attn speed3 GT owners.. if given 2nd chance, would u get sport model

[tavarua88]

i meant CD player that could read mp3s but yea, i know what you're saying.

 

[M3_Zoom]

i meant CD player that could read mp3s but yea, i know what you're saying.

Oh! I didn't quite catch that, sorry. Old age getting the best of me. (drive2)

 

[RogRacer]

I'm happy with my plain old basic Sport model. And this from a guy coming from an E36 BMW M3. But to each his own! Both are good choices.

 

[Mike V]

I held out for a GT and happy that I did. I really like the HID's and 6-disc CD. Bose car stereo systems have always been a joke to me (also had Bose in a 97 Jetta GLX) but I like the 6-cd changer and it does sound better than the Sport stereo. The Rockford Fosgate system in my Titan sounds much better in comparison. I also felt that the GT seats are more supportive than the Sport. The leather bolsters seem to hold you in better. Another thing I like is the auxiliary jack in the center console. If I remember correctly, that doesn't come with the Sport package. Another thing to keep in mind is, as others have mentioned, you can't get Nav with the Sport model. Many people aren't willing to pay an extra $1700 just for the Nav option anyway (it is NOT included in the GT package).

 

[Betelgeuse]

The aux jack does come in the sport model. As for the semi-leather seats being more supportive, I doubt it. Leather is more about feel and looks than actual support. I'm sure the reason the seats aren't completely leather is to avoid sliding around.

 

[79_Limited]

Exactly...

Xplan pricing (ford) = Mazda S-plan pricing

S-plan qualifies you to buy the vehicle @ invoice.

however CTGrey is right, currently the MS3 is not eligible for Splan pricing. and even if it was, honoring Splan is @ the dealer's discretion. You dont have to offer it. Youd be hard pressed to find a dealer willing to honor Splan even if it was offered from Mazda.

Strange. I just bought a Blue Speed 3 GT this afternoon with my S plan. I told the dealer I would come in and buy today if they would allow the S plan pricing. I thought it was a great deal for this car at dealer invoice.

 

[Ms3Xeoc]

I can read a map... no need for a Navi. I'm not above turning on the wipers or lights I plan to replace the speakers and install my sub sometime. ehhhhh leather would be okish, but it's not a neccesity to me.


So, I chose the sport. I'm happy, I got what I wanted.

bottom line, choose what you want. Diffrent strokes for diffrent folks.

 

[Mike V]

The aux jack does come in the sport model. As for the semi-leather seats being more supportive, I doubt it. Leather is more about feel and looks than actual support. I'm sure the reason the seats aren't completely leather is to avoid sliding around.

Haha you doubt it? WTF does that mean? Either they do or they don't. Have you driven both a sport model and GT model? The bolsters on the GT model provide more support for me.

 

[Betelgeuse]

Haha you doubt it? WTF does that mean? Either they do or they don't. Have you driven both a sport model and GT model? The bolsters on the GT model provide more support for me.

They're the exact same seats, contoured exactly the same way, just one has leather trimmings, how can it provide more support? I've seen both.

 

[Mike V]

They're the exact same seats, contoured exactly the same way, just one has leather trimmings, how can it provide more support? I've seen both.

Now you are starting to make me second guess myself. Do you have a Sport model? I remember the Sport model had seats similar to the Mazda3 2.3s, which have one-piece seat bottoms that simply curve up on the sides. The GT models have the leather bolsters attached to cloth seat bottoms. I drove a Sport model and a GT on the same day and remember the GT model hugging closer to my legs. (shrug) Maybe someone is willing to post a pic of their MS3 Sport model seats?

 

[Betelgeuse]

Now you are starting to make me second guess myself. Do you have a Sport model? I remember the Sport model had seats similar to the Mazda3 2.3s, which have one-piece seat bottoms that simply curve up on the sides. The GT models have the leather bolsters attached to cloth seat bottoms. I drove a Sport model and a GT on the same day and remember the GT model hugging closer to my legs. (shrug) Maybe someone is willing to post a pic of their MS3 Sport model seats?

Trust me, they're the same except for the leather trim, I have the sport. This thread has a pic of the sport seats:

http://**********************/index.php?topic=61562.90

The gt comes with:

hids (xenons)
navi
leather trimmed seats (sport seats with leather replacing the dark cloth)
rain-sensing wipers
trip meter (this can be unlocked in the sport)
bose
6-cd changer

That's pretty much it, everything else is the same.

