I forgot how much I loved her (my MS3)!

[mdavis]

After logging ~1000 miles over the last three days (driving from southern indiana to uniontown, pa) im my boss's 2005 Chevy Tahoe. In the Tahoe there was all kinds of slop in the steering, when you hit the gas nothing really happened (it just made a lot of noise). Not the case in a speed.

After getting back to the office and getting in my car to go to lunch i was like a giggly little school girl.

No real point to this thread, other than not taking our cars for granted!

 

[imac]

i think the same thing when i hop in my old car. loved it to death, still do, but it just doesnt compare. after driving the speed i realize how horribly underpowered the motor is, how sloppy the clutch feels and how little headroom there is in the toyota.

its definitely nice being able to drive without having to lean over toward the sunroof so my head clears the ceiling.

 

[cosic]

I was still trying to sell my civic for about a month after purchasing the speed, and I got in my civic to bring it over for someone to check it out.. At first, I thought it was sitting not being driven for too long because when I pulled in 2nd, it did nothing! Then I realized, no no, that's really the cars performance. I was just so used to so much power.

 

[ericrapp]

I was still trying to sell my civic for about a month after purchasing the speed, and I got in my civic to bring it over for someone to check it out.. At first, I thought it was sitting not being driven for too long because when I pulled in 2nd, it did nothing! Then I realized, no no, that's really the cars performance. I was just so used to so much power.

I had an 01' neon r/t with not much more than stock power. 160 at crank ha! But the car was a riot to drive the money went into chassis, suspension and brakes. Very tight. But it took a long time to make 140, and that was going downhill with a tailwind. I always liked the contrast between an SCCA style car and a powerhouse wagon. With enough playing around with aftermarket parts for the Mazda, I feel the dodge could only be a sentimental or a winter car. The Mazdaspeed 3 is one delightful ride if you are looking for fun and scaring yourself on occasion.

 

[phillyb]

hahaha, i've gotten very accustomed to boost. any car i drive without it feels really odd.
i keep on pressing on the gas thinking, "where the **** is that extra power?"

and then i think, "oh yeah...****, no turbo???"

 

[blkMs3th]

I feel you. I commute 3 days a week, and use my old beater pickup (yota minis FTMFW). The vehicles get roughly the same MPG (~25 mixed) but the truck is putting out 90 WHP. On the s**** SF city streets I can barrel along instead of watching for potholes, and limit the stress of parking and getting broken into. The real upside is climbing behind the MS3's wheel on the weekend or at night. Completely justifies the purchase!

 

[Satracing]

I know what you guys mean. I own a '08 MS3 and an '06 Nissan 4WD. Just drove the pickup (hauling my quad) and am really looking forward to driving my MS3 tomorrow. Such a difference between the two. But both are needed. The truck for my quad and dirt bike, the MS3 for pure joy.

 

[imac]

I feel you. the truck is putting out 90 WHP.

+1 on sub 100-hp to the wheels. i dont know what it actually puts out, but my celica is rated for 115hp to the crank, so it cant be much better than your truck.

 

[davidm_86]

I remember when I first got the car... Once I learned to drive stick I thought it was going to get me killed. I started getting used to the power and going a lot easier on the gas.

I then drove my old truck ('96 Exploder with the 160hp V6) to the car wash before I sold it, and well, the way I described it to my friends: a boat anchor, riding on a beach ball. It felt like I was dragging something behind me, and so wobbly. Good old truck, I kinda miss it. But yeah, stomp on it, it just made noise, burned gas, and took it's sweet time getting to speed.

Got back in my MS3, and I couldn't wipe the grin off my face. Now that I've gotten more used to the car in the last month, I'm not afraid of the power anymore. But the way I can put it, when I stomped on the gas in my old truck, it put a frown on my face. When I stomp on the gas in my MS3, it puts a smile on my face.

 

[kneedragger241]

Exactly the way I feel when I return from any trip where I have to drive a rental car... usually something lame like a G6 or Avenger.

 

[jbiird317]

my comparison is 95 Chevy 2500 with 253k miles on the clock vs. the ms3

absolutely brutal the difference between the two, but nothin beats 4wd and an 8ft bed when you really need it

 

[ericrapp]

I remember when I first got the car... Once I learned to drive stick I thought it was going to get me killed. I started getting used to the power and going a lot easier on the gas.

I then drove my old truck ('96 Exploder with the 160hp V6) to the car wash before I sold it, and well, the way I described it to my friends: a boat anchor, riding on a beach ball. It felt like I was dragging something behind me, and so wobbly. Good old truck, I kinda miss it. But yeah, stomp on it, it just made noise, burned gas, and took it's sweet time getting to speed.

Got back in my MS3, and I couldn't wipe the grin off my face. Now that I've gotten more used to the car in the last month, I'm not afraid of the power anymore. But the way I can put it, when I stomped on the gas in my old truck, it put a frown on my face. When I stomp on the gas in my MS3, it puts a smile on my face.

That cracked me up I had the similar first experience. for days I was scared to turn with boost engaged. I still giggle and smile. People who take notice must wonder why this guy is driving down the road looking the big grinning fool. oh well. It is great to hear that others, including you David. have the happiness Mazdaspeed can bring! ha