MS3 vs MS6: What Do You Think? PART 2

[Cloke]

Okay, so the mods closed my other thread b/c the other yahoos decided to get racial, well I've reposted the thread here. As my previous post here's what I had to say...

Well, I see from the mazdausa.com site that they have a price on the MS3 now, if Im reposting i sorry but it's new to me and its my thread. I see the price is starting at $22,835. now I know thats the sports model so whats the price of the GT? Maybe bumping the price about 2 or 3k? As we see Canada may be getting them in 10 so called days. So target date for Americans is early October...

::EDIT::
Just talked with the dealer and they gave me the price for the GT model. $24,590. They showed me the price on a silver MS3 GT thats coming in. ("There's a buzz about them and they are going to sell out fast")

I recommend that if you don't have your deposit down yet ($500) to hold onto it at the dealership.

Now you all, please don't flame up this thread with racial crapers.

By the looks of it in my previous thread, th MS3 was beating out the MS6. Will it hold out?

 

[Rotary_Powered]

For me I see both for what they are I think it's an overall tie, they are in different categories.

 

[Cloke]

anyone else get thier vin # yet?

 

[djdanny5000]

i think the ms6 is overpriced

 

[Karma_hunden]

djdanny, not really, AWD systems cost more. Hence the 28k MSRP vs the 22k of the MSP3. However, let me remind you that is bull. Dealers like to play games with the packages they offer and you will end up getting a MSP3 around the 26-27k.

The MSP3 has a lot of torque for its weight and HP too, but its FWD. Thats why it has the same 0-60 time than the MSP6 counterpart that is heavier yet AWD. Its just how business is done to make things equal. If they would've made the MSP3 AWD it would've spanked the MSP6 with at least 1/2-3/4 of a second less in the 0-60 mark. Not good for the MSP6 marketing.

I think the MSP3 is GREAT for what it offers and price wise. To me, the MSP6 is a bit better because it is more of A car than the MSP3...it just looks bulkier; but then again, it's in another category and that's just my own personal opinion. Now, if you're into fast little thingies like the GTi, etc, then the MSP3 will give you a big smile on your face. Personally I think it's a shame they decided not to produce a sedan version; I guess people have gone soft so they produced the hatchback only (jk ;D ).

 

[DiS]

We had Mazdaspeed3 yesterday at the dealership (where we have our Tuesday mazda meets) and manager told me that fully loaded ms3 will be 25,800. Thats a giveaway. If I'd have money, I'd go with ms6 AWD package, but look at it this way. Ms3 is a bit lighter than ms6.

 

[Jeph]

I am waiting to see if the MS3 ends up like the rest of the mazdaspeed vehicles, and sells for considerably less than msrp. We had a speed6 go locally for 22k out the door...

 

[Karma_hunden]

i dont think thats possible. who gave the salesman his bj?

 

[Jeph]

There were 6 or 7 on the lot, so i can see them going pretty low...

 

[arctic_blue83]

As far as the MS6 being overpriced, maybe some of you guys should stop by your local dealership. My dealership was giving out $3500 rebates, I ended up getting my MS6 for $25,100 and have heard of other people getting them for even lower than that. They weren't overstocked either, they only had 1 left, the one I bought they actually had to pick up from another dealership almost 50 miles away (I told them exactly what I wanted-Titanium Gray Sport- and they went out of their way to get it for me). The WRX is going for about the same price (about $25k), and is the only other comparable AWD car in that price catagory (the Legacy GT is around $30k), only you get A LOT more with the MS6:

-More power & Torque (quicker acceleration)
-Better handling (based on Car & Driver's skidpad, slalom & braking numbers, plus I used to own one lol)
-Higher quality interior
-More interior room
-Lower insurance rates & lack of "pull me over" credentials ie monster hood scoop

IMO saying the MS6 is overpriced couldn't be further from the truth. Trust me, I checked out just about everything in the mid-size sports sedan market, and the deal I got on my MS6 beat out all the competition by far. Cars I test drove of comparable price:

