Review: Mazdaspeed 3

[Bones12x2]

Can't believe he thinks the sedan looks better...its fugly compared to the hatch.

[1kknepp]

i need some advice... haha i just bought a 2006 mazda 3 hatch and does anyone know if i can put one of the ms3 turbos in my car?? cause the ms3 came out a year later i don't see any problems with it but i don't know if its not compatible with my 06 2.3 engine or it just would create problems??

[scott60158]

This guy has no idea what he's talking about. He says the interior needs a step up but has he seen the competition interior? I know it isn't luxury but it looks great for how cheap the car is. And everyone knows the MS3 is faster than the cobalt that's proven on the track.

[zep25]

I love my 08 red Speed3

[mrcardio9r]

It takes a faction of a second to bring you hand from the shifter back to the steering wheel where it belongs.

[mrcardio9r]

Car and Driver recorded 5.4 sec 0-60 and 14.0@103mph in the 1/4.

for the 1st Gen Mazdaspeed3. The 2nd Gen looks awful that's why it loses in comparison test. Plus they complain about "torque steer" al though it isn't an issue with the MS3's. They must be driving with 1 or no hands on the wheel @ WOT.

[suprasiix]

I believe Car & Driver has made it do 0-60 in 5.7

[KFCstevie]

ive had the UK spec mazda 323F ba and the Australian spec 323 astina SP20 bj, they know how to make a good, solid reliable car, hoping to get my hands on an MPS soon as they are awesome machines!

[StevoElsupremo]

14 second 1/4 mile? wtf? my 1990 Z24 3.1L cavalier ran high 13's stock... they cant be right, that or there driver is a doofus

[vroompshhtsi]

no,your 1990 z24 did not run high 13s stock. high 15s at best.

[StevoElsupremo]

lol ok ya got me, its got a 3400 engine in it :P

[vroompshhtsi]

lol i love the internet

[Vanderkitten]

NO BODY prefers the styling of the sedan!! That should explain the 0-60 time... but realistically, 5.7 vs. 6.0 is almost indiscenable.

[scuderia515]

yea, wth, hatch looks so much better... and low 6 0-60? he's a shitty driver... i think it was car and driver that got the lowest of 5.3... most are 5.5-5.8

[158158cow]

0-60 more like 5.7

[djacklowery]

at least.

[bergsnizzin187]

0-60 in just over 6 seconds...time to hire a new driver people

[thepeopleschamp88]

The speed3 runs the quarter in 13.8 nmot 14.5. Hires drivers that know how to drive! I ran a 14.3 on saturday bone stock with temps at almost 100 degrees.

[wcwashington]

i love this car i wish it had a sunroof!!

[marcop666]

the gti is far behind the ms3

[thegreatparaoh]

CHEP CAR!!!

[coolerdude44]

this car is terrible. mazda stuffed too much power into a fwd car without tweaking the differential to better handle it. a limited slip is not enough. look at the ford focus rs if you don't believe me.

torque steer might not be so bad, but this car understeers like there's no tomorrow.

a golf gti is a much better bet.

[vt4ps3]

mazdaspeed3 takes a fat deuce on a gti

[coolerdude44]

dude there's no comparison. look up the fifth gear hot hatch challenge or w/e to see what i mean.

only in america, where people have no idea what handling even is and why too much power in front wheel drive is bad, is this car successful. everywhere else in the world, the car is not even considered when buying a hot hatch.

[PukaMan]

The only thing the current gti better at then the MS3 poor reliability. This coming from a VW fan. Not to mention in every comparison I've read, the only other fwd compact that gives it trouble is the Cobalt SS. Not really taking into account the euros because I can't get those cars.

[vt4ps3]

are you serious? Give me a break, you can have a turbocharged 285 hp car by adding a $300 cool air intake to a ms3, all for around 21k with very reasonable mileage. It isn't a comparison which car is better between the speed3 and the GTI, speed3 takes the cake without a doubt. That's why I can get a used '08 GTI for 16500 and can only get a used ms3 for around 21-22k. MS3's will run with my friends infiniti g37s when they're stock! 5.5 second 0-60 compared to 7.2 seconds for a GTI....PSHHHHHHH

[coolerdude44]

great, so you managed to find a car faster than a golf gti in a straight line.

life is about more than straight lines.

