MS3 Specs and Prices

[FlipandFunk]

yeh well the mazda3 is already a old dated platiform. Before you compre to a old wrx thats been around since 2001, compare it to ALL NEW 2008 WRX coming next summer with more power and better chassis, that will be more fair.

 

[CHICO2003]

nah... that won't be a fair comparrison at all. no way the dealers are going to offer price breaks on the 08 (since it'll be all new... and naturally there will be a high demand) so.... sticker vs sticker will undoubtely put the new WRX in the class it belongs (a slighter higher one than the MS3) again, the only reason the current WRX can be compared to the MS3 is due to the steep discounts that can be had

 

[ClunBB9]

Despite the fact that Mazdaspeed3s are going to be new during the winter months, dealers will discount off sticker if there is no business. Try to find a smaller dealer who is also a mazdaspeed dealer. When the MSP6 first came out, we discounted the vehicles shortly after it was released because we wanted to hit our number. It's all about numbers to the dealerships. Its all about timing as well, and if you have the right timing, dealers won't mind discounting the cars.

 

[CHICO2003]

it's a fine line.... on one hand, it's smart to wait a bit in hopes that the vehicles don't sell... and you're able to get a deal beause of it. on the other, if you want the car badly enough, that could backfire if the car actually DOES sell.... next thing you know, they're all gone and you're left with your richard in your hands

 

[VermZ06]

FWIW, there are some stats from an Oz article posted at http://forum.mazda6club.com/index.php?showtopic=57578 that includes both cars. The MS3 was slower in every category . . . except lap times . . . but still tied the WRX overall for 4th place up against the big boys.

Also, before everybody jumps on the times, these are Oz spec cars so don't go apeshite 'cause they are slower than expected. I think their octane ratings are lower, insurance rates are higher, it's only one review, etc., etc. Also note that the Oz MPS6/3 have the same hp rating of 254hp.

I'd be very disapointed if that's the MS3's best times, if those times are correct then the MS3 is only about .3 seconds quicker than a stock msp...all those times seem slower, then again they're testing 0-62 with different hp than the cars in the U.S.

 

[CHICO2003]

weak... very weak

 

[seanw]

it's a fine line.... on one hand, it's smart to wait a bit in hopes that the vehicles don't sell... and you're able to get a deal beause of it. on the other, if you want the car badly enough, that could backfire if the car actually DOES sell.... next thing you know, they're all gone and you're left with your richard in your hands

Cars are only getting better. Todays hot car will be just okay in two years. Don't get an MS3? Wait awhile longer there will be something better.

 

[seanw]

I'd be very disapointed if that's the MS3's best times, if those times are correct then the MS3 is only about .3 seconds quicker than a stock msp...all those times seem slower, then again they're testing 0-62 with different hp than the cars in the U.S.

Right, it's one set of times in Oz-spec cars. I foolishly offered it for comparison only among the cars in the same review. Look at the MPS6 times, the STi times, etc., etc. They are all slower than the normal times for US-spec cars. It's just for comparison.

I was interested to see that it was faster than the AWD WRX on the lap time, but then someone else posted that the MSP has faster lap times than it's same generation WRX so I guess that's not news.

 

[CHICO2003]

it's all relative

 

[javanc]

Its not about getting the latest and greatest. Its about getting a car that you really like and that isnt one of 50000 on the mile stretch of freeway your driving down. Its also about getting the car that fits all your needs. If you keep waiting for the next hot car youll just stay driving your old one forever.

 

[seanw]

Its not about getting the latest and greatest. Its about getting a car that you really like and that isnt one of 50000 on the mile stretch of freeway your driving down. Its also about getting the car that fits all your needs. If you keep waiting for the next hot car youll just stay driving your old one forever.

Yeah, that car will be here soon enough, too, even if all the MS3s sell out before each of us has a chance to get one. Anyway, I sure wouldn't pay more than MSRP for an MS3.

 

[Gen1GT]

Those numbers aren't accurate; or the people driving them just can't drive. I've seen 0-100 of 5.5 seconds and 400m in 13.9 for the MS6 in World of Wheels(Cdn magazine).

I'm not going to trust those lap times either. Last year I drove a friends MSP during the last autocross of the year, and I beat the WRX's in that class by 3 seconds, and it was my first time driving the car(the car's owner ran 1.5 seconds faster than me to boot). WRX's are like the muscle car of the compact scene. They can go fast straight.

