Test Drove a MS3

Mazdaspeed 3 or RX-8

  • Mazdaspeed 3

    Votes: 50 87.7%
  • RX-8

    Votes: 7 12.3%

  • Total voters
    57
  • Poll closed .
ms3 ftw. gas is good, power, space, and at least better to drive on rain and snow than rx8.

rx-8 is good though if ur a single dude, but for a daily driver, i wouldnt recommend it
 
Then you need to go read about the BMW 335D being sold over in Europe. 6 second 0-60, 14 second 1/4, handles like your typical 3 (so fantastic), 285hp/420lb.ft, and 38.5 mpg combined.

thank you. i like diesels, and wish the US had some of the diesels that overseas have.
 
Ok now that I know I should get a Mazdaspeed 3 vs. the RX-8. I was also looking at the 2008 WRX, which one would you recommend out of those two. I am leaning toward the Mazdaspeed 3.
 
"Dear Internet, tell me what to buy!"

Go test drive a WRX and see which you like better. Buy whatever is the best ride for you, and don't pay attention to what the internet tells you. Yeash.
 
Ok now that I know I should get a Mazdaspeed 3 vs. the RX-8. I was also looking at the 2008 WRX, which one would you recommend out of those two. I am leaning toward the Mazdaspeed 3.

"Dear Internet, tell me what to buy!"

Go test drive a WRX and see which you like better. Buy whatever is the best ride for you, and don't pay attention to what the internet tells you. Yeash.

The Internet knows everything. And the internet says, get the Mazdaspeed3!
 
I own both. I have a 2007 RX8 and a 2007 MS3.

I traded in my S2000 for the RX8 as I was just honestly sick and tired of the vert. I drive almost 100miles a day and the wind noise was just driving me nuts after 5 years of owning the car. However, I LOVED the way the S2000 handled so I wanted something very simular with a hard top....thus the RX8 was purchased.

Interesting. I just bought an S2000- I love it but it stinks in the winter, for the many obvious reasons. I have a 2005 Toyota Matrix as my daily driver which I was considering trading in for a MS3.

What are your thoughts of the RX8 vs the S2000 having owned both. If you want to PM me a reply that would be fine too, as to not hijack this thread.
 
That sounds like fun! Need more info, so I'll be searching this.
Yea, it does sound fun. It hits peak torque at about 1,500 RPM and keeps 95% of it right up to red-line (only around 5000 rpm, though). It's a bit of a technical piece, too. It's a twin turbo setup, but uses the smaller one for boost and power down low and then uses the pressure to spin a larger turbo later in the RPM range to keep the power so linear. Of course, it still has at least one problem diesels have - it doesn't hit high RPM. Subsequently gearing is longer, which is part of why you don't see much better acceleration numbers considering the massive amount of torque. It's still more than powerful enough to hit the magic 155 mph BMW limits most of its cars at.

Diesel as a fuel has more power by volume than gas does, but has had such a bad reputation in North America for the last 30 years that the big 3 have done little to no R&D into it. That's starting to change over in Europe at least, so I'm expecting to see more and more diesel powered performance cars as racing teams (Audi A10 in Le Mans, some rumors of F1...) start to do some serious research into working around the few downsides to diesel engines.
 
So I was looking at the Mazdaspeed videos and I heard the Corksport Exhaust and I loved it, but I have never heard of it. Does anyone know of this brand?
 
Hey, don't discount the MS6! Maybe not as raw as the MS3, but that I actually see as a plus. If what you want is quiet and VERY FAST, it's the MS6. Just a tick behind the MS3, 28MPG @ 85mph, 25mpg every tankful. Refined, smooth comfortable and great for a night on the town or an XC road trip.
 
MS6 is a great car, very underated but the clutch!! oy vey! its horribly jerky, grabby and very very stiff. I have been driving stick for 23 years and have driven many different vehicles from school buses to sport cars and I usually can get any stick to drive smoothly. Only when you get to 4th gear does it smooth out.
 
Ok now that I know I should get a Mazdaspeed 3 vs. the RX-8. I was also looking at the 2008 WRX, which one would you recommend out of those two. I am leaning toward the Mazdaspeed 3.
I drove the MS3, the WRX, the Passat, and the Volve C30 before I bought. Price, power, styling, and handling, the MS3 is tough to beat. I did like the
C30 but 35k equipped the way I wanted? No way. The WRX didn't even feel like a turboed car should.

Jim
 
Alrght, I know that I should get one and that they are better than any other car. But I was wandering if someone could tell me about Corksport Performance.
 

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