MS3 sti killer

[essejkcamraw]

So right now i own a mazda3 S...i love it! but probably in about 6month's im looking to trade it in for the speed3. IMO these are probably one of the best cars on the road. but i hear talk of mazda maybe doing a STI killer for the 3, is this true?? and to what if anybody knows is supposed to be different?

 

[D_Roc7822]

I havent heard anything.. but then I also dont keep up on stuff like that. I just enjoy my car to the fullest lol.

 

[mdavis]

i havent heard anything about that. its going to be a challenge to beat an all wheel drive car with 305 hp. the speed 3 is certainly not the fastest car on the road, but for 23 grand you arent going to find anything better. you could go and spend 35 on a brand new sti and destroy 'any stock' speed 3, but imagine what that extra 12 grand in parts could do. even if you dont put that 12 gs into parts put it in your pocket, or spend it on gas. dont worry about beating sti's, if you are in love with the speed 3 like i am go and get one...you will not be dissapointed

 

[essejkcamraw]

i've just read some small talk and hear say on it in other forums, so i wasnt really positive...really the new sti's are almost exactly like themazda3 hatches in looks. my 3 is the first mazda i've owned...and ill probably be sticking with mazda for a while....im not too into hauling ass everywhere, too expensive haha. but having some extra pep would be nice.

 

[Super Unique]

the highway cruising abilities vs a regular 3 are worth the price of entry alone

there are very few 4 cylinder cars out there that have a strong burst of acceleration @ highway speeds with just a tip of the throttle. very surprising the first time you realize it

 

[oaklandopen]

i've just read some small talk and hear say on it in other forums, so i wasnt really positive...really the new sti's are almost exactly like themazda3 hatches in looks. my 3 is the first mazda i've owned...and ill probably be sticking with mazda for a while....im not too into hauling ass everywhere, too expensive haha. but having some extra pep would be nice.

i used to own a gt, and after it was totalled i felt the same way you did about the "pep." i liked the car itself so much that i wanted it back, but just with a little more hp.

if you're not into hauling ass everywhere than why stress yourself over "beating" other cars. there's always gonna be a car faster than yours, and why risk doing something stupid on public roads by testing your fastness against someone else's fastness?

 

[Zimmer]

ya the money you save you can afford to put gas in your car and afford your speeding tickets!!! (hand) Talk about bang for your buck...

 

[SwampAss]

They make an STI killer now (if the STI is stock )

I pulled on one from a roll on a closed course. My mods were minimal at the time. I pulled about 2 cars once we got rolling. I don't think Mazda has ever made a car to challenge one from the dig. I think that's Mitsubishi's game.

 

[CBMrocket]

The STi may have more HP stock, but it also loses a lot through the AWD. More than we lose with a FWD setup. And it's also heavier by a couple hundred pounds.

They have the advantage from a stand-still with the AWD, but from a rolling start, you might be able to pull the lead on them. From what I can find from a google search, the STi runs a 13.6 1/4 mile from the factory and the MS3 with a few easy mods can probably run a high 13 too.

Save some money, buy a Speed3 and put a few bolt ons into it imo.

 

[tsunami]

lets keep this thread away from the street racing stuff... closed course... sure swamp...

 

[SwampAss]

It was on private property.

 

[MS3077]

The STi may have more HP stock, but it also loses a lot through the AWD. More than we lose with a FWD setup. And it's also heavier by a couple hundred pounds.

They have the advantage from a stand-still with the AWD, but from a rolling start, you might be able to pull the lead on them. From what I can find from a google search, the STi runs a 13.6 1/4 mile from the factory and the MS3 with a few easy mods can probably run a high 13 too.

Save some money, buy a Speed3 and put a few bolt ons into it imo.

Speed3 can easily run mid 13's with light mods (bolt-ons) Hell some have been running 13.6 -13.9 with just intake. Considering we are FWD from a roll these cars are probably like racing a low 13 second car and can easily take on a stock sti or evo.

 

[sperry]

The STi may have more HP stock, but it also loses a lot through the AWD. More than we lose with a FWD setup. And it's also heavier by a couple hundred pounds.

They have the advantage from a stand-still with the AWD, but from a rolling start, you might be able to pull the lead on them. From what I can find from a google search, the STi runs a 13.6 1/4 mile from the factory and the MS3 with a few easy mods can probably run a high 13 too.

Save some money, buy a Speed3 and put a few bolt ons into it imo.

An STi puts about 230-240hp to the wheels. The MS3 should be putting around 240-250 to the wheels. i.e. the MS3 actually has the higher effective horsepower.

