I know this is probably a repost but damn this thing is pretty sick for the money.

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...65/PROMOBLOG01

 

If it weren't for the fact that nearly all dealers are going to be marking these things up like crazy, I would think about getting one. Oh well...

 

that is a sick car. 263HP thats crazy for a car that small. wow i cant wait to test drive one. i almost bought a 3 but i went with the TL. better deal

 

if only acura had half a brain they would already have a tsx with an option like this.

 

It costs too much $$$ up here in Canuckistan IMO.

 

'Only 5000 cars head for the States this model year, and many already have buyers.'

Chalk that up to the hype. Looks like Mazda has the making of a cult car here.

 

That thing costs $30k here is Canada and is only available in Red.

 

Pretty sweet numbers

 

Now you are asking for miracles.

 

I like this car, check: no, I really like this car.

 

looks like it'll be something really serious with a little more boost and an fmic

 

Much faster than the old mazdaspeed

 

In Wheels this weekend it said 31K. In any event, it is too much $$$, and it only coming in red is retarded.

 

You can have any color you want, as long as its .... red!

 

I hope they did a better build job on this than they did on the RX-8

 

if the speed3 doesn't have the heatsoak and loss of boost (might have been owners not putting in 93 octane) issues the speed6 had, it will be a very fun car to drive.

i'd love to test drive this too.

 

Yeah this is an old thread but it's the only one I could find about the MS3 that was only about the MS3 ...

Anyway, I have one and it's a great car. There are some things I'd like to fix but I'm hearing the #4 motor mount recall fixes some of the shifting issues (get it done tomorrow). That's really my #1 beef.

Just got new wheels. CAI is next, followed by springs and sways. Then maybe the CBE after that.

 

^^ Nice.

When you get the CAI and CBE, be sure to post and provide color.

My only dissapointment is with the shifter not as smooth as Honda (but who is), also miss the v-tec pull at the higher rev range, but overall, the car is shitloads of fun.

 

Definitely will ... Going to do my first dyno I've ever done too

 

if Acura had a brain they would have realized a long time ago that all of their models need more torque. Their HP numbers are fine IMO. It's always been the torque that's severly lacking.

I understand they want to compromise between performance and efficiency. but come on already, the enthusiasts buying their sportier models could care 2 points less about mpg ratings compared with buying models that aren't sporty. Bump up the torque already.

 

New picture with a clean car

 

my friend test drove it and he said that the suspension suscks. he said that it has too much body roll. and he drives a 00 integra

 

I looked at these...it is an odd car. Too much power for the body type. I'd kill myself for sure. Yes handling sucks. I hate to say it but Mazdas are also pretty ugly compared to real cars like Acura.

 

Suscks would be an exageration.

Don't knock it until you try it.

Speed3 beats the NEW wrx in comparo:

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...leId=121942#27

 

I think the supsension is fine, but you just feel like your gonna fly off the road. Maybe I should slow down ha I'd get the Mazda Speed 6 instead, much more solid. In fact I almost did before I drove an Acura.

 

The suspension is fine. He probably drove a Mazda3. No one in their right mind is going to let an 18-yr old test drive a MS3 for kicks.

 

Did you do the recall already? How many miles do you have on it?

If you have not done it, DO NOT STEP ON THE GAS JUST YET!! do the recall first. I work in Mazda dealer, and I have had to deal with 2 cars with engine falling on axle.

 

I have 8,000 miles. Recall is next weekend. I missed my appt yesterday.

I've been deliberately babying it since the recall notice but I really hadn't thrashed it while I've owned it because I was either going to replace the mount with an aftermarket one or see if Mazda did a recall like people have been saying.

I can't wait to have it done so I can stop worrying. Going to get the MS CAI done at the same time. Next weekend is going to be a LOT of fun

 

Do you guys have the MazdaSpeed 6 in the U.S. yet?

I tell ya, it kills the Speed 3. AWD, Turbo...solid body...I had financing in motion to buy one before I saw the TL. I just like Acura because they are more classy, but the Speed 6 is awesome.

 

I like the Mazdaspeed 6. We do have it in the U.S. already, my brother's roommate has one. It somehow has this over-stated yet sleeper look to it all at the same time. I think Mazda made a mistake by making it almost as powerful as the MS6 (same engine pretty much) but making it FWD.

There's this clown on here named Magic Man who will tell you all about it. If he hasn't been banned twice already.

 

I think he's been banned!

 

Yeah, we do. It doesn't sell well. I think the design of the exterior hurts it. The Mazda6 might have been a breath of fresh air over the 626 back when it came out but now it looks dated. I hate the headlights and taillights on the car.

It has AWD but looks to be running 6.5" wide wheels. It's also about $5k more than a MS3.

Since I'm not a street racer, I don't care about how much better the MS6 might launch. Once the MS3 gets rolling, I'm very happy with how it drives. And it's a better looking car.

 

When I test drove the MS6, I loved the power delivery. At that time (2006 MY), they were pretty well discounted.

However, I also did not like the looks that much. I even made it a point (post-test drive) to park it next to a Mazda6 V6 just to compare the exterior and found that the Mazda6 has cleaner lines than the MS6. Decent car but not my first choice in its segment.

Sidenote: If coupled with a 6MT, a 265hp/250lb-ft Duratec 35 powered Mazda6 V6 could bump the MS6 off the map.....unless of course the next gen MS6 gets the 400hp+ Twin Force D35!

 

Uh agreed. Such "scientific" proclamations about driving impressions are best ignored. Judge for yourself.

My regular 2004 Mazda 3 handled quite well, some body roll but very good transitionally. Maybe a little under-damped up front, but that's the standard understeer tune that most US cars.....including the TSX.....come with.

The big issue I had with that car was no limited slip, it was a wheelspinner....and a wheelhopper.

-Mirror

 

Anyway as for the guy with the 00 Integra, he probably slammed it to the ground hence the complaint of body roll on a stock car.

I was at Laguna Seca and the Skip Barber instructors use the Mazda 3 as a safety car. I got to ride in one in a hot lap, and there is some notable body roll the way the instructors throw it around.

 

and 3600 lbs of curb weight. No thanks.



What I like about the Speed3, it's a sleeper and can burn cars twice as pricey.

 

It just feels more solid to me. But then you're right, the 3600 lbs may have something to do with that.