Mazdaspeed 3 Experience

[RGUN]

Just travelling home last night from Toronto and a Mazdaspeed 3 pulled up beside me and started revving at me. I had tested a Mazdaspeed 6 before I bought my car and felt that it was a slow pig so I didnt really appreciate the 'speed' brand. I wasnt about to waste my fuel/risk my car racing him, but he went wide open and those things are decievingly fast. It seems like a vehicle that has the constant need to prove itself though, I would imagine that like me anyone being revved at by that would not waste their time to what looks to be a slow car. Still, not worth the new laws in Ontario to speed around, if you get caught 30mph over the limit they take your car away.

 

[Tarrant64]

That's a pretty harsh law. I would have lost my car a couple years ago if that were the case here in Nebraska.

The mazdaspeed 3 is pretty quick. I'm in an accord v6 and it doesn't tag along too far behind.

 

[Funyuns101]

Aren't you driving an STi or something? the MS3 is a good competitor to the WRX - maybe the guy recently got their car and wanted to "test it".
The MS3 is kind of a sleeper type-of-car since it looks pretty much the same as normal mazda3 hatchback.
*shrugs* good job on declining - I would too w/such harsh laws

 

[Arkaign]

MS3 are also really easy to mod to ~300+hp, which may have been the case. They're not that light really, though lighter than the AWD Speed6. Only caveat : modding for more HP just adds to the torque steer / understeer issues.

 

[RGUN]

Originally posted by: Funyuns101
Aren't you driving an STi or something? the MS3 is a good competitor to the WRX - maybe the guy recently got their car and wanted to "test it".
The MS3 is kind of a sleeper type-of-car since it looks pretty much the same as normal mazda3 hatchback.
*shrugs* good job on declining - I would too w/such harsh laws

Yeah I was in an STI, and Im up to 400/400. Im a huge fan of the sleeper look, Im just a few weeks away from getting rid of the huge wing and chrome tail lights that the STI comes with. It will be a sleeper soon enough.

 

[lurk3r]

Originally posted by: RGUN

Originally posted by: Funyuns101
Aren't you driving an STi or something? the MS3 is a good competitor to the WRX - maybe the guy recently got their car and wanted to "test it".
The MS3 is kind of a sleeper type-of-car since it looks pretty much the same as normal mazda3 hatchback.
*shrugs* good job on declining - I would too w/such harsh laws

Yeah I was in an STI, and Im up to 400/400. Im a huge fan of the sleeper look, Im just a few weeks away from getting rid of the huge wing and chrome tail lights that the STI comes with. It will be a sleeper soon enough.

Paint over those STi logos and save yourself some insurance too

The guy across from me at work just bought a new Mazda3, not the speed, hasn't had a ticket in 25 years, in the last 3 months of owning it he got 2. Apparently the cops have a hateon for the body style, and his is just the silver model, not even the "ticket me" red.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: Tarrant64
That's a pretty harsh law. I would have lost my car a couple years ago if that were the case here in Nebraska.

The mazdaspeed 3 is pretty quick. I'm in an accord v6 and it doesn't tag along too far behind.

His post is a little deceiving. The speed limit on 401 is 100kmph, they suspend your license on the spot and hold your car for a week+ fines if you decide to go 50kmph over speed limit.

150kmph you are clearly endangering a lot of people.

regular street is 50kmph, 100kmph on a normal street is also clearly nuts.

 

[ayabe]

Even when I was at *only* Stage 2 I've never really run into one that I had any problems with. They are strong in the mid range but don't have anything up top, similar to a stock WRX.

They're going to need to up the ante however as I'm fairly certain the *new* WRX will walk all over it even in stock trim.

 

[Stratk1ng]

The MS3 will probably be my next car. The only thing that puts me off is the lack of a sunroof. I know it's cosmetic but I really like sunroofs in a sporty car such as the MS3. I'm trying to hold of for about a year or so. I just hope they're still making them then.

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: Stratk1ng
The MS3 will probably be my next car. The only thing that puts me off is the lack of a sunroof. I know it's cosmetic but I really like sunroofs in a sporty car such as the MS3. I'm trying to hold of for about a year or so. I just hope they're still making them then.

You'll probably be better off looking at alternatives by that point.

The Mazda3 is based on the MK2/C1 Focus platform (Euro RS/etc), which debuted in late '03 as an '04 model. The MK3 Focus is coming soon, along with the Mazda3 revision, which should both be based on C2/MK3 chassis/design. The 2010 model should go on sale in fall '09. The Speed3 model, if it returns, will probably take an additional year to prepare, and launch in late '10 as a 2011 model. Look for better motor choices, improved fuel economy, tighter chassis, and more available options. Still, it's unknown if AWD will be an option.

FWD on a ~260hp vehicle is not a great match either. At least test some contemporaries, such as WRX, Lancer Ralliart, Volvo C30 (also a C1-based vehicle), and so on.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: ayabe
Even when I was at *only* Stage 2 I've never really run into one that I had any problems with. They are strong in the mid range but don't have anything up top, similar to a stock WRX.

They're going to need to up the ante however as I'm fairly certain the *new* WRX will walk all over it even in stock trim.

It's the smaller turbos fault. Not big enough to keep the topend going. My car has the same problem with the stock turbo. I don't think the new WRX will murder it seeing as how much quicker it was. Of course 0-60 the wrx will always kill it but in freeway runs I could see it neck and neck.

