MS3 or just a regular 3?

[dew_luck]

It's hard making decisions and this one is no exception.

I'm thinking of picking up a Mazda 3 (5 door) w/ all the goodies in winning blue, but then I'm left out w/ a turbo as well as a 6-speed. But then again, I can always order a kit and the aftermarket forced induction support for these cars are constantly growing. The only real huge turnoff is the lack of direct injection technology. Maybe Mazda will introduce direct injection in their upcoming '08 and up models?

OR

I can pick up an MS3 w/ all the goodies to begin with, but either have it in red or the fugly blue color. Direct Injection technology is most definitely a plus... or maybe it can actually just be a waste of an MS3 to butcher up since it'll be upgraded in almost all the right form to attain 400hp+ range..? I mean, a regular Mazda3 2.3 will be able to do this.


What do you guys think?

Decisions, decisions....

 

[Tengo]

MS3 ftw man, is that even a question?

 

[dread]

get the regular 3 so there are more ms3 around for me to buy.

 

[SilverBulletES]

What the above said.

 

[Captain KRM P5]

mazdaspeed3 hands down

 

[Roywhitep5]

they arent all that different, so just get the regular one

 

[SilverBulletES]

Grimey!

Yeah..... if I get rid of the Protege in 3 months or 2 years.... I'm going to be sad. There never was a better handling out of the box lightweight FWD sedan in the last decade. I've driven the 3. It is NICE. But noticably heavier and number. Only cruel crushing power will be able to assuage the sadness of porking up 300 or so pounds. So Speed3 for me it will need to be.

When I want feathery light and RWD 50-50 balance, I still got the Miata to ease the pain. Even if it is slow. Now.

 

[dew_luck]

These are the best reasons from the 3 owners?

Where's the direct injection, turbo relations, and such that I'm trying to get a feel for?

 

[RHAGEL]

I definitly say MS3. If you were to take a 3, add a turbo, new clutch, suspension and everything else that the MS3 has, you are looking at an additional 10 grand. And at the end, your warranty is s***. As far as the N/A 3 getting DI, not at least until '09 when the Gen II 3 is released. I haven't even seen any N/A cars with DI, they are all turbo. I would bet though that the '09 3 will have a 6 speed.

 

[keleko]

I definitly say MS3. If you were to take a 3, add a turbo, new clutch, suspension and everything else that the MS3 has, you are looking at an additional 10 grand. And at the end, your warranty is s***...

i added it up, to turbo my car would be ~$6500 (kit, plus some atx improvments), not including any suspension work

so, blow $6500 and turbo my car and have zero warranty, or get ass-***** on trade in (due to miles [19400 right now]) for a 'speed3


(enguard)

neither option makes financial sense for me, so i'm stuck with low power (even after adding full exhaust and cai) daily driver that will run out the warranty inside of 2 years and making payments on until 2010



and, i now need 2 new tires, as i'm past the wear-bar on the fronts - pisses me off
i expected 25-30k out of them

 

[InFlames]

Why is this even a thread topic?

 

[RHAGEL]

i added it up, to turbo my car would be ~$6500 (kit, plus some atx improvments), not including any suspension work

so, blow $6500 and turbo my car and have zero warranty, or get ass-***** on trade in (due to miles [19400 right now]) for a 'speed3


(enguard)

neither option makes financial sense for me, so i'm stuck with low power (even after adding full exhaust and cai) daily driver that will run out the warranty inside of 2 years and making payments on until 2010



and, i now need 2 new tires, as i'm past the wear-bar on the fronts - pisses me off
i expected 25-30k out of them

A couple weeks agoI had a flat with a nail going right through the side wall. Out the door it was $265 for 1 freakin tire, so I know how you feel. Not to mention I only had 4k on my car.

 

[dew_luck]

hmm.. i wonder how long Mazda will run their 3 into production before another model is slated.

MS3 it is