I used to skip gears quite a bit in my Pro in an attempt to get better gas mileage, but I still ended up getting 21-22 mpg, with 75% city driving. It's the fact that I had to rev hard and high just to keep up. Mileage in brand-new cars is usually lower than average, but I've been getting 25+ mpg so far in the Spec, and that's with some spirited driving, mostly city.rodslinger said:
Mazda 3 vs. Nissan SE-R Spec V
- Thread starter ucdchan
- Start date
razorblade kiss
Member
The MZ3 is a much classier car. The interior is gorgeous, the body styling (imho) is very sexy looking. The manual tranny shifts like an absolute dream, and the handeling is damn good for the price. It's not a car your going to see everywhere, and neither is the Sentra but the MZ3 is more rare. I've not seen one in my town yet. I would take the MZ3 over the Sentra Spec V anyday. And I did. I took the MZ3 over the Celica, Sentra, and MSP. And trust me this isnt biased, just because I own one doesnt mean I would try to sway someone else into buying one. I made the right choice. And alot of people around here (where I live) seem to agree.
razorblade kiss
Member
theres more spec-v's though.
The Sentra SE-R has a poor turning radius. I see alot of SE-Rs and Spec-Vs everywhere and its sad I know most of the owners. As for seeing Mz3s I don't see to many. It might because the closest dealers are 30 minutes away from my house. The 3 Mazda dealers in my area don't even sell Mazdaspeeds.
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Give it another 2-3 months and the MZ3S will be running 14 second 1/4 mile times with bolt-ons.
I recently spoke to Focus Central (they make performance parts for the 2.3L PZEV based Ford Focus)... the 2.3L focus with a base of 145hp + $1k in bolt-on parts are dishing out low/mid 14 second 1/4 mile times. Focus Central already has a 3S and they're slapping on thier parts (that fit) and they say their saying the results look promising.
I've owned a lot of cars and they've all been pretty much worked... but I've learned there will always be someone faster. I've settle for a little more refinement this time around and I really think I've found it in the 3S. It's quick - with plenty of potential and it doesn't look like a jelly bean on wheels.
Sorry man - that Spec-V is butt ugly.
I recently spoke to Focus Central (they make performance parts for the 2.3L PZEV based Ford Focus)... the 2.3L focus with a base of 145hp + $1k in bolt-on parts are dishing out low/mid 14 second 1/4 mile times. Focus Central already has a 3S and they're slapping on thier parts (that fit) and they say their saying the results look promising.
I've owned a lot of cars and they've all been pretty much worked... but I've learned there will always be someone faster. I've settle for a little more refinement this time around and I really think I've found it in the 3S. It's quick - with plenty of potential and it doesn't look like a jelly bean on wheels.
Sorry man - that Spec-V is butt ugly.
PMPJUICE25
Member
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- MAZDA PROTEGE 5
I Think The Spec V Is A Fast Enough Car Coming Out Of The Dealer But You Pay For What You Get Or You Can Pay For The Respect Cause You Did It Yourself With The Mazda 3. It All Depends On Time And Money. Fast Now Or Later.
get the mazda. i prefer the 5-door. the specV is quick in a straight line, but in the end, it's a cheap car w/ a big engine. and it's not a particularly good autoX car either.
for $20k, get a used WRX or RSX-S. both quicker, better looking, better handling and higher quality than a SpecV. and the Acura, at least, will run forever. and get 30mpg.
for $20k, get a used WRX or RSX-S. both quicker, better looking, better handling and higher quality than a SpecV. and the Acura, at least, will run forever. and get 30mpg.
dmitrik4 said:
Not sure what to think of cars with sky high reputations for reliablity after having many problems with a 91 Toyota Camry years ago. Since then I've wondered how much brand perception affects people's input on consumer survey's (or their chance of even filling one out). This was on another thread concerning a Subura, but it lists the the Acura RSX pretty darn high.
lemonade?
I'm not sure what to think of this list. I take all this stuff with a grain of salt. I wouldn't count on all Acura/Honda's on being able to run forever though.
agreed. every model is going to have a few duds. that's just reality. and the problems are likely going to be more frequent w/ a new model.
OTOH, companies don't get reputations out of thin air. the reality can certainly change, and it takes time for a reputation (good or bad) to catch up. look at VW w/ reliability (compare to the opposite situation GM). look at subaru w/ performance.
also, the list doesn't explain what sort of complaints these were. having owned an RSX-S, and w/ a few friends w/ WRX's, i can speculate (such as, "i never drove a 6-speed before. why did it downshift into 2nd instead of 4th and rev my engine to 11,000?" "what do you mean i can't clutch drop my WRX at 7000rpm?")
also, having heard many of the owners' complaints, it sounded like a lot of people thought they were buying a bentley instead of a $23,000 car...like there should be parades in honor of how much money they spent.
that said, my old protege was trouble-free at 225,000 miles. i actually have never had a problem w/ any car i've owned.
until the lumpy idle on my '02 protege.
and the SpecV still feels like a chea car w/ a big engine.
OTOH, companies don't get reputations out of thin air. the reality can certainly change, and it takes time for a reputation (good or bad) to catch up. look at VW w/ reliability (compare to the opposite situation GM). look at subaru w/ performance.
also, the list doesn't explain what sort of complaints these were. having owned an RSX-S, and w/ a few friends w/ WRX's, i can speculate (such as, "i never drove a 6-speed before. why did it downshift into 2nd instead of 4th and rev my engine to 11,000?" "what do you mean i can't clutch drop my WRX at 7000rpm?")
also, having heard many of the owners' complaints, it sounded like a lot of people thought they were buying a bentley instead of a $23,000 car...like there should be parades in honor of how much money they spent.
that said, my old protege was trouble-free at 225,000 miles. i actually have never had a problem w/ any car i've owned.
until the lumpy idle on my '02 protege.
and the SpecV still feels like a chea car w/ a big engine.
Bail Brother
Member
In the Road and Track: Speed comparo that just came out, the Spec V with Nismo springs and shocks and Nismo front sway bar smoked just about every other car, including the SRT-4. It got 2nd, Mazdaspeed got like 5th place. Celica GTS with some extra parts got 1st. Focus got 3rd and Neon got 4th.
Even with those extra parts the Spec V's price was still about the same as the SRT-4 and MSP. (about $21k).
(Only warrantied upgrades were allowed, which most car companiest don't have).
Even with those extra parts the Spec V's price was still about the same as the SRT-4 and MSP. (about $21k).
(Only warrantied upgrades were allowed, which most car companiest don't have).
03_ser_specv
Member
- :
- 2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V
eh...id have to feel it to believe it...ive been on both cars numerous times and the MSP handles insanely compared to my V
Bail Brother
Member
A Nismo S-Tune Spec V would crush a stock Spec V on a track. R-Tune even worse. Makes a huge difference. The Nismo stuff is definitely worth the money if you ever mod your V's suspension.
That same article Bail Brother mentioned also says that had their test NISMO S-tune Spec V come with the Brembo brake package, it just might have overtaken the TRD Celica GT-S and placed 1st in that comparo.
NISMO R-tune parts can make the Spec V a very scary car, but it's for track duty only and can void your warranty.
NISMO R-tune parts can make the Spec V a very scary car, but it's for track duty only and can void your warranty.
Mazda3Zoomer
Member
- :
- Mazda 3s - 5 door.
03_ser_specv said:
at least someone's being honest and not being taken by the fancy numbers
