MS3 Specs and Prices

[Bufalo]

I was all over yesterday looking for a copy of the new issue, as well. The September issue says "display until 8/22" on the cover by the price, so I'd assume that on the 22nd or 23rd, the new one will be out.

That's not stopping me from looking tonight though!

And I found it at the local grocery store.

I'd better go back to the dealership and make sure my name is #1 on their list. These cars are going to go fast... off the lots.


And then they're going to go fast on racetracks.

 

[Rotary_Powered]

Especially after that glowing SCC article, there seems to be alot of hype building around the MS3, Honda and VW must be crying...hehe

 

[seanw]

Especially after that glowing SCC article, there seems to be alot of hype building around the MS3, Honda and VW must be crying...hehe

I'm crying, too. Now I won't be able to get a dealer to give me S-Plan pricing anytime in the next year or so! Oh, well, I made my bed in the MS6 and I guess I'll just have to lie in it. [Streams of crocodile tears pour down cheeks.] Pretty comfortable, actually. And if the MS3 is a great car this year, it'll be a great car next year, too.

 

[Gen1GT]

I wonder how much the MS3 puts out at the Wheels... IMO the only other current (in production) sport compact that comes close in the same price range is the Cobalt SS supercharged. That makes about 200WHP, I know the MS3 will prob do about 230ish WHP. Just saying the next closest thing doesn't come too close.

My estimate, 248whp. You can quote me on that.

 

[CHICO2003]

that's disgusting

 

[SilverBulletES]

This car is slowly breaking me. I must find a way to get one. If I sell the Protege and throw in some extra money I could get 4 year payments around 200.... hmmmm...

Here's a black one posted by an Aussie in another thread. (Apologies, don't remember who I stole it from....)

 

[javanc]

I was just at the tire store getting my tires rotated, so i inquired about tire prices for the 215/45/18s that the speed 3 takes. Damn shoes are gonna be expensive. There goes my spirited driving style. At 200 bucks a shoe equaling nearly 1000 bucks a change i better save up alot of change for new tires every 15000 miles.

 

[RHAGEL]

I was just at the tire store getting my tires rotated, so i inquired about tire prices for the 215/45/18s that the speed 3 takes. Damn shoes are gonna be expensive. There goes my spirited driving style. At 200 bucks a shoe equaling nearly 1000 bucks a change i better save up alot of change for new tires every 15000 miles.

What kind of tires are they? You can get a Khumo tire at that size for around $110. If your talking about OEM tires, I wouldn't even bother. Do some research and you can find great tires at resonable prices.

 

[LASERBLUE135]

i hate 18's. they suck, they're heavy and I'm PISSED that mazda is throwing them on the 3. If 18's were good, then the STI and EVO would have them. Those 2 car's don't and they are much better for it. Hell, the ACR SRT4 goes down from 17's to 16's. Didn't mazda realize it shouldn't put these monsters on. only thing might have been mazda trying to increase traction for the average driver. also mazda is selling lightweight/forged/mazdaspeed rims for the car. i don't know if those are 18's as well, but they might be 17's?...I'm hoping/praying.

 

[CHICO2003]

thats' awesome... anything is better than those snowflakes

 

[Bufalo]

I'm pretty sure the forged Mazdaspeed wheels are 18's as well... :tdown:

225/40/18's would be much less expensive, and would still fit on some 18x7" wheels. Overall diameter would be down about a half inch, would would make a speedo read a few % higher, but it'd probably be worth the trade off.

 

[Rotary_Powered]

Finally got my SSC! Read it over TWICE! hehe the MS3 is great the only tiny little thing that's not so good is the weight 3153 LBS! Though not as big as the Eclipse GT, it's not that light either... that aside still great car! MS6 is a bit heavier and still awsome (the heaviness is forgiven because of that magical AWD on the MS6), so the MS3 should be almost as good if not better in a mix of areas.

