Try to cram the MS6 drivetrain into the MS3? ;-) Oh, wait no..I forgot. It's too heavy.
07 MAZDASPEED 3 Sport
- Thread starter Hirev
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I think the Mazdaspeed 3 would be a very fun ride. I'd love it for my daily commute car.
Other alternative bang-for-the-buck in this price range:
WRX
Cobalt SS Supercharged
Redline Ion
GTI
6 spd accord coupe
SRT-4 (05 last model year)
Mustang GT (about $3K higher)
Rav4 V6 (don't laugh: 0-60 in 6.3 secs, straight-line fun only)
I think only 5000 Mazdaspeeds 3 will be available, so you better act fast. It would be my choice over all of the above.
Other alternative bang-for-the-buck in this price range:
WRX
Cobalt SS Supercharged
Redline Ion
GTI
6 spd accord coupe
SRT-4 (05 last model year)
Mustang GT (about $3K higher)
Rav4 V6 (don't laugh: 0-60 in 6.3 secs, straight-line fun only)
I think only 5000 Mazdaspeeds 3 will be available, so you better act fast. It would be my choice over all of the above.
Was the MS6 on the same limited availability? Dealer lots are selling those at fire sale prices right now. Hope they do better with the 3.
um, that says "(C/D est)", which means estimate.
If Dodge can turn the Neon into a FWD turbo monster, there is no reason why the 3 will be handicapped by not having AWD. I guess that those with lame driving skills, who need all the help they can get, should look elsewhere. But, the 3 will assist with equal length halfshafts, an LSD, good OEM tires, strong unibody, and ECM torque management in the lower gears......which should help control the power through the front wheels.
Other turbo FWD cars, lacking techno acronyms and refinement, that were a blast: 323, Omni, Daytona, Charger, Mirage, Colt, Laser, Neon, Eclipse, Fuego......
I think that the 2.3 engine will be reliable enough. It was in the Mazda6speed and now the CX7. The transmission should hold together well enough. Wheelspin sure is a good fuse for keeping a trans together. Plus, it'll have big brother, the gestapo ECU, to keep it from self destructing.
Like any niche vehicle, the demand will be great in the beginning. Enjoy those heavily discounted 'leftovers' later on in the year.
Other turbo FWD cars, lacking techno acronyms and refinement, that were a blast: 323, Omni, Daytona, Charger, Mirage, Colt, Laser, Neon, Eclipse, Fuego......
I think that the 2.3 engine will be reliable enough. It was in the Mazda6speed and now the CX7. The transmission should hold together well enough. Wheelspin sure is a good fuse for keeping a trans together. Plus, it'll have big brother, the gestapo ECU, to keep it from self destructing.
Like any niche vehicle, the demand will be great in the beginning. Enjoy those heavily discounted 'leftovers' later on in the year.
Oooops! My bad.
There's a price to pay for all that sophistication though and most of us are on a budget and we can't afford a "truly capable car". We only have enough to buy a "pretty capable car" that excels in one area such as acceleration and is pretty good or at least adequate in most others. I wish I was able to say price is no object.
You can bet that C/D will have a full instrumented test in near future, just as soon as they can get their hands on one.
My opinion is that I'd love one, but I'd have to give up the Mustange GT convertible. I also have a '95 Mazda Protege, and the quality of that car is excellent. I'm now looking for older Mazdas as my kids begin driving....
My opinion is that I'd love one, but I'd have to give up the Mustange GT convertible. I also have a '95 Mazda Protege, and the quality of that car is excellent. I'm now looking for older Mazdas as my kids begin driving....
If I was going to buy a new car it would be between the new MazdaSpeed 3 and the WRX--very similar price and performance. Would lean slightly toward the Subie for its AWD.
Lame driving skills vs. having to babysit a torquesteering FWD car when conditions are not ideal. A truly capable car will do what it's told, when it's told without the driver having to make concessions for its shortcomings by using 'driving skills'. You'll never see an Audi RS4 or Porsche 911 S4 helplessly spinning its front wheels while picking between oncoming traffic or the ditch.
I've got a 323GTX (4wd, turbo). It's WAY more fun to drive than the FWD 323GT...
same with the Laser/Talon/eclipse, AWD is better.
awd (or 4wd) will handle better than fwd, it powers thru turns better but does push into corners like a FWD (a helical front diff helps there).
I'd prefer RWD or a 40-60, 33-66 RWD bias on a AWD. If only I could afford a transmission from a newer GTX...
The ECU in the MSP didn't help the diffs from cracking in half. Do they electronic nannies on the MS3?
Mazda also has access to the AWD versions of the MTX-75 transmission. And I think there's a 4-banger version in the Euro Mondeo?
The MS6 is "AWD". The driveshaft is always spinning but there's a electronic clutch in the rear diff that's disengaged most of the time.
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