[PukaMan]

Look up the lightning laps between the MP3 and the GTI. It's definitely more then just a straight line car.

[coolerdude44]

ive seen it, and they even say the car loves to understeer. and stuffing 285 bhp into that car would make it understeer even more, and it would probably even be unstable.

[PukaMan]

It's not the power that makes it understeer. It's the 60% weight bias at the front. All fwd cars understeer to some degree. My old Mazda Protege understeered and it had 135 hp.

[shibalgeseki13]

whats wrong with the sedan one...i have a sedan and im not a 40yr old man....im 18.......i like sedans better......so yeh

[Turquoise66]

yeah, i'm 18 too, and a lot of people on campus drive this car!!!

[damico123456]

why the hell would you want a spoiler on a front wheel drive car?? only a moron would want to take more wight off the front end... same with all other FWD Cars.. a complete wast of money and time and a loss of power.. FWD= more frontal down force not rear down force....

[idiotfieldmouse]

Dude..it's a tiny aero factory spoiler not a gigantic JCWhitney "Hey look I'm a ricer" wing. This tiny thing isn't going to cause anything but styling enhancement.

[PukaMan]

umm, because having downforce at the back of any car is just as important as having downforce at the front? Before commenting on this kind of stuff, might I recommend that you do some research on how aero-bits can affect the driving dynamics of a car at high speeds?

[damico123456]

buddy think about it a front wheel drive car will have lift on the front end there for the wait will be shifted to the back it wont just disappear

[PukaMan]

You also have to take into account the fact that fwd cars are nose heavy, i.e. they have more mechanical downforce at the front then the back. Having a spoiler adds aerodynamic downforce to the back of the car which will give it a more neutral demeanor through turns. Unless you would prefer that the back end remain light and see what happens when you do a snappy turn at high speed.

[damico123456]

on a snappy turn it will swing out. then again when a car is going side ways the air is no longer flowing under the wing.. so once again its useless... and go get in your car and drive a bit you'll all the wait goes to the back thats why they sell little thing to put under your car in the front to hold it down...(like spoilers but under the front

[PukaMan]

*sigh* if you have added downforce on the rear of a car, it's less likely to slide out. Weight transfer does NOT transfer all weight to the back, and the amount of weight transfer depends the amount of acceleration experienced. At above 100mph, the speed where that wing provides functional downforce, you are not accelerating anywhere near the rate that you were at launch, which makes your front splitter pretty pointless because it's not going to help you get traction as slow speeds.

[coolerdude44]

downforce to the rear of the car on a front wheel drive car does nothing.

[PukaMan]

*sigh* if that's the case then why do fwd rally cars still have massive spoilers in the rear just like awd cars? Or the fwd cars that race in the WTCC series?

[PukaMan]

I ask this because aero-bits on race cars are usually on the cars to serve a functional purpose.

[damico123456]

I agree with you. but his guy puka seems farly sure of him self

[coolerdude44]

haha thanks

[PukaMan]

Mainly because I'm a mechanical engineering major focusing on automotive design and I've done research on it in my classes and in my university's Formula SAE team.

[scuderia515]

you said it doesn't generate enough downforce to make it through a hairpin so you left foot brake and use throttle steering... 1) FWD + throttle steering= understeer into a wall, 2) it's a manual... you should be on the clutch while braking... no... if u aren't talking bout the MS3 sorrry but if u are, you may know about car design but not about car racing

[PhoenixEJ1]

No, FWD + throttle steering DOES NOT = understeer into a wall, unless you have an open differential and/or don't know how to drive. You apparently don't "know about car racing."

[bro589]

@scuderia515 why would you be on the clutch while braking? theres a thing called neutral and you don't need the clutch to shift into neutral. the only reason that you would understeer into a wall is because of you are using the clutch while breaking

and your saying that you know about car racing.

[scuderia515]

@bro589 You obviously don't know anything about car racing, watch?v=-UjnbIuJNuI

That is a very good driver. See what he's doing when entering a turn? That's called heel and toe. Go and look it up, you don't just slide the car into neutral for race driving or daily driving. Perhaps you need to suddenly get out of the way of a car, i'm already in gear, stop braking and go. Racing, i'm at the proper low gear and accel away while you shift into gear.