 

[SilverBulletES]

Kind of annoyed, but not really pissed. I'd just wear the 18" tires out, sell the 18's to someone who wants *bling* and put on some lightweight (I know that's relative) 17's. Going a little wider to 225/45/17s would make up some of the size difference.
http://www.edgeracing.com/2005/Mazda/3/bundle/2000/

225/40/18's are significantly cheaper, a little lighter, only slightly less in diameter.... a bit rubberband-like for me... but not the end of the world I suppose. I'd try 'em. I usually despise large wheels but they look OK on this car... it's just so Oprah-y bulbous. Wait actually.... Edge Racing says minimum 7.5 inch rim-- you could try it.
http://www.edgeracing.com/tires/2154018/

To the above, got a scanner?!?

 

[CHICO2003]

magical awd? say what? I heard Mazda's awd system's a pos compared to sube's and mitsu's....


as far as the 18" 'bling' wheels go.... there aint nothing bling about those fugly pos wheels. between those and the ms6, they very well might be the most fugly lookin stock wheels I've ever seen. the wheels on the msp are arguably their best feature (exterior-wise) Second to the color of course, I get more compliments on the wheels than anything else. To say that the wheels make the car is an understatement. Mazda dropped the ball with this choice... I can only pray that Mazda has another choice from the factory. Though it may not prove to be a deal-breaker, I'd hate the idea of having to replace them with expensive aftermarkets... especially knowing that the stocks would most likely fetch little-to-no coin on the open market. 17" black bbs wheels with chrome rings would have been the best choice for this car...

 

[SilverBulletES]

Yeah, kidding about the *bling* of course. But when the stock rubber is shot-- won't be hard to find some kid who'll want any 18's if he can't fit "dubs" on his ride. That said, I can't see them fetching that much money.

Look, as much as I am not fond of 18" wheels.... the RX-8 certainly doesn't handle like garbage with them. Of course it weighs 100lbs less.... but it's also short about 40 horses and even more torque than this sedan.

I'm pretty sure this thing's a killer despite larger than I'd prefer wheels. The era of bantamweight economy cars is sadly over.... unless Mazda somehow decided to bring a Miata-based, extremely minimal sedan to market. That would rock! OK, there's the Mini-- but it's just too expensive and trendy to me. Plus I need at least 4 doors in my daily driver.

 

[dew_luck]

how about just importing a RHD MS3 if demand exceeds quantity. i'm seriously thinking of just going this route. it should also have no problems passing DMV for legal registration since the car is new after all.

 

[Insurance Guy]

how about just importing a RHD MS3 if demand exceeds quantity. i'm seriously thinking of just going this route. it should also have no problems passing DMV for legal registration since the car is new after all.

You may have a hard time getting it insured if the VIN doesn't show up in an insurance company's system - which I've seen w/ non-US spec cars.

 

[CHICO2003]

not to mention... driving a RHD car in the states would suck! (unless you moonlight as a mailman)

 

[LASERBLUE135]

how about just importing a RHD MS3 if demand exceeds quantity. i'm seriously thinking of just going this route. it should also have no problems passing DMV for legal registration since the car is new after all.

I hope you're kidding. you'd pay about $45,000 for a car that costs 23K new. Plus you'd have to wait months to drive it while birds s*** on it in customs.

if by miracle they sell out at MSRP. I'd wait and get a used one. wow.

 

[javanc]

Finally got my SSC! Read it over TWICE! hehe the MS3 is great the only tiny little thing that's not so good is the weight 3153 LBS! Though not as big as the Eclipse GT, it's not that light either... that aside still great car! MS6 is a bit heavier and still awsome (the heaviness is forgiven because of that magical AWD on the MS6), so the MS3 should be almost as good if not better in a mix of areas.

Thats a White speed3 on the second page of the atricle isnt it? WHy cant we get white? I like white. ANd the rims on the Black car on page 67 look good. WHy cant my white car have those rims? LOL. Thats enough of my complaining now i gotta get back to reading my mag.