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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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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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Replying to: audia8q (Aug 17, 2006 6:54 am) That's about what I was expecting. In other words, the majority of drivers of the Mazda3 (and likely the Mazda6) use an automatic. Mazdaspeed, which is the top of the line version of the Mazda3 and Mazda6, is not only the costliest but is exclusively for a minority of drivers, those who use manual transmissions. Other manufacturers use a similar approach for their "serious", "high performance" machines. This makes sense if you have enough in the pool to justify the costs of producing the exclusive line. |
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Replying to: rorr (Aug 17, 2006 8:00 am) Agreed. Especially, if you consider the price difference.
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Apparently not on the stands yet, so I haven't seen it, but subscribers apparently have. SCC got enought hot laps (no equipment hooked up, so no stats) to fall way in love with the MS3. Cover says: "APEXPREDATOR". I suspect heavy Mazda ad buy (?) might have facilitated the love, but who knows. They purportedly say the GTI and SI are not in the same league, 'cause the MS3 "is that good". Article also is reported to report official output at 263 hp. If it's running 91 octane at the that hp, and if that's SAE corrected, I think it means there is very little difference in power b/t the MS3 and MS6 at 93. Lastly, reported report on unit volume for the US is 5K annually. But as someone noted, that is the same volume as the M3 GT. It's also the same volume as the MS6. I don't know what it all means for certain, but so far 1 out 6 dealers I pinged about honoring S-Plan for an ordered (unallotted?) MS3 has declined.
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Replying to: autonomous (Aug 17, 2006 9:45 am) The Speed6 was targeted twards people who would also shop Audi, BMW. The majority of those people want an automatic. The Speed3 is targeted to the GTI crowd, which mainly prefer stick. Speed3 should sell well.
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