MS3 vs. WRX

[jtom]

MS3 vs. Legacy GT

I was just wondering which one you guys would get. The sport model for the MS6 is about a grand less than the Legacy gt. I realized that it wasnt a fare comparison so I changed it to Legacy gt. If you want to vote for Legacy GT choose WRX.

I orginally wanted to get the MS3 but thought I should upgrade from FWD to AWD. Both look good and are powerful. They both are AWD and are geared as luxury cars. Their so close specs/looks wise I am having a hard time deciding. Which one would have better performance? The MS6 should have 20-30 more hp.

I realize this is a MS6 forum but try to not be biased if possible.

 

[buit9110]

if you want a fast luxury style car, get the ms6. but if you want a sports car that can be easily tuned get the wrx. the wrx has a better awd system.

 

[Nutari]

I was just wondering which one you guys would get. The sport model for the MS6 is about a grand less than the Legacy gt. I realized that it wasnt a fare comparison so I changed it to Legacy gt. If you want to vote for Legacy GT choose WRX.

I orginally wanted to get the MS3 but thought I should upgrade from FWD to AWD. Both look good and are powerful. They both are AWD and are geared as luxury cars. Their so close specs/looks wise I am having a hard time deciding. Which one would have better performance? The MS6 should have 20-30 more hp.

I realize this is a MS6 forum but try to not be biased if possible.

um.. the ms6 and ms3 have the same engine.. same HP

cept the ms3 weighs about 500 pounds less.

 

[wicked]

um.. the ms6 and ms3 have the same engine.. same HP

cept the ms3 weighs about 500 pounds less.

yeah,and only power the front wheels.

 

[stive403]

for the price I got my msp6 gt, I was looking at a pretty based out wrx. I think the speed6 looks better, is more comfortable, has a nicer interior, etc... but I do think that the wrx felt faster and is a nice car. I just wanted a little comfort and luxury with my turbo charged all wheel drive car. All depends on what you are looking for.

 

[jtom]

I orignally had the comparison between the wrx but changed it to the legacy gt.

Anyways, I like the WRX but i have a 2003 mazda protege. I just dont know if I can pay double the price with an interior thats similar to what I drive now. I know its geared towards performance but the wrx to me just reminds me of the current car in the interior.

Thats the main reason I changed it because I felt the Legacy GT was a better comparison. However, any opionions on the WRX will be appreciated.

 

[pHeeL tHiZ ViBe]

the WRX is a great performance car.....but i wouldn't trade my speed6 for one...ever lol. the interior of my car is so so so much nicer than a dubs, my friend bought an 06 limited edition wrx(ya know the one with leather and heated seats and all that) and my speed6 gt is still rediculously more comfortable haha.

and honestly his car barely pulls on mine, and sometimes i get the pull on him even (from 30mph rolls, he wont launch against me cuz my car will eat his nuts ;-P)

anyway thats what i know

 

[MS6S2K]

I traded in my 04 STI for an 06 MS6. I test drove a Legacy GT before hand. In all honesty, I have to say that the Legacy GT is a better overall car. However, based on saving money and liking the look a bit more, I chose it over the Legacy GT. I needed something more comfortable and less under the radar. The Speed 6 feels slow to me because I downgraded severly in power, but it's a great car nonetheless. It definitely feels a bit slower then the Legacy GT as well, and if you are looking to modify, you'd be much better off with a Subaru.

I'd say if you like the look of the MS6 more, then it's the better choice. However, there's no taking away my opinion that Subaru builds better cars. Mazda certainly makes better looking cars, but that's where I believe the line is drawn. I think one car company has what the other lacks. I'd prefer a MS3 sedan with that Subaru drivetrain. Guess I'll keep dreaming and be happy with what I have for now.

 

[smo0f]

06 Sti

 

[jtom]

um.. the ms6 and ms3 have the same engine.. same HP

cept the ms3 weighs about 500 pounds less.

I hope you knew that the MS3 was FWD since you own one. Ill assume you do but forgot to mention it.

 

[Nutari]

I hope you knew that the MS3 was FWD since you own one. Ill assume you do but forgot to mention it.

we were talking about HP and engines.. of course I know that. (peep)

 

[rdandy5875]

i voted wrx just because of the AWD....

 

[Afroman]

I did a lot of research between the speed3 and speed6 before I purchased.

The speed3 has the same engine as the Speed6; however, it was slightly de-tuned about 10 hp.

It should also be mentioned that in 1st and 2nd gear the Speed3 has its torque output reduced in order to control torque steer.

Check the mazdaspeed3 forums at mazda 3 forums . com if you want to confirm what I mentioned.