 

[shabby]

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: Tarrant64
That's a pretty harsh law. I would have lost my car a couple years ago if that were the case here in Nebraska.

The mazdaspeed 3 is pretty quick. I'm in an accord v6 and it doesn't tag along too far behind.

His post is a little deceiving. The speed limit on 401 is 100kmph, they suspend your license on the spot and hold your car for a week+ fines if you decide to go 50kmph over speed limit.

150kmph you are clearly endangering a lot of people.

regular street is 50kmph, 100kmph on a normal street is also clearly nuts.

My only gripe with this law is that they call it the new street racing law, i don't know about you but going 50km over by yourself is called excessive speeding... not street racing. And they're not really catching any riced out civic's street racing with this law, its ordinary joe's going faster than they should.

 

[Xyclone]

Originally posted by: lurk3r

Originally posted by: RGUN

Originally posted by: Funyuns101
Aren't you driving an STi or something? the MS3 is a good competitor to the WRX - maybe the guy recently got their car and wanted to "test it".
The MS3 is kind of a sleeper type-of-car since it looks pretty much the same as normal mazda3 hatchback.
*shrugs* good job on declining - I would too w/such harsh laws

Yeah I was in an STI, and Im up to 400/400. Im a huge fan of the sleeper look, Im just a few weeks away from getting rid of the huge wing and chrome tail lights that the STI comes with. It will be a sleeper soon enough.

Paint over those STi logos and save yourself some insurance too

The guy across from me at work just bought a new Mazda3, not the speed, hasn't had a ticket in 25 years, in the last 3 months of owning it he got 2. Apparently the cops have a hateon for the body style, and his is just the silver model, not even the "ticket me" red.

Which is fine until you crash your car, or get hit. They will only cover him for a WRX's value, not an STi's.

EDIT: I know someone who had a supercharged C6 Vette, but did not tell about the insurance about his SC to save money on insurance. Well, he ended up crashing the car and losing all the money he put into mods.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Sounds like he was lucky to get a pay out. Over here any undeclared mods mean that the insurance company can back out of the contract...

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: Xyclone

Originally posted by: lurk3r

Originally posted by: RGUN

Originally posted by: Funyuns101
Aren't you driving an STi or something? the MS3 is a good competitor to the WRX - maybe the guy recently got their car and wanted to "test it".
The MS3 is kind of a sleeper type-of-car since it looks pretty much the same as normal mazda3 hatchback.
*shrugs* good job on declining - I would too w/such harsh laws

Yeah I was in an STI, and Im up to 400/400. Im a huge fan of the sleeper look, Im just a few weeks away from getting rid of the huge wing and chrome tail lights that the STI comes with. It will be a sleeper soon enough.

Paint over those STi logos and save yourself some insurance too

The guy across from me at work just bought a new Mazda3, not the speed, hasn't had a ticket in 25 years, in the last 3 months of owning it he got 2. Apparently the cops have a hateon for the body style, and his is just the silver model, not even the "ticket me" red.

Which is fine until you crash your car, or get hit. They will only cover him for a WRX's value, not an STi's.

EDIT: I know someone who had a supercharged C6 Vette, but did not tell about the insurance about his SC to save money on insurance. Well, he ended up crashing the car and losing all the money he put into mods.

I know in TX at least, they go by the VIN# to determine your rate, which means you can't really disguise a high-performance vehicle as a regular one, unless you do what your buddy did, and mod it up beyond stock.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: shabby

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: Tarrant64
That's a pretty harsh law. I would have lost my car a couple years ago if that were the case here in Nebraska.

The mazdaspeed 3 is pretty quick. I'm in an accord v6 and it doesn't tag along too far behind.

His post is a little deceiving. The speed limit on 401 is 100kmph, they suspend your license on the spot and hold your car for a week+ fines if you decide to go 50kmph over speed limit.

150kmph you are clearly endangering a lot of people.

regular street is 50kmph, 100kmph on a normal street is also clearly nuts.

My only gripe with this law is that they call it the new street racing law, i don't know about you but going 50km over by yourself is called excessive speeding... not street racing. And they're not really catching any riced out civic's street racing with this law, its ordinary joe's going faster than they should.

Safer Roads for a Safer Ontario Act is the official name. Street Racing law is what the media calls it.

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/about/bill203.htm

It's easier to catch speeder on highway than catching street racer in the act. Just a matter of reality.

 

[ayabe]

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: ayabe
Even when I was at *only* Stage 2 I've never really run into one that I had any problems with. They are strong in the mid range but don't have anything up top, similar to a stock WRX.

They're going to need to up the ante however as I'm fairly certain the *new* WRX will walk all over it even in stock trim.

It's the smaller turbos fault. Not big enough to keep the topend going. My car has the same problem with the stock turbo. I don't think the new WRX will murder it seeing as how much quicker it was. Of course 0-60 the wrx will always kill it but in freeway runs I could see it neck and neck.

Yeah, they're just too small to push enough air at high RPM's.

I kind of want to test drive one of the new WRX's, Subaru might have underestimated the power numbers again.

As for you other guys, you get a policy based on your VIN, your VIN tells them it's an STi, it's not a matter of debadging it, you're gonna get charged STi rates.

Now mod-wise unless you opt for the extra insurance, won't be covered.