i"m shopping around for a new car ,can you guys tell me more about the ms3 are they reliable ,how easy they are to upgrade ,how fast would they run with just bolts on ?how much are the cpu chips for them ?whats the price i should pay for a new touring 08 or 09 mazda out the door ?
help me decide on mazda
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Super Unique
Member
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- 2008.5 Mazdaspeed 3 Black Mica
if your looking for quick, cheap bolt on horsepower, this is likely not the car for you.
oaklandopen
Member
this car does better as a quick+cheap daily driver, and not so much as a bolt on project.
You can get a '08 - '09 GT for around $22-24,000 OTD.
A few basic bolt-ons ex. intake, TMIC, test pipe, will get you into low 13's if you can drive. Add some some slicks and you'll see 12's.
The Speed3 is pretty reliable, keep in mind it does have a turbo which is more maintenance. There were some issues with the earlier models, but most have been resolved for the newer ones.
If you're looking to make a track beast, buy a WRX. If you want a nice, fast daily driver that you can mod, but not make unbearable to drive to work everyday, save a few thousand and get a Mazdaspeed3.
A few basic bolt-ons ex. intake, TMIC, test pipe, will get you into low 13's if you can drive. Add some some slicks and you'll see 12's.
The Speed3 is pretty reliable, keep in mind it does have a turbo which is more maintenance. There were some issues with the earlier models, but most have been resolved for the newer ones.
If you're looking to make a track beast, buy a WRX. If you want a nice, fast daily driver that you can mod, but not make unbearable to drive to work everyday, save a few thousand and get a Mazdaspeed3.
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- 2010 Mazda CX-9 GT Dolphin Gray
Ahh reliability and upgrading are mutually exclusive
This has been argued over before but I'll just jump on my soapbox once more. For the MS3's price you should not expect a car that can be modded and still prove reliable. Mazda has built the MS3 as a fun, well-finished and fast mode of transportation for UNDER $23,000. Like all cars the MS3 is a system that is engineered around controlled tolerances and failure modes. Adding a bigger turbo may not break things in the short-term but it will severely compromise the long-term durability of an drivetrain that was designed with certain parts that were proven to work relaibly together for specific cycle times.
It is UNREALISTIC to expect Mazda or any manufacturer to build a product at this price and feature set that has been tested with limitless variations in the basic design -or- use parts that are overbuilt to survive any forseeable interaction.
If Mazda were to build a car that could be modded and still reamin as relaible as it was designed the product would cost multiples of it's 23,000 price.
If you want a reliable, fun and well-designed product then the MS3 is a good choice.
If you want to mod the hell out of it then you should look for a older STi or Mitsu EVO. I would argue that those cars are more moddable, but they also cost ~$10,000 more when new and are no where as refined a daily driver as the MS3.
IMO
This has been argued over before but I'll just jump on my soapbox once more. For the MS3's price you should not expect a car that can be modded and still prove reliable. Mazda has built the MS3 as a fun, well-finished and fast mode of transportation for UNDER $23,000. Like all cars the MS3 is a system that is engineered around controlled tolerances and failure modes. Adding a bigger turbo may not break things in the short-term but it will severely compromise the long-term durability of an drivetrain that was designed with certain parts that were proven to work relaibly together for specific cycle times.
It is UNREALISTIC to expect Mazda or any manufacturer to build a product at this price and feature set that has been tested with limitless variations in the basic design -or- use parts that are overbuilt to survive any forseeable interaction.
If Mazda were to build a car that could be modded and still reamin as relaible as it was designed the product would cost multiples of it's 23,000 price.
If you want a reliable, fun and well-designed product then the MS3 is a good choice.
If you want to mod the hell out of it then you should look for a older STi or Mitsu EVO. I would argue that those cars are more moddable, but they also cost ~$10,000 more when new and are no where as refined a daily driver as the MS3.
IMO
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This has been argued over before but I'll just jump on my soapbox once more. For the MS3's price you should not expect a car that can be modded and still prove reliable. Mazda has built the MS3 as a fun, well-finished and fast mode of transportation for UNDER $23,000. Like all cars the MS3 is a system that is engineered around controlled tolerances and failure modes. Adding a bigger turbo may not break things in the short-term but it will severely compromise the long-term durability of an drivetrain that was designed with certain parts that were proven to work relaibly together for specific cycle times.
It is UNREALISTIC to expect Mazda or any manufacturer to build a product at this price and feature set that has been tested with limitless variations in the basic design -or- use parts that are overbuilt to survive any forseeable interaction.
If Mazda were to build a car that could be modded and still reamin as relaible as it was designed the product would cost multiples of it's 23,000 price.
If you want a reliable, fun and well-designed product then the MS3 is a good choice.
If you want to mod the hell out of it then you should look for a older STi or Mitsu EVO. I would argue that those cars are more moddable, but they also cost ~$10,000 more when new and are no where as refined a daily driver as the MS3.
IMO
Well Said !!
Metro Gray
Member
I've had the car for three months now and I see no reason to mess with anything that Mazda has done except for the loud exhaust.
coololddude
Member
the MS3 is the best alternative (for the price) to viagra. over time it is cheaper too!!
