the shifter on the Si to get any level of performance out of it. Handled beautifully though. The MS3 is the lazy man's car. Who cares what RPM it's in. Gas and go.
Civic Si = scalpel
MS3 = sledge hammer
I had one of the first MS3s. (the first one in my area) I've had a few recalls and one reoccurring check engine light that was fixed with an updated intake manifold valve that was of poor design. My dealer has been great. They get me in and out on the same day.
Falango, you have a beautiful car.. every time i see your sig man.. GRrr..
/threadjack
I would go for the MS3 for sure. Hit the search and you will see plenty of posts just like this one!
MaDz
+1
I absolutely HATE the gauges on the si, stacked with a dig speedo
I was really really close to signing paperwork, then realized that I couldn't deal with those for 5 yrs or more. That and I never really liked the look, I had wanted a hatch like all other SIs before it.
So I went to Acura to look at the more refined version, the RSX-S. Again, almost bought it but decided to wait a while longer because it didn't have the LSD as an availible option, even though the civic had the same tranny and came with the factory lsd
And then my prayers were answered when I flipped on Speed channel and motorweek was doing their report on the MS3. I drove out to the dealers, he didn't have one so I had to wait a week then I got my baby
I work at a honda dealership in my area. I absolutely love the SI. The car is so smooth in every way. Awesome car. But I would go with a speed3. Ive seen pics of forum members who have lowered their speed3s and put some wheels on them. Im not a big hatcback fan but the speed 3 can be a very good looking car. Alot better platform than the SI also. I have been i nside of the speed3 anywhere close to as much as an SI but the speed3 seems to be alot more upperclass.
chriscecc914
Member
- :
- 06 MS6
Honda for the reliability win! Mazda for the win win!
I think may have been true many years ago, but they are no longer the class leader.
I've heard from more than one person with newer hondas on transmission # 2
Goosegimlet
Member
- :
- Mazdaspeed 3
I owned a 06 Civic SI before the Speed 3 I currently drive. They are two different cars.
SI Pros IMO= Awesome gear box. One of the smoothest ever. Great sounding, extreemly smooth high RPM engine. Comfortable seat for the long haul. Great looking design in and out.
Si Cons IMO= Little HP and even less Torque. Paint chipped easily. Even thought it was smooth to shift at high RPM, for some reason it didn't seam that way under normal driving. I think the RPM's dropped to quickly between shifts. Strange, I know. It only had good pickup at high RPM when V-tec kicked in. Won't win many races unless you put alot of money into it. Lose what little HP it has when you turn on the AC.
MS3 Pros IMO= Amazing stock HP and Torque in comparison. Great design as well. A little better handling in my opinion. More driver and passenger room. Drives well just cruising and when your beating on it.
MS3 Cons IMO= Not the most comfortable seat for the long haul. Gearbox is a bit notchy. Sometimes wish the pedals were set a little further back or the stearing wheel and and shifter were set closer.
IMO the the MS3 Cons reaching and easily over looked. I don't regret trading in the Si for that MS3 at all. I'd do it again. Just sooner.
SI Pros IMO= Awesome gear box. One of the smoothest ever. Great sounding, extreemly smooth high RPM engine. Comfortable seat for the long haul. Great looking design in and out.
Si Cons IMO= Little HP and even less Torque. Paint chipped easily. Even thought it was smooth to shift at high RPM, for some reason it didn't seam that way under normal driving. I think the RPM's dropped to quickly between shifts. Strange, I know. It only had good pickup at high RPM when V-tec kicked in. Won't win many races unless you put alot of money into it. Lose what little HP it has when you turn on the AC.
MS3 Pros IMO= Amazing stock HP and Torque in comparison. Great design as well. A little better handling in my opinion. More driver and passenger room. Drives well just cruising and when your beating on it.
MS3 Cons IMO= Not the most comfortable seat for the long haul. Gearbox is a bit notchy. Sometimes wish the pedals were set a little further back or the stearing wheel and and shifter were set closer.
IMO the the MS3 Cons reaching and easily over looked. I don't regret trading in the Si for that MS3 at all. I'd do it again. Just sooner.
I went from a 05 RSX Type S before my MS3. My personal opinion is that the Honda is a fun car to throw around with excellent handling, but no power. It simply has no balls. Revving up the VTEC to 8000 gets old...FAST. It has almost no usable power on a daily commute. Drive the MS3 and you are slapped in the face with torque and it has great handling as well. If it had AWD it would be perfect, but as is it is still the best deal in town.
I will add my one complaint about the MS3 is the touchy clutch. Coming from the Honda this thing is just not up to par, but you get used to it after a while.
I will add my one complaint about the MS3 is the touchy clutch. Coming from the Honda this thing is just not up to par, but you get used to it after a while.
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Better change the timing belt on time or youre going to have 14 bent valves... honda's are no more reliable than anything else out there. Their maintence is quite pricing and their brakes dont last very long. Get the mazda, cant beat the power and overall package.
14 valves/4cylinders = 3.5 valves per cylinder?
I must be missing something. I thought the K20A's had 16?
