**UPDATED 9/21** Edmunds Full Test: 2007 Mazdaspeed 3

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Tom

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
13,293
1
76
I like the Mazda, but why the heck does this get about the same epa gas mileage as a V8 Impala SS ?





 

Imported

Lifer
Sep 2, 2000
14,679
23
81
Still FWD with that those numbers? I know they did stuff to reduce torque but holy sh!t still..
 

NFS4

No Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
72,636
48
91
Originally posted by: Skold
So, I should cancel my deposit on a Civic Si and get this?

Better Looking
Better Interior
WAY faster
More Utility

Yeah, I'd cancel it :D
 

NFS4

No Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
72,636
48
91
Originally posted by: Skold
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: Skold
So, I should cancel my deposit on a Civic Si and get this?

Better Looking
Better Interior
WAY faster
More Utility

Yeah, I'd cancel it :D


Tempting...but it's a FORD!

And the Si is gutless until VTEC POWAH kicks in :D

And actually, the Mazda3 was designed, engineered and is built in Japan. And Mazda engineered the chassis that underpins the Mazda3, MKII Focus and Volvo S40. Ford handled the suspension. The engine, tranny and just about everything else is Mazda.

At least get your facts straight if you're gonna talk sh!t :D
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,407
8,595
126
Originally posted by: homercles337You couldnt buy a GTi sedan if you wanted to. Well, they may make them in Brazil...wait, nope they dont.

the jetta is the sedan version. same car, different body style. the version with the go fast goodies is called the GLI.




VW's website claims the jetta is mid-sized. wtf?
 

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
29,470
1
81
Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: homercles337You couldnt buy a GTi sedan if you wanted to. Well, they may make them in Brazil...wait, nope they dont.

the jetta is the sedan version. same car, different body style. the version with the go fast goodies is called the GLI.




VW's website claims the jetta is mid-sized. wtf?

Was never originally intended to be mid-sized...but things get fat...
 

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
29,470
1
81
Originally posted by: Skold
So, I should cancel my deposit on a Civic Si and get this?

I think they're still different enough cars that a straight comparison of HP wouldn't be enough to decide...for me at least.

A 5-door with a sexy, torquey engine vs. a lighter, better-handling (at least according to the article) coupe with a less-powerful screamer of an engine...

Yeah, I'd definitely have to drive each before making the call.
 
Jan 3, 2006
119
0
0
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: Skold
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: Skold
So, I should cancel my deposit on a Civic Si and get this?

Better Looking
Better Interior
WAY faster
More Utility

Yeah, I'd cancel it :D


Tempting...but it's a FORD!

And the Si is gutless until VTEC POWAH kicks in :D

And actually, the Mazda3 was designed, engineered and is built in Japan. And Mazda engineered the chassis that underpins the Mazda3, MKII Focus and Volvo S40. Ford handled the suspension. The engine, tranny and just about everything else is Mazda.

At least get your facts straight if you're gonna talk sh!t :D

Hey, I wanted to bump the thread...what better way than with flame bait! :p

 

BD2003

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
16,815
1
81
Seems like a great ride in every way, but honestly, that spoiler is so ugly, so offensive, that I don't think I could even bare the thought of even renting it unless you could delete it.

And as far as comparisons to the civic si, there are none. I drive a 2000 celica GT-S, much older, but essentially the same car in terms of performance. You see the HP number, and think thats all there is to it, but it's not nearly that simple. Just as someone else said, you essentially have a standard civic until vtec kicks in, near the top of your rev limiter. The celica has lift, same idea, and it kicks in at 6000 rpm.

For those of you who have never driven such a low torque, high revving, vtec type beast, you simply do not casually stay at such high rpm. The si kicks in at 4500, mine kicks in at 6000, both have a rev limiter at 8k. The car is SO loud, and SO jumpy. You better know your gearing damn well to not over-rev.

The upside is that you get very good fuel economy at lower rpms. The downside, is you have to constantly shift to get every last bit of juice out. With the mazda, with that amount of torque at 3000 rpm, its always on tap, every time, without shifting.

Given the choice, I'd take the torquier mazda. Neither one is a bad buy, but if you're really a lead foot, there is no replacement for torque at any rpm.

But that spoiler. Seriously...does ANYONE think that looks good?
 

BD2003

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
16,815
1
81
Oh yeah, and hatches/wagons rule. You'd be surprised at the amazing amount of crap I can fit in mine tiny car. I can fit 4 full sized tires, a spare under the carpet, a bike, and still have room to spare for bags. You couldn't even fit the tires in a trunk.
 

NFS4

No Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
72,636
48
91
Originally posted by: BD2003
But that spoiler. Seriously...does ANYONE think that looks good?

It's not THAT much more offensive than the standard 3s Hatch spoiler.
 

BD2003

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
16,815
1
81
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: BD2003
But that spoiler. Seriously...does ANYONE think that looks good?

It's not THAT much more offensive than the standard 3s Hatch spoiler.

But it is still offensive? :p

Spoilers just don't belong on wagons like that. It doesn't give the impression of speed or sleekness, but the impression of "I'm a ricer, and I need a wing, no matter how it looks!" It's as if superman's cape was just a really, really long doo rag starting from his head. I saw a beetle with a high mounted spoiler just like that the other day. Almost vomited.

Part of the fun of driving this car would be the sleeper factor.

There was a mazda 6 the other day, that was itching so bad for a race as I pulled up to the light. I figured it would be a pretty even match. I got smoked so bad - then saw the mazdaspeed badge on the back. You just can't do that kind of thing to people like me if you have a wing that screams boy ricer from a mile away.
 

