Debating whether or not to get the MS3 GT..

[SwampAss]

can you rent a manual transmission car to get the basics down? I taught myself how to drive a manual on a 68 Chevy Pickup with 3 on the tree. I was 13 or 14. (lived out in the country and drove it til I got my first car)


It's not a hard thing to do. You can't really break the car unless you rev the s*** out of it.

 

[hoagieryder]

Have you thought about getting a used car for your first car? The MS3 is a lot of car for a new driver. Even if you are a responsible driver, there is no substitute for experience. Personally I would get a beater to learn how to drive a stick on and just get driving experience, than get MS3 after a year or so. I know I got in a fender bender six months after I got my license and in hindsight am much happier it was in 10 year old car, than a brand new one! but to each his own.

 

[parkerfe]

Hi all.

The Mazdaspeed3 will be my first car and since it was a manual, I was wondering if I should still get this car. Is it hard to learn driving a manual? How would I even get it out of the dealership?

No one in my immediate family knows how to drive a manual, but my uncle said he could teach me.

I don't know any other cars that are really nice under $25k that I like..


Thanks for reading!

I taught my now 30 year old daughter in a BMW 5 speed when she was 15 and am now teaching my now 15 year old daughter in my 6 speed MS3. Its simple to learn...

 

[240ka]

FYI, the MS3 has a touchy clutch. It won't be the easiest to learn on, but I'll tell you what- you learn to drive the MS3 smoothly, and no clutch on a production vehicle will ever scare you again.

Unless the drive home from your dealership is downhill, with zero traffic and no stop lights, I would at least take a manual transmission driving course to get a feel for what you need to do. Or have a friend who does drive stick drive it home for you so you can learn on back roads & side streets with no traffic pressure.

As long as you're not scared of the stick shift (not prone to squealing like a scared 4-year old, not going to close your eyes & pray while driving, etc.) you can learn on almost any car.

the vipers clutch...pray that left leg doesnt give out haha

 

[TheRealDefman]

Not trying to be a dick, really, but is an MS3 the best choice for a new driver?

 

[HueManatee]

I didn't think the MS3 was a good choice for a first car but I didn't find anything else that was under $25k that was a good car. And my parents don't want me driving a used car...

Maybe I'll just find a dealer where I don't have to go downhill.

I live in Ventura County, California if anyone knows where that is.

 

[TheRealDefman]

I didn't think the MS3 was a good choice for a first car but I didn't find anything else that was under $25k that was a good car. And my parents don't want me driving a used car...

The regular 3 is a good car too. Maybe a Genesis Coupe 2.0T, nice looking ride and very highly regarded? Maybe a lower end Mustang?

Seriously, I'd be kind of concerned for your safety, these suckers have a lot of power. Combine that with front-wheel drive and they can be on the tricky side, you'd better be pointed where you want to go 'cause that's where you're going! Toss in a little torque-steer and you'll pull a Nick Hogan.

I don't know you or your driving ability, so I'm just making a generalized statement that may be completely wrong.

 

[jlocurto]

please remember to push down on the shifter before putting it into reverse. some other member already had problems and said the only way to do it was to put the lever all the way to the right, and slam it to the left.

this actually happened to me..but in my case i didnt realize i had to push down so i tried starting off in 3th a few times thinking it was 1st so i stalled until i reved it up like no other lol and thought 1st was reverse so i almost drove into a curb until my dad told me how to get it into reverse lol

but i learned on a 1997 jeep wrangler middle to end of last june and got my car mid july.. going from the jeep to the ms3 was a huge difference.. and my dad still stalls out my car and hes 50 yrs old and has driven a lot of sick cars back in the day

but yeah the ms3 is definitely one hell of a first car, and it has a lot of power, so be careful with it.. i scared the s*** otta myself the first time i did a burn out and shifted into second gear and the tires were still spinning..

awesome car though, i love it, im abt to get my tbe within a few weeks i cant wait for more powerrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

 

[HOBDisease]

No offense, but not only is this going to be your first manual car, it's gonna be your first car period. On top of that, I don't think the clutch in the MS3 will be in any way easy to learn on. I'm not saying you can't drive or whatever, but the MS3, IMHO, is a little too much for a first timer/first car. Like many others have already said, I would suggest taking a class or something and get alot of practice in. Whatever you do, just becareful, there's nothing that's more important than your life. Goodluck!

 

[Saskatchewan17]

I didn't think the MS3 was a good choice for a first car but I didn't find anything else that was under $25k that was a good car. And my parents don't want me driving a used car...

