The clutch in the 2008.5 seems different

[nextcar]

I've been shopping for my next car for the past few months. I started out test driving the MS3, then the VW GTI, BMW 328 & 335, Miata, all in stick shift. Then a few days ago, I drove another MS3. I think this time the transmission felt different:

1. the clutch travel seemed a little shorter, and the effort seemed lighter.
2. the shifter seemed to have a different resting position. I remember a few months ago, the shifter rested between 1st and 2nd gear, which was awkward to me. The new MS3 I drove had the standard resting position between 3rd and 4th gears, which is what I'm used to.

My guess is that the first car I drove was an early 2008, and now I drove the 2008.5. Can anyone confirm whether this is true? Or did I simply remember incorrectly?

Another question: When driving on the freeway, say cruising between 70-80mph, do you hear the exhaust hum? Is it annoying?

My current car is a Prius, and I'm rather bored with it. The only joy it gives me is when I fill up at the gas station. I'd rather spend more money on gas in order to enjoy my drive more.

 

[LReyes66]

lol all my friends that i let drive my ms3 were like " WOAH, your clutch is hella soft... im surprised"...

i like it though

 

[ComeBack]

I hate the softness.. thats just me i guess lol

 

[saranya]

have a 2005 mz3 manual and went and tested a 2008.5 ms3 the other day.

yeah the clutch is hella soft and stalled the first time pulled out since i'm used to mine being a little "heavier"

not sure I like it but doesn't mean i'm not going to buy one, lol

 

[LReyes66]

I hate the softness.. thats just me i guess lol

ppl were just surprsied because i have a turbo car with a soft clutch (shrug)

 

[MicaSp33d]

wow .. im i the only one that think the ms3 clutch is heavy with a fast rebound.

i drove my friends 07 Z which he was saying that he got a pretty stiff clutch .. after driving it, i thought his car was easy to drive and clutch was not that heavy. My civic's clutch feels like its stepping into butter after i bought the MS3

could be just me ... or my car .. lol hopes nothing wrong with my car

 

[LReyes66]

wow .. im i the only one that think the ms3 clutch is heavy with a fast rebound.

i drove my friends 07 Z which he was saying that he got a pretty stiff clutch .. after driving it, i thought his car was easy to drive and clutch was not that heavy. My civic's clutch feels like its stepping butter after i bought the MS3

could be just me ... or my car .. lol hopes nothing wrong with my car

steppping into butter rofl

 

[Shane5425]

its true,i drove a civic 5speed, that clutch pedal is like pressing the gas pedal, very soft.. i think the ms3 clutch is just right, not to hard, but not to soft, makes you feel connected with the car without getting sore legs..

 

[Super Unique]

You youngsters dont know what a heavy clutch is

My old dust w/ 383, 4 speed muncie and full race clutch, now that was a heavy clutch. Launching was crazy with that. Grab onto the steering wheel and stab that pedal with all your might, then your leg twitching to hold it down while you find your gear and blip the throttle for take off

 

[Shane5425]

haha, before the world of hydrolic assisted clutch, did they have just a wire pulling that clutch in like the old VW

You youngsters dont know what a heavy clutch is

My old dust w/ 383, 4 speed muncie and full race clutch, now that was a heavy clutch. Launching was crazy with that. Grab onto the steering wheel and stab that pedal with all your might, then your leg twitching to hold it down while you find your gear and blip the throttle for take off

 

[imac]

I personally like the feel of the MS3 clutch. It took me over 3 hrs for a drive that usually takes me 2:15 last weekend, and when i was done working my way through the traffic, my right foot was the one which was bothering me from constantly being on and off the gas and break, whereas my left foot felt fine from operating the clutch.

I haven't driven the newest run of MS3's so i cant really comment on the OP's question. however, i had been driving my celica for about 5 years, and even though it takes more of your attention to shift the MS3 properly, once i got used to the clutch in it, you can definitely make smoother shifts in it than any of the M/T's ive driven.

 

[Boosted333]

LOL... I dynoed an 800 hp Mustang with a stick, and then got in my MS3 afterwards and almost put my clutch pedal through the floor.

Love the clutch in the MS3, very nice and soft...

 

[MS3077]

Guess I'm a puss because to me the clutch is a bit stiff and my left leg calf muscle reflects.

 

[UHATEIT]

cluth on a 350z is heavy and terrible. I had to do a "clutch engagement point mod" on it a year ago to lower the engagement point to make it easier to drive.

On the speed3 I always have to give it some gas to revup a bit before driving from a stopped position... I hate doing that, burns on the clutch.

I miss my MR2 that was the easiest and best clutch I ever had. As you let off the clutch it gripped smoothly and would tug/start the car forward so you didnt have to burn the clutch and rev or give it any gass to keep the RPM up so the car wouldnt stall.

Wish the speed3 clutch engaged as well that that MR2 clutch. And that clutch had 150K on it!

 

[imac]

Wish the speed3 clutch engaged as well that that MR2 clutch. And that clutch had 150K on it!

yea, the clutch on my toyota has been probably almost 200k miles by now... it even outlasted the original motor, which had to be rebuilt a few years ago. still doesnt slip either. im just hoping the MS3 can hold up remotely as well.

 

[PeterC]

I don't see how anyone could like the MS3's clutch. While the pedal action is soft, the engagement is anything but smooth. Starting in 1st and even transitions to 2nd are harsh, and I have been driving clutch for years. It is by far the worst clutch of any car I have owned (a 98 GTI, 02 WRX, and 05 RSX Type S).

 

[nextcar]

I don't see how anyone could like the MS3's clutch. While the pedal action is soft, the engagement is anything but smooth. Starting in 1st and even transitions to 2nd are harsh, and I have been driving clutch for years. It is by far the worst clutch of any car I have owned (a 98 GTI, 02 WRX, and 05 RSX Type S).

Are you saying the ms3 is hard to live with because of the manual tranny? I was hoping that as you get used to the tranny, you would find it easy and almost effortless to shift. Because the car dealers are so reluctant to let you drive an adequate distance, I really don't know how I would like the car long term.

I have to say the best stick shift i've driven is the new Miata. Clutch is short and soft, and the shifter is short throw and feels just right.

 

[Hyun]

I don't see how anyone could like the MS3's clutch. While the pedal action is soft, the engagement is anything but smooth. Starting in 1st and even transitions to 2nd are harsh, and I have been driving clutch for years. It is by far the worst clutch of any car I have owned (a 98 GTI, 02 WRX, and 05 RSX Type S).

I agree. I dont like clutch in this car.

 

[PeterC]

Are you saying the ms3 is hard to live with because of the manual tranny? I was hoping that as you get used to the tranny, you would find it easy and almost effortless to shift. Because the car dealers are so reluctant to let you drive an adequate distance, I really don't know how I would like the car long term.

I have to say the best stick shift i've driven is the new Miata. Clutch is short and soft, and the shifter is short throw and feels just right.

Personally, I think the transmission is hard to live with. I have owned several manual transmission cars, and I was able to drive them daily very smoothly with little effort. With the MS3, that is just not the case. It is not easy to drive smoothly when you are driving people around and just want to go easy. You have to really pay attention to drive it smoothly. When you test drive a car, you baby the clutch anyway and you never get a real feel for it.

 

[MS3077]

Out of all the things I enjoy obout the MS3 the clutch is not one of them.