-06 Acura TSX- $27k- 205hp & 166tq- A wonderful car, but WAY overpriced for a FWD NA 4 cylinder (especially at this altitude 5200ft, where NA cars suffer more than turbo cars)
-06 VW Jetta GLI- $27.5k- 200hp & 207tq- FWD (AWD is VERY useful in the snow here), peppy 2.0T, albeit not as fast as the MS6, I just didn't feel like you got enough car for your money with this car.
-06 Honda Accord EX 4-door 6-speed manual V6- $28k- 244hp & 211tq- Quick for a V6 at this altitude (although much slower than the MS6 up here), but still FWD.
-06 Nissan Altima SE-R- $29K- 260hp & 251tq- Quick with the 6-speed, but couldn't stand the torque steer due to it being another FWD. Also had cheaper grade interior materials IMO. Plus I was trading in my 350Z, wanting to get away from the VQ35 so I was a little biased lol.
-06 Subaru WRX Limited- $28k- 230hp & 235 torque- Mentioned above.
-06 Legacy GT- $30k- 250hp & 250tq- Awesome car, AWD turbo with very little lag, very composed on the road, but a bit more body roll than the MS6. Honestly though, it came down me saving $5000 with the MS6.

It took me a few weeks worth of reading & test driving to decide what I wanted, but I can say for a fact that in it's own catagory (mid-size sports sedan) the MS6 is most definately not overpriced. It may cost a good bit more than the MS3, but that's mostly due to it being AWD, which can be worth it's weight in gold in areas that see heavy snowfall. Not to mention the fact that it's a larger overall vehicle with more standard features. Both of them are performance bargains in their own respects, and neither would I call overpriced. Although I spoke with my dealership, and rather than rebating the MS3, they're talking about marking them up $3-5k based on the projected market. Kind of like what Honda is doing with the Civic Si right now, just food for thought.

 

[ZoomVT]

As far as the MS6 being overpriced, maybe some of you guys should stop by your local dealership. My dealership was giving out $3500 rebates, I ended up getting my MS6 for $25,100 and have heard of other people getting them for even lower than that. They weren't overstocked either, they only had 1 left, the one I bought they actually had to pick up from another dealership almost 50 miles away (I told them exactly what I wanted-Titanium Gray Sport- and they went out of their way to get it for me). The WRX is going for about the same price (about $25k), and is the only other comparable AWD car in that price catagory (the Legacy GT is around $30k), only you get A LOT more with the MS6:

-More power & Torque (quicker acceleration)
-Better handling (based on Car & Driver's skidpad, slalom & braking numbers, plus I used to own one lol)
-Higher quality interior
-More interior room
-Lower insurance rates & lack of "pull me over" credentials ie monster hood scoop

IMO saying the MS6 is overpriced couldn't be further from the truth. Trust me, I checked out just about everything in the mid-size sports sedan market, and the deal I got on my MS6 beat out all the competition by far. Cars I test drove of comparable price:

-06 Acura TSX- $27k- 205hp & 166tq- A wonderful car, but WAY overpriced for a FWD NA 4 cylinder (especially at this altitude 5200ft, where NA cars suffer more than turbo cars)
-06 VW Jetta GLI- $27.5k- 200hp & 207tq- FWD (AWD is VERY useful in the snow here), peppy 2.0T, albeit not as fast as the MS6, I just didn't feel like you got enough car for your money with this car.
-06 Honda Accord EX 4-door 6-speed manual V6- $28k- 244hp & 211tq- Quick for a V6 at this altitude (although much slower than the MS6 up here), but still FWD.
-06 Nissan Altima SE-R- $29K- 260hp & 251tq- Quick with the 6-speed, but couldn't stand the torque steer due to it being another FWD. Also had cheaper grade interior materials IMO. Plus I was trading in my 350Z, wanting to get away from the VQ35 so I was a little biased lol.
-06 Subaru WRX Limited- $28k- 230hp & 235 torque- Mentioned above.
-06 Legacy GT- $30k- 250hp & 250tq- Awesome car, AWD turbo with very little lag, very composed on the road, but a bit more body roll than the MS6. Honestly though, it came down me saving $5000 with the MS6.

It took me a few weeks worth of reading & test driving to decide what I wanted, but I can say for a fact that in it's own catagory (mid-size sports sedan) the MS6 is most definately not overpriced. It may cost a good bit more than the MS3, but that's mostly due to it being AWD, which can be worth it's weight in gold in areas that see heavy snowfall. Not to mention the fact that it's a larger overall vehicle with more standard features. Both of them are performance bargains in their own respects, and neither would I call overpriced. Although I spoke with my dealership, and rather than rebating the MS3, they're talking about marking them up $3-5k based on the projected market. Kind of like what Honda is doing with the Civic Si right now, just food for thought.

