First, I am truly sorry for all those owners out there who are having trouble with their cars. When ever I read all the negatives post, I gotta wonder if I lucked out or people just beat the crap out of their cars.
The only 2 "problems" I have are the creaky windshield (occaisonally) and the loud suspension when really cold.
1. I live in MA and in the winter the suspension makes the loud noises only when it is below 20 degrees. It is totally gone after 10 minutes of driving. No big deal.
2. Windshield creaks only when really cold. Not a big deal.
3. I drive 35k a year. my commute is 120 round trip 5 days a week. I never had a mechanical problem. I have 25k on the car. I drive it hard at times which it was designed for.
4. The transmission is buttery smooth even in single digit temperatures.
5. No idea why there is a complaint with 3rd gear. I never missed a shift.
6. No smoking turbos
I am constantly asking a fellow Speed3 owner I know "Have you had any problems?" He has an 08 (I have an 09) and his has been flawless. I keep waiting for something to happen because of all these horror stories. I either lucked out or know how to properly drive and maintain a car. I have owned over 15 cars in my life time, Hondas, Audi, Mazda, Nissan, Mini, Subaru and I never had mechanical problems with any of my cars except the Audi and that was just the ignition coil that was a known problem anyway. I don;t know, I gotta think it is just how people drive and maintain their cars.