im talking about improvements in general.
from what i understand this car is suppose to be better that old model, look vise and performace vise.
but thats not how it looks like to me
Am I the only one who prefers the new sheetmetal on the MS3?
- Thread starter nondual
- Start date
im talking about improvements in general.
from what i understand this car is suppose to be better that old model, look vise and performace vise.
but thats not how it looks like to me
LovinMyMS3
Banned
Then you're one of the few adults I've met that likes it.
It's really just a beauty contest thing. Some will like one over the other. Both are great cars. Styling is personal and I respect that different people like different things.
My only real criticism of the new car is that Mazda porked it up a bit, almost 200 lbs more, depending on options. That's why the 2010 turned out to be slower on a long road course than the gen one car in Car and Driver's recent "Lightening Lap" update. The upgraded suspension and wider tires/rims should have made it quicker, but it wasn't, due to the change in weight to horsepower ratio. That's my only real beef. Styling is in the eye of the beholder. Again, both are great cars - unbeatable combination of performance, utility, quality and value for the dollar.
My only real criticism of the new car is that Mazda porked it up a bit, almost 200 lbs more, depending on options. That's why the 2010 turned out to be slower on a long road course than the gen one car in Car and Driver's recent "Lightening Lap" update. The upgraded suspension and wider tires/rims should have made it quicker, but it wasn't, due to the change in weight to horsepower ratio. That's my only real beef. Styling is in the eye of the beholder. Again, both are great cars - unbeatable combination of performance, utility, quality and value for the dollar.
Metro Gray
Member
I prefer the exterior and interior of the 09 hands down. I prefer the new cars increased handling capabilities and shorter/more precise shifter.
The wheels look tiny on the new Speed which probably has to do with the huge wheel wells. Don't really like any part of the exterior over the older design.
I don't like the red/black seats they use on the newer cars either. The rest of the interior looks good and they did a nice job with the layout.
I do wonder how easy it would be to change the suspension and the shift linkage so it performs like the newer car. The combination of fatter tires, improved suspension and reprogramming of the ecu has improved the handling of the car from .87g to .90g which is significant.
The wheels look tiny on the new Speed which probably has to do with the huge wheel wells. Don't really like any part of the exterior over the older design.
I don't like the red/black seats they use on the newer cars either. The rest of the interior looks good and they did a nice job with the layout.
I do wonder how easy it would be to change the suspension and the shift linkage so it performs like the newer car. The combination of fatter tires, improved suspension and reprogramming of the ecu has improved the handling of the car from .87g to .90g which is significant.
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I guess it all depends, I dont really hate the look of the new model, but I do dislike the front of the car. The rest is nice, Not a fan of hood scoops either, my old car had a top mount intercooler as well, and personally I like the idea of used vents that direct air onto the IC instead of the opening.
I prefer my model just because of the less aggressive look to it. Like someone mentioned before if you like the F&F stuff then sure its all great, but I prefer people just ignoring me and not gawking at the scoop and anything else that stands out on the car.
///M Compact
Member
I'll take a 1958 Impala:
I agree with all terms above. 2010 interior is inferior to 2009 touring MS3's. The 2010 dashboard LCD display is too hard to see as well.... But that's why I have a 2009...
To make the 2009's just as good as the 2010's in handling, install as set of Hotchkis sway bars (front and rear). Marked handling improvement without electic steering that takes 5 minutes to work on a cold day. For improving the shifting of the 2009 compared to the 2010, get the JBarone short shift plate kit, E4 Performance heavy shift knob, and solid shifter bushings. If you want to go further and like pretty gauges, invest in an Aeroforce scangauge to watch boost and air/fuel (knock, and a million other parameters) while setting the scangauge's shift light to trigger at 5600 RPMs for improve torque band shifting...
make that two
mark me as the second one to prefer the new body over the last
aesthetically speaking i prefer the looks of the interior, exterior side profile and rear. the front really is not as hideous in person as some people and pics may suggest. give me the functionality of a hood scoop over the "stealth" look of the previous gen also.
i love mine!
mark me as the second one to prefer the new body over the last
aesthetically speaking i prefer the looks of the interior, exterior side profile and rear. the front really is not as hideous in person as some people and pics may suggest. give me the functionality of a hood scoop over the "stealth" look of the previous gen also. i love mine!
Attachments
kwsmithphoto
Member
- :
- 2009 Mazdaspeed3
I don't like the 2010 on any level. And yes, I am older than their target demographic.
BTW, I don't see how adding 200 pounds could make the car handle better. Skidpad, shmidpad, all that means is they tightened up the rear suspension tuning. 3 years after it was badly needed.
