US 2007 Mazdaspeed3 and Mazda3

[seanw]

so wich one is better i will get either the ms3 or an audi a3 .

No way to know for sure until the MS3 arrives on our sacred shores. To get in the same ballpark powerwise, you have to get the Audi A3 Quattro with the V6. It's going to cost $10K more and weigh 600 lbs. more, but you will get AWD. You have to wait and test drive each to see which you like best. You should probably throw the MS6 into the test drive mix if you're looking at the $30K range like the A3 Quattro.

If it's between the MS3 and the A3 with the 2.0, I'd say MS3 hands down. But I never got past reading articles with the Audi since the power/cost ratio made it a no go for me.

 

[benben84]

Why did they make the MS3 a hatch?? Actually, they should have made both a hatch and a sedan. I will never own a MS3 unless it's a sedan so that rules out this car me.

 

[know_no_limits]

so wich one is better i will get either the ms3 or an audi a3 .

Audi is in a whole different price class. If the price of the Audi A3 was the same as the Mazda3...Id be driving the Audi. However the MS3 should come out priced much lower than the A3 and you really can't argue with the (projected) bang for the buck there.

 

[TheMAN]

Why did they make the MS3 a hatch?? Actually, they should have made both a hatch and a sedan. I will never own a MS3 unless it's a sedan so that rules out this car me.

why do you have to be one of the countless people that ask? as posted before, mazda originally marketed the hatchback as the "sport" model when the 3 first came out... so it'll go against that marketing idea if they made it a sedan.... like it or not, the hatchback DOES have more aggressive styling to begin with, which is why it's marketed the "sport" model

 

[nate0123]

why do you have to be one of the countless people that ask? as posted before, mazda originally marketed the hatchback as the "sport" model when the 3 first came out... so it'll go against that marketing idea if they made it a sedan.... like it or not, the hatchback DOES have more aggressive styling to begin with, which is why it's marketed the "sport" model

that doesn't mean they couldn't make the sedan look sportier for a MS model

in 2002, the Protege5 was arguably more "sporty" than the Protege sedan, and yet they decided to use the sedan as a platform for the MSP

 

[ZoomVT]

i think they did to compete with the civic SI. the SI is coming out as a hatch first, but next year it will come as a sedan too, so myabe Mazda will release a sedan for 2008?

 

[nate0123]

Nah, they've stated that they won't be releasing the MS3 as a sedan

 

[benben84]

why do you have to be one of the countless people that ask? as posted before, mazda originally marketed the hatchback as the "sport" model when the 3 first came out... so it'll go against that marketing idea if they made it a sedan.... like it or not, the hatchback DOES have more aggressive styling to begin with, which is why it's marketed the "sport" model

Actually it was a rhetorical question, I was just stating my opinion. It would be like driving a 5 door hatch wrx. It's just not for me.

 

[benben84]

i think they did to compete with the civic SI. the SI is coming out as a hatch first, but next year it will come as a sedan too, so myabe Mazda will release a sedan for 2008?

The 06 civic SI is a coupe not a hatch but they are making a type R hatch in japan!! THere is a thread somewhere about that. Yeah, I'm looking forward to the sedan SI cuz my wife would want it and well, I get to drive her car sometimes!!

 

[TheMAN]

that doesn't mean they couldn't make the sedan look sportier for a MS model

in 2002, the Protege5 was arguably more "sporty" than the Protege sedan, and yet they decided to use the sedan as a platform for the MSP

they could, but it'll cost more to make... the TMIC won't fit the sedan easily without having to do crazy s*** to the hood

all of you are forgetting that the MS3 is a "world car"... they're going to make ONE car that will sell anywhere in the world.... they're not going to make a different version just for americans (who prefer sedans) on such a low run vehicle

 

[benben84]

they could, but it'll cost more to make... the TMIC won't fit the sedan easily without having to do crazy s*** to the hood

all of you are forgetting that the MS3 is a "world car"... they're going to make ONE car that will sell anywhere in the world.... they're not going to make a different version just for americans (who prefer sedans) on such a low run vehicle

True dat. I guess sedan lovers will just have to swap engines!!!

