2.0 vs 2.3

wingnut12

Member
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2005 Mazda 3 GT
I don't have a 3 yet, and was looking to see what the main differences were between the two motors. On paper, it doesn't seem like a big difference, but couldn't find a real comparison in any of the car mags, (C&D, R&T, and Wheels). Taking both for test drives through town, didn't do a lot for the 'seat of the pants' feels, but nothing really feels good off the highway.

Which if any, accepts mods more easily?

My wife is patiently waiting for the day when I give up my "Lada" as she calls it, and get a real car.
 
Which mods were I thinking of? SRI, too much snow here for a CAI, Catback exhaust, probably front and rear bars, probably lowering by an inch, and opting for +1 tires.

True, most of that has nothin to do with engine but some of it does.
 
The main difference between the two is the VVT. As of yet, no mod parts have been specifically designed for the 3i. 3s parts should bolt on but nobody knows how they will perform.
 
Thanks

That makes things Much easier.

What are reputation points?

A search brought up nothing specific about them.
 
wingnut12 said:
Which mods were I thinking of? SRI, too much snow here for a CAI, Catback exhaust, probably front and rear bars, probably lowering by an inch, and opting for +1 tires.

True, most of that has nothin to do with engine but some of it does.

you want to lower your car but you're afriad your CAI will pick up snow? (shrug) The AEM CAI puts the intake in front of the left drivers-side wheel inside the fender (if I'm not looking at the pictures cross-eyed) so where do you think you're going to be picking up snow from? I'm keeping the 17's and putting snow tires on 'em and hoping for some nice 18's in the spring with some summer dry/wet fun tires
 
depends on tranny as well which one did you test drive? Also once you put an intake on you can feel the difrence especialy top end...not shure about the 2.0 but mods do wake the 2.3 regardless of tranny.
 
In my part of Canada, I can sometimes see 2' of snow going from my driveway all the way down the street to the main road. Unfortunately, our subdivision is new, and doesn't get plowed often enough. :(

Is there a big difference in performance between the SRI, and the CAI? I don't really care what it looks like. I heard about the ATX issues, but would only drive a MTX anyway.

I took the 2.3 Sport out for a drive, but wasn't able to hit the highway. I felt like I was driving in a turtle. I'll be opting for a 4 dr.


Edit Thanks for letting me know about Rep points.
 
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have you tried a u-turn in a 3s? I did that and than tryed that with the 6i and that was night and day...
 
wingnut12 said:
In my part of Canada, I can sometimes see 2' of snow going from my driveway all the way down the street to the main road. Unfortunately, our subdivision is new, and doesn't get plowed often enough. :(

*lol* I'm IN your part of canada :p but seriously, I don't see how snow could get up inside that fender well with all the plastic covering mazda has put underneath the car. So, the full CAI is more efficient than the SRI, and you're not likely to pick up snow with the CAI unless you go bombing through a snowbank at which point you're likely to rip off your bumper at the same time, which from first hand experience costs $780 painted and installed. don't worry about the snow :)
 
Cool, thanks

Maybe I will get the CAI instead of the SRI. I had a SRI on my last car, and it worked great. I was really worried about getting snow up around it, but now not so much. Is it much harder to install, and maintain?
 
yeah the engine bays in these cars put the filter for sri in the path of the cooling fans so you are worse off than stock after the 1st 8 minutes of driving.
 
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