A search failed to show any hits on the new Mazdaspeed3...

Any word on autocross classing? Driving impressions? Competitiveness?

I have been planning to buy a new car this coming winter, and was really expecting it to be the new Miata, but its suspension and resultant competition performance has been really disappointing... I was also looking at the S2000 and the GXP (if it were realistically available), but lately I have been thinking about considering some FWD cars, including the new SI and the MS3...

Thanks... links and personal experience appreciated.

 

I really hate what Mazda did with the styling on the front of the MS3 and the MS6. Other than that they seem like nice cars but I don't have personal experience with them.

The GXP is probably not realistically available until sometime next year. Unless you can find one for sale used.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MechE00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">A search failed to show any hits on the new Mazdaspeed3...

Any word on autocross classing? Driving impressions? Competitiveness?

I have been planning to buy a new car this coming winter, and was really expecting it to be the new Miata, but its suspension and resultant competition performance has been really disappointing... I was also looking at the S2000 and the GXP (if it were realistically available), but lately I have been thinking about considering some FWD cars, including the new SI and the MS3...

Thanks... links and personal experience appreciated.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Mmmm, Mazdaspeed 3. 280 ft-lbs and FWD = tire scorching fun.

 

Expect ~17mpg for regular driving and lots of tq steer. My friend says its a fast car, but that much tq through the front wheels can be a bit cumbersome

 

Civic sedan si FTW!

 

i have a buddy who went to their mazdaspeed day where you could drive the crap out of all the cars, and they were very impressed with the ms3 to say the least. I'm kind of curious myself to see what these are like

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Brian*E30 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Expect ~17mpg for regular driving and lots of tq steer. My friend says its a fast car, but that much tq through the front wheels can be a bit cumbersome</TD></TR></TABLE>

The Mazdaspeed3 ECU reduces torque in gears 1-3 depending on a variety of factors including steering angle. Preliminary reports state that the torque is very well managed in almost all situations. The ECU modification works well with the LSD according to the reviews.

Sounds like a great everyday car as well as track car to me.

 

Apparently it doesn't reduce it enough . This was a first hand report

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Brian*E30 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Apparently it doesn't reduce it enough . This was a first hand report</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hmm, that is unfortunate, I was pretty excited about that car. Not that I would trade my R for it, but it did make me think about it, once or twice. I wonder if its possible to further reduce the torque with aftermarket ecu mods. I guess that is one vehicle where people should not try to increase the power on. I am sure people will though.

 

Looks like a great car to me. I'm gonna be putting an order in for one in the next few weeks. Can't wait. Cant go wrong with a $22.5k sticker.

Cobb Tuning is going to be coming out with an Accessport ECU upgrade for it. That an exhaust should yield 300hp.

s

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by stevel &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Cobb Tuning is going to be coming out with an Accessport ECU upgrade for it. That an exhaust should yield 300hp.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

...and even more torque steer. I don't see why people would want to add more power to a car thats major flaw is too much power to its front wheels.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AamirCWITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...and even more torque steer. I don't see why people would want to add more power to a car thats major flaw is too much power to its front wheels.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't understand why people criticize a "flaw" in a car they haven't even driven either. I don't think I would characterize too much power as a flaw but hey, whatever floats your boat. Not ONE of the reviews I read has mentioned it's biggest "problem" being torque steer. For the most part they said the power limiting Mazda utilized thru the ECU worked quite well along with the LSD at limiting wheel spin. They said you could if you tried, but it wasn't exaggerated as you might think.

If too much torque thru the front wheels is my biggest problem, I'm sure I'll learn to deal with it. Geez, what a nightmare!

C&D
"Mazda seems to have shackled the torque-steer demon, pretty much"

s


Modified by stevel at 10:09 PM 10/16/2006

 

I am just not a fan of the souped up station wagon look

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by stevel &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I don't understand why people criticize a "flaw" in a car they haven't even driven either. I don't think I would characterize too much power as a flaw but hey, whatever floats your boat. Not ONE of the reviews I read has mentioned it's biggest "problem" being torque steer. For the most part they said the power limiting Mazda utilized thru the ECU worked quite well along with the LSD at limiting wheel spin. They said you could if you tried, but it wasn't exaggerated as you might think.

If too much torque thru the front wheels is my biggest problem, I'm sure I'll learn to deal with it. Geez, what a nightmare!