[johnsmith234543]

@bro589 its best to keep the car in gear at all times

[PukaMan]

As stated before, the point of the rear spoiler is to add extra downforce to the light rear to give the car a more neutral disposition at high speeds. Your also ignoring the fact that the MS3 has a pretty stiff suspension, which also minimizes weight transfer. I think your making a mountain out of a mole hill with this whole weight transfer argument.

[damico123456]

go and watch some rally racing and you'll see that even with the spoiler the back brakes out.. the racing drivers use it to there advantage to get around hairpin corners because a spoiler only works when a car is going strait anyways not when its going sideways,,, I"M NOT JUST MAKING SH@T up look at the races (look at how the're made no air comes in on the side of it,,,

[PukaMan]

I didn't say that spoilers provide downforce during slides, but it still stand that the reason they have those spoilers is for REAR DOWNFORCE. The cars don't travel at speeds comparable to tarmac racing, which is why they're designed to produce significant downforce at speeds as low as 60 mph. Not to mention, typically when those cars are sliding around hairpins, they're relying more on mechanical downforce.

[PukaMan]

To further elaborate, the cars aren't going anywhere near the speeds necessary to even generate significant downforce through those hairpins, which is why they must slide through with a good combination of throttle steering and left-foot braking. So no, you're still quite wrong. This is in fact one of the reasons we chose not to incorporate wings and splitters on our SAE car. On the autocross circuits we run on, you can't get above 40mph before a turn comes up, hence no reason to incorporate.

[PukaMan]

Not to mention, your basing your argument on the basis that the car is completely sideways, which obviously the car will not generate downforce, BUT, if the car is yawing say 45-60 degrees, and at speeds high enough, it's sill going to generate some degree of downforce, which is helping to prevent it from sliding even more then it already is. Again, they serve a function. They wouldn't be on there if they didn't.

[LZKS]

This car's suspension and transmission can only take so much power, and Mazda did a very good job putting as much power as possible. If you're a tuner guy, don't buy this. A smart enough tuners would know that jacking up power in this thing is a bad idea. And marqedwin, just cuz one guy blew his engine out of thousands of Mazdaspeed3 owners, you really aren't proving your point. No telling what he did, or who he is. You're literally going up against EVERY SINGLE car review companies. Be smart.

[marqedwin]

I think its funny to see a section in a mazdaspeed forum that dedicated to engine blown problems. Ha. Nice to see these Mazda guys with their so called Wards 10 Best Engine. Or whatever it's called. Lol. Doesn't sound like a good engine to me.. Ha.

[morecowbell69]

The only people blowing Mazdaspeed3 engines are those overmodifying, and beating the shit out of them.

[marqedwin]

Not true. It's in the mazdaspeed forums. Check it. A guy "ONLY" had a CAI. And it happened to him.

[tigercrap]

Hondas have the most boring and generic designs in the industry! Driving them is like going to the dentist. Maybe if you think you're Capt Kirk or some trekkie, Hondas will make you sterile driving 'em...

[lg2002541]

hoho, U should definitely try toyota, They've been famous building the most boring ride

[BokorugroRR]

True, Japanese cars are not famous for stunning looks. Italians are hard to beat in visuals. Compare the look of a Toyota, and an Alfa Romeo...

[coandcaiv]

mazdas interiors are too dark and unwelcoming...im gna have to stick to honda..mazdas interiors scare me lol.

[djacklowery]

Almost every video i've seen on the MS3 besides Edmunds is completely full of shit. Maybe if this guy didn't drive like such a pussy he would run 0-60 in low 5's.

[asateee]

this is truely one of the best cars, too bad they don't sell it here in the Philippines but are they going to?

[ftbaseball24]

i have a speed three and when it used to be stock i would go 0-60 in 5.6 now im at about 5flat

[f4r20]

really... what mods do you have?

[fstms3]

This reviewer is a total douche sickle. The Cobalt ss supercharged never stood a chance in hell against a Speed3. What in hell is that guy smoking???

[Wutangjn12]

this is obviously biased. he says the interior is cheap? its a bose system. the seats are better perfect for keeping you in.

[gonewiththexsinx]

this fucking douche bag calls it a wagon. its a hot hatch you cunt.

