My 2008 Mazdaspeed3 Review

[Kroze]

I went to the dealer to test drive the mazdaspeed 3 the other day and all I can say is wow. The car have massive amount of torque It feels so much faster than the 2008 Accord v6 6speed I drove a few days prior.

That's pretty much the only positive thing I can say about the car

- With only 16 miles on the odometer, the car have idle surges (rpm keep rising & dipping slightly between 650-700 rpm) I'm like ugh...

- The noise level inside the car is very loud even with the windows up. I think taking this car on long road trip is going to be very tiresome due to the extremely loud/ricer-like exhaust.

- Even though the interior looks very nice & high quality, once you touch it you'll realized it's very cheap & flimsy. The radio, climate control, shifter, door panel, steering wheel control, & etc was terrible, I was very surprised because everything looked like high quality...

- The keyless entry system is such a joke...the damn thing only have 2 buttons (Lock & Unlock) and looks like something fisherprice made for a 6 year old. . No trunk/alarm/panic... Did I mention it's separated from the key itself instead of one built-in key/keyless entry unit?

It sure as hell ruined my day because I hear nothing but good things about the mazdaspeed 3. I came in the dealership expecting to drive home with it but left because the car feels like an entry level saturn ion/ford focus on steroid thanks to the turbocharger.

 

[Arkaign]

^^ That pretty much sums it up. The latest Cobalt SS beats it for less $$, but still serves up the same riced-out recipe for the most part.

High-power FWD = sort of bleh. FWD is nice on economy cars or cars that aren't really meant for high performance, but it's borderline silly with some of the performance versions.

 

[evident]

Originally posted by: Kroze
I went to the dealer to test drive the mazdaspeed 3 the other day and all I can say is wow. The car have massive amount of torque It feels so much faster than the 2008 Accord v6 6speed I drove a few days prior.

That's pretty much the only positive thing I can say about the car

- With only 16 miles on the odometer, the car have idle surges (rpm keep rising & dipping slightly between 650-700 rpm) I'm like ugh...

- The noise level inside the car is very loud even with the windows up. I think taking this car on long road trip is going to be very tiresome due to the extremely loud/ricer-like exhaust.

- Even though the interior looks very nice & high quality, once you touch it you'll realized it's very cheap & flimsy. The radio, climate control, shifter, door panel, steering wheel control, & etc was terrible, I was very surprised because everything looked like high quality...

- The keyless entry system is such a joke...the damn thing only have 2 buttons (Lock & Unlock) and looks like something fisherprice made for a 6 year old. . No trunk/alarm/panic... Did I mention it's separated from the key itself instead of one built-in key/keyless entry unit?

It sure as hell ruined my day because I hear nothing but good things about the mazdaspeed 3. I came in the dealership expecting to drive home with it but left because the car feels like an entry level saturn ion/ford focus on steroid thanks to the turbocharger.

thats what i thought about the regular mazda 3 when i drove it when i was looking for new cars last year. interior was cheap balls compared to the accord ex-l coupe i drove. and the 6 was even worse. i was afraid to report my findings here because i would get bashed by all the 3 fanboys.

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: evident

Originally posted by: Kroze
I went to the dealer to test drive the mazdaspeed 3 the other day and all I can say is wow. The car have massive amount of torque It feels so much faster than the 2008 Accord v6 6speed I drove a few days prior.

That's pretty much the only positive thing I can say about the car

- With only 16 miles on the odometer, the car have idle surges (rpm keep rising & dipping slightly between 650-700 rpm) I'm like ugh...

- The noise level inside the car is very loud even with the windows up. I think taking this car on long road trip is going to be very tiresome due to the extremely loud/ricer-like exhaust.

- Even though the interior looks very nice & high quality, once you touch it you'll realized it's very cheap & flimsy. The radio, climate control, shifter, door panel, steering wheel control, & etc was terrible, I was very surprised because everything looked like high quality...

- The keyless entry system is such a joke...the damn thing only have 2 buttons (Lock & Unlock) and looks like something fisherprice made for a 6 year old. . No trunk/alarm/panic... Did I mention it's separated from the key itself instead of one built-in key/keyless entry unit?

It sure as hell ruined my day because I hear nothing but good things about the mazdaspeed 3. I came in the dealership expecting to drive home with it but left because the car feels like an entry level saturn ion/ford focus on steroid thanks to the turbocharger.

thats what i thought about the regular mazda 3 when i drove it when i was looking for new cars last year. interior was cheap balls compared to the accord ex-l coupe i drove. and the 6 was even worse. i was afraid to report my findings here because i would get bashed by all the 3 fanboys.

