Enjoying my MS3 100%!!!

[Silver Ecstasy]

Anyone?

 

[MS3077]

It's just a kind of a tricky car to drive fast/ smooth at times due to the high torque light weight and FWD. The gearing being so short doesn't help things either.

The shifter is just notchy at times; not much you can do about it. The bushing / short shifter and MM help but they don't completely take care of the issue. I'm guessing the engineers had to cut a few corners here and there to cut cost.

 

[Yablargo]

Your fcking paranoid. Good luck enjoying life....

of sport compacts atm the Mazdaspeed is one of the best rated for reliability.

if your afraid of failures...... keep it stock and when it blows enjoy your need turbo/engine

I dont know about you but after almost 2 years of ownership, going through fear of engine falling out and now fearing engine blowing up not to mention fear of bad turbo.. cant really say. I had awesome short term impression on this car no doubt, long term...let me say this car is bye bye when the warranty ends.

Many people told me dont get mazda because of questionable reliability in the past, but i took the risk and dropped 20k+ on this car. After all this, cant say if i wanna take that risk again and im fully aware that mazda's reliability have improved over the past years.

I really dont mind small problems here and there, but engine blowing up and falling out on a new car i believe justifies why i feel this way about this car.

Sorry, i didnt mean to discourage you from enjoying this car because it is great car. I just needed to vent.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

It's just a kind of a tricky car to drive fast/ smooth at times due to the high torque light weight and FWD. The gearing being so short doesn't help things either.

The shifter is just notchy at times; not much you can do about it. The bushing / short shifter and MM help but they don't completely take care of the issue. I'm guessing the engineers had to cut a few corners here and there to cut cost.

I've noticed it likes to be shifted fast under harder throttle. I love how the rear squats under hard throttle in 2nd gear!

I've been afraid to force it into gear, being it's so notchy, but I don't want to mess any synchros up.

Do your headlights shake at night under bumps and stuff?

 

[MS3077]

I can't say I've noticed my headlights shaking at night under bumps.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

Hmm..I wonder if theres anything I could do to stiffen it up..it doesn't shake too bad but I do notice it shake.

 

[MS3077]

Just have the dealer check it out.

 

[DE31]

hmmm i've noticed the headlight shaking thing on a few cars, with HIDs, my evo does the same. not sure if its normal though.

 

[MikeHTally]

i want pictures in and out! i wanted a white GT with the alcantera so bad!

Here, I'll let you look at mine -- I expected to love it and I do! The torque is amazing, and I have a Ram pickup and a Chrysler 300, both with the Hemi!

Got the windows tinted yesterday, tomorrow the vent shades go on. I may shorten the shifter bushings.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

Those pictures arn't too bad Mike. What percentage is it?

As far as the HID's shaking goes, I decided to turn on my HID's without the engine running. Once they warmed up after a few seconds, the left headlight adjusted by itself upwards, then the right headlight followed. And they made minor servo noises heh..oh well I guess. I haven't paid much attention past that.

640 miles after 1 month and 5 days, diggin every moment I'm driving the car (which obviously isn't much as you can tell). I live real close to work, and don't commute much elsewhere. I don't even bother looking at gas prices, the car gets amazing gas mileage for how much city driving I do particularly. My average on the trip computer is 22 mpg which is NOT bad considering 18 is city and 26 hwy on this car. I'm about exactly average.

My favorite thing bout this car is HIGHWAY! I used to love zipping in and out of traffic. Reckless, I know, but it would be no fun in my TBSS with all that weight and that nasty gas mileage. But with the MS3, leave it in 6th, ease into the throttle and this thing GOES. It pulls so wonderfully.

My current plans are to investigate what options I have for gauges. I've done a majority of the homework, just need to decide what i'd rather want - Dashhawk or center mounted gauges. I'm still waiting on my Bose replacement radio, and i've taken a ton of pictures since I got the car but haven't gotten the chance to post them at all due to the busy-ness of May.

 

[Rock]

I came from an '04 mz3. Only had one problem in the 3 years that I had it and that was a stuck thermostat (which is a common problem among all makes/models), traded in for a '07ms3. Same Color (sunlight Silver) upgraded to gt. Had a transmission failure @ 126miles. Found out later that it was a improperly installed clutch assembly. Sitting at 20k miles and no other problems whatsoever. I've owned quite a few cars and the ms3 is the best car out of the bunch as far as fun factor, daily driving, and looks.

 

[DAC17]

I have to chime in here. I just got my MSP3 a month or so ago, and I'm coming out of a C6 Corvette. Why? I didn't use the Vette enough to justify the capital I had tied up in it.

Having said that, this thing is a hoot. It's more tossable than the Vette and, for half the price, it does 95% of what I need it to do on public roads (I don't track my cars yet...) I'm getting 22 mpg, and I just ordered my Cobb AP. The features (xenon lights, 6-disk changer, 6-speed manual, leather/alcantara seats, etc.) make it worth every penny. Great car!

 

[JoseloSpeed3]

I've owned several mazdas now, a scion tc and a chevy cobalt ss and im in love with my ms3. So far (9600) miles I have not had a single problem with it, I love the way it looks and the way it drives. I just installed the cobb intake and the hks ssq blowoff valve and the car feels even better than before. For the 21 grand that I payed for it I can't complain. I wish my girl knew how to drive a 6 speed so I could buy her a white one.

 

[speed858]

How did you install the cobb intake and hks valve? I heard that there were problems with that combination.

 

[sparkplug]

Well I read the thread and there is no need to worry about reliability from my perspective. I have had my MS3 for over a year and I have a significant amount of mods on the car for more power and all I have to say this car is the best car I have ever owned for all the reasons mentioned in this thread.

Its a great car that is freakin fast if you mod it a little and is just a pleasure to drive. I take the long way to the store to get ice or anything just so that I can have just a little more time driving it. I drive 80 miles per day to and from work and this car makes me grin everytime I start it and go.

For the price you can't go wrong with what you are getting.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

I figured I would ask-- Does anyone know if Mazda techs could adjust the sensitivity on the rain-sensing wipers?? I have mine on the lowest setting and still they wipe like crazy. I made the mistake of not reading the manual first because rain-x totally screws with the sensor fooling it into thinking you're going a lot faster than you actually are.

I would just like much less sensitivity. I think im going to talk to my tech and ask.

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

Geesh... I am on my 3rd Mazda and have YET to have a problem...

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

Well no real problems really, other than my radio and my gripe with the automatic sensors. Otherwise, I love the car! I've noticed the trans sometimes doesn't like to go into 1st without letting out the clutch and pushing back in when you're rolling to a stop.

 

[truredspeed3]

^ i have to say i am so ******* sick of negative comments like these... Your engine will probably never fall out, and the turbo problem was a small batch of cars. As far as blowing up the engine...well people do dumb s*** to blow up an engine in any car, not just a mazdaspeed3. Forums are bredding grounds for negativity, thanks for contributing to the downward spiral of this community.

OP: congrats on the car, treat it right and it will treat you right. Its a wonderful machine.

I am with Mastodon on this 1,000,000,000%. People give this car such a bad wrap because of s*** they have heard or what other people have experienced. I know I have been guilty of that...But I love my ******* Speed3 and I wouldn't change it for anything!

 

[eddelgado]

I have to say that my car has been great so far. I bought it this past February. The only time that I have been back to the dealer was for my plates. I believe this is the only new car that I have bought that I have not had one single issue to take back to the dealer in the first couple of months. If all goes well they will never see it again!

Ed.