'09 or '10 Mazdaspeed 3

[zoomzoom02]

I am in the market for a new car, and have narrowed my selection to the Mazdaspeed 3. I just cannot decide not which one I can get. Based on amenities alone, I want the '10 (with keyless, longer gears etc), but the '10 is so damn ugly. Has anyone else been going through this? I am just hoping that if I get a '10 that AutoExe or another company will come out with a much better grille.

 

[CWPspeed3]

It may just be me but I wouldnt buy a car and hope that someone would make a body kit for it because I didnt like the looks.

 

[8.5MS3]

I personally dislike the 2010, looks too flashy and boy racer for my taste. gaping smile, hood scoop, bigger wing, and the tail lights are all big turnoffs.

I dont think you will notice much in terms of gearing unless you are gonna autox or drag. gears arent really that much longer, 2nd gear has been lengthened to get to 60 but not by much. theres a thread out there with official gear ratios.

The 1st gen sleeper look has its advantages, cops really dont bug you and ricers tend to miss you when theyre buzzing around w/ their fart cans looking for a race. The hood scoops gonna be a dead give away tho. just my .02

 

[BlackCherry06]

I think the color you want has a lot to do with this. If you happen to want a black one, the smiley face won't show nearly as much and eventually you'll get used to it. White, red, etc. seem to really bring attention to the smile.

You may not be thinking about this now, but the introduction of a new model has an impact on the market value of an outgoing model. When it's time to trade it in years (or in some cases, months) from now, the '10 will be worth more. Of course, that may be offset by factory incentives and dealer motivation to get rid of the '09s, so there's a lot to think about.

Like mentioned above, if you think the grille isn't something you'd eventally grow to like, don't even buy the car. I've NEVER purchased a car that I hated the looks of...why do that?

 

[MS3MB]

Ya man if I were you I would go with the 09 especially if you don't like the look of the 10 I dont either. I also like the sleeper look of the 09 and from my experience cops really don't notice you they just think its another bad 3 hatch. I have blown past cops(who havent been lasering) going well over the speed limit but I have never gotten much of a reaction out of them

 

[MSMS3]

2010 is almost 100 lbs heavier with same power.

Gearing change is just so the car mags that test the car can get it to 60 in second gear (even though it will be past the power peak) and maybe knock off a tenth of a second to 60 which will be lost back when the shift takes place. (Concession to advertizing and marketing).

No HID lights (at least not to begin with).

New ugliness up front may have some benefit in performance, if we forgive the guppy smile. Moving to a hood scoop (which I detest) for the IC, does free up a slot in the upper front grill to send cold air straight to the intake air box (probably still as crappy as the current one, but at least it will get direct unobstructed access to outside air). So a SRI located there might be pretty close to behaving like a CAI.

Until we can get one to test, who knows which is quicker in stock form.

But fugly face and ricer boy scoops and wings are not my idea of improvement.

 

[zoomzoom02]

I agree with your thoughts on "why buy a car you don't like?" The reason I am contemplating is simply because of all the cars I want, the recent models are all ugly as hell. The new WRX sucks, I hate the new EVO, the new Mazdaspeed is ugly...well the new line of Mazdas all suck. So I don't have much choice.

I am contemplating the 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 mainly because when I bought my Protege in 2001, I have always been disappointed. I went to the dealership to buy an MP3 and was too late. All of them were sold, so I settled on an ES. Now I am in the same boat, I want the newest, best version. I know there are not many changes, but I don't want to be disappointed with my purchase.

I do see how the 'sleeper' look of the current MS3 can be advantageous, especially in the way of law enforcement. That is a very good point.

On top of that, it is pretty retarded that the 'special edition' car does not have hid/led lights. And no sunroof.

 

[CWPspeed3]

I agree with your thoughts on "why buy a car you don't like?" The reason I am contemplating is simply because of all the cars I want, the recent models are all ugly as hell. The new WRX sucks, I hate the new EVO, the new Mazdaspeed is ugly...well the new line of Mazdas all suck. So I don't have much choice.

I agree, dont know what the hell designers are thinking but all the new cars they are coming out with are ugly as s*** or being designed so when they hit people its less painful for them. Give me a break, design a good looking car.

Good luck with your decision and remember when your driving you wont have to look at the outside of the car.