 

[goldwing2000]

True dat. I guess sedan lovers will just have to swap engines!!!

And get a new hood. Or a FMIC.

 

[know_no_limits]

I have read that the hatch experiences less flex in the chassis than the sedan. I'm not sure if they chose it for the MS3 because of that, or if they strengthened the frame specifically for the MS3. No doubt they had the hatch in mind for the MS3 from day one. So it’s probably the later. Either way I wouldn't trade my hatch for a sedan any day of the week. Even though it seems all my friends, neighbors, girlfriend, mom, pretty much everyone I know hates my hatch. My dog would probably tell me he hated it if he could talk. If I have to hear "Baby Minivan" one more time I might snap. As far as I’m concerned you can bury me in it. At least I could stretch out in the back….

 

[Kansei]

The hatch is less rigid than the sedan, but they designed the hatch with points that they could easily weld reinforcements later on. After releasing the MSP people really wanted a Mazdaspeed Protege5 but they didn't have places to weld stuff to make it strong enough.

hence why they went with the hatch for the 3.

 

[seanw]

. . . . Either way I wouldn't trade my hatch for a sedan any day of the week. Even though it seems all my friends, neighbors, girlfriend, mom, pretty much everyone I know hates my hatch. My dog would probably tell me he hated it if he could talk. If I have to hear "Baby Minivan" one more time I might snap. As far as Im concerned you can bury me in it. At least I could stretch out in the back.

Man, your dog loves the hatch. In the hatch he can do that little circling move dogs like to do before they lie down. He couldn't do that in a sedan! That's the beauty of a hatch, it's more than a just transportation, it's a living space, too!

Regarding the "Baby Minivan" taunts, with the MS3 you will be able to calmly respond by simply asking the taunter(s) if they would like to go for a little ride in the baby. In about 13 seconds they will see that if it is a baby, it's one that's pumped up on a mixture of anabolic steroids and amphetamines. Bring along barf bags for the weak of stomach.

 

[know_no_limits]

Man, your dog loves the hatch. In the hatch he can do that little circling move dogs like to do before they lie down. He couldn't do that in a sedan! That's the beauty of a hatch, it's more than a just transportation, it's a living space, too!

Regarding the "Baby Minivan" taunts, with the MS3 you will be able to calmly respond by simply asking the taunter(s) if they would like to go for a little ride in the baby. In about 13 seconds they will see that if it is a baby, it's one that's pumped up on a mixture of anabolic steroids and amphetamines. Bring along barf bags for the weak of stomach.

I like the way you think...

 

[seanw]

First reported dealer order

Some guy who works for a dealer reported in Edmunds MS3 forum that his dealership just placed their first order for an MS3. He now expects to get a car in September. Previously, he thought they wouldn't get any MS3's until December. So, it looks like we might be seeing them sooner rather than later. He also reports the colors/options are:

cosmic blue
black mica
true red
sunlight silver

black cloth or black leather.

Please start pestering your local dealer. We want them to order a lot of these bad boys so we can get past the "market adjustment" crap as soon as possible. Now, let's see, silver is out. "Cosmic" blue? Don't know what to think about that. Black's not so good on a small car. Red's a ticket magnet . . .. Ah, screw it, red it is!

 

[Kansei]

omg sunlight silver why?!?! just let it die! haha

 

[nate0123]

omg sunlight silver why?!?! just let it die! haha

no! some people actually like silver (such as, me!)

 

[Kansei]

no! some people actually like silver (such as, me!)

I do too (look at my car haha) but like.. it's kinda boring. At least make a new silver with like fun metallic flake in it or something. They've had Sunlight Silver for sooo long.