- #437 of 649
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Re: Rim and Tire Package [vanquish421]
by ahightower
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Apr 16, 2009 (4:26 pm)
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Replying to: vanquish421 (Apr 16, 2009 12:40 pm)
I felt a difference between the 2.0 and 2.3 when I was shopping in late 2007. Ended up buying an i touring anyway because while it was noticeably less powerful than the s, it was plenty powerful enough for my needs, and better gas mileage. Your priorities may be different. As for the wheels, I can't see paying 10% of the vehicle purchase price for wheels and tires. And those performance tires are surely not going to last as long, and will be expensive to replace. Again, me being sensible and rolling on stock 16"s. To each his own. They do look sharp. If it was me buying today, and I had a shorter commute, I'd get the 3s because I think a 6-speed manual would be a lot of fun, and those extra features for $1200 is a good deal. Let us know what you decide.
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- #438 of 649
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Re: Rim and Tire Package [shipo]
by rockymtnhi
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Apr 16, 2009 (4:30 pm)
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Replying to: shipo (Apr 16, 2009 1:05 pm)
You are on the money. I run Miclhelin pilots 16" and I think they are H rated or VR makes no difference I keep it under a hundred.
I was going to get a Mazda GT,but that ugly smile on the front makes the car look gay.The Grill on the car should be like the one on the MazdaSpeed 3 2008.5 that's better air induction.
However, the Speed is now screwed up(2010) with scoop on hood. So I'm waitng for the Speed or the GTI. The reason being I never saw a GTI looks so good.
Shipo ,ever fly a Great Lakes AT12 Aerobatic?It's loads of fun. I flew off the JFK, VFMA 323 Death Rattlers glad to meet another pilot. 
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- #439 of 649
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Re: Rim and Tire Package [vanquish421]
by rockymtnhi
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Apr 16, 2009 (4:49 pm)
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Replying to: vanquish421 (Apr 16, 2009 12:40 pm)
I'd go with 16's defintely not with an 18
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- #440 of 649
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Re: Rim and Tire Package [shipo]
by jeffyscott
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Apr 16, 2009 (6:15 pm)
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Replying to: shipo (Apr 16, 2009 1:05 pm)
Why would larger wheels degrade handling? Just curious as to why that would be the case, I thought the less sidewall the better the handling would be, not that I would want huge wheels with rubberband tires myself.
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- #441 of 649
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Re: 2009 Mazda 3 looks better [sonnyrocker]
by mazdazed
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Apr 16, 2009 (6:40 pm)
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Replying to: sonnyrocker (Apr 16, 2009 12:15 pm)
I agree! I'll take the 2009 styling on the inside and outside over the 2010 any day. I would have preferred to see Mazda not copy the Camry/Lancer angled tail light design on the 2010. Beyond the smile what really bothers me on the 2010 front end are the fog light bezels. It looks stupid IMO. That is why I bought two 09's. Both an "i" and an "s".
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- #442 of 649
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Re: Rim and Tire Package [jeffyscott]
by shipo
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Apr 16, 2009 (8:09 pm)
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Replying to: jeffyscott (Apr 16, 2009 6:15 pm)
There was a study done a few years back that looked at handling and wheel size, and what they found was that, in general, the "sweet spot" for handling was with wheels in the 16" to 17" size range. Below that and the side wall typically gets too tall for crisp responsiveness, and above that the rotational mass of the wheel has been moved far enough out from its axis and tends to resist steering inputs as a child's gyroscope resists his or her movements.
IIRC, the study also indicated that larger wheel sizes also negatively impact braking and to a lesser degree, acceleration.
I'll poke around and see if I can come up with it or a suitable alternative (there have been several such studies; I've only read the one).
Best regards,
Shipo
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- #443 of 649
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Re: Rim and Tire Package [vanquish421]
by igozoomzoom
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Apr 16, 2009 (8:24 pm)
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Replying to: vanquish421 (Apr 16, 2009 12:40 pm)
Are you getting a manual or automatic transmission? The 2.0L/5MT should be a decent performer, 0-60 in the high 8-sec range and 33mpg highway. The 2.5L/6MT doesn't improve much on the 2.3L/5MT's 0-60 (mid/high 7-sec range), but most reviewers say that it feels faster around town (benefit fo the additional 18lb-ft of torque at 500rpm lower). The performance gap will be greater between the 2.0L and 2.5L with the 5AT. Even if the 0-60 times are only 1-second or so apart (as they are on the '09 automatic models), the 2.5L's addtional torque will perform better with the AT. '
Personally, I like the look of the 's' grille and fog lamps (and leather wrapped steering wheel is a must), but those are obviously a matter of opinion. The 17" wheels on the s are also high on my list. The '09 i Touring Value had 17" standard, too bad they didn't carry over to the new i Touring.
I'm pleasantly surprised that Mazda is offering the Bose stereo (Moonroof/Bose/6-CD Pkg) on the i Touring and s Sport models, not just the s Grand Touring. The i Touring with Moonroof/Bose/6-CD and the base s Sport are actually priced within $150 of each other. I'd have a hard time choosing between those two! I'd love to see the Bose stereo as a stand-alone option, but I'll take what I can get! I'm also glad to see the navigation option available on all s models, not just the Grand Touring....and it's not ridiculously over-priced anymore! 
The 'i' vs. 's' debate isn't relevant to me personally, though. The 5-door is 's' only and, after having my '06 5-door for over three years, I don't think I can ever go back to a sedan (trunk) again!
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- #444 of 649
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Re: Rim and Tire Package [shipo]
by igozoomzoom
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Apr 16, 2009 (8:39 pm)
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Replying to: shipo (Apr 16, 2009 1:05 pm)
The Speed3 has 18" with 215/45 tires compared to the 17" with 205/50 tires on the '09 s. Why would the Speed3 have 18" wheels if they reduced handling performance? Just an observation, I'm no expert. 
Personally, I think the 17" wheels are a "must" on the MZ3. The 17" wheels are actually how I ended up buying a 5-door when I got my '06. I was shopping for an s 4-door 'Touring' (the s Sport had 16") but I couldn't find one in my color choice (Titanium Gray) with manual transmission and no options. Since all 5-doors have the 17" wheels, I had a much easier time finding the color/tranny combo with no options. And now I'm a hardcore fan of the 5-door bodystyle!
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- #445 of 649
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Re: Rim and Tire Package [igozoomzoom]
by shipo
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Apr 17, 2009 (2:03 am)
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Replying to: igozoomzoom (Apr 16, 2009 8:39 pm)
There are other considerations regarding wheel size, not the least of which is the size of the brakes. I've never looked at a MazdaSpeed3, however, it sounds exactly like the kind of car for which one would want large brakes, possibly large enough to require 18" wheels to clear the calipers.
Bbest regards,
Shipo
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- #446 of 649
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Re: Rim and Tire Package [shipo]
by sonnyrocker
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Apr 17, 2009 (4:59 am)
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Replying to: shipo (Apr 17, 2009 2:03 am)
I personally think the MazdaSpeed3 is a completely different car than Mazda3, in terms of needs, price and performances.
If you want a MazdaSpeed, you are not having the same requirements as you would when shopping for a Mazda3.
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