I drove one!!!

[Mazda3]

Well, Thursday night I got to drive the Speed 6!!!
Me and a buddy who have each purchased 3 new Mazda's from the local dealer finally talked them into letting us drive one. (2thumbs)

We were prepared for this and wanted to make an accurate assessment of the car. Before we drove the Speed we took my buddies 350Z and my wifes 6s through the same route we were going to take the speed. We wanted to make a direct back to back comparison between the vehicles.

First off, this car is damn FAST for a 3600lbs plus family sedan!!! It will definalety run in the 13's with a healthy launch. Wanting to gage the pull of the car without factoring in the AWD we did some 1st gear rolling starts with the 350 and then the speed 6 on the same stretch. We both thought the cars felt about equal in seat of the pants feel. However with the 6 being a heavier car and a more refined ride this probably means the 6 is faster.

Cornering is unreal!! Very neutral feeling at all speeds. The rear diff. kicks in instantly. There is no noticable delay or jerking in the rear. It really brings the ass end around a corner. One amazing thing we both felt is that the car doesn't feel like its 3600lbs when you're tossing it around, its very nimble and light on its feet.

I am still very impressed with how quiet and refined the ride is. You can hardly here the engine inside the car. Even at full throttle you had to listen closely to here the turbo. I truely believe this car is exactly what Mazda wanted it to be. The Legacy is probably the way to go if you want to heavily mod this type of car, but the MS6 will eat it up in stock vs. stock. Its definately more refined and more adult than the Subie.

Anyway, in conclusion we both felt this car would follow the 350Z through any track (the 350 might be a touch quicker in the hairpin turns) and its defintaly 0-60 in sub 5.5sec figures. I'm very impressed. There's a good chance my buddy will by one, he has a buyer lined up for his 350.

 

[Killer]

Your "Seat of your pants" numbers are about the same as RX-8 Horsepower claims..(rofl)

Low 14's at best.

Thanks for the review though. (drinks)

 

[RHAGEL]

Sounds Awesome. I honestly hope it doesn't sell overly well so it will keep some excusivity to the car. Not to mention slow sales will mean some good rebates available next September. I might even be able to afford one.

 

[crossbow]

Technically a 6s MTX can take a Z on a track, if the Z has a poor exit speed out of a curve . The MPS 6 should have no problem walking one.

 

[Newf]

Sounds Awesome. I honestly hope it doesn't sell overly well so it will keep some excusivity to the car. Not to mention slow sales will mean some good rebates available next September. I might even be able to afford one.

that is what i am waiting for as well. Unless the dealer wants to give me an incridible deal on this car, I can't see it happening this year. Just spent too much money renovating the house and installing a movie theater....which I don't regret at all.


thanks for the info mazda 3 as usual. Car sounds amazing. I plan on taking one out this week sometime.

 

[Mazda3]

Technically a 6s MTX can take a Z on a track, if the Z has a poor exit speed out of a curve . The MPS 6 should have no problem walking one.

We both actually thought it out handled the 350Z, I didn't want to post that because it might ruffle a few feathers.

As far as my seat of the pants feel goes I've owned more fast cars than most people on this board. Cars of the 3,4, and 500hp variety. My friends are actually amazed by my ability to drive a car for ten minutes and then predict within a couple of tenths what it will run in the 1/4. It is a little harder to gage in some of these newer more refined vehicles, but mark my words this car will break the 13sec barrier. It will run low 14's idling it off the line, with any kind of launch it will run high 13's. First and second gear are like driving a turbo diesel truck, the tack goes from 3-6000 rpm in a blink next thing you know your in third gear.

 

[Newf]

shut up guys, I'm having a hard enough time not trying to spend my last dime on this car as it is. All this talk about how fast it is ain't helping

 

[Mazda3]

(drive2) (thumb)

 

[RenzoMSP]

I have a hard time believing that this car will run 13s stock.

 

[Mazda3]

I have a hard time believing that this car will run 13s stock.

Its already been clocked at 0-60 in 5.3sec, pretty much anything that does 0-60 that fast is in the high 13's in the 1/4. Whether it does the 1/4 in 13.9 or 14.1 its still an amazing car to drive for the money.

 

[crossbow]

I agree that it will run 13's stock. (high 13's), but only with a competent driver behind the wheel. Generally you'll get almost a second spread depending on who is driving it down the strip.

With a good driver...high 13's (possibly a 13.6-13.7), decent driver low 14's, 13.9's, average driver, low 14's.

For comparison (speedwise), the new sti run a 4.5 in the 0-60, and clocks the 1/4 at 13 flat @103.5 mph.

 

[Rainman]

Great review M3. This thing rocks. I plan to get a 0-60 vid soon so that everyone can see just what we are talking about. Now I have to admit that I am no race driver, but I think that people will get the idea. The only thing that I regret (and only just marginally) is that, like to say, the interior sound dampening is so exceptional that you are almost too isolated from all that wonderful music from the engine bay. I would love to be on the outside hearing one fly by at full boil.....except that would mean that I wouldn't be driving it and that is NOT going to happen any time soon. LOL!

But that 2 to 3 shift will definitely be challenging to master if you are going to get a good time.

R

 

[Da 6]

opening the intake should provide some sound. Anyone confirm the intake resonators are on this car yet? That was my 2nd mod after the airbox on both my cars.

 

[crossbow]

Ya, just yank the resonator off. Also check under the intercooler cover. I bet they put sound insulation under the cover just like they did on the 6i's.