[drumsockid]

hahaha, man, what is this six second business?? id say 5.9 is a good place to start, a few tweaks here and there, boom, 5.4, 5.5. this guys a liiittle slow lol

[nytrus112]

Yeh what a fucking idiot....just over 6 seconds. Yeh if you have no idea how to accelerate a car based on its powerband sweetspots then you have no right commenting on its performance in a review. C&D has documented 0-60 time of 5.6 seconds bone stock AGES AGO since the 10 best cars review.

[ricerslayer]

that wat i was thinking...

[Speed3Axela]

this is the worst review i have ever watched about this car. radio controls are simple. 0-60 in 5.9. and it would destroy stock or modified cobalt SS.. trust me. ive been there. that would be why GM killed it.

[neosin06]

i would agree, whats wrong with the radio i love mine. A few mods and i have mine doing 0-60 at 5.0sec. lol the cobalt and sti have no chance with my simple boltons.

[laggalot]

Says he cannot get used to the Mazda Radio Controls? Lets see Volume, CD, AM, FM what an idiot. And the interior is less than high quality? Lets see, Leather seats, Auto climate control 222 watts Bose 7 speaker system. This guy is an idiot. Everyone who has every been in my 2008 Speed3 has said what a nice car without me asking. And then I gun it lol.

[todor15]

haha "then i gun it"

[sgtsbre]

r u serious that guy didn't even have a right start. 0 to 60 little over 6 seconds my ass!!!

[mojojojo911]

Yeah, this is faster or as fast as the 350Z which goes from 0-60 in about 5.8/5.9 seconds.

[lujoebonjo]

its a hatch! it doesnt have the fat ass of a wagon.

[compassstl]

AWD would be nice, but it's fun having the torque steer and lower weight of not having it.

[Chorizo9586]

over 6 seconds lol what was he in reverse. Cobalt ss cant beat the MS3 either

[Coixxman]

The 2008 turbocharged cobalt ss will

[32silvercoins]

Awsome little wagon..Good review and a good job Mazda

[sleserginekolog1]

stupid vid, over 6 sec, wagon.... what!!! he's a fag

[sedansi0777]

Guy doesn't know what he's talking about. MS3 destroys the cobalt ss.

[sledhead7969]

@sedansi0777 I don't know about that. I'm not bias, I'm looking at getting a MS3, however I had a Cobalt SS, and it was more than a match with the stage 2. I know you're gonna say, stock to stock, and you're right, but the new Turbo SS will be pretty tough for the MS3 to beat. JMO

[nigelic]

@sedansi0777 mmhm its close man i just bought a ms3 and my bro bought a ss turbo charged and we raced once and he beat me by a little but i wasnt used to the shifting yet and i think if i shifted right i wud have beaten him but my turbo was leaking oil so i guess i cant say at all hahaha ill let u know when my turbos fixed which is in like a day lol

[MuzahRuark]

This guy dont know what hes talking about. Motorend and CarandDriver have both tested this car in the 1/4 mile at 14.3 @99.4. "With GM killing this car"? What a dousche!

[btgebo]

he meant that GM killed off the cobalt SS.. which they did but theyre bringing back a turbocharged 2008 SS in Q2 of 2008. Apparently, the new cobalt SS boasts 260 HP.

[lesmcluffalot]

Kewlios

[mattfay69]

I like the power the speed 3 has, for the price. but they should have gone with the sedan, the wagon is ugly, and what kids like the wagon any way, I`m 18 and i think its ugly!

[kalix23]

0-60 in over 6 secs??!?! Learn to launch right buddy, I'm stock and I can get at 5.5 secs. That's on 0.1 slower than what car and driver was able to pull off. COME ON over 6 secs?!? REALLY?!?

[MS3FTW]

This guy is a moron, Sedans are for gay old men like this queer and his fake ass 0-60 numbers

[123Jamess]

0-60 in over 6 Seconds???????WTF

more like 5.4 - 5.8 Seconds

[eSHARPtrypants]

mazdaspeed 3 looks better

[aaronc7]

trails the Cobalt SS/SC? I guess they can't drive it right

[akoch]

cant drive it for shit. 0-60 over 6 sec? they really cant drive it. lol

[mjtoral]

god i luv my car hehehe!!!