What do you dislike most about your Speed 3?

[Red5_02]

My biggest complaint is that I don't have one.

 

[dan1101]

My biggest "complaint" is about just how hard it is to smoothly daily-drive this car. It gets zero traction pulling away in 1st at anything above baby throttle. The clutch is finicky. The throttle has a mind of its own. This car routinely makes me look like I cannot shift. I keep hoping that some wider tires and a different engine mount will cure some of this, but I'm skeptical.

I found it a little hard at first to smoothly start off and to smoothly shift, but traction hasn't been a problem for me unless I am trying to take off fast. In daily driving I never spin a tire. This is a 260HP and 280 torque car, but it's supposed to be de-tuned in first and second gear for driveability. Wonder if yours isn't?

Haven't noticed any throttle problem either. Maybe your throttle needs adjustment, if it's getting too much throttle that could explain the traction problems.

 

[laloosh]

WOW i never hear rattles in my MS3. 11k miles now.
i have gotten used to the shifter, but it could be a little better.
wheel hop sucks, but if they did something about it most drivers would b**** about motor vibrations.

i do wish the MS3 had one touch up/down for the front windows, but oh well.
i wish there wasn't SO much red on the dash lighting. i love the blue but a VW dash would be awesome.......... maybe i was just spoiled with my old GTI.

Paint is thin and chips easy but most cars nowadays are like this.

i wish the MS3 would hold its value more. I tired to give the car away and it still didn't sell. Now i'm going to keep it so it doesn't matter, maybe later on it will be better.

everything else i love.

My stupid windshield rattle happens only when its liek 30 degrees outside. If poeple live down south, they will probably never hear it. Jersey weather SUCKS right now.

 

[mrlilguy157]

My stupid windshield rattle happens only when its liek 30 degrees outside. If poeple live down south, they will probably never hear it. Jersey weather SUCKS right now.

yay for dallas/oklahoma city

throttle plate issue is a biggy, and the potenza's losing treads so fast (because of my driving habits), im getting new tires this weekend.

 

[Fritch]

I just don't like the rubbery shifter and the clutch can be funky at times. Weirdest clutch I've ever had on any car so far.

 

[Ryz]

My wife has a 03 Protege5 that has gone 130,000 miles and still seems "new".

The MS3 seemed like a nice addition to the family at twice the HP, but some of the complaints sound like the MS3 is a Ford, not a Mazda! Rattles, wheel hop, sloppy shifter? How bad is getting at the oil filter?

300HP is a nice round number. Anyone ever put one on a dyno? What does it take to get a MS3 there?

I want through enough crap with my 600 RWHP 03 Cobra getting it to the point of where I actually enjoy ( or scare myself) driving it, so I guess I want a fast inexpensive, good on gas small wagon, but with a real mid 90's Honda/Toyota build quality. (Or Miata for that matter)

Is the MS3 that car?
What about Gas Mileage? I expect a lot out a pint size 4 banger, as even my 03 Cobra averages 19-20 MPG.

Don't threadjack.

 

[PeterC]

Paint chips for this car are normal in this price range. I think a lot of that can be solved by how you drive on the highway. Stay away from 18 wheelers and large trucks that kick up debris, and avoid tailgating at all costs. You have to be proactive and stay a couple car lengths away from cars in front of you. I have a couple small chips, but I can tell you this is a problem with any car under 30K. My GTI, RSX, and WRX all had the same issue.

 

[Colleptic]

Don't threadjack.

Twas a bit off topic there...

PS mike69440: Just so you know, it is made in Hōfuis Yamaguchi, Japan it shares design characteristics for Fords C1 line up, but that is mainly developed by VolvoFord really is only a name attached to the car due to their 30% (or so) ownership in Mazda stock. Ford had nothing to do with the design of the car; Mazda was the primary designer and only borrowed from other platforms within the family, such as S40 brakes, which stop our cars in the same distance as a ZO6 and Fords multi-link suspension etc.

 

[mattbsx]

Love my speed3, only complaint is the dashboard lighting - driving in daytime rain or fog need the headlights, but once headlights come on dashboard lights go to the black light making the gauges very hard to read, very nice at night in the dark not so nice in the day....

 

[Fritch]

Love my speed3, only complaint is the dashboard lighting - driving in daytime rain or fog need the headlights, but once headlights come on dashboard lights go to the black light making the gauges very hard to read, very nice at night in the dark not so nice in the day....

hit the dimmer button right next to the speedo, it'll brighten them back up to stock

 

[dan1101]

hit the dimmer button right next to the speedo, it'll brighten them back up to stock

And not only that, but it saves a "headlights on" and "headlights off" brightness setting.

 

[x'ed]

1. Ride height, thing looks like a friggen mini van, comparing it side to side from other "small" cars from ten years ago, this thing looks huge. (I have ordered Cobb Springs, hopefully this helps.

2. ECU and crappy attitude towards added boost.

3. Having to spend 350 to upgrade my fuel pump and 600 to get a stock when when super high flowing fuel pumps usually go for 120 bucks and you get to keep your stock one.

4. Resale value, better be high, i want to get a 135i in a couple of years, or maybe the new turbo rwd hyundai next year.

 

[dan1101]

Minor nitpick, I like the blue lighting around the edge of the gauges, but when I see the blue light down there on the edge of my vision at night, I keep thinking I have my high beams on.

 

[restored2x]

Insurance payments. $40-$50 more per month than my old 2006 MX-5, 2005 Crossfire, or 2005 SRT-4. WTF?

I have no rattles, clutch is OK, 1st and 2nd sux, MPG sux so far (only 600 miles driven, though - so might improve)

Otherwise, great so far - can't wait for good weather so I can play.

 

[dan1101]

Insurance payments. $40-$50 more per month than my old 2006 MX-5, 2005 Crossfire, or 2005 SRT-4. WTF?

I was hoping my insurance company would think it's a Mazda3. Let's just hope there aren't too many asshats that do stupid things with the MS3s and make the rates even higher!

 

[Young Roids]

I was hoping my insurance company would think it's a Mazda3. Let's just hope there aren't too many asshats that do stupid things with the MS3s and make the rates even higher!

YEa when I told my insurance agent I had a speed3 he said he had never heard of it just a mazda3 so I thought they might not know about it but then after I gave him the VIN sure enough he said it was a sports car.

 

[x'ed]

Insurance payments. $40-$50 more per month than my old 2006 MX-5, 2005 Crossfire, or 2005 SRT-4. WTF?

I have no rattles, clutch is OK, 1st and 2nd sux, MPG sux so far (only 600 miles driven, though - so might improve)

Otherwise, great so far - can't wait for good weather so I can play.

I also had a crossfire, were you on crossfireforums.org?

 

[Powerslave]

for the money its the best car in existance, some people just can't be satified......

 

[restored2x]

I also had a crossfire, were you on crossfireforums.org?

Yup. same username as here.

 

[x'ed]

me too, don't remember seeing you over there much. too bad the aftermarket never did anything for that car.

Im the guy that got speedinnovations to give me a free modded ecu and a free dyno run. Do you still have it?