They did right with this car. Out of the box quick, not fast but quick with nice top speed. They did the hatch because we (consumers) asked them to which means they really do listen to their customers. They have a line of suspention mods and other mods that will enhance the cars ability even more. They could have made these mods stock, but that would put the cars price out of range for some buyers. We've all seen the 2.3 turbo that ran 500 whp! That's on a car that wasn't made turbo. There really isn't a limit to this cars power except money. I think they did a great job. IMO
MS3 a let down!!
- Thread starter twistedMSP
- Start date
protegeDaryl
Member
- :
- 03 mazda protege lx
ahhhh the limit to any car's power...... money
RPI-Speed3
Member
- :
- 2007 Mazdaspeed 3, 2004 Mazda RX-8
I personally think this car is a hit on all fronts. Now, I am coming from a highly modded RX-8 (which I still own for track days/summer weekends) with coilovers, adjustable sways, underbraces, etc. The MS3 does seem soft in comparison but for a stock suspension, its great. Now, you take the $2000 Mazdaspeed kit for this car and now you can take down just about anything on the road that doesn't require you to take out a second mortgage on your house. Add to that you can throw in the dogs, skis, groceries, new flat screen TV, kids and still outrun most cars on the road, you've got a winner. AAAND for only $24-$26k? Thats why i signed on the dotted line.
AntimonyER
Member
- :
- Mazdaspeed3
Not to mention that the three toned down colors make this pocket rocket nearly invisible to police, and any ricer who decides to make an easy kill will be rudely surprised if they missed the badge. Oh, in regards to the TV, doesn't have to be a flat screen, if you take the back divider rails off (involves two phillips head screws being taken off) you can get a 50" projection tv in the back (still in the box) or a 61" out of the box.
Puckpimp71
Member
- :
- 1991 Taurus SHO, 2003 Black Mazdaspeed Protege
Not sure what truth there is to this, but it's my understanding that those DISI MZRs cut boost way down when anything less than 91 octane is run, and 99% of dealers fill their cars up with regular, so it wouldn't surprise if the one you test drove wasn't quite up to its potential.
Felt the fastest the first 3 days, then took back for final inspection and I swear its slower........Still love everything about it....smoked an R32, Wrx, Si, Redline, all on the freeway, I really dont think its slow, and for the price anything else is slower, crapper feeling, or the insurance is higher. Everyone that Ive taken for a ride loves it and is very suprised with how well it handles and how quick it is.....And there not people that Drive Escorts...for Ex. MY one buddies got a Heavily Moded A4, another has a Heavily Moded Gti, Another Moderately moded Maxima. blah blah blah...all were impressed..The only thing I dont like is there is no light in the visor mirror! Thats cheap. Oh and I wouldnt have bought mine if it wasnt a hatch "Sport Wagon" Mazda calls it a hatch. The The interior is comfortable, not chezzy feeling plastics, fendors on the speed3 look sweet, the bumpers look good...Spoilers growing on me. Nice pedals, nice shiftknob, climate control, 18s Nice size brakes........I didnt find all of those in any other new car for that price.
voiceKoil said:Felt the fastest the first 3 days, then took back for final inspection and I swear its slower........Still love everything about it....smoked an R32, Wrx, Si, Redline, all on the freeway, I really dont think its slow, and for the price anything else is slower, crapper feeling, or the insurance is higher. Everyone that Ive taken for a ride loves it and is very suprised with how well it handles and how quick it is.....And there not people that Drive Escorts...for Ex. MY one buddies got a Heavily Moded A4, another has a Heavily Moded Gti, Another Moderately moded Maxima. blah blah blah...all were impressed..The only thing I dont like is there is no light in the visor mirror! Thats cheap. Oh and I wouldnt have bought mine if it wasnt a hatch "Sport Wagon" Mazda calls it a hatch. The The interior is comfortable, not chezzy feeling plastics, fendors on the speed3 look sweet, the bumpers look good...Spoilers growing on me. Nice pedals, nice shiftknob, climate control, 18s Nice size brakes........I didnt find all of those in any other new car for that price.
The problem I have with the MS3 is not in with the power, it's got LOTS of that, nor with the handling, I'm sure it's a competent handler or even the interior because from what I can see the interior looks GREAT. I don't even care that its a hatch or sportwagon because I love my P5 and I love hot hatches in general. And it's even priced right.
My problem with the MS3 is with it's freakin styling! Its too freakin LUMPY. Just looking at that side profile posted in your sig further affirms for me that I just could not own an MS3. It's not that I'm vain or anything heck the P5 is far from the best looking car around, and I know that styling is subjective but I can't stand the way the thing looks.
I guess I can tolerate the looks and when I see one on the road I do crane my neck for a better look and if I never had to look at if from the outside, I'd get one in a heartbeat. But as it stands not I just can't deal.
Please don't take this the wrong way. I'm not dissing your car. Its just not my thing.
fourthmeal
Banned
To those who think that its a bummer that 1st and 2nd gear are limited:
Drive one and you'll soon realize that it would take sticky drag tires to keep this thing from lighting up the tires in 1st and 2nd, the very second you punch it. I'm not worried about what they did to my 1st and 2nd gear, and I won't be until I install some very sticky tires and see if I can launch without spinning, while at full WOT.
Now, once 1st and 2nd are up, go to third, and keep it floored. Don't let up at all and then shift to 4th. Then, if you got the road still, keep it floored and go to 5th. Use wicked fast shifts after 3rd (I can't get too fast on 1-2, and 2-3, seems like the trans doesn't like it), and if you do it right, you'll be haulin'. Since this is a drive-by-wire car, keeping it floored won't result in broken parts. Mazda assured the testers of the car, and so we should be able to use that knowledge too.
To the person who thought the car was slow:
Maybe it didn't have premium in the tank, and you lost a lot of timing and driveability. Because my MS3 is wicked, fast. Any faster, and its going to need drag slicks to avoid turning the tires into expensive smoke. I think the only thing the car needs to have, in the end, is a bit more top end. I think thats solvable with good airflow management tricks like intake, BOV work, and exhaust work. Call it "room to improve an already bitchin' motor"
Drive one and you'll soon realize that it would take sticky drag tires to keep this thing from lighting up the tires in 1st and 2nd, the very second you punch it. I'm not worried about what they did to my 1st and 2nd gear, and I won't be until I install some very sticky tires and see if I can launch without spinning, while at full WOT.
Now, once 1st and 2nd are up, go to third, and keep it floored. Don't let up at all and then shift to 4th. Then, if you got the road still, keep it floored and go to 5th. Use wicked fast shifts after 3rd (I can't get too fast on 1-2, and 2-3, seems like the trans doesn't like it), and if you do it right, you'll be haulin'. Since this is a drive-by-wire car, keeping it floored won't result in broken parts. Mazda assured the testers of the car, and so we should be able to use that knowledge too.
To the person who thought the car was slow:
Maybe it didn't have premium in the tank, and you lost a lot of timing and driveability. Because my MS3 is wicked, fast. Any faster, and its going to need drag slicks to avoid turning the tires into expensive smoke. I think the only thing the car needs to have, in the end, is a bit more top end. I think thats solvable with good airflow management tricks like intake, BOV work, and exhaust work. Call it "room to improve an already bitchin' motor"
cboe's_mp5
Member
- :
- Mazda, Mazda 3
carbon fiber every thing would help
jersey_emt
Member
- :
- 04 MSM #1089
My fault with the MS3 is the fact that it is not available in Titanium Grey.
Similar Threads and Articles
- Question
