Can't believe the difference in refinement..

[nondual]

Did anyone else here trade up from the previous gen MS3? I had an early 07 GT and based on reviews was expecting very little change. I'm surprised. Fabric door arm rests, new shifter placement, lighter clutch feel, MUCH improved gradation on the clutch engagement (haven't stalled it yet!), keyless entry and start, Bluetooth phone, and I don't know if they changed materials on the fabric/leather seats, but they no longer cause me to get a static zap everytime I get out of the car. Also, I'm no longer fighting to get the thing into first or snagging on the gate between second and third!

Little things, really - but they bring it a lot closer to a GTI and much better than a WRX.

Has anyone else noticed these things?

 

[coyfish]

Sounds like you needed $$25 shifter bushings. Makes the shifter 100X better.

 

[nondual]

Sounds like you needed $$25 shifter bushings. Makes the shifter 100X better.

What I needed was an engine that didn't jump around like a 6 year old on crack. And engine mounts.

Was gonna get around to shifter metal bushings to replace the rubber.

 

[nynhex]

What I needed was an engine that didn't jump around like a 6 year old on crack. And engine mounts.

Was gonna get around to shifter metal bushings to replace the rubber.

Trust me, the 2010 MS3 engine still rocks like a tourettes-stricken old lady, but motor mount inserts from Corksport or a complete mount replacement will do the trick. I ordered the inserts from Corksport today and will report the difference and install when they arrive/install.

Note: I have 700mi on my car had it for 2 weeks and I'm already sick of the engine rock.

I'm also going to do shifter bushings and hopefully an STS once TWM comes out with theirs.

I drove a MS3 08 and the difference in the ride/shift is night day for me.

 

[nondual]

Trust me, the 2010 MS3 engine still rocks like a tourettes-stricken old lady, but motor mount inserts from Corksport or a complete mount replacement will do the trick. I ordered the inserts from Corksport today and will report the difference and install when they arrive/install.

Note: I have 700mi on my car had it for 2 weeks and I'm already sick of the engine rock.

I'm also going to do shifter bushings and hopefully an STS once TWM comes out with theirs.

I drove a MS3 08 and the difference in the ride/shift is night day for me.

Yeah, I know the rocking and mounts have not been fixed.

 

[nynhex]

Yeah, I know the rocking and mounts have not been fixed.

On the + side the mounts are better then they were in other years from what I've read/driven. Pretty easy to resolve though.

 

[nondual]

On the + side the mounts are better then they were in other years from what I've read/driven. Pretty easy to resolve though.

I don't know about the mounts. There's fewer vibes in this car than the last but the engine hasn't changed? What's soaking up those vibes? The non-solid rubber rear engine mounts! BUT, the shifting is light years easier and having the clutch provide better transition from engaged to disengaged has GOT to be decreasing the twist/shake in the drivetrain. There's SO much less missing the gates from 2nd to 3rd under the moderate power I'm giving the car (only 22miles on the car, allowing proper break in by never taking the revs over 4k). But still, even under moderate power, shifts are more precise.

Anyone got a pic of the rear mount? Any reported engine drops yet in this model? I got my first MS3 in Oct. 06 and had the first mount failure in Jan - somewhere between 8-12k miles. Mine wasn't the first to drop, it had happened a few times to others before this - and heavy mods had only just become available. The only engine management was Xede.