The problem is, the STi's *massive* traction advantage... not just the AWD, but larger tires and brakes... makes it the faster car in pretty much any racing scenarios. The quarter mile is likely too short for the MS3 to overcome the STi's launch advantage, and on anything with turns (even though the MS3 probably handles "better") the STi's brute force grip advantage and ease of control, not to mention that AWD exit from all the corners, again makes it the faster car.

Really, the only type of racing that the MS3 has the advantage, is at straight line "freeway racing", which frankly isn't racing... it's just stupidity.

That said, all the stuff that makes the STi the faster car is all stuff that makes virtually no difference unless you're at the race track. You can never really use all that extra grip on the streets unless you drive like you've got a death wish. So realistically, the MS3 and the STi are equivalent, with the MS3 costing a whopping $15k out the door cheaper (not to mention it's better looking, and has a nicer interior).

I'm about as big a Subaru fan-boy as they come... and I'm planning on getting the MS3 instead of an STi for my next car. Subaru really should be a little embarrassed that the STi is so little car for the money when Mazda's raised the bar so high with their Mazdaspeed cars. The STi really needs another 50hp, or about an $8000 lower price. Heaven help them if Mazda ever puts a decent AWD drivetrain in the MS3.

 

[Zimmer]

An STi puts about 230-240hp to the wheels. The MS3 should be putting around 240-250 to the wheels. i.e. the MS3 actually has the higher effective horsepower.

The problem is, the STi's *massive* traction advantage... not just the AWD, but larger tires and brakes... makes it the faster car in pretty much any racing scenarios. The quarter mile is likely too short for the MS3 to overcome the STi's launch advantage, and on anything with turns (even though the MS3 probably handles "better") the STi's brute force grip advantage and ease of control, not to mention that AWD exit from all the corners, again makes it the faster car.

Really, the only type of racing that the MS3 has the advantage, is at straight line "freeway racing", which frankly isn't racing... it's just stupidity.

That said, all the stuff that makes the STi the faster car is all stuff that makes virtually no difference unless you're at the race track. You can never really use all that extra grip on the streets unless you drive like you've got a death wish. So realistically, the MS3 and the STi are equivalent, with the MS3 costing a whopping $15k out the door cheaper (not to mention it's better looking, and has a nicer interior).

I'm about as big a Subaru fan-boy as they come... and I'm planning on getting the MS3 instead of an STi for my next car. Subaru really should be a little embarrassed that the STi is so little car for the money when Mazda's raised the bar so high with their Mazdaspeed cars. The STi really needs another 50hp, or about an $8000 lower price. Heaven help them if Mazda ever puts a decent AWD drivetrain in the MS3.

well said!! (thumb)

 

[MS3077]

well said!! (thumb)

+1

 

[hectik1]

STi and Evo have a traction advantage for sure. But if rolling there is no advantage. My brother with his 05 Evo knows this now.(drinks)

Just for comparison's sake.....with a good launch by both cars the STi and Evo have a .5 second advantage at the drag strip (1.7 vs 2.2 60 foot). Take that away...they are running the same times as us with MS3, stock for stock.(upyours)

 

[MS3077]

STi and Evo have a traction advantage for sure. But if rolling there is no advantage. My brother with his 05 Evo knows this now.(drinks)

Just for comparison's sake.....with a good launch by both cars the STi and Evo have a .5 second advantage at the drag strip (1.7 vs 2.2 60 foot). Take that away...they are running the same times as us with MS3, stock for stock.(upyours)

Very true. I actually launched a 2.07 60ft on street tires however.

 

[Donas64]

i used to own a gt, and after it was totalled i felt the same way you did about the "pep." i liked the car itself so much that i wanted it back, but just with a little more hp.

if you're not into hauling ass everywhere than why stress yourself over "beating" other cars. there's always gonna be a car faster than yours, and why risk doing something stupid on public roads by testing your fastness against someone else's fastness?

My fast likes to keep things streamlined.

 

[UHATEIT]

Heaven help them if Mazda ever puts a decent AWD drivetrain in the MS3.

mmmm an awd speed3, that would be sexy and make this car even more badass! I think that's the only thing it lacks, is being fwd, if it were rwd or awd that would kick ass. They made the speed6 awd, why not the 3!!!!!

 

[Super Unique]

The volvo parts bin already has what they would need to pull it off. Perhaps mazda will step up to the plate with the 3 redesign coming up. I wonder what sort of price point it would take to use the new 3 platform, the disi turbo engine, and the volvo awd system from the s40 series?

Throw some brembo brakes into the mix and we're probably staring @ the 32k mark. Once you cross the 30k line it's difficult to sell a compact.

Mazda probably had the mix right the first time around with the speed 3 to begin with. Maybe an even more limited edition similar to what they did in australia with the mps extreme edition? add AWD option for 2.5k and see how the sales go?