Well, the regular Mazda3 is a pretty decent buy. Not as many cheesy boy-racer touches as the Speed3. The previous Mazda6 was pretty lame. The new one is a really nice product though! Seriously.

 

[Kroze]

I don't have any problem with it being FWD with a lot of horsepower/torque, The Accord V6 6-speed (268hp, 249lbs torque) I drove is very fun to drive also. Traction control sure helps a lot though for both mazdaspeed & accord.

It's just that the cost cutting is so evident with the mazdaspeed3 that it's a huge turnoff because everything in the car screams cheap.

I forgot to mention, the door itself is very light/no insulation/sound barrier. It's so light that when I open or close the door, I can feel tight they've tighten the hinges...not sure if you know what I mean. lol.

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: Kroze
I don't have any problem with it being FWD with a lot of horsepower/torque, The Accord V6 6-speed (268hp, 249lbs torque) I drove is very fun to drive also. Traction control sure helps a lot though for both mazdaspeed & accord.

It's just that the cost cutting is so evident with the mazdaspeed3 that it's a huge turnoff because everything in the car screams cheap.

I forgot to mention, the door itself is very light/no insulation/sound barrier. It's so light that when I open or close the door, I can feel tight they've tighten the hinges...not sure if you know what I mean. lol.

If you really get into it, having the ability to use power for oversteer in curves is about a million times more fun/effective than what happens when you apply power with a high-HP FWD car on a curve. You know, that fun thing called instant understeer.

Go play in a G35 Coupe 6MT, or perhaps a Mustang GT, and take it on some hard curves while goosing the throttle. Totally different feel.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Originally posted by: Kroze
I don't have any problem with it being FWD with a lot of horsepower/torque, The Accord V6 6-speed (268hp, 249lbs torque) I drove is very fun to drive also. Traction control sure helps a lot though for both mazdaspeed & accord.

It's just that the cost cutting is so evident with the mazdaspeed3 that it's a huge turnoff because everything in the car screams cheap.

I forgot to mention, the door itself is very light/no insulation/sound barrier. It's so light that when I open or close the door, I can feel tight they've tighten the hinges...not sure if you know what I mean. lol.

If you really get into it, having the ability to use power for oversteer in curves is about a million times more fun/effective than what happens when you apply power with a high-HP FWD car on a curve. You know, that fun thing called instant understeer.

Go play in any decent RWD car, and take it on some hard curves while goosing the throttle. Totally different feel.

Fixed. See sig.

 

[Arkaign]

^^ Ah, cool I like those!

 

[zerocool84]

You do realized the MS3 is cheap speed. Emphasize CHEAP. It's not meant to be refined or quiet or anything like that. It's meant to be fast and affordable. You have to cut corners. This sounds just like the guy that compared a Mustang GT to a G35. You cannot compare an Accord to a car like that. My car is loud, unrefined, and raw. No traction control or any computers telling me how to drive. All I have to help is a LSD and some adjustable suspension which I have set fairly stiff all the time. I love my cars to be raw. Obviously you want a car to be comfortable which is why there are so many different types of cars being made. You don't look for comfort in a cheap car that is highly modified. You pay extra for that.

 

[sindows]

Its not that powerful, a similarly priced V6 Camry can keep up with it no problem....trust me I know having surprised a MS3 driver when I took one out for a drive. However regarding your comment about the car feeling cheap. Keep in mind that price was the real consideration when they built the car, not speed. The same goes for the WRX and Evolution. It doesn't matter how fast you make, at heart they are just economy cars on steroids.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: sindows
Its not that powerful, a similarly priced V6 Camry can keep up with it no problem....trust me I know having surprised a MS3 driver when I took one out for a drive. However regarding your comment about the car feeling cheap. Keep in mind that price was the real consideration when they built the car, not speed. The same goes for the WRX and Evolution. It doesn't matter how fast you make, at heart they are just economy cars on steroids.

Must have been a crappy driver.

 

[Xyclone]

This, and the fact that it is a gas guzzler, as far as its class goes, made me chose the Mini Cooper S over this. The styling is a lot more tasteful and it has a quirky sense of character. The MS3 was a bit too ricy (not nearly as much as the SS). The interior quality in the SS was a joke, it made the MS3's interior feel like a BMW compared to it.

