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Hatchbacks Mazda3 Mazdaspeed test drives
268 messages, Last post on Aug 02, 2007 at 6:45 AM
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Insurance doesn't look too bad. And the driving pleasure is worth it. The winner is the WRX (non-TR, white - just going to have to save up a few extra thousand - the MS3 was $22k the WRX sedan, over $25 - can't afford the wagon). But a day after the test drive I can't think of anything I liked about the MS3 and I can't get my mind off the WRX. Simply put, the MS3 was the last FWD car I'll ever test drive. There's no way I can convince myself that $22k + 250+HP FWD = one ounce of fun. And I'm sorry, drove the regular Mazda3 and that's an econowagon at best. It seemed to have enough power to drive on highways and probably make it up hills, but beyond that - a moped or public transportation seem like reasonable ways to save money. Forgot one MAJOR difference between the two; accelerating... Back to the miserable FWD experience, the whole having all the power on the front/steering wheels was simply the most unenjoyable experience I've ever had behind the wheel of a powerful car. It kind of ducks and pulls left and right, all the while my friggin' front wheels are kicking gravel at the rest of the car. And after that, driving the WRX - completely different experience. I can only best put it as a driver's car. Compared to the experience of dragging the weight of a wagon by an overpowered engine - just having the ass end slide around. Less like driving, more like water skiing or something. With the WRX - well, Subaru makes some of the best handling cars on the road and it shows. You can drift through a turn - no drag from anywhere - just useable power. And after testing the "zoom, zoom" of the MS3 - I realized the power seemed useless if I didn't enjoy its application. I guess I'm leaning towards the verdicts of the Euro reviews over the gleaming American ones. Driving the WRX put a smile on my face - the MS3, I was pretty much dumbfounded. I didn't get it. If I want a powerful FWD car (basically an overpowered Protoge), I'll probably consider an old Ford Contour SVT. |
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Replying to: mugwomp (Apr 25, 2007 7:04 pm) |
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Replying to: rorr (Apr 25, 2007 10:29 am)  actually i stopped by the mazda dealer a few weeks ago, just to look at the 3's and they had 2 mazdaspeeds in stock. A red and blue one. I popped the hood of the blue one to look at the engine and the salesman pointed out the lack of additional sound deadening materials. But yeah it was a turn on. 
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| Thanks smogdung. Didn't get a chance to test drive one of those but I sat in one while I was there. Very nice, simple cockpit, but definitely not me - though its simplicity towards focusing on the driving experience reminded me of the WRX-TR. Too bad the RX-8 is so strange looking; very neat interior, fun to sit in - they had a used one for $22k (sadly the bozo owner before painted the wheels black, most likely with a blindfold on). Eldaino, was that not the heaviest hood you've ever tried to lift in your life? Didn't seem safe to me - sad the MS3 didn't have a hood scoop. Between replacing the hood with a lighter one, replacing the clear tail-lights, fixing the sharp interior plastics and perhaps getting it painted a different color - it could be $6k to get the MS3 to make me happy and that's not including that fact its still FWD... Probably going to test drive it again today for a longer drive, without the salesman, and see if I can tolerate it. | |
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Test drove the car again ended up getting a job. This may influence my decision so I'm going to hold off for a month. If I enjoy working at Mazda it makes much more sense to drive what I sell - especially if I can get a discount. Still a few things concern me about the car; *I can live with black and I guess I'll get used to the tail lights until I can find conservative replacements. *Something seems strange about the pushing against the springiness, then up to shift into first. Only driven 5-speeds, I guess. The pushing against springiness then down and in for reverse was something I had never dealt with before either. *Not sure how to deal with sharp edge by leg. Maybe point it out to the shop, have them sand the edge away. *Not sure how much I'll like the FWD in windy roads. *AWD for my trips to Tahoe sounds so much better. Still, a great deal for the money - no hurry. I think I'll be driving these a lot now, regardless if I buy one, so I'll be taking notes...
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Replying to: mugwomp (Apr 27, 2007 6:43 pm) |
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Doing more research - Canada sells white ones - Australia sells a much more colorful blue. Hmmmm - I have a suspicion the 2008s in the U.S. may (hopefully) offer at least one new color to choose from along with the black, red, blue, silver. Guess we shall wait and see... I had also mentioned not being crazy about the exhaust note - reading on some Mazda forums of people being pulled over for having too loud of a car - and these are stock!!! That doesn't seem fair or legal to get harassed for driving a completely street legal car cuz a grumpy cop wants to give you a hard time.
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Replying to: mugwomp (Apr 28, 2007 12:01 pm) |
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def heavy! Have not lifted one heavier. i guess a hood scoop was out of the question, given the sleeper effect mazda was going for. Saw one this weekend, true red. Very nice. But my wife couldn't tell the difference. Sleeper indeed. Congrats on the job! |
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When I took my test drive I was sold on the Speed 3. I tested the VW GTI and the Honda Civic si and they paled in comparison to the Mazda. The Subaru WRX and Lancer Evo look like cheap sedans with wings, something that young kids should drive. The Mazdaspeed 3 looks like a sleeper. It's faster than the VW and Honda and it's at least $10,000 cheaper than some of the other cars with the same performance. We left the dealer's lot and I punched it and a big smile came on my face. That smile stayed on the entire 15 minute test drive. The salesman was with us and he told me to drop down a gear and nail it when I was cruising at 80 and the Speed 3 just took off to 110mph when I shut it down. Amazing car and a great value for the money. With only 5000 available in the US it is a rare bird. There must be 200 GTIs and 300 Civic SIs in my city, but there is only 1 Mazdaspeed and that's mine.
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