Your thoughts on the MSP6 clutch

[stussy2870]

KWBDC.... What did you pay for your MS6 man?? Im on the S plan and the dealers are being PR1CKS here...

 

[Local Weather]

I've had my speed6 since January and I am just now getting where I can shift 1st to 2nd without jerking the car around, and event then only about 70% of the time. After that, it's smooth sailing. As mentioned earlier, all of the clutch action seems to be in the first 30% of the movement range, after that, it's just for show.

It's really the only thing that I would say I would change about the car, I love driving it.

 

[PerfectXtreme]

You'd change the clutch? Thats crazy! Everyone i've let drive it... though difficult at first.. LOVES how short.. and responsive it... Go drive a scion... or accord / civic.. .something with stock clutch that has 8 inches of movement.. Takes you so long to depress the clutch.... double clutching... or anything of the sort is almost impossible...

One thing i'd like to add however... I have a TUN of trouble with 3rd gear for some reason... i'm wondering if my tranny is faulty?!?!?!

Normal driving is no problem usually.. i never grind.. in any gear but 3rd... I think i'm used to my GSR tranny in my civic... I could ram that thing through gears as fast as I want.. no problems... in this car... I think you have to give the engine some time to slow down before putting it into 3rd....

Then again i'm new to driving a 6 speed... and a turbo at that... with my BOV installed I have a better understanding of when i lose boost.. so I can learn to drive and maximize my boost off that..

 

[kwbdc]

Stussy,

I paid 28K and some change before tax and licensing. I added moonroof,wheel locks and moonroof deflector to the GT. It was pretty hasslet free. I think they even kicked in the wheel locks.

 

[forrestt]

I've filled out 3 surveys so far on my MS6, and received a phone call last night wanting more info about my answers/comments regarding the clutch.

The caller read quite a few questions engineers had given her about my impressions of the clutch, its operation and other related areas.

It's nice they're interested. Maybe something will happen.

 

[RallyeRedSi]

Look this is my first stick shift car and even i got used to it. to be honest its a thrill to drive the mazdaspeed. i love it!!

Hahaha i told you

 

[KiNgDaVe MS6GT]

Hahaha i told you

long live manuals, ahahha

 

[titaniumSpeed6]

Hello All,

I'm new to this forum, and this is my first post. I could not, however, think of a better topic than the MS6 clutch to start with. I have owned 4 cars prior to my MS6, all stick, so I'm no rookie. I will say though, that the MS6 is the most difficult to master out of all of them. I have only put 2500mi on it so far, but I've gotten used to it in that time. Would I change the clutch...yes. Don't get me wrong, I love how short the engage point is. What I don't like is where it is. On a scale of 0-10, 0 being pressed to the floor, and 10 being fully out, my clutch engages at about 8. In my opinion, thats too high. Is this where everyone elses seems to engage? Unfortunetly, I've been told by multiple Mazda techs that the clutch cannot be adjusted what so ever. Has anyone else been told something different?

 

[Kansei]

hmm that's where my protege clutch engages too, but this was my first manual transmission car so I figured it was normal.

 

[CreatureCore]

Hello All,

I'm new to this forum, and this is my first post. I could not, however, think of a better topic than the MS6 clutch to start with. I have owned 4 cars prior to my MS6, all stick, so I'm no rookie. I will say though, that the MS6 is the most difficult to master out of all of them. I have only put 2500mi on it so far, but I've gotten used to it in that time. Would I change the clutch...yes. Don't get me wrong, I love how short the engage point is. What I don't like is where it is. On a scale of 0-10, 0 being pressed to the floor, and 10 being fully out, my clutch engages at about 8. In my opinion, thats too high. Is this where everyone elses seems to engage? Unfortunetly, I've been told by multiple Mazda techs that the clutch cannot be adjusted what so ever. Has anyone else been told something different?

Same catching point for me, on my old mustang id give it something like a 5 or 6 before it would catch. Was ridiculously easy compaired to this car. But i got used to the clutch in about 2 weeks after buying it and now wouldnt change it for anything. Its short precise shifts are great.

 

[Rainman]

Same catching point for me, on my old mustang id give it something like a 5 or 6 before it would catch. Was ridiculously easy compaired to this car. But i got used to the clutch in about 2 weeks after buying it and now wouldnt change it for anything. Its short precise shifts are great.

I agree. When I drive the MSP now I keep thinking that the clutch is slipping, only to realize that it isn't slipping, but rather the takeup is so long compared to that of the MS6.

R

 

[titaniumSpeed6]

well, that's good to know. I tried asking my local Mazda techs about the clutch, but unfortunetly, I know more about the car than they do. I'm glad I found this forum. Thanks for the feedback guys.

 

[Chiguy_2002]

I test drove a MS6 GT yesterday, was very nice, except for the clutch. To me it felt like a on/off switch than anything, it was hard to get used to. My MSP clutch progressively engages, as almost every other car I had before that. My GF has a MSP with a Spec Stage 3 in it, and that is even more progressive than the stock MS6 clutch. I love the car, and everything about it, but it would take me time to get used to it. The only two cars I would even consider as my next car would be a Legacy GT or Mazdaspeed6.

 

[Nino Uvita]

It took me sometime to get use to the clutch. I did not feel that bad after reading SpeedTv review (http://www.speedtv.com/articles/automotive/newmodels/22779/) by Howard Walker. Few days ago I took the car to the dealership and when I pick it up there was a very strong odor that did not go away.... The guy who drove it abuse a little bit of the clutch.... I took it back the next day and they confirmed my guess, the clutch. Now, I am waiting for Mazda to replenish their clutch stock that is in back order. Does anyone else have had the clutch replace?

 

[NeverSober]

MS6 ftl

 

[stillflat4]

What I don't like is where it is. On a scale of 0-10, 0 being pressed to the floor, and 10 being fully out, my clutch engages at about 8. In my opinion, thats too high. Is this where everyone elses seems to engage?

That's about right. Different from my Saab 9-2X (Subaru) which engages almost at the very top of the travel (9, or almost fully out). I've got about 2200 miles on my car too, and I'm now almost totally adjusted to the clutch. When I'm pushing it though, it does seem like when putting it into second, the revs are too high and it wants to grind a little. Either that, or I'm letting up on the clutch too soon (that's probably it -- man, driving a car with this much power makes me feel stupid sometimes)...

 

[stillflat4]

I agree. When I drive the MSP now I keep thinking that the clutch is slipping, only to realize that it isn't slipping, but rather the takeup is so long compared to that of the MS6.

hahaha! That is EXACTLY how I feel when I get in my Saab now. I've been trying to sell it or trade the lease and every time I have to bring it somewhere, it feels like the damn thing is slipping and I'm like, "no one is going to buy this..."

But then I had to drive it back & forth to work one day and "got used to it" again, and realized it wasn't the clutch slipping, it was the clutch WORKING PROPERLY!

 

[kwbdc]

Well, I have about 800 miles on the MS6 now and the clutch is getting easier by the day. I've driven it in the rain and the clutch is getting much better and i don't think i've even killed it in a week.(headbang)

 

[MSpeed Medic]

I have had my car for a few days and first day I stalled it once or twice but by the second day it was smooth in heavy city traffic. It hasn't been to brutal to get used to. I have been getting soft as the car I traded in,was the first automatic I have owned. Now I am back to manual again! (headbang)