potential new ms3 owner

[hachibill]

hello, i just wanted to get a feel from some already ms3 owners about what they thought of their cars, more along the lines of any problems or concerns with the 07 cars. i'm planning on a 08 sport, but before i buy it i want a little info. i'm used to turbo cars and came from a shop were we specialized in nissan's. mainly turbo ka's and the sr20 motor. i currently have a mk3 supra that makes 410hp/420tq at the wheels at only 15psi (its still 7m too).

i've seen the dyno graphs and it looks to me like the ms3 falls on its face up high in the revs. does it not hold boost to redline? and i see alot of people upgrading the shifter bushings and motor mounts. is this still a problem for the 08's? i have noticed that every ms3 i see at the dealer has a black tail pipe already. i know turbo cars run rich, but all you need is 11.5to1 a/f and your fine. basically is there some things i should ask for before i even leave the lot, like the ecu retune? or CAI?

any info is appreciated. this will be my daily, i have enough projects as it is. i'm just wondering if its worth tradeing in my 99 10th ae miata?

 

[Mocoso]

The 07's have had 4 recalls - 2 voluntary and 2 safety related - the 2 safety ones were for the all weather floor matts and the infamous engine mount failure.... both of which have been resolved for 08 - the voluntary ones had to do with ECU tune and check engine light related to voluntary emission standards....both resolved now

Aside from above recalls (which explains the check engine light in cold weather) and the few (oh sh... my engine fell out) ... there really have been no recurring or common issues reported on the MS3 - at least not that Ive seen here on the forum or that I have experienced myself...

Yes the MS3 falls flat up on high revs... there is no need to redline it - just assume redline is 5500 and you will be shifting right... its not a Civic which is anemic unless you are at 6000 rpm... the MS3 will give you a kick from just below 3000 all the way up to 5500...

The damn shifter is the one item that I personally gripe about... its not the smoothest or best feeling shifter... this is why some add the bushings...

Yes it runs rich and gets the tail dirty but the recent voluntary ECU reflash is "supposed" to help with that but Ive yet to hear true confirmations (more rumor than verified at this point)

The Miata and the MS3 are completely different rides btw... hard to really compare them... MS3 has more power but it wont carve turns like the Miata...

 

[hachibill]

thanks for the info.

p.s. please tell me the ms3 doesn't have some sort of fuel/boost cut when you try and turn up the boost. god i hope it doesn't. i hated that s*** on my supra. so effing annoying. but if it does what psi is it at?

 

[redspeed]

Yes!! It does have fuel/boost cut.............................but it can be defeated with the APT fuel cut defender for the incredible price of $75.00 dollars, hurry while supply last.

 

[hachibill]

so between fuel cut and loose motor mounts and rear sway bar bolts its not looking to good.

playing with supra's taught me one thing, FCD's are just a bandaide and are dangerous. switching to a map based software while still utilizing the stock ecu or a bigger maf is the only 2 things that might work. well besides going to a complete stand alone.

 

[redspeed]

The motor mount issue is basically resolved, Mazda issue a recall and all new ms3 are fixed. The loose sway bar bolt is not a wide spread problem, only read about it from a couple of forum members. Boost cut? Like I said just get the ATP thingy and it's done.

Read around, there is plenty of info and you'll see the ms3 is a very fast and capable little hatchback.

 

[numbnuts22715]

The fuel cut when turning up the boost protects mazda. If someone installs a boost controller and blows their engine because of it, and then replaces it all back to stock, mazda is going to have to cover it under warranty. Not cool.
As for the motor mounts, any car that has this much power, but is intended for daily driving and practicality, would need stiffer mounts, but a lot of people wouldn't like that, so mazda couldnt do that either.

There are a few engine management systems in the process of being perfected. Cobb is making an AccessPort for it, and I think that is going to be very promising. Cpe also has one, but theyre still working on a plug and play harness. I'm hoping but I'm not sure if Cobb's is going to disable the limited boost in 1st and 2nd gear. i REALLY hope they do, because the car would be so much more fun to drive.
The car's got a lot of potential. I love it.
Nothing as drastic as where youcame from, but I owned a turbo'd integra gsr, before it got stolen, that was extremely quick. It had a lot of torque for a honda, some guys with 50% more horsepower then me still had less torque.
I still consider it an alright exchange

 

[clos561]

hello, i just wanted to get a feel from some already ms3 owners about what they thought of their cars, more along the lines of any problems or concerns with the 07 cars. i'm planning on a 08 sport, but before i buy it i want a little info. i'm used to turbo cars and came from a shop were we specialized in nissan's. mainly turbo ka's and the sr20 motor. i currently have a mk3 supra that makes 410hp/420tq at the wheels at only 15psi (its still 7m too).

i've seen the dyno graphs and it looks to me like the ms3 falls on its face up high in the revs. does it not hold boost to redline? and i see alot of people upgrading the shifter bushings and motor mounts. is this still a problem for the 08's? i have noticed that every ms3 i see at the dealer has a black tail pipe already. i know turbo cars run rich, but all you need is 11.5to1 a/f and your fine. basically is there some things i should ask for before i even leave the lot, like the ecu retune? or CAI?

any info is appreciated. this will be my daily, i have enough projects as it is. i'm just wondering if its worth tradeing in my 99 10th ae miata?

the car sucks....get a caliber srt4 lol(boobs2)

 

[redspeed]

I'm hoping but I'm not sure if Cobb's is going to disable the limited boost in 1st and 2nd gear. i REALLY hope they do, because the car would be so much more fun to drive.

If you install the ATP fuel cut and a mbc, the ecu no longer has control over boost. How? Because when installing the mbc you have to disconnect the stock boost selenoid that the ecu use to regulate boost. (thumb)

Unfortunately, the ecu still has control over the throttle plate. (bang)

 

[Mocoso]

Just so you dont get the wrong impression: I gave you an honest unbelished information on what the recalls were and what my issues have been without trying to "sell" the car...

I knew going into a 1st year production run there would be issues - all of which have been resolved for the 2nd year production run... would I but this car all over again "YES WITHOUT QUESTION.. and that is even with the EVO and the SUBI in the market now... "

I think redspeed summarized it well:
"Read around, there is plenty of info and you'll see the ms3 is a very fast and capable little hatchback"

 

[speed3shon]

personally, im really tempted by a MBC and FCD, but... i think ill wait it out until the AP or something PnP comes out...

it falls flat on its face in higher revs cause the throttle plate closes. that and the torque being limited in first and second are my only gripes about the car...