EDIT: Btw, a V6 Camry cannot keep up with the MS3, not in a straight line, and let's not get into cornering. My dad has a 2007 V6 Camry LE, and it does 0-60 in 6.5s, while the MS3 does 60 in 5.4s, according to C&D. The Camry's handling is surprisingly adequate for its power output, if not more than adequate, but it does not compare to a MS3 or other pocket rockets (ex: Mini Cooper S).

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: Xyclone
This, and the fact that it is a gas guzzler, as far as its class goes, made me chose the Mini Cooper S over this. The styling is a lot more tasteful and it has a quirky sense of character. The MS3 was a bit too ricy (not nearly as much as the SS). The interior quality in the SS was a joke, it made the MS3's interior feel like a BMW compared to it.

EDIT: Btw, a V6 Camry cannot keep up with the MS3, not in a straight line, and let's not get into cornering. My dad has a 2007 V6 Camry LE, and it does 0-60 in 6.5s, while the MS3 does 60 in 5.4s, according to C&D. The Camry's handling is surprisingly adequate for its power output, if not more than adequate, but it does not compare to a MS3 or other pocket rockets (ex: Mini Cooper S).

Well I guess you could consider 20mpg a gas guzzler. That's the combined mpg on the Speed3 from Fueleconomy.gov which is 9mpg less than your manual CooperS.

 

[Hyperlite]

Cobalt SS FTW.

 

[Hyperlite]

Originally posted by: sindows
Its not that powerful, a similarly priced V6 Camry can keep up with it no problem....trust me I know having surprised a MS3 driver when I took one out for a drive. However regarding your comment about the car feeling cheap. Keep in mind that price was the real consideration when they built the car, not speed. The same goes for the WRX and Evolution. It doesn't matter how fast you make, at heart they are just economy cars on steroids.

i'm sorry, what?

That driver must have sucked, because an MS3 will run circles around an Accord. And the WRX and the Evo are NOT economy cars on steroids. The lancer and the impreza are economy cars, but the technologies in the (apples to apples) STI and the EVO are trickle downs from rally implementations, not evolutions of an economy car. Now the Cobalt SS IS and economy car on steroids, but executed very, very nicely. (i'm talking about the 2009 car, which is vastly different than the previous generation SS's)

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: Hyperlite

Originally posted by: sindows
Its not that powerful, a similarly priced V6 Camry can keep up with it no problem....trust me I know having surprised a MS3 driver when I took one out for a drive. However regarding your comment about the car feeling cheap. Keep in mind that price was the real consideration when they built the car, not speed. The same goes for the WRX and Evolution. It doesn't matter how fast you make, at heart they are just economy cars on steroids.

i'm sorry, what?

That driver must have sucked, because an MS3 will run circles around an Accord. And the WRX and the Evo are NOT economy cars on steroids. The lancer and the impreza are economy cars, but the technologies in the (apples to apples) STI and the EVO are trickle downs from rally implementations, not evolutions of an economy car. Now the Cobalt SS IS and economy car on steroids, but executed very, very nicely. (i'm talking about the 2009 car, which is vastly different than the previous generation SS's)

Sorry to say but all have economy car roots and they do show. Yes the STI and EVO try very hard to get away from them but get inside one and you can tell where the come from. Also the '09 Cobalt SS is the same car with a turbo/brakes/suspension differences but it is totally different from the supercharged version but still the same car.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: Hyperlite

Originally posted by: sindows
Its not that powerful, a similarly priced V6 Camry can keep up with it no problem....trust me I know having surprised a MS3 driver when I took one out for a drive. However regarding your comment about the car feeling cheap. Keep in mind that price was the real consideration when they built the car, not speed. The same goes for the WRX and Evolution. It doesn't matter how fast you make, at heart they are just economy cars on steroids.

i'm sorry, what?

That driver must have sucked, because an MS3 will run circles around an Accord. And the WRX and the Evo are NOT economy cars on steroids. The lancer and the impreza are economy cars, but the technologies in the (apples to apples) STI and the EVO are trickle downs from rally implementations, not evolutions of an economy car. Now the Cobalt SS IS and economy car on steroids, but executed very, very nicely. (i'm talking about the 2009 car, which is vastly different than the previous generation SS's)

Sorry to say but all have economy car roots and they do show. Yes the STI and EVO try very hard to get away from them but get inside one and you can tell where the come from. Also the '09 Cobalt SS is the same car with a turbo/brakes/suspension differences but it is totally different from the supercharged version but still the same car.

Yeah, somehow this doesn't scream 'economy car' to me. Are you sure you're okay?