With the power and chassis the MS3 has, it'll walk all over a WRX.

 

[VermZ06]

Those numbers aren't accurate; or the people driving them just can't drive. I've seen 0-100 of 5.5 seconds and 400m in 13.9 for the MS6 in World of Wheels(Cdn magazine).

I'm not going to trust those lap times either. Last year I drove a friends MSP during the last autocross of the year, and I beat the WRX's in that class by 3 seconds, and it was my first time driving the car(the car's owner ran 1.5 seconds faster than me to boot). WRX's are like the muscle car of the compact scene. They can go fast straight.

With the power and chassis the MS3 has, it'll walk all over a WRX.

Well said Gen...people are going to be comparing these cars even though they're in different classes because of their different driving layouts...awd vs. fwd and that the wrx is more of a rally car whereas the ms3 is more of a track car. The MS3 will walk all over it on the track because mazda knows what makes a great sports car. Low weight, copious amounts of power, lsd, stiffer chassis. Low weight and good power makes great sports cars. The wrx isn't exactly a featherweight.

The MS3 will most likely accelerate faster than the wrx because mazda is claiming a '0-60 time in less than 6 seconds' and these quotes from the manufacturer are usually conservative. The Srt-4 with the fwd layout was a quicker car to 60 than the wrx. Even though there's a 'new' wrx coming out in a year or so that car will most likely gain a lot more weight, however, with only a slight power boost to still seperate it from the Sti.

The wrx is all over the road around these parts. New England has a hard on for the scoobies, probably because of the five days they'll actually use the awd on the car in the snow. I'd say the wrx is the next most popular car I see on the road next to the civics. For me I enjoy driving a car that not everyone and their mother is driving, which is why I love mazda and their limited edition autos.

 

[CHICO2003]

5 days a year of snow.... haha probably a bit more than that but it's an interesting way to look at it. You're right, if it's not snowing, what's the point? I'd say we probably have a decent amount of snow on the ground... probably about 15-20 or so days out of the year. whether it's worth it to have an awd car for that amount of time.. well, I guess that's up to the person.

 

[dread]

mazda is no longer claiming a 0-60 of less than 6 secs. It was removed from their website and they appear to have raised to msrp by $35 as well. I hope hp is still going to be above 250.

 

[javanc]

mazda is no longer claiming a 0-60 of less than 6 secs. It was removed from their website and they appear to have raised to msrp by $35 as well. I hope hp is still going to be above 250.

I noticed that they were doing site maintenance around 6 pm last night. I new i was going to be saddened when i revisited the site today. 35 bucks isnt much but its still too much. I wonder how much theyll raise it before it hits the streets. Hopefully i dont have to look into getting another car. Not many options out there.

 

[Insurance Guy]

$35??!!?!?!?!? I'm recinding my order. That is outrageous! I can't possibly afford another $.70 in monthly payments.

 

[LASERBLUE135]

ms3 tested!!! sport compact car

I wont put the whole arcticle here, but here are the key points...$22,240 for the base model, $24k for the GT (leather, bose, xenon, rain sensing wipers) and navigation is an expensive option.

0-60 is now officially claimed by mazda to be LESS THAN 6 SECONDS. Which when a factory claim is made like that it's a very good thing to here.

155 mph limited top speed, wind tunnel tested aero modifications, etc.

263 hp at 5500 rpm and 280tq at 3000rpm 6700 redline. tq timited in first and second gear.

They close the arcticle saying the new SI and GTI are not close to the same catagory/league should not be used in the same sentence, it's not even close to compair. The MS3 is that good. They got to do hot laps around Laguna Seca for the whole day and they were that impressed. The said the car is a track terror! with monster power. It all sounds too good to be true.

Mazda was also testing factory accesory coilovers! and Im sure they will have a factory CAI and other goodies for enthusiasts too.

There will be only 5000 shipped here anually, get in line.

 

[jbiird317]

awesome, good review! And factory coil-overs?? sounds too good to be true to have a suspension set-up like that covered by warranty...

::runs out the door to buy SCC::

 

[LASERBLUE135]

a suspension set-up like that covered by warranty...

hey, I never said they would cover the coilovers, just that they will most likely be available at the time the MS3 comes out. Mazda has some "race only" accesories that have no warranty(pissed)