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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 (Sep 12, 2006 1:23 pm) Sure, a personal test drive is always best, but I may be about to make the leap and try to secure a deal without a test drive. Here's why. There have been at least two US 1st drive articles that were clearly not just marketing echo: SCC and MT. They both drove the car at Laguna Seca where any kind of serious torque steer or other power management problems would have shown up and been noted. Instead, nothing but kudos for the system. And the Oz article didn't just emphasize differences, they actually dissed the MSP3 and said they were glad to park it. That is subjective and personal.To show how important the personal preference/bias of those reviewers was, a second article in the same Oz publication gave the MSP3 the nod in a comparo with the much more expensive and refined R32. Again, one would think that any serious complaints about the MPS3 power management system would have been mentioned, especially in comparison to a smooth and powerful AWD V-6. Which Oz article was more credible, the first or the second?
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Replying to: seanwms6 (Sep 12, 2006 5:25 pm)
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Replying to: seanwms6 (Sep 13, 2006 3:21 am) http://cars.ign.com/articles/730/730560p1.html |
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Replying to: rorr (Sep 13, 2006 5:40 am)
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Replying to: daniel99 (Sep 13, 2006 6:34 am)
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Replying to: aviboy97 (Sep 13, 2006 9:48 am) 
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Replying to: rorr (Sep 13, 2006 5:40 am) Mazda's MazdaSpeed parts department came up with a full catalog of parts for the MazdaSpeed3 -- and we drove it. We guess the official name of the car is the MazdaSpeed MazdaSpeed3, but we'll just call it "fast". The engine has been opened up, which gives the car a sweet blow-off valve sound and an extra 30 horsepower. The suspension has been stiffened and the tires have been swapped out for lightweight wheels wrapped in even stickier rubber. In our few laps behind the wheel of the MazdaSpeed MazdaSpeed3, we honestly couldn't feel an improvement in speed through our "butt dyno". That doesn't mean that the car isn't faster -- it's just so refined, the car still feels incredibly easy to drive. The fact that it was on a track sponsored by Mazda may compromise the objectivity of the article. But, the article has definitely whetted my appetite for a test drive.
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Replying to: autonomous (Sep 13, 2006 11:27 am) Yeah, where do I sign up to be the car guy on About.com so I can go on test drive junkets? |
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Replying to: autonomous (Sep 13, 2006 11:27 am) I would disagree. Just because Laguna Seca is currently sponsored by Mazda (which they just renewed for a few more years) really does not mean anything. That track is still lethal, especially in the downward corkscrew. Name of the track does not effect test results, or drive opinions. The car does. Having journalists drive the MS3 at Laguna Seca is like Mazda tooting their own horn "come drive our awesome car, on our well respected track!", which happens to be one of the most lethal, if not, most lethal, track in the U.S. or the world. |
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Replying to: autonomous (Sep 13, 2006 11:27 am) Yes, that would be the Mazdaspeed Mazdaspeed3. . . . By Mazda.  Actually, I don't think Mazda was ALLOWING any sort of instrumented testing. And, in lieu of that I'm glad they didn't try to get any 0-60 or 1/4 mile 'times' using a stopwatch. I don't often drive with a stopwatch myself. I think all they were after was to gather some driving impressions. But yeah, it was kinda amateurishly written (but since I haven't seen any real reviews from any of the Big Guns yet, this'll do until then).
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