C&D
"Mazda seems to have shackled the torque-steer demon, pretty much"

s


Modified by stevel at 10:09 PM 10/16/2006</TD></TR></TABLE>

That was my initial thought too, but some one posted first hand reports that there actually is a good amount of torque steer.

I guess the only way to know how good/bad it is, is to go drive it yourself.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ekim952522000 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I am just not a fan of the souped up station wagon look </TD></TR></TABLE>

Perfect blend of power and function in my book. If you were ever a fan of the Audi Euro Market RS4 i think this would appeal to you. And I was a big fan of that car.

s

 

I don't know about the Mazdaspeed 3 but the Mazdaspeed 6 is complete crap. That car understeer so badly. When i was at the Zoom Zoom live i made better times in the Mazda 6 Automatic than i did with the Mazdaspeed 6. I will give a big for the Mazda 6.

 

hmm that makes me want to test drive.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AamirCWITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

The Mazdaspeed3 ECU reduces torque in gears 1-3 depending on a variety of factors including steering angle. Preliminary reports state that the torque is very well managed in almost all situations. The ECU modification works well with the LSD according to the reviews.

Sounds like a great everyday car as well as track car to me.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

3200 lbs.
260+ HP for around 24k
Looks like a heap
Could whoop my Acuras *** on track.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Fuuma0083 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I don't know about the Mazdaspeed 3 but the Mazdaspeed 6 is complete crap. That car understeer so badly. When i was at the Zoom Zoom live i made better times in the Mazda 6 Automatic than i did with the Mazdaspeed 6. I will give a big for the Mazda 6.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'd recommend some more driving classes.

The MS6 definitely has understeer, but it can be balanced out with the throttle, onec you figure out how to make the AWD system work. oh.. and turn off the DSC.


Marcus (9500 miles and counting on my MS6)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mtm68 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'd recommend some more driving classes. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't know about his autocrossing experience, but Daniel can sure handle a car on track. Several years experience, now an instructor with NASA.

 

I think the car is great... I'm going to be getting one soon.

C&D gave it a great review. For a FWD-turbo car, it runs the 0-60 and the 1/4th mile faster than the base model WRX (I know, I know - still!).

 

Drove the Mazdaspeed 6..if this thing is anything like that, the clutch and shifter will be absolutely pathetic.

 

I've only read reviews, but they seem very positive. As for tq steer, I've got a 200WHP CRX - it can't be worse.

&lt;offtopic&gt; BUT for the $20K range there are a LOT of awesome cars if you get something used. I bought my 99 M3 for $16K more than a year ago. Some of the trim and interior are a little worn, but mechanically it is great. I've seen STI's on ebay in the low to mid 20's. Some even had warranty left on them.

I just think the crowd on this forum are auto savvy enough to pick out a good used car. It never made a lot of sense to me to buy new. &lt;/offtopic&gt;

 

seems like the only way to decide between two cars is to test drive them (but good luck driving them like you will on an autocross course with the salesman shitting himself in the passenger seat). however, i have heard nothing but good things about the Si for autocross. according to C&D, they rotate very well and have minimal understeer. i would assume that the ms3 will still understeer a good bit under power, just not as much as it would w/o the ecu helping out.
i would say it depends on what you intend to do with the car more than anything.

auto-x: Si
road courses: it's a toss-up...probably leaning toward the ms3
drag: ms3

my $.02
either way, sounds like fun times are coming for you

 

I just got back from the Mazda dealer today and they had just gotten one in so i asked the salesman and we took a little test drive on some back roads.
The car is AWESOME. Personally, i think the torque reduction is sufficient in the first few gears, and, frankly you can't even tell. The car gets up and goes just fine--even from like 3k rpm in 4th gear. It felt slightly faster than my WRX, so i guess that's saying something.
Also, another plus is the lack of turbo lag. With cars like the WRX you can have a cup of coffee before that thing kicks in, but with the Mazdaspeed 3 the power is there pretty much instantly.
Now, it does feel slightly heavy but is also pretty nimble. (my Mazdaspeed Protege weighs about 2900 and is noticably nimbler but the 3 really isn't bad at all).
In short, i think mazda did a really really good job listening to their customers who have been begging for more power for quite a while now. Although looks are questionable, if i had the cash i would trade my MSP in tomorrow.
See if you can go take a test drive, you won't be disappointed.
It will be interesting to see what class it gets put into for autocross.

Edit: i forgot to comment on the tranny.
Shifts are pretty short and crisp. Of course, it's no s2000 trans. but i did feel that it was adequate.