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Hatchbacks Mazda3 MazdaSpeed3: Styling Impressions
548 messages, Last post on Aug 08, 2007 at 5:21 PM
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You can bet that whatever demographic is shopping for a high-performance compact will also be looking at the Caliber SRT4. Given its expected price around $22K, the SRT4 would be the clear winner on the 300HP number alone. (Of course, the MS3 is about more than straightline acceleration.) I personally have more faith in Mazda's long term reliability, and whereas the 3's styling is OK (not "wow", but also not offensive), the Caliber's styling is frightening, especially from the rear 3/4 view. Throw the upcoming Civic Si sedan into the mix, and you've got some healthy competition. Good for us!  I am fast approaching 40, and I find the "Wild Child" website very entertaining. But then again, in my household, the TV is usually tuned to cartoons! One of these days, I will regain control of the remote from the kids... Thanks for letting me ramble. Greg
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Replying to: kronogoose (Aug 15, 2006 5:54 am) The SRT4 on the hand, will have a "brand new" engine and may take some time to work out any quirks. I am curious if Mazda has tinkered with the MS6's six-speed to allow for lower-RPM highway cruising. Greg
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Replying to: kronogoose (Aug 14, 2006 3:33 pm) Yes, marketing is an art. Just look at the latest series of Jaguar XK commercials which are redefining the brand ... black and white shots of a couple and their Jag against a hip sound track. You can see it on video.google.com Mazda commercials are not offensive but I would not say they'd inspire me to visit a dealer. |
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Replying to: kronogoose (Aug 15, 2006 7:05 am) Doubtful. I checked Mazda of Australia's website (since both the MS3 and MS6 are currently on sale). They list the exact same gear ratios in 1-6, and the same Final Drive ratios for both cars. Here are the ratios for the MS3 (in Australia; I see no reason for them to offer different ratios for the U.S. market): 1st - 3.538 2nd - 2.238 3rd - 1.535 4th - 1.171 5th - 1.085 6th - 0.853 Final drive - 3.941 (1st-4th), 3.350 (5th-6th) http://www.mazda.com.au/mazda3mps/specifications_pl.asp?ID=76 |
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Replying to: autonomous (Aug 14, 2006 12:27 pm) Judging by the posts from some of the youngins on other forums, I think there is a lot of interest in modding. Some talk of venting the blowoff valve, for "cool turbo sound", but mostly performance mods. So, fingers crossed, I don't think this will be a pimp mobile by and large. I think the hatch ("baby mini-van") will fend off the would-be pimpers and allow it to be something of the sleeper/assassin. "Elegant" is tough to pull off with the hatch, IMHO.
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Replying to: seanwms6 (Aug 16, 2006 6:18 am) Hmm, in my opinion a hatch frequently appears the cooler configuration when compared to its sedan sibling. Compare the Golf to the Jetta and the Civic CRX to the regular sedan. Regarding "elegant" consider what the Pacifica and Murano did for SUVs; similarly, I wonder if Mazda wants to move its Speed line away from a brutish exterior to a refined almost understated one that only hints at the power under the cowl. Following my earlier question about the manual transmission and Mazdas I have two more: Since the Mazdaspeed6 was not an overwhelming success in part due to the lack of an automatic option, doesn't the same fate await the Mazdaspeed3? Does anyone know how many sales of Mazdaspeed6 (available only as a manual) there have been in its first year and what the target was?
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They tacked on another $35. -> mazdausa I didn't notice any other updates. |
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Replying to: autonomous (Aug 16, 2006 1:19 pm) Regarding "elegant" consider what the Pacifica and Murano did for SUVs; similarly, I wonder if Mazda wants to move its Speed line away from a brutish exterior to a refined almost understated one that only hints at the power under the cowl. If you saying cool and elegant are somehow synonymous, I disagree. Elegant cars don't usually include features that maximize utility (such as a hatch configuration), whereas cool cars often do. And "elegant crossover" is an oxymoron, like "Porsche Cayenne". Elegant is a Jaguar XKE, while cool can be as inelegant as a Hummer. Elegant is just the right form for a particular, refined purpose. No more, no less than is needed. Cool, on the other hand, is often a synthesis of different forms to create a new, more well-adapted form serving new purposes. I suppose you might be able to build an elegant hatch, but it wouldn't have anywhere near the cargo space that a cool hatch like the MS3 has. |
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Replying to: autonomous (Aug 14, 2006 12:27 pm) for the 2006 model year our MZ3 sales break down to 76% auto and 24% manual trans. The entire northeast region runs 68% auto and 32% stick.
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Replying to: audia8q (Aug 17, 2006 6:54 am) Point being that the Speed6 had a tougher sell by offering manuals only than (IMO) the Speed3 will. Regarding the Speed6; is there any reason why the automatic from the AWD CX7 couldn't be used in the Speed6? In other words, if the lack of an automatic is a problem for the Speed6, wouldn't it be a rather simple issue for Mazda to resolve?
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