new member MS3/WRX?

i can only imagine the amount of blown ms3 engines that would happen in a week if open source was available for this car.
 
i can only imagine the amount of blown ms3 engines that would happen in a week if open source was available for this car.

let me put it this way- if people here really wanted to have open source it's avail..if cobb can reprogram your ecu then anyone can. now you may have to build the software to do it, but that's what spawned enginuity/romraider movement. you just have to be smart about it.. I am still learning myself.
 
the MS3 will never have the demand for people to put in that much effort to develop such a system. just like every other mazda not titled RX* or miata
 
^^ that's the main problem with the ms3 and the aftermarket right there. great car the deserves respect hopefully more vendors will show up. give it time and if mazda keeps the ms3 going i think your all in for a treat.

has anyone seen any info on the 2010 ms3's hp/tq and performance #'s? i have seen a few threads about the car but nothing specific.
 
let me put it this way- if people here really wanted to have open source it's avail..if cobb can reprogram your ecu then anyone can. now you may have to build the software to do it, but that's what spawned enginuity/romraider movement. you just have to be smart about it.. I am still learning myself.

i know this...i have been tuning for quite awhile. I spent a long time seeing what worked best and to develop my skills. Now here is the problem is see:

1.kids would turn up the boost and be done. (you knows its true)
2.would want a custom tune for a bov....lol


*p.s. i may be working with a company for a new tuning device for the ms3 ;)
 
hopefully more vendors will show up.
going from the past, they won't. the demand just isn't there and it's too much of a pain to deal with the ECU. you'll get what you have for the protege - a series of small vendors that come and go, various ones that will come in promising awesome stuff and not deliver, and the end result is that most of the parts that you want are available but they're expensive and sometimes tough to find.

at this point in the life of other similar cars like the SRT4 or the evo or wrx (2 years in) i'd guess 300+hp was pretty common with plenty of people in the 500+hp category. i can't say that i really follow the MS3 but i don't hear a whole lot of that.
 
OMG, AAMguy, why does every thread come back to an EVO X comparison and tunning options with you. seriously, you crack me up sometimes, but is that all you talk about??(chair)
 
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OMG, AAMguy, why does every thread come back to an EVO X comparison and tunning options with you. seriously, you crack me up sometimes, but is that all you talk about??(chair)

hey i never brought up the evos others did. and tuning is one of the most beneficial mods you can do to any car. and well because I love doing it.
 
^^ that's the main problem with the ms3 and the aftermarket right there. great car the deserves respect hopefully more vendors will show up. give it time and if mazda keeps the ms3 going i think your all in for a treat.

has anyone seen any info on the 2010 ms3's hp/tq and performance #'s? i have seen a few threads about the car but nothing specific.

most likely will have the AWD and 2.5L turbo 300+hp from the Mark II euro focus RS. If that is what comes out, I'm selling mine and buying one.
 
and no, the 2010 will not be AWD.. its gonna stay FWD and have no LSD...

according to some articles i've read.
 
no LSD and more power? that would be a step back. doesnt make much sense
 
and no, the 2010 will not be AWD.. its gonna stay FWD and have no LSD...

according to some articles i've read.

if they are going to use the euro focus RS mark II engine, which many sources have suggested that they will, it will most likely follow with the AWD system that the focus comes with. If I remember correctly, the frame in the speed3 is the same as the euro spec focus, but not the US spec focus. if they go 300+ hp, they can't make it FWD, 263 was already too much. Only other option is RWD, which would be sick
 
Um....according to several reports Ford is going w/ a FWD configuration on the new RS not AWD

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/04/paris-preview-2009-ford-escort-rs-revealed-again/

if they are going to use the euro focus RS mark II engine, which many sources have suggested that they will, it will most likely follow with the AWD system that the focus comes with. If I remember correctly, the frame in the speed3 is the same as the euro spec focus, but not the US spec focus. if they go 300+ hp, they can't make it FWD, 263 was already too much. Only other option is RWD, which would be sick
 
lol, iv read 4 articles that said its gonna stay FWD and there getting rid of LSD and using some controlled braking system that the new s***-RT-4 Caliber uses...

im gonna keep my 08 and probly invest in the 2010 wheels and somehow get a hood like the 2010, i think the dual exhaust is ugly as well on that car.
 
First, hello to everybody. My first post here, and I'm in a similar situation as the OP.

I've been looking for a new car after finally deciding that my '86 Rx-7 turbo is no longer for me. My options have come down to a MS3 or a '09 WRX, just like the OP.

I've now test driven both, and I'm leaning towards the MS3 (good thing, eh?). These are what I liked/disliked about both.

Exterior: I actually like the looks of the WRX better. HOWEVER, I think Subaru's QC on paint is serious lacking. The whole car was orange peel. I think there was also a defect in the paint on the passenger door, as I could see a large concentration of "metal flecks" in about 2sq in area when the sun hit it right. It was enough for me to put the check in the Mazda column.

Interior: WRX. I liked the layout better. I also prefer the large center tach, ala RX-7.

Engine: MS3. Sure HP is about the same. 99% of people, however, really don't understand what horsepower means, and how similar numbers can be so different. Look at the torque of both cars. the MS3 has 280 ft-lb of torque at 3000 rpm. I don't know what the suby is, but it's not as low in the band. The WRX is gutless under 4-5k. Coming from a rotary, I'm used to the lack of torque, but the WRX almost had me screaming "you gotta be kidding" when I applied a little gas around 3k. If you are looking for a drag/track/auto-x car, you may have a different opinion. I'm looking for a daily driver and everyday car that is fun to drive. All that torque makes it REAL fun to drive.

Drivetrain: WRX. AWD is great. But I'm biased. Every car/truck I've had has been RWD. It's going to take me a long time to get used to FWD and 'torque steer' of the MS3. Feels soooooo weird....

Price: MS3. Dealers are having trouble getting rid of the '08 WRX, due to the subdued-ness of that model. You can get a good deal on them, but you have to settle for a less of a car. The '09s are hard to get them to budge. You may be able to get a unsold '08 MS3 at a good price a lot easier. Plus it's a couple of grand cheaper to begin with. However, getting insurance quotes, the subaru was $300 every 6 months, the MS3 was $650 for some reason. About $700 a year difference.

Plus, Mazdas are cool. One of the few car manufacturers that design cars on what the engineers say, instead of marketers and accountants. Hope this helps. I plan on heading to my Mazda dealer tomorrow and seeing what they can do for me. The only MS3-GT they have is in metro grey. It's gotta be either black or white. Hopefully soon I'll be posting pics of my new car!
 
Yes that 280ft/tq coming on at just 3000rpms is a wonderful thing and makes daily driving a blast. It's a little torque monster.
 

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