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Hatchbacks Mazda3 MazdaSpeed3: Styling Impressions
548 messages, Last post on Aug 08, 2007 at 5:21 PM
You are in the Mazda3 Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
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Replying to: rorr (Aug 29, 2006 2:40 pm) I'm an ardent fan of Mazda and wish it to capture some portion of the future market but have concerns ... In other words, like you, I am for Mazda not against it. The Speed3 is supposed to be about maximum FUN in an affordable, practical, reliable, stylish package. Agreed. The questions I ask myself are: wasn't the Mazdaspeed6 supposed to have delivered that and why was it not a success? My answer is that it was not enough. I'm not saying that Mazda should build hybrids to get performance and efficiency. Mazda could build lighter vehicles, or decontent them, or introduce valve management, or refine its Renesis engine to be more fuel efficient, or a hundred other things. Strapping a turbo to an engine and adding several hundred pounds to a vehicle seems like an old solution. BMW, for example, improved the performance and efficiency of one of its latest vehicles by reducing the weight of the roof, thus lowering the centre of gravity and consequently improving its handling. An elegant solution from a company known for performance. The reference to misguided use of resources was not from an ecological but from a financial point of view. Mazda as you know is a branch of Ford (which is not in the best financial state at the moment). What do you think Ford will do if Mazda continues to produce vehicles that sell below expectations as the Mazdaspeed6 did? Finally, for the sake of Mazda I hope the MazdaSpeed3 is a success!
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Replying to: autonomous (Aug 30, 2006 8:44 am) For a company with (as you note) limited FINANCIAL resources, why try to go the hybrid route with it's HUGE R&D costs? COMPLETELY agree with you on the weight issue. The weight problem for the MS6 (mostly due to the questionable decision to make the MS6 an AWD design) is coupled with the lack of an automatic tranny where one would be welcomed (in the market for which the MS6 was aimed). I don't think a lack of fuel economy (is that what you are referring too?) was the 'problem' with the MS6. They missed THAT market with the Speed6, and lackluster sales are the result. OTOH, the Speed3 avoids the dual problem of cost and weight of the AWD system and targets a market (hot hatch) where a manual tranny is expected. One of the engineering problems with BMW's approach (which I applaud) is the fact that often times the weight reduction is achieved by using lighter (and MUCH more expensive) materials, rather than just cutting content. In the market the Mazda3 occupies, it would be financially difficult to cut weight by using expensive materials and content is also difficult to cut due to consumers 'comparing' various cars by looking at brochures and comparing standard features. To Mazda's credit, virtually all the weight gain for the Speed3 is due to PERFORMANCE enhancements (motor, suspension improvements, 6-spd trans, and structural strengthening) and in an effort to keep the weight down, they're not offering a sunroof (at least for now). Personally, I'm betting that the Speed3 will be a HUGE success and hopefully becomes a permanent edition to the Mazda stable.
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Replying to: rorr (Aug 30, 2006 9:07 am) Hope you're right! 
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This is an exert from the latest Sport Compact Car "Apex Predator" "For the last year, the sub $23K price range has been the domain of the GTI and Civic Si. But you simply can't compare those two to the Mazdaspeed3; it is really that good." There were also many, many other positive attributes in the article as well. I suggest you all run to your local news stand and pick up your copy today! 
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Replying to: aviboy97 (Aug 30, 2006 2:11 pm) |
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Replying to: seanwms6 (Aug 31, 2006 9:25 am) Do you have a purchase order stating that you will be purchasing the MS3 for S-Plan? Did you leave them a deposit?
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The Mazda Canada site has posted the price of the Mazdaspeed. It's interesting to compare US and Canadian prices and to see the markup of the 2007 Mazdaspeed3 over the 2007 Mazda3. It appears that the Mazdaspeed is a better deal in the good old USA! - Mazda3 s* (*aka 5 door GT) manual C$23400 ; U$17,575 - Mazdaspeed3 C$31000 ; U$22,240 - Markup of Mazdaspeed3 over Mazda3 C$ 7600 (32%); U$ 4,665 (26%) p.s. Considering the price of the Mazda6, the Mazdaspeed3 is a great deal.
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Replying to: aviboy97 (Aug 31, 2006 11:07 am)
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Replying to: seanwms6 (Aug 31, 2006 9:25 am) I predict that the initial enthusiasm for the MS3 will dampen significantly after the release of the Caliber SRT4. Unless Dodge makes a complete blunder, like a manufacturing defect that requires a recall, the SRT4 will dethrone the MS3 as the most powerful (and possibly the fastest) "hot hatch" in the $23K price range. Those who know better, of course, will buy the Mazda.  If the SRT4's MSRP is at or below that of the MS3, that will keep prices in check. And who knows if some other manufacturer will jump into the turbocharged compact-car arena to keep things interesting (I haven't heard anything, I'm just speculating). Me, I'm planning on waiting until September 2007 for a "leftover". If I can get an MS3 for under $20K, I will be very pleased! Thanks, Greg
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Replying to: seanwms6 (Aug 31, 2006 1:47 pm) You might have waited yourself out of a deal. If the very positive press continues your dealer will catch on and kibosh the s-plan.
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