 

[matsuda]

I agree, dont know what the hell designers are thinking but all the new cars they are coming out with are ugly as s*** or being designed so when they hit people its less painful for them. Give me a break, design a good looking car.

A lot of designers probably have their head up their arse.
I can't understand why the management would approve such a design.
Haven't they figured out that someone is actually more inclined to buy a car when they like the appearance of it?

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

It's like any artistic expression

A lot of designers probably have their head up their arse.
I can't understand why the management would approve such a design.
Haven't they figured out that someone is actually more inclined to buy a car when they like the appearance of it?

Hey some people like certain art and some don't. Designing automobiles is no different. Personally I'd rather have a designer from Mazda trying to push the envelope over a Toyota Designer being derivative.

Some of you guys just seem to want a box on wheels.

 

[240ka]

never buy a car if you feel like you have to play catch up(2010 MS3). as said before. the 10 3's does make the 1st gens look dated but it doesnt matter b/c the 10 3's arent appealing.

go with the 09 MS3 or another car

 

[MSMS3]

Some of you guys just seem to want a box on wheels.

So preferring a smooth functional hood with elegant design (ram air to the intercooler with no bulge), and a rear wing that is efficient without being outrageous is wanting a box on wheels?

And a classy front grill that does not look like a smiling guppy on steriods is wanting a box on wheels? Let's admit it, guys, Mazda sees more sales with the ricer crowd, so that's where they went. Marketing, not art.

Both cars, current and 2010 MS3, have a Cd (drag coefficient) of 0.32, which is definitely not boxy, either of them.

BTW a Cd of 0.32 is better than a Ferrari F40 and equal to a McLaren F1 and a Porsche 911 GT2, notorious 200 mph boxes on wheels that they all are!

 

[BlueWagon]

Get an 2010 if you think there is less chance your turbo won't go BOOM!

 

[robin2660]

Get an 2010 if you think there is less chance your turbo won't go BOOM!

(uhm)

 

[8.5MS3]

Get an 2010 if you think there is less chance your turbo won't go BOOM!

or get a used 09 or 08 and buy a gt30r with the money you save.

Ive never herd of a turbo going boom.....

 

[Nismothecat]

my dad gets more compliments on his 2010 Mazda3 than i ever did when i owned my 08 MS3. believe it or not, the general public likes the 2010 Mazda3. in fact at a couple meets he took it too. it was the hit of the meet.


the problem with the 1st gen MS3 is they took a car that had already been out for 3 years and made it into a MS3. it was already an old, boring design.
you could barely tell the difference between the MS3 and the regualr 3. this car you wont mistake it for a regualr hatch.

i liked my old MS3 and i think the new one is pretty nice too.

 

[slowtege5]

Get the 09 while you still have a chance. It's the last chance to get one that isn't used. I think i'm going to use that in my sig "Turbo goes boom!" haha what a dousche

 

[CWPspeed3]

my dad gets more compliments on his 2010 Mazda3 than i ever did when i owned my 08 MS3. believe it or not, the general public likes the 2010 Mazda3. in fact at a couple meets he took it too. it was the hit of the meet.


the problem with the 1st gen MS3 is they took a car that had already been out for 3 years and made it into a MS3. it was already an old, boring design.
you could barely tell the difference between the MS3 and the regualr 3. this car you wont mistake it for a regualr hatch.

i liked my old MS3 and i think the new one is pretty nice too.

there are usually lots of comments on something thats new, they probably notice the smile more than anything. A buddy of mine got a 2010 mustang gt a month or so ago and gets tons of compliments but soon he will be one of many with the car. I still get comments and compliments on my MS3.

 

[8.5MS3]

you could barely tell the difference between the MS3 and the regualr 3

That is exactly why I like 1st gen. under the radar. why the hell do you have to announce to the world "look at me im fast". much more fun to leave someone with the WTF face after he gets pwnd

 

[Nismothecat]

That is exactly why I like 1st gen. under the radar. why the hell do you have to announce to the world "look at me im fast". much more fun to leave someone with the WTF face after he gets pwnd

well, i dont street race so i dont really care about wtf pwning people. but most people that spend extra money on the nicer version would like people to know this. you may like the fact that its a sleeper but are you the majority??
i dont think so.

if you look around, the cars the MS3 competes with flaunt thier stuff. if your trying to market your car to the people who are buying Sti's, Evo's, CSRT4's then you have to cater to that crowd.