What do you dislike most about your Speed 3?

[Silver Ecstasy]

Speaking of auto leveling and/or the adjustment switch. It says that it's there to compensate for weight of passengers and cargo. So does that mean that "0" is where it should always be, and you adjust to compensate for the rear sagging and the beam going off adjustment?

 

[builthatch]

Speaking of auto leveling and/or the adjustment switch. It says that it's there to compensate for weight of passengers and cargo. So does that mean that "0" is where it should always be, and you adjust to compensate for the rear sagging and the beam going off adjustment?

exactly. it's sillyness! mazda, either don't have the switch, or exceed half-ass status and add the auto-leveling "thing" to move the already installed motors.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

When I test drove it, I was adjusting it a tad to get better distance, but wasn't even sure if it was necessary, nor was I blinding anyone.

 

[builthatch]

yeah, at the highest setting, which is 0, you'll get the best reach. supposedly, as you add weight in the back and the front pitches up from the bias, the lights will be more apt to dazzle, so they give you the option to lower the beams.

pure sillyness if you ask me. i mean i guess i can see that at a certain point, if the car is loaded, the lights will be closer to that fine line where they dazzle, esp on to oncoming on a split highway with height differences, going over bumps, coming over a hill, etc, but...again, it should have been made automatic and they then call it a day.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

I agree..but it's also only a $23k car.

Atleast we have the option. Otherwise, most people feel it should also have AWD too. By the time we add everything we actually want, this turns into a price that is touching STI territories. And Mazda knows that isn't their direct competition.

 

[AutoXRacer]

I hate the fact I have no traction!!!! (burnout) (bang)

 

[trufanatic]

too many damn cup holders. why do we need 8 cup holders for a wagon that only seats 5...barely

 

[builthatch]

I agree..but it's also only a $23k car.

Atleast we have the option. Otherwise, most people feel it should also have AWD too. By the time we add everything we actually want, this turns into a price that is touching STI territories. And Mazda knows that isn't their direct competition.

well, adding AWD is a hair outside the territory of the feature list addition of auto-leveling lights that i'm talking about, haha...

let me put it this way- auto-leveling is STANDARD on all european HID equipped cars, and that's a-plenty. it runs the gamut from the lowest level to the high-line, european standards dictate that an auto-leveling system be integrated. And it's even over here, cars like the Jetta GLI, the Prius- these aren't Bimmers, these are cars that are on the same level if not alot cheaper than our cars. So, that said, it really has nothing to do with costs, especially since most of the equipment is already there on my car...

 

[tubebrner]

page 13 ftw.
the fact that the rear space light doesn't come on when the hatch opens is silly, since that would be so easy to incorporate.

The rear space light does come on when the hatch is opens. There are 2 settings for the light: OFF and DOOR. It took me a while to figure this out as I originally thought that it was an ON/OFF switch. However I discovered that what i thought was ON is actually the DOOR setting.

 

[builthatch]

The rear space light does come on when the hatch is opens. There are 2 settings for the light: OFF and DOOR. It took me a while to figure this out as I originally thought that it was an ON/OFF switch. However I discovered that what i thought was ON is actually the DOOR setting.

the one in the hatch doesn't come on automatically. it's ON, manually via the switch on the side of the hatch, or OFF all the time. you might be thinking i mean the main dome light that is a bit in front of the rear seats on the roof liner. i am talking about the little rectangular light inside the side of the hatch.

 

[tubebrner]

the one in the hatch doesn't come on automatically. it's ON, manually via the switch on the side of the hatch, or OFF all the time. you might be thinking i mean the main dome light that is a bit in front of the rear seats on the roof liner. i am talking about the little rectangular light inside the side of the hatch.

I am talking about the rectangular light in the hatch as well. Leave the switch on. The light will turn off when you close the hatch.

 

[builthatch]

I am talking about the rectangular light in the hatch as well. Leave the switch on. The light will turn off when you close the hatch.

holy crap, really! you are right, it's in the manual. DOH!

thanks for clearing that up!!!!

 

[Dozed]

Auto climate control isn't all that great. Seems like the fan doesn't blow hard enough to cool the cabin sometimes. I find myself turning up the fan regularly just to get the air at a comfortable temperature.

 

[naddie]

I only have 250 miles on mine and I found a few things. For one, it's a bigger car (and definitely feels like it) compared to my Sentra. 2nd, the stereo (or the speakers) sounds muddy no matter how much I play with the treble and bass settings (looking to replace speakers with some Infinity Kappas 6x8s). Also, the steering is sensitive! Maybe a good thing for some, but I like a bit of slack for highway driving. I can imagine on the track, I'd be gripping on to the wheel for dear life (or not notice it if I'm having too much fun...)

Is there thread for what things we like? Cuz that far out-weighs the stuff I dislike.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

When I first test drove an 05 STI, that was a comment I had made was the steering was "very twitchy". You move a hair and that thing wants to go that certain direction.

Now..after driving an SUV, I miss that directed feel hehe. The MS3 felt like home to me.

 

[naddie]

When I first test drove an 05 STI, that was a comment I had made was the steering was "very twitchy". You move a hair and that thing wants to go that certain direction.

Now..after driving an SUV, I miss that directed feel hehe. The MS3 felt like home to me.

I think I'll get used to it, I'm sure. I've also noticed it takes a little more effort to turn as well compared to my Sentra and my brother's GTI. Sounds like blasphemy, but I have to say it takes as much effort to turn it as the 95 Ford Escort I was driving when I was in-between cars (relative's loaner).

OOH... I thought of another complaint! The control stalks are high! On my Nissan, they would be right where my hands would be while driving, but with the MS3, it's above where my hands are.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

Could be more effort because of the size of wheels? I'd always notice a difference on my 03 Grand Am when I'd switch from 17" wheels to my 15" winter steelies.

The one thing I like alot is the turn radius is nice and tight in tight parking lot manuevers.

 

[naddie]

Could be more effort because of the size of wheels? I'd always notice a difference on my 03 Grand Am when I'd switch from 17" wheels to my 15" winter steelies.

The one thing I like alot is the turn radius is nice and tight in tight parking lot manuevers.

Yea, that saved me a lot. For a relatively large "compact" car, it sure have a good turn radius.

I also like the interior of the 8.5. It's got that black and red theme all over.

Okay, I think talking about stuff we like is OT in this thread. Should we start a "what we like" thread? ^_^ or does one already exist? haha!

 

[builthatch]

Yea, that saved me a lot. For a relatively large "compact" car, it sure have a good turn radius.

I also like the interior of the 8.5. It's got that black and red theme all over.

Okay, I think talking about stuff we like is OT in this thread. Should we start a "what we like" thread? ^_^ or does one already exist? haha!

i think we all know what we like; i'd be willing to bet those things that we like are why we have the car haha

but in the interest of fairness, i see what you mean.

 

[Ferdball]

yea that kinda ticks me too, is there a way to mod the window switches on the drivers door?

Rotus and Josh from Ron Tonkin tried to install an MS6 switch, but it didn't fit.