New to forum - STi owner with questions about MS3

I swapped mine for the intake a long time ago, so I dont remember perfectly, but I'm pretty sure there isn't something that you can take out. Some people mod their airbox by cutting holes in it and making it like swiss cheese. But if your dealer saw that, they might not like it too much- who knows.
 
The MS3 is not quite as capable as an STI, but around town you'll never notice. Plus you won't get challenged at stop lights - which may keep you out of trouble. You can also carry around a bunch of stuff in the back - a pretty great combo.
 
I'd love to, though I really didn't intend for this to be an STi vs. MS3 thread.

So to remove the airbox restriction, do you absolutely have to replace the entire intake or can a single restrictive piece be removed to allow better airflow to the factory intake? With the 2004 STi, there's a piece that can be removed and it is the main restriction, so without it, power and beautiful turbo noise is unleashed.

RN


I don't believe so. I haven't looked at the factory system that closely to see if there are any resonator chambers or whatever else.

The cheaper CAI systems perform the same as the pricey ones, so there's no need to really drop $350 on the official Mazdaspeed one unless you want the warranty.
 
I'd love to, though I really didn't intend for this to be an STi vs. MS3 thread.

So to remove the airbox restriction, do you absolutely have to replace the entire intake or can a single restrictive piece be removed to allow better airflow to the factory intake? With the 2004 STi, there's a piece that can be removed and it is the main restriction, so without it, power and beautiful turbo noise is unleashed.

RN

u can change the air filter to k&n high flow and it should bring out a bit of noise. but catback and intaek and u can still retain warranty..and ull be a bit faster
 
So if I get the MS3 and wait a while, I can still buy the factory catback and intake and the dealer will put it in, yes?

RN
 
So if I get the MS3 and wait a while, I can still buy the factory catback and intake and the dealer will put it in, yes?

RN

yes that shouldnt be a problem, even if the dealer stops carrying, you could find online for alot cheaper and jsut have dealer install it. best bet is to get online either way and have the dealer install it for warranty purposes
 
Go test drive a speed3 I think it feels quicker on the highway than a stock STI but I would rather have the STI if money was no issue just my 2 cents . my only real issue so far has been a very poor service dept and I would look out for transmission problems in the future .
 
So how do all of you like Mazda service departments? Good across the board, bad across the board or hit and miss depending on individual dealer?

RN


The service department at the dealership that I bought my MS3 from is not that great. Your car is assigned a team. You are s*** out of luck if your team is not in that day. I ended up going to a dealership about 40 miles away. Needless to say the service there is top notch and fairly mod friendly.
 
the ms3 is definitely on a pretty even playing field when we start from a roll. if you look at cobb's dyno sheets for the AP, the stock STI makes about 225whp on their mustang dyno...i seem to remember the ms3 makes about 210whp (on their mustang dyno), so we're lookin at a car that weighs 200lb more than us with just a 15whp lead on us...;) if traction isn't a problem, then we should definitely be able to keep up with the STI! (alright)
 
The service department at the dealership that I bought my MS3 from is not that great. Your car is assigned a team. You are s*** out of luck if your team is not in that day. I ended up going to a dealership about 40 miles away. Needless to say the service there is top notch and fairly mod friendly.


That is the silliest thing I've ever heard! Team? Ultra-lame, I'd never take my car there again.
 
honestly, i would PREFER to have my car serviced by the same service techs every time. that way, they know it well and aren't surprised every time they pop the hood...:D
 
Thanks for the info. Again, not trying to make it STi vs. MS3, it's just that I have an STi that once gobbled up 6th gen Corvettes (I guess I mentioned it mostly to get pointers from others that may have made the switch). I'd love the new hatch STi but at around $37,000 for one, it's just not worth that much and the research I've done shows the MS3 to be the best bang for the buck (and I require a hatch so big plus there too).

If anyone else has any other info they consider critical, I definitely will want it.

With the factory added CBE and intake, since everyone says power goes up, how is mileage affected, if at all? How loud is the car, both from inside and out, after they're put on the car?

RN
 
with the intake, mileage goes down a little, maybe .5 mpg average.

The sound doesn't really change except you hear a little "pshh" for the stock bpv and you can hear the turbo spooling.

Heres my crappy youtube video from inside the car: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iBOCtYHEs8

BOV seems to be audible, turbo just barely. Quite likely it'd be a lot louder from outside the car. I guess I should check the regional section to see if anyone in the Birmingham or Huntsville area has a MS3...I have a stickpod and not a great camera but it's an okay one. :)

RN
 
With the factory added CBE and intake, since everyone says power goes up, how is mileage affected, if at all? How loud is the car, both from inside and out, after they're put on the car?

RN

most of the power gain is from the intake. the CBE is only a few hp i heard like 4 or something. if you cruise the car a full tank before and after you will notice an increase in your gas mileage, I got like an extra 40 miles per tank driving at "normal" speeds compared to stock.
 
Looking over the Mazda site, I notice how Mazdaspeed vehicles only seem to last a few years. Any idea how long the Mazdaspeed3 will be offered?

RN
 
Looking over the Mazda site, I notice how Mazdaspeed vehicles only seem to last a few years. Any idea how long the Mazdaspeed3 will be offered?

RN

This is the last year of the Speed 3 for now ('08.5). I came from a modded Evo, and my buddy has an '04 STi. A quick summary would be I'm glad to be out of a boy racer looking car. I like it when I get off work and get in, nobody notices. Before it was all pointing at me getting in the Evo. The disadvantage is, the ride home now..lol. Evo was a beast, and AWD is where it's at. The Speed just doesn't do it for me on my purposely long trips home. It used to be hard for me to decide what to ride between my bike and my Evo. Now, it's the bike hands down. The Speed is a great DD though, and my wife feels more comfortable riding with me now. If I could do it all over again, I would have kept the Evo. Speed's still a quick little b**** though, so it keeps me pretty content.
 
So if this is it for now, when will it be made again? 'cause if they stop making it before I can get another car, I might as well wait, save and grab a hatch STi.

RN
 
If you can afford 40k for an STi, do that for sure! I opted for the MS3 because it was almost half of what a new STi costs.
 

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