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: JLee

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: Hyperlite

Originally posted by: sindows
Its not that powerful, a similarly priced V6 Camry can keep up with it no problem....trust me I know having surprised a MS3 driver when I took one out for a drive. However regarding your comment about the car feeling cheap. Keep in mind that price was the real consideration when they built the car, not speed. The same goes for the WRX and Evolution. It doesn't matter how fast you make, at heart they are just economy cars on steroids.

i'm sorry, what?

That driver must have sucked, because an MS3 will run circles around an Accord. And the WRX and the Evo are NOT economy cars on steroids. The lancer and the impreza are economy cars, but the technologies in the (apples to apples) STI and the EVO are trickle downs from rally implementations, not evolutions of an economy car. Now the Cobalt SS IS and economy car on steroids, but executed very, very nicely. (i'm talking about the 2009 car, which is vastly different than the previous generation SS's)

Sorry to say but all have economy car roots and they do show. Yes the STI and EVO try very hard to get away from them but get inside one and you can tell where the come from. Also the '09 Cobalt SS is the same car with a turbo/brakes/suspension differences but it is totally different from the supercharged version but still the same car.

Yeah, somehow this doesn't scream 'economy car' to me. Are you sure you're okay?

Comparing a HIGHLY modified rally car to a modified STREET car makes me seem you're not ok.

 

[evident]

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Well, the regular Mazda3 is a pretty decent buy. Not as many cheesy boy-racer touches as the Speed3. The previous Mazda6 was pretty lame. The new one is a really nice product though! Seriously.

I always thought the styling of the old 6 was nice, even though the interior was crap. the new one does look very nice though, i want to check it out in person.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: JLee

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: Hyperlite

Originally posted by: sindows
Its not that powerful, a similarly priced V6 Camry can keep up with it no problem....trust me I know having surprised a MS3 driver when I took one out for a drive. However regarding your comment about the car feeling cheap. Keep in mind that price was the real consideration when they built the car, not speed. The same goes for the WRX and Evolution. It doesn't matter how fast you make, at heart they are just economy cars on steroids.

i'm sorry, what?

That driver must have sucked, because an MS3 will run circles around an Accord. And the WRX and the Evo are NOT economy cars on steroids. The lancer and the impreza are economy cars, but the technologies in the (apples to apples) STI and the EVO are trickle downs from rally implementations, not evolutions of an economy car. Now the Cobalt SS IS and economy car on steroids, but executed very, very nicely. (i'm talking about the 2009 car, which is vastly different than the previous generation SS's)

Sorry to say but all have economy car roots and they do show. Yes the STI and EVO try very hard to get away from them but get inside one and you can tell where the come from. Also the '09 Cobalt SS is the same car with a turbo/brakes/suspension differences but it is totally different from the supercharged version but still the same car.

Yeah, somehow this doesn't scream 'economy car' to me. Are you sure you're okay?

Comparing a HIGHLY modified rally car to a modified STREET car makes me seem you're not ok.

IMHO, the STi is in an entirely different class than the Impreza.

Then again, my opinion of cars isn't necessarily based upon the fit and finish inside the passenger compartment, so I don't expect we'll agree on much anyway.

 

[Hyperlite]

zerocool, i like you. and your SRT. but what does this sentence mean?

Also the '09 Cobalt SS is the same car with a turbo/brakes/suspension differences but it is totally different from the supercharged version but still the same car.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: Hyperlite
zerocool, i like you. and your SRT. but what does this sentence mean?

Also the '09 Cobalt SS is the same car with a turbo/brakes/suspension differences but it is totally different from the supercharged version but still the same car.

Well cus it's basically the same car but they just changed some things from the supercharged version. It obviously performs like a totally different car though.

 

[vshah]

civic Si!

i have to rep it cause i have one, yes i know its slower than pretty much everything listed here but that doesn't stop it from being fun

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: vshah
civic Si!

i have to rep it cause i have one, yes i know its slower than pretty much everything listed here but that doesn't stop it from being fun

Hell my 70 bug when it was stock was fun to drive as well.

 

[vshah]

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: vshah
civic Si!

i have to rep it cause i have one, yes i know its slower than pretty much everything listed here but that doesn't stop it from being fun

Hell my 70 bug when it was stock was fun to drive as well.

for me, power != fun. not by a long shot. i was in seattle a couple months back, and i drove my cousin's infiniti g37s 6mt coupe. sure the thing pulled like hell (330hp) but the shifter just sucked so much ass it drained all the joy from driving it.