Maybe I'll just find a dealer where I don't have to go downhill.

I live in Ventura County, California if anyone knows where that is.

Oh so your in your teens like me? I'm 16, and it's true that these things are pretty darn powerful... you just have to have control and willpower. You can get drunk on boost once in a while, in a safe environment, but try and keep it at a legal limit and don't beat on the thing too much. I remember when I first got the car, I was so stoked to have such a fast little sleeper. I hope you're satisfied with yours. Just please don't be a dick like an SRT-4 driver.

 

[HueManatee]

Yeah I'm 16 too, I'm going to get a car around November and December but by then I'll be 17..

I know the Mazdaspeed 3 is powerful.. I was looking at the Sentra SE-R Spec V but then I found out it doesn't have traction control or ESC so I wasn't interested anymore.

 

[Sergius64]

I bought mine like 2.5 months ago and I didn't know how to drive stick either... Here's what I did:

1. Spent 2 hours practicing stick in a friend's older WRX on an empty parking lot (there was a small hill there, so I was practicing starting from stop on a hill as well).
2. Spent 3 hours practicing stick on another friend's Mustang GT, first hour on an empty parking lot, the other two on the streets on a weekday evening (not too many cars around).
3. Bought the car; barely managed to drive it to an open parking lot that was about a 5 minute drive from the dealer.
4. Practiced on it for another 2 hours before driving it home with some trouble.

From there on I was able to drive it with less and less trouble. I think I remember being happy on week 2 when I would manage to make it to work (15 minute drive) without stalling once.
At this point I still have trouble shifting smoothly at low gears and also downshifting smoothly. Also I'm afraid of stops on big hills...

So I would say: get a lot of practice driving stick on friends cars or take driving lessons with it. You're going to be a pretty crappy driver as it is since you just starting to drive(believe me, I rear-ended someone within a week of getting my license). The added worry of the stick is going to make you really dangerous on the road if you don't get a lot of practice in.

 

[oaklandopen]

It surprises me that drivers ed classes offered by the schools dont really have standards. It should be a general know-how like the ability to swim or change windshield wipers

 

[DaleNixon]

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123661588

Read it.

I learned stick on my MS3.

 

[micronesia]

It surprises me that drivers ed classes offered by the schools dont really have standards. It should be a general know-how like the ability to swim or change windshield wipers

Why? Sticks are less and less common lately. It's significantly more difficult to drive and most people have no interest/need. I think it would be good if more people knew how, but I really don't see a need.

 

[hoagieryder]

Why? Sticks are less and less common lately. It's significantly more difficult to drive and most people have no interest/need. I think it would be good if more people knew how, but I really don't see a need.

OP, have you looked at a Civic Si? They are fun little cars too. My first car was an Integra GSR, which looking back on was a perfect car for me. It was sporty and quick, but it didn't have gobs of power like an MS3, that can get a new driver into easy trouble. I feel like an Si falls into that category.

 

[08cosmic3]

I've been driving manuels for 30 years and the Speed 3 is the trickiest yet and is not the car to learn on. The clutch is an on/off clutch and grabs like a MOFO.

 

[Moody]

My MS3 was my 3rd vehicle and i got it when i was 19. Pretty much learned stick on it to. borrowed a friends car to drive for a day then the next day went to pick up my baby. And it wasn't til i got all the way home that i figured out how to put it in reverse.

 

[///M Compact]

I've been driving manuels for 30 years and the Speed 3 is the trickiest yet and is not the car to learn on. The clutch is an on/off clutch and grabs like a MOFO.

I've driven MTs since 1976 and I'd like the heap a LOT more if the clutch action wasn't so abrupt. I've managed to get comfortable with the stock shift action, but the clutch is another matter-it's just miserable.

 

[vinkalmann]

The regular 3 is a good car too. Maybe a Genesis Coupe 2.0T, nice looking ride and very highly regarded? Maybe a lower end Mustang?

Seriously, I'd be kind of concerned for your safety, these suckers have a lot of power. Combine that with front-wheel drive and they can be on the tricky side, you'd better be pointed where you want to go 'cause that's where you're going! Toss in a little torque-steer and you'll pull a Nick Hogan.

I don't know you or your driving ability, so I'm just making a generalized statement that may be completely wrong.

Makes me feel old, but I agree. I remember how much trouble I got into driving my parents' 1987 Acura Integra and that thing only had 115HP. If you get this car please be careful!

PS: You might want to check out insurance rates, they are going to be HIGH for decent coverage. Mine are $140 a month for max coverage, with a spotless driving record (I'm 35).