MS3 vs. WRX

[MS6S2K]

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.

Everything except the the AWD drivetrain and mod potential that is. It's also a price class lower though. MSRP starting at $23995 (Mazdaspeed 6 starting at $28590) The WRX is still a great car though, but it's in a different class. I'd take a WRX over a Speed 3 though. And I'd take a Legacy GT over a Speed 6 if they sold for the same price. If it wasn't for the failure of the Speed 6 and the better deals, the WRX would be a great alternative. However money talks, and with these great deals, it could be the best car for the money.

High depreciation does, however, come with these great deals. You gotta keep the car for over 5 years to truly take advantage of the price deals. Subarus maintain their value a lot better that's for sure.

 

[RsxtypeS]

How do you tell if the Mazdaspeed has a good drivetrain? Also how come the AWD system on the Mazda is bad, other then the fact its front biased. I am just asking, not sure at all. I kinda just went to the dealership and bought a car because I wanted AWD turbo and the MS6 just seemed/drove better then the WRX.

 

[RsxtypeS]

How do you tell if the Mazdaspeed has a good drivetrain? Also how come the AWD system on the Mazda is bad, other then the fact its front biased. I am just asking, not sure at all. I kinda just went to the dealership and bought a car because I wanted AWD turbo and the MS6 just seemed/drove better then the WRX.

 

[RsxtypeS]

How do you tell if the Mazdaspeed has a good drivetrain? Also how come the AWD system on the Mazda is bad, other then the fact its front biased. I am just asking, not sure at all. I kinda just went to the dealership and bought a car because I wanted AWD turbo and the MS6 just seemed/drove better then the WRX.

 

[MS6S2K]

How do you tell if the Mazdaspeed has a good drivetrain? Also how come the AWD system on the Mazda is bad, other then the fact its front biased. I am just asking, not sure at all. I kinda just went to the dealership and bought a car because I wanted AWD turbo and the MS6 just seemed/drove better then the WRX.

I'll just answer one of your 3 posts LOL It's not that it's a bad drivetrain. It's a torque split AWD system, which means under normal driving, almost all of the power is going to the front wheels. Subaru is Symetrical AWD, meaning it's a true AWD system. The wheels are working together throughout every driving condition. From a daily driving standpoint, the Mazda does fine. When get into performance, symetrical has all the power going to all the wheels all the time, where as unless you begin to slip or you are acceleratoing rapidly or around a turn, the rear wheels are nearly shut off, and offering perhaps 10-15% of the power.

The WRX has power spreading throughout the wheels during all driving conditions. It's a much more advanced and true AWD system. The STI, of course allows you to adjust and control where you want the power which is an absolute blast. I was doing donuts in the snow last winter by locking it to 65% on rear. Felt like had a RWD car. I never understood though why Mazda didn't put an LSD on the front, yet put it on the rear when the power is dominant in the front. That would stop the annoying fvront chirping I get sometimes that my STI never had.

For normal daily driving, it really doesn't make much difference. From a performance standpoint, it plays a big role, because launching ability is superior, and handling properties improve because the power is not dominate on the front.

 

[trees]

For normal daily driving, it really doesn't make much difference. From a performance standpoint, it plays a big role, because launching ability is superior, and handling properties improve because the power is not dominate on the front.

I thought when launching it was allways awd mode.? At least thats what the 4 black tire marks out side of my house told me? (dunno)

 

[MS6S2K]

I thought when launching it was allways awd mode.? At least thats what the 4 black tire marks out side of my house told me? (dunno)

l
It does, but there is a slight delay on the rear wheels kicking in, and it never fully reaches 50% to the back unless and spinning all fours and unable to get good traction. If the fronts start to spin, then the rears kick in nicely according to how much they are needed. I'll take a guess and say that's why Mazda didn't put LSD in the front. It would make the rear wheels less effective if the fronts were gripping better on a launch.

Subaru's symetrical system pulls the power to all the wheels all at once and throughout the moment the car goes, so there's really no delay. It's instant AWD, and that makes for more grip, ands a better launch out of the box. Around corners, Subaru's system offers a better distrubution of power to the wheels, and of course on the STI, you can control it manually, or have it in auto mode, which is built to know what wheel needs the most power.

Basically the awd system in the Speed 6 changes from 95% to the front up to 50-50 depending on what the system feels is needed. Subaru's just sends them all flying at once. Trust me, it does make a difference from a performance standpoint. As for regular driving, and in bad weather, I really don't see that much of an advantage, unless you are racing in the rain or snow.

 

[pHeeL tHiZ ViBe]

although it may not be a "true" AWD, the ms6's active torque AWD is very responsive. when launching it isn't obvious that the front tires start spinning before the rear tires, it feels like all four hook up about the same time. and also i find the same RWD feeling in my ms6, that MS6S2K mentioned above. i drive around my city drifting just about every other corner ;-p lol, and i don't have to downshift, drop the clutch, or pull the handbrake to get my car in a crazy sideways drift. turns out the mazdaspeed6 has enough torque and hp to get all four tires squealing just by opening up the throttle, with proper steering manipulation of course(to throw the cars weight around).


...although it could be that i'm just a damn good driver haha jk jk

 

[MS6S2K]

although it may not be a "true" AWD, the ms6's active torque AWD is very responsive. when launching it isn't obvious that the front tires start spinning before the rear tires, it feels like all four hook up about the same time. and also i find the same RWD feeling in my ms6, that MS6S2K mentioned above. i drive around my city drifting just about every other corner ;-p lol, and i don't have to downshift, drop the clutch, or pull the handbrake to get my car in a crazy sideways drift. turns out the mazdaspeed6 has enough torque and hp to get all four tires squealing just by opening up the throttle, with proper steering manipulation of course(to throw the cars weight around).


...although it could be that i'm just a damn good driver haha jk jk

No doubt it's very responsive, but Subarus don't even need to respond, so that right there is a step above. I suppose if I hadn't owned an STI, I wouldn't see the downgrade like I do, but trust me it is there. I suppose to one the Speed 6 may not have a FWD feel to it, but when you can place 65% of power to the rear wheels with the push of a button all the time, trust me, it's way above the Speed 6. Regular Subarus are generally 50-50 throughout, and that too is noticable over the Speed 6. One thing that happens on my Speed 6 that never happened on any Subaru I've driven or owned, is that the front tires chirp first before the rears kick in. That never happened on my STI, or any other Subaru I've driven. Either way it's still an AWD, and Subaru is all about AWD, so it's just not gonna stack up if you try and compare them.

 

[pHeeL tHiZ ViBe]

it would be awesome to lock the rear at 65% power...wow lol. but hey maybe that true awd subaru has, is the reason the ms6 gets better mileage.