 

[pHeeL tHiZ ViBe]

In all honesty, I have to say that the Legacy GT is a better overall car.

can you please give some details, i'm curious as to how the legacy gt is a better car ???

also i take back my last post, for the last two weeks i've been pulling on my friends 06 wrx limited. in fourth gear the wrx has no chance, my ms6 pulls way harder..and yes i'm still stock.

 

[MS6S2K]

can you please give some details, i'm curious as to how the legacy gt is a better car ???

also i take back my last post, for the last two weeks i've been pulling on my friends 06 wrx limited. in fourth gear the wrx has no chance, my ms6 pulls way harder..and yes i'm still stock.

This is more of an opinion, so feel free to disagree. Better AWD system. lighter weight, better tuned, and easier to modify and make faster yet remain reliable. The car simply felt better to me, but I was unwilling to pay the extra amount, and since the Speed 6 is failing in the market, I took advantage like many have. If I have to wager which will be more reliable, I have to go with Subaru. They are on the top of reliability charts, and IMO make more durable cars when it comes to high HP and performance. I do, however, think the Speed 6 is a nicer looking machine.

The regular WRX is severly detuned, because they wanted to branch off a large distance between the WRX and the STI in performance, and also wanted the Legacy GT to be faster. Try your hand at an STI, and see what I'm talking about. That car will trounce the MS6, because it's built for all out performance.

I just think Subaru mechanically is superior to Mazda, but that's just my opinion. It was not enough to shell out the extra money for the Legacy GT, and the STI got too much attention, from both police and other drivers. No regrets here, unless the Speed 6 gives me problems. Not a single hint of a problem with the STI after over 2 years and 28k miles, and I drove that car hard. Nothing but oil changes. I expect the same from this Speed 6, but long term I think it will be less durable. It feels less beefy and more vulnerable to problems if you drive it hard. Subaru just feels stronger, and like it can take more abuse. I'd love to be wrong. If the Speed 6 gives me problems, it's GONE, and back to Subaru. One thing I don't tolerate is reliability and durability issues. Subaru has never let me down, and Mazda has in the past. We'll see what the future holds for the Speed 6 long term after many miles.

 

[RsxtypeS]

This is more of an opinion, so feel free to disagree. Better AWD system. lighter weight, better tuned, and easier to modify and make faster yet remain reliable. The car simply felt better to me, but I was unwilling to pay the extra amount, and since the Speed 6 is failing in the market, I took advantage like many have. If I have to wager which will be more reliable, I have to go with Subaru. They are on the top of reliability charts, and IMO make more durable cars when it comes to high HP and performance. I do, however, think the Speed 6 is a nicer looking machine.

The regular WRX is severly detuned, because they wanted to branch off a large distance between the WRX and the STI in performance, and also wanted the Legacy GT to be faster. Try your hand at an STI, and see what I'm talking about. That car will trounce the MS6, because it's built for all out performance.

I just think Subaru mechanically is superior to Mazda, but that's just my opinion. It was not enough to shell out the extra money for the Legacy GT, and the STI got too much attention, from both police and other drivers. No regrets here, unless the Speed 6 gives me problems. Not a single hint of a problem with the STI after over 2 years and 28k miles, and I drove that car hard. Nothing but oil changes. I expect the same from this Speed 6, but long term I think it will be less durable. It feels less beefy and more vulnerable to problems if you drive it hard. Subaru just feels stronger, and like it can take more abuse. I'd love to be wrong. If the Speed 6 gives me problems, it's GONE, and back to Subaru. One thing I don't tolerate is reliability and durability issues. Subaru has never let me down, and Mazda has in the past. We'll see what the future holds for the Speed 6 long term after many miles.

Hey I can agree with you on pretty much everything. I actually just came back from a test drive on an 07 STi, or maybe it was 06 not 100% sure but it had 10 miles on it. I thought that it handled 100% better then the MS6 but the power really didnt seem to be that much better. Yes, it did feel faster in every gear but for 35k no way in hell would I buy it. I went from an Acura to the MS6 and can def understand the reliability "issue". It just feels like the Mazda is not built 100% like the Sti or the Acura rsx s. I do like the car a lot though- even if it has its little problems aka powerloss.

 

[MS6S2K]

Hey I can agree with you on pretty much everything. I actually just came back from a test drive on an 07 STi, or maybe it was 06 not 100% sure but it had 10 miles on it. I thought that it handled 100% better then the MS6 but the power really didnt seem to be that much better. Yes, it did feel faster in every gear but for 35k no way in hell would I buy it. I went from an Acura to the MS6 and can def understand the reliability "issue". It just feels like the Mazda is not built 100% like the Sti or the Acura rsx s. I do like the car a lot though- even if it has its little problems aka powerloss.

You are right. You gotta pay for that superior performance, but you do get a lot of that back in depreciation, as I only lost 6k on trade in from original purchase price in over 2 years and 28k miles on a trade in, while getting the Speed 6 for cheap. You can pick up an STi for about $31k, but the incentives just don't match the Speed 6, because the demand is so much higher, and they don't have problems selling the car.