Nice post; i have to agree with you. I think the ms6 are being given away by mazda right now. Your comparison just made me think about getting one, lol

 

[Karma_hunden]

yep, thats true. ZoomVT, you live in Vermont, AWD would definately be a +, plus the MSP6 is heavier (AWD) and which gives it an even better handling...the MSP3 is a FWD featherweight wagon waiting to nail itself to a tree on a heavy snowfall. bye bye 22k?

I live in FL, and rains like a beach...AWD is a beatuy compared to my ex-mazda3. Plus, it only does 0.1 less of a second on 0-60pmh than the MSP3....thats nothing...you can probably get that 0.1 back with a CAI. You feel more the punch when you hit it in an AWD than a FWD.

 

[thebeansoldier]

what a great post, arctic_blue83. I didn't know there were more options against the MS6. The DISI MZR is probably gonna be Mazda's VQ. Since the CX-7/MS6/MS3 have it and they've got the emissions issue down, they might start using it on their other cars or future cars to save up on costs and pass it on the customers (ooh, mx-5 with a disi mzr).

I voted for the MS6. It think it's a very good price for Mazda's pony car and has AWD to boot while keeping the insurance down. The MS3 seems to appeal more to those who already have a 3 or those looking to get a 3.

 

[Rock]

I voted for the MSP3, simply because it's more my style.
I also think we shouldn't be comparing these two cars as they are in different catagories also.
I much better comparison would be something like:
MSP6 Vs Legacy GT
MSP3 Vs VW GTI VS SRT4

But if you insist on a direct performance comparison, I'd say the the 3 would have better overall numbers than the 6 during dry conditions and vice versa during wet.
I also agree with previous posts regarding pricing with a slight disagreement concerning the 3 pricing. It's purely dealer decision on whether to sell the 3 at msrp or inflate the price.

 

[kamon8404]

I would have to say that its a split decision on my part. Both cars are different. Yes, I know they have the same engine, but in the comparision of the AWD and FWD. So they serve two different functions. If I had to buy one or the other I would buy a MS3 only because I am young w/no family and the MS6 is more of a bigger family style car (not my thing-hense the msp parked outside). If I was looking to start a family and had to tote them around I would say the MS6 would be a better buy. Since that isn't going to happen, I am voting for the MS3. Both great cars in my opinion and fun as hell to drive as are all the members of the mazda family. Looking forward to owning either the MS3 or MS6 sometime in the future after I am finished beating on my msp.

 

[Rainman]

Hopefully, I can have both of these great cars. Currently, I have the MSP and the MS6, but when I find a buyer for my MSP it will be MS6 and MS3.

Two different cars from two different classes, but BOTH great cars nonetheless.

R

 

[kamon8404]

Hopefully, I can have both of these great cars. Currently, I have the MSP and the MS6, but when I find a buyer for my MSP it will be MS6 and MS3.

Two different cars from two different classes, but BOTH great cars nonetheless.

R

LUCKY!!

 

[nondual]

Hopefully, I can have both of these great cars. Currently, I have the MSP and the MS6, but when I find a buyer for my MSP it will be MS6 and MS3.

Two different cars from two different classes, but BOTH great cars nonetheless.

R

Why would you want or need both these cars?

 

[UtesFanRy]

Personally I think that comparing the MS3 and MS6 couldn't be more like comparing apples to oranges. They are different cars, with different missions, with different customers, with different drivetrains, with different looks, different pricing, etc., etc., etc.

The similarites stop at the badge and the engine, IMO.

That being said, I will have both of them soon. (that whole paragraph may have been my own justification ) I Just put a deposit on a Red Grand Touring MS3 today. I will be trading 1 of my 2 MS6's in if I don't sell it first.



P.S. any takers on a very, very, clean 06 Titanium MS6?

 

[seanw]

Personally I think that comparing the MS3 and MS6 couldn't be more like comparing apples to oranges. They are different cars, with different missions, with different customers, with different drivetrains, with different looks, different pricing, etc., etc., etc.

The similarites stop at the badge and the engine, IMO.

That being said, I will have both of them soon. (that whole paragraph may have been my own justification ) I Just put a deposit on a Red Grand Touring MS3 today. I will be trading 1 of my 2 MS6's in if I don't sell it first.



P.S. any takers on a very, very, clean 06 Titanium MS6?

Congrats and NO! Please take that sucker off the market at least until I sell mine.