*Edit* Well since linking is not allowed go to m a z d a 3 f o r u m s and check out the pictures section in the mazdaspeed3 section.

 

[Mike V]

Trust me, they're the same except for the leather trim, I have the sport. This thread has a pic of the sport seats:

http://**********************/index.php?topic=61562.90

The gt comes with:

hids (xenons)
navi
leather trimmed seats (sport seats with leather replacing the dark cloth)
rain-sensing wipers
trip meter (this can be unlocked in the sport)
bose
6-cd changer

That's pretty much it, everything else is the same.

*Edit* Well since linking is not allowed go to m a z d a 3 f o r u m s and check out the pictures section in the mazdaspeed3 section.

Cool thanks for the link. I see what you mean now. Apparently my memory is deteriorating more than I thought. Heheh.

BTW, the GT doesn't come with Nav. It's a $1700 option. The dealer where I bought my GT has a red one with Nav and Sirius - MSRP is $27k!

 

[Betelgeuse]

Cool thanks for the link. I see what you mean now. Apparently my memory is deteriorating more than I thought. Heheh.

BTW, the GT doesn't come with Nav. It's a $1700 option. The dealer where I bought my GT has a red one with Nav and Sirius - MSRP is $27k!

Yep you're right, my bad on that.

 

[bast525]

Trust me, they're the same except for the leather trim, I have the sport. This thread has a pic of the sport seats:

http://**********************/index.php?topic=61562.90

The gt comes with:

hids (xenons)
navi
leather trimmed seats (sport seats with leather replacing the dark cloth)
rain-sensing wipers
trip meter (this can be unlocked in the sport)
bose
6-cd changer

That's pretty much it, everything else is the same.

*Edit* Well since linking is not allowed go to m a z d a 3 f o r u m s and check out the pictures section in the mazdaspeed3 section.

you forgot the alarm. GT has an alarm that will go off if the doors are forced open, sport does not. But both have that ignition system that supposedly wont let the car start without the right key... microchip in the key or something.

 

[$inCitySpeed3]

i have a GT, was thinking of this myself...I would do the same, most people end adding the things that come on the GT...

Navi
DVD
HID
LED
Better Seats

and all the little things like auto headlight levler, auto wipers...

I am happy

 

[clos561]

eya but the gt is only 2k more and arent the lights really expensive? i cant see myself driving a sport...cloth seats, yellow lights, non auto wipers, ....the lights and the seats are my biggest reason for getting gt...i didnt get nav because they didnt have it and i can jstu get a ncie hand held for cheap...

 

[Betelgeuse]

you forgot the alarm. GT has an alarm that will go off if the doors are forced open, sport does not. But both have that ignition system that supposedly wont let the car start without the right key... microchip in the key or something.

Ah forgot the alarm. But the aftermarket stuff is usually better.

I'm glad I saved the extra cash for real mods down the road. Except for the factory alarm, all that other stuff is just fluff. I know when it's raining and what to do so rain sensing wipers is pretty much useless, hids are nice looking but the
stock headlights work extremely well, the leather trimmed seats didn't really interest me and they're no better than the sport. I laughed at the leds. The trip meter is crap (it's always off) . Navi? Google maps work just fine and it's free. And if I must have one, it'll be a portable.

 

[clos561]

the nav weas a s*** load and you could probably get 3 handhelds for the price of the stock nav...and u cant carry around the ms3 nav or switch cars with it....o yea anyone with navi...does the navi screen tell you tire pressure to the psi?

 

[camrycev6]

My buddy has a portable Garmin nav system and he loves it. It is hard to argue the whole portability of it, especially when you get the car version for $300, and the completely pocket-sized portable for about $390.

 

[whitey4311]

Dont forget that the GT has the cool LED rear tail lights as well instead of the red plastic bulb covers that the sport uses.

There are so many things that make the GT a more luxury type ride that for the minimal price difference its so worth it.

My friend and I bought a MS3 the same day he got the sport blue and I got the GT black and I love mine best.

PS my navi screen was dead from the get go and am still waiting for a replacement going on 2 weeks now.

Whats this talk about an alarm system in the GT? I didnt know mine had that vs the sport not having it.

Do the keys really have a chip in them? This would sort of make having an alarm useless wouldnt it?