And ya, come to think of it, why are they trying to make all of their cars look like their ugliest and worst selling car, the RX-8?
FWIW though, I read that all of this is fairly temporary. The next generation of every Mazda will have the full "Nagare" treatment in a few years. For now they're just trying to freshen up the line and bring some commonality, is all. My guess is they'll start with the RX-8 since it's their oldest body style now, elements of which will filter through the brand over time. IOW, the current 3 is relatively temporary, 3, maybe 4 years at the most. And with luck, they still have rights to Ford's newer platform.
BTW, I don't see how adding 200 pounds could make the car handle better. Skidpad, shmidpad, all that means is they tightened up the rear suspension tuning. 3 years after it was badly needed.
And ya, come to think of it, why are they trying to make all of their cars look like their ugliest and worst selling car, the RX-8?
FWIW though, I read that all of this is fairly temporary. The next generation of every Mazda will have the full "Nagare" treatment in a few years. For now they're just trying to freshen up the line and bring some commonality, is all. My guess is they'll start with the RX-8 since it's their oldest body style now, elements of which will filter through the brand over time. IOW, the current 3 is relatively temporary, 3, maybe 4 years at the most. And with luck, they still have rights to Ford's newer platform.
(shrug) When the first gen 3 came out, I liked the protege more. Now, I would rather have the first 3 than the new one. While I agree that the rear and sides look good, the front just turns me off. It reminds me of some 70s/80s cars that had painted body panels but ugly black or chrome bumpers.
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- 2002 22A P5 and 2007 TR MS3
Totally agree, I didn't like the new 3, now I have one and my protege. I didn't like the new 2010 when all I saw was advertisement pictures, but with a little work they look badass...Except that odd blue color, which I don't particularly like.
coololddude
Member
The 2010 MS3 looks very cool. People that don't like it are probably from Canada!!
so someone at work has a new 3 (non-speed) hatchback, and I noticed something... the reason why the front end looks so strange is not only the smile but the hood scoop... the curves and the silhouette of the front end look 100Xs better without the scoop ans makes the shape of the car on a whole, look more cohesive!!
I'd love to see the new speed with a regular 3's hood and a FMIC.
much more attractive.
but still not as good as the first gen (lol2)
I'd love to see the new speed with a regular 3's hood and a FMIC.
much more attractive.
but still not as good as the first gen (lol2)
No he was high on crack when he approved it !!
Twin tailpipes are only good if they're not tiny little pea-shooters. Didn't work on the 08 WRX and doesn't work on the 10 MS3. Granted, that's a pretty simple fix... but it shouldn't have to be done. The 1st gen's tailpipe is the perfect size. (now if only there was another just like it on the right.) oh well. one less thing to have to worry about replacing I guess.
As for the rest of the car... I prefer the 1st gen's door-ding guard things... (pretty sure that's what they're called) It breaks up the car and gives it a rugged look. Conversely, the stripped versions (and the '10) look more like Vibes/Matrix to me... which isn't cool. That said, I actually dig the overall look of the MS3 from the side. Nice lines and angles...
The front is a disaster. Unless you have black (or that dark grey) you're pretty much asking for a beatdown. I thought it would grow on me but hell no. I actually do like the scoop though... Last but not least, the interior's definitely (overall) an improvement over the 1st gen... but the crazy nintendo virtual boy red dotted seats and doors has to go. seriously... WTF were they thinking with that? reminds me of that bright blue trimmed seats of the old Sti. (which wasn't nearly as bad) but sort of made owning any color but blue suck. The red dot action wouldn't be THAT bad with a red MS3 but... as I mentioned already... it's black or grey. the other colors don't exist thanks mr happy pants up front.
As for the rest of the car... I prefer the 1st gen's door-ding guard things... (pretty sure that's what they're called) It breaks up the car and gives it a rugged look. Conversely, the stripped versions (and the '10) look more like Vibes/Matrix to me... which isn't cool. That said, I actually dig the overall look of the MS3 from the side. Nice lines and angles...
The front is a disaster. Unless you have black (or that dark grey) you're pretty much asking for a beatdown. I thought it would grow on me but hell no. I actually do like the scoop though... Last but not least, the interior's definitely (overall) an improvement over the 1st gen... but the crazy nintendo virtual boy red dotted seats and doors has to go. seriously... WTF were they thinking with that? reminds me of that bright blue trimmed seats of the old Sti. (which wasn't nearly as bad) but sort of made owning any color but blue suck. The red dot action wouldn't be THAT bad with a red MS3 but... as I mentioned already... it's black or grey. the other colors don't exist thanks mr happy pants up front.