NFS4

No Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
72,636
48
91
Originally posted by: BD2003
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: BD2003
But that spoiler. Seriously...does ANYONE think that looks good?

It's not THAT much more offensive than the standard 3s Hatch spoiler.

But it is still offensive? :p

Spoilers just don't belong on wagons like that. It doesn't give the impression of speed or sleekness, but the impression of "I'm a ricer, and I need a wing, no matter how it looks!" It's as if superman's cape was just a really, really long doo rag starting from his head. I saw a beetle with a high mounted spoiler just like that the other day. Almost vomited.

Part of the fun of driving this car would be the sleeper factor.

There was a mazda 6 the other day, that was itching so bad for a race as I pulled up to the light. I figured it would be a pretty even match. I got smoked so bad - then saw the mazdaspeed badge on the back. You just can't do that kind of thing to people like me if you have a wing that screams boy ricer from a mile away.

Uhh, the point of the wing is to improve aerodynamics over the rear hatch. The hatch design is inherently less aerodynanmic than the sedan, hence the spoiler to "clean up" the air.

Also, the spoiler helps to keep the rear glass area a bit cleaner. That's why you see integrated spoilers on minivans.

As for the MS3's spoiler, it's probably extended for better rear downforce (yes, even in a FWD vehicle).
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,407
8,595
126
Originally posted by: b0mbrman
Originally posted by: ElFenix
VW's website claims the jetta is mid-sized. wtf?

Was never originally intended to be mid-sized...but things get fat...

it can't be THAT much bigger than the previous model, can it?
 

DCFife

Senior member
May 24, 2001
679
0
0
As a mature 35 year-old who shakes his head at "rice" every time he sees it, I'd like to say that I don't think the MS3's spoiler is rice at all. I think it's actually a rather subtle difference from the standard 3's spoiler - just enough for the acute eye to say "hmmmmm...an MS3 (or a wannabe)".

Meanwhile, while everybody is discussing the difference between spoilers, why it doesn't have AWD, and what a hatchback is or a wagon is, I'm going to go test drive one. My wife gave me permission to buy one and I intend on doing so. Have a nice day!
 

BD2003

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
16,815
1
81
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: BD2003
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: BD2003
But that spoiler. Seriously...does ANYONE think that looks good?

It's not THAT much more offensive than the standard 3s Hatch spoiler.

But it is still offensive? :p

Spoilers just don't belong on wagons like that. It doesn't give the impression of speed or sleekness, but the impression of "I'm a ricer, and I need a wing, no matter how it looks!" It's as if superman's cape was just a really, really long doo rag starting from his head. I saw a beetle with a high mounted spoiler just like that the other day. Almost vomited.

Part of the fun of driving this car would be the sleeper factor.

There was a mazda 6 the other day, that was itching so bad for a race as I pulled up to the light. I figured it would be a pretty even match. I got smoked so bad - then saw the mazdaspeed badge on the back. You just can't do that kind of thing to people like me if you have a wing that screams boy ricer from a mile away.

Uhh, the point of the wing is to improve aerodynamics over the rear hatch. The hatch design is inherently less aerodynanmic than the sedan, hence the spoiler to "clean up" the air.

Also, the spoiler helps to keep the rear glass area a bit cleaner. That's why you see integrated spoilers on minivans.

As for the MS3's spoiler, it's probably extended for better rear downforce (yes, even in a FWD vehicle).

I'm well aware of the point of the spoiler, and just as well aware that it's not going to do much of anything at speeds <80-90 mph. Which is certainly a fun speed to be at, but not the kind of speed you should be making any sort of hard turns that would actually give the spoiler something to do. Unless youre on a track, but realisitically, there aren't going to be any mazda 3's at a racetrack. Autocross certainly isnt going to hit 80mph.

I could see one of the raised deck spoilers looking alright. But the reach for the sky curved wing just looks wrong to me.

As far as minivans having a wing, I've never seen one, or at least not offensive enough to disgust me so....show me an example.
 

Tremulant

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2004
4,890
1
0
Originally posted by: DCFife
As a mature 35 year-old who shakes his head at "rice" every time he sees it, I'd like to say that I don't think the MS3's spoiler is rice at all. I think it's actually a rather subtle difference from the standard 3's spoiler - just enough for the acute eye to say "hmmmmm...an MS3 (or a wannabe)".

Meanwhile, while everybody is discussing the difference between spoilers, why it doesn't have AWD, and what a hatchback is or a wagon is, I'm going to go test drive one. My wife gave me permission to buy one and I intend on doing so. Have a nice day!

Grats.

Tell us how it is, please. :D

I am very seriously considering one in about a year and a half (and being able to get the S-Plan discount sweetens the deal).
 

Tremulant

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2004
4,890
1
0
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: BD2003
But that spoiler. Seriously...does ANYONE think that looks good?

It's not THAT much more offensive than the standard 3s Hatch spoiler.

I think the angles in the pictures provided make the MS3 spoiler look larger than it is.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,407
8,595
126
Originally posted by: Tom
I like the Mazda, but why the heck does this get about the same epa gas mileage as a V8 Impala SS ?

the impala shuts off half its cylinders when cruising on the highway. at that point it becomes a 2.7 liter 4 cylinder. it still doesn't get as good mileage as the 3.5 liter base V6 (31 highway). which just goes to show you what aerodynamics and gearing can do for a car.
 

BD2003

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
16,815
1
81

Those look perfectly fine to me. It looks integrated, and sleek.

Something about the MS3's looks SO out of place. Maybe it'll grow on me. To me, it looks like a ricer bought some aftermarket spoiler and literally bolted it on. I love everything else about the car, but it just seems like some marketing suit insisted it have a imposing spoiler.