The Speed 6 does feel slower then my STI, and is indeed slower, but I actually like it more, because as a daily driver it's just a better car. It looks better, the ride is nicer, and it's much quieter. As for handling, there's no mistaking that. The car is superior in that aspect. I admit I'm weery of this Speed 6 and it's reliability. If it can hold up to my demands, I'll most certainly keep the car, as I have an 06 S2000 to cure my enthusiast needs.

I admit though, I miss the adjustable differential control, and the fact that I could make the STI deliver 65% of the power to rear. You can make it feel like more of a RWD car when you want it to, unlike the Speed 6 that has a FWD based AWD systsem, and drives more like a fwd. I also miss the cobb tuner, which added instant power, and noticable increase in stock, with many cool features just by plug and play.

 

[RsxtypeS]

You are right. You gotta pay for that superior performance, but you do get a lot of that back in depreciation, as I only lost 6k on trade in from original purchase price in over 2 years and 28k miles on a trade in, while getting the Speed 6 for cheap. You can pick up an STi for about $31k, but the incentives just don't match the Speed 6, because the demand is so much higher, and they don't have problems selling the car.

The Speed 6 does feel slower then my STI, and is indeed slower, but I actually like it more, because as a daily driver it's just a better car. It looks better, the ride is nicer, and it's much quieter. As for handling, there's no mistaking that. The car is superior in that aspect. I admit I'm weery of this Speed 6 and it's reliability. If it can hold up to my demands, I'll most certainly keep the car, as I have an 06 S2000 to cure my enthusiast needs.

I admit though, I miss the adjustable differential control, and the fact that I could make the STI deliver 65% of the power to rear. You can make it feel like more of a RWD car when you want it to, unlike the Speed 6 that has a FWD based AWD systsem, and drives more like a fwd. I also miss the cobb tuner, which added instant power, and noticable increase in stock, with many cool features just by plug and play.

I thought that STi felt roughly the same in 1st and 2nd gear as far as the miles per hour went. The only thing is in 3rd gear it felt a lot quicker and i never got it to 4rth. Both good cars. I also drove stock WRX (07) model and that to me felt sluggish in every gear. The 4rth gear it did not move. Do you know the main diff between the WRX STI and MS6 if we are talking about their turbo design/boost levels? ( I think thats the main ingredient in these cars that seperates them so much)


PS. What eases my mind is that the MAZDASPEED cars are all built in Japan and are not associated with FORD

 

[MS6S2K]

I thought that STi felt roughly the same in 1st and 2nd gear as far as the miles per hour went. The only thing is in 3rd gear it felt a lot quicker and i never got it to 4rth. Both good cars. I also drove stock WRX (07) model and that to me felt sluggish in every gear. The 4rth gear it did not move. Do you know the main diff between the WRX STI and MS6 if we are talking about their turbo design/boost levels? ( I think thats the main ingredient in these cars that seperates them so much)


PS. What eases my mind is that the MAZDASPEED cars are all built in Japan and are not associated with FORD

Very true. It's hard to realize that it's not just the HP and weight that make the STI faster. It's the AWD system, and really the overall drivetrain and tuning. If the Speed 6 had this type of system, it would be a better car, yet it would also sell for more, and there would not be these types of deals either. Add in the fact that Mazda is behind in performance and tuning already, you have a work in progress, as where Subaru is right on top of things.

Subaru also isn't afraid of flash, and the reality is there's better airflow with their intercooler design then the Speed 6. It's just built more for performance, and it shows. Mazda has more emphasis on refinement, although Subaru is slowly starting to catch up. I think Subaru will always be a better company overall, but that doesn't mean Mazda isn't good. I just don't think they are ready to challenge Subaru, as they are still a work in progress.

 

[RsxtypeS]

Very true. It's hard to realize that it's not just the HP and weight that make the STI faster. It's the AWD system, and really the overall drivetrain and tuning. If the Speed 6 had this type of system, it would be a better car, yet it would also sell for more, and there would not be these types of deals either. Add in the fact that Mazda is behind in performance and tuning already, you have a work in progress, as where Subaru is right on top of things.

Subaru also isn't afraid of flash, and the reality is there's better airflow with their intercooler design then the Speed 6. It's just built more for performance, and it shows. Mazda has more emphasis on refinement, although Subaru is slowly starting to catch up. I think Subaru will always be a better company overall, but that doesn't mean Mazda isn't good. I just don't think they are ready to challenge Subaru, as they are still a work in progress.

I think that the Sti is a better car, but when i was buying I couldnt only stay in the WRX range and honestly I thought that car is far behind the MS6 in everything.