Mazdaspeed 3. Hatch or Sedan?

[altspace]

so when the hell is the mazdaspeed 3 coming out? im ready to get 1 already

Might be showing at Detroit Auto Show. Release this spring hopefully.

 

[Newf]

yeah right, try next spring.

It's rumored for a fall realease. Add the usual Mazdaspeed delays, and you'll be luckt to see it in 2006 at all. I'm guessing this time next year. I hope I am wrong. I want to see it for kicks before I jump ship to something else

 

[menus87]

hatch all the way ive had both

 

[Mz3Hatch]

oh id LOVE a hatch speed3.. its a little off topic but could be a precursor to what the actual speed might entail.. has any hatch owner noticed the large amount of room behind the engine that a turbo would fit perfectly into.. and also the large amount of room for a front mount behind the bumper.. things i noticed 7/04 when i bought my car.. yes i know that hiboost has turboed already.. did they utilize this space thats already there? same thing with the sedan? anyways back on topic.. dealer master mazda tech said spring 07 for speed3 release.. just the right time for me to let go of my 3.. ahh.. i just hope the price tag will be affordable..

 

[Newf]

Ya now, with the Mazdaspeed protege, miata and 6, we had a picture of it LONG almost a year before it came out

So where's the Mazdaspeed 3 pics? they don't care? In this day and age of the internet, I think it would only be smart of them to release a few pictures, and see what people think before making 1000's of them

 

[mike_moss]

There are one set of 3 spy shots.

 

[menus87]

gotta 06 hatch and use to have a sedan protege

im goin with the hatch

 

[altspace]

Dual exhaust, MS6 wheels....hmmm......

 

[Option]

Where'd that pic come from? Is it a photoshop?

 

[oldzoomer]

hmmm...looks fake

 

[nate0123]

I smell photochop - not a bad job though

 

[Matrix]

Sedan. More chassis stiffness. I had a Ford Probe GT once, and hatch flex caused so many creaks and groans it was driving me insane.

A rear strut tower bar would eliminate most of the utility of a wagon anyway.

Since it doesn't look like the Mazdaspeed3 will have AWD, I'll be hanging on to my MSP.

 

[goldwing2000]

Nice. Compare a 2006 car to 1992 technology.

The 3 is light years ahead of the Probe (and even the Protege) in chassis rigidity.

Besides... looks like it's going to be a hatch, so this poll is now useless.

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123625613

 

[Matrix]

Nice. Compare a 2006 car to 1992 technology.

The 3 is light years ahead of the Probe (and even the Protege) in chassis rigidity.

I guess should elaborate.

The point I was trying to make was that a sedan will almost always have more chassis rigidity under stress than a hatch or wagon. The sedan will have more reinforcement behind the back seat and less mass at the outer edge of the vehicle (less mass at ends = better handling).

The reason I brought up the ProbeGT (although I didn't explain it well enough) was not because I was comparing it to the 3. I brought it up because the MX-6 was the coupe version of the Probe. The MX-6 had a much more rigid chassis that didn't flex or groan like its hatch counterpart, the Probe. I sometimes regretted not getting an MX-6 instead of the Probe GT.

So it stands to reason that the sedan version of the 3 will have more chassis rigidity and will handle better than a 3 wagon. So now you see that I was not comparing my old 95 Probe GT to a 2006 Mazda3. I was comparing a Mazda3 sedan to a Mazda3 wagon.


TA-DAA!

 

[Gambino]

Nice. Compare a 2006 car to 1992 technology.

The 3 is light years ahead of the Probe (and even the Protege) in chassis rigidity.

Besides... looks like it's going to be a hatch, so this poll is now useless.

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123625613

haha, I think the poll was useless from the beginning! unless there are official mazda designers cruising through this forum!

 

[goldwing2000]

I guess should elaborate...

(blah)

... So it stands to reason that the sedan version of the 3 will have more chassis rigidity and will handle better than a 3 wagon. So now you see that I was not comparing my old 95 Probe GT to a 2006 Mazda3. I was comparing a Mazda3 sedan to a Mazda3 wagon.

TA-DAA!

K. I don't agree that it stands to reason, though.

The fact still remains that you're comparing the difference between two vehicles from more than 10 years ago to two vehicles from today. I haven't heard any negative comparisons between the Mazda3 hatch and sedan.

AND even if there is any negligible difference in the handling of the two cars, Mazda is going to build the one that they think is going to sell better.

They've already made two Speed sedans and a roadster, it's time for a hatch.

Now... when they make a Speed MPV, then we can all roll our eyes at them!

 

[Gambino]

speed mpv......that will be a glorious day!

 

[Puckpimp71]

When NHL Allstar weekend came down here to SoFla they had a vortech kit on a Dodge Caravan. I'd rock it any day. I think Kenne-Bell also came out with an Escape/Tribute kit that could be fitted to an MPV.

 

[Matrix]

yakkity yak yak yak

Fluff it up all you want to. Bottom line is this: The hatch is longer, heavier, has more wieght outside of the wheelbase, and has less chassis bracing. The sedan will handle better, hands down. I didn't argue about which model will sell better - just that the sedan will handle better. We all try to make ourselves feel better about our purchases, but you've got to be realistic.

 

[Gambino]

Fluff it up all you want to. Bottom line is this: The hatch is longer, heavier, has more wieght outside of the wheelbase, and has less chassis bracing. The sedan will handle better, hands down. I didn't argue about which model will sell better - just that the sedan will handle better. We all try to make ourselves feel better about our purchases, but you've got to be realistic.

Actually, if I remember correctly the hatch is several inches SHORTER than the sedan. I dont think the weight difference is even very negligible at all. I have to agree with goldwing on this one. And I have a sedan, so I am not trying to make myself feel any better