5000 mile review

[Donas64]

While I agree that people who buy the MS3 should just appreciate it for what it is and be happy with the cash they saved, we can still be civil can't we?

 

[nextcar]

I just hit 5K at the end of last week. I have a few things that I think Mazda could have done better. (gripes)

1.Squeek from center console

The sqeek from the center console is bothering me more now. If I press down on the plastic piece above the audio controls, I can silence it. I'll ask the dealer to try to fix it next oil change.

Has anyone had this squeek fixed by the dealer?

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

i am at 4800 miles. maybe 5 months?

i dont mind the drone. i dont like the "floatiness" of the suspension. feels like it goes up and stays up too long. i had to get a new gas cap, that sucked. i think the stereo is very anemic. (non-bose).

the shifter is notchy.

i will upgrade the rear motor mount, and probably get the eibach springs. if i could do it again, am not positive i would go the same route. gas prices cooled the driving enthusiasm. i putt along, and get 24-25mpg. i could have the same thrills in a TDI jetta.

i also am not thrilled with the roughness of the inner door panels and dash. it has a sharkskin texture to it. if you forget to apply lotion in the morning, you can sand off some exoderm when you rub up on it, and leave a white streak on the dash...gross. ash-y door panels, gross.

Wow..you definitely made an impulse buy when you got this huh..

For what it's worth, I agree that the suspension does float slightly, and the shifter can be improved with a rear motor mount and short shifter. You didn't buy a BMW, you bought a Mazdaspeed 3. It may seem rough around the edges, but it's smoother than you think.

 

[LukeP]

My second gripe is the transmission. It's not easy to engage into 1st and 2nd gears smoothly, especially if you want to shift quickly. Others have described the clutch as being "grabby", and I would agree.

I'm 4000 in, and I agree. I'm not sure how they would make it better. The grabbyness of the clutch I think is because its racing style? What gets me is the drive by wire system lag (if you've seen my other posts, I accuse computers of a lot of bad things). When I drive a friends older car or my parents '03 corolla I can drive it so smooth its like an automatic, where my foot applies torque perfectly in sync with my clutch movements. In the MS3 the two are always out of sync somehow....someone else might be able to explain it better.

The shifter feels a LOT like a late 80's VW shifter. Thats not exactly a compliment, but at least it feels beefy, like there's some gears in there that will take some hits. I do like the sound of the synco gnash between changes, makes it sound all....mechanical!

 

[240ka]

it's interesting you would say that. i just test drove a 08 g35 sedan automatic and i really liked it. lots of power. good cornering ability. the main advantage over the ms3 is that it's quiet. my ms3 recently started having vibration and creaking noise coming from the center console. the ms3 just doesn't feel as solid and well put together.

the sedan is very different from the coupe. the sedan performs like the coupe should.

the G sedan kills the G coupe

 

[skubidoobie]

My biggest complaint is road noise. It is a sports car and they do try and keep it slim, but road noise is harsh in this car. Shifting is clunky but I will be fixing that in the future with a cp-e rear mm and twm bushings. Cowl rattle and gas cap that sticks are minor (until you stop for gas in a questionable location late at night and you can't get the gas cap off, doh!). The car is amazing, and the pros far outweigh any cons.

 

[taylorex]

My GF just hit 4000 miles today on here MZ3. She has the dash noise and a radio problem. I installed a Medieval rear motor mount on it last month and that helped with the sloppy motor movement.
Here is my write up
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123722572

 

[DS motorsports]

My GF just hit 4000 miles today on here MZ3. She has the dash noise and a radio problem. I installed a Medieval rear motor mount on it last month and that helped with the sloppy motor movement.
Here is my write up
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123722572

Great write up, I would definitely upgrade ALL the motor mounts on any MS3. The stock one just can't hold the power

 

[PCspeed3]

Im just saying, Mazda could have done it for just under $30K and it would have just made the already fantastic car even better. If AWD and FMIC were an option, would you get it? I know I would, haha.

I hate it when STI/EVO fanboys buy a MS3. AWD, FMIC, blah,blah,blah The car isn't meant to compete with them dumbass.

Fcukin' cry about it man. ^