Test drove a Mazdaspeed 3 today

[SilverBane]

And in all honesty, it felt...boring. This is of course my personal opinions...

The power came on too slowly and left quickly. It was faster then the Si, yes, but didnt feel faster. The steering response was mediocre at best, the clutch and shifter felt VERY notchy and the shifter was WAY to close to my leg. It was uncomfortable to shift the car.

Some may find it odd of me to say, but the car was too quiet. It just had the feel of the standard Mazda 3. When I told the salesmen this, he tried to brush it off by saying that all the extra cash was under the hood of the car, that it was not much different from the reg mazda 3 except for engine and suspension.

Was actually disappointed for a 33k CND car...

[Carlito's Way]

Can't say that i agree with your opinions. Before I bought my Si I test drove a MS3. It's an awesome car. Handling is excellent. Perfect balance between comfort and sporty. I do agree with you, the shifter felt horrible. But my best friend bought one last week and the shifter on his feels a million times better. It takes awhile to get use to the clutch. It engages very high and it's very grabby. Hard to find the sweet spot.

It does take a bit for the power to come on but when it does that thing pulls. However as you said by 5000rpm the engine is out of breath. The reason why I didn't buy it is because I thought the car was too loud. After a 15 minute test drive I walked away with a huge headache. I think the exhaust is too loud. But that's just me.

[I Vtec, do you?]

Originally Posted by SilverBane

And in all honesty, it felt...boring. This is of course my personal opinions...

The power came on too slowly and left quickly. It was faster then the Si, yes, but didnt feel faster. The steering response was mediocre at best, the clutch and shifter felt VERY notchy and the shifter was WAY to close to my leg. It was uncomfortable to shift the car.

Some may find it odd of me to say, but the car was too quiet. It just had the feel of the standard Mazda 3. When I told the salesmen this, he tried to brush it off by saying that all the extra cash was under the hood of the car, that it was not much different from the reg mazda 3 except for engine and suspension.

Was actually disappointed for a 33k CND car...

I agree on nearly everything you said. There was no roar to the engine. It feels boring. This is after months and months of praising the car, wishing the SI could be more like it. The only part I disagree with you on is that you think it doesn't feel faster. It's very torquey and feels a lot more powerful imo. Just a very boring kind of power. Like driving an accord or something

[nerdrum]

100% agreement on the shifter. Rubber dildo in a bowl of jello is a pretty accurate way of describing it. As for power, it's linear as hell and definitely not peaky. I felt the car was pretty much perfect in every aspect except looking like a lesbian moving van.

[SoCal07Si]

I almost drove 1 the other day, but was afraid I'd buy it. So i left.

[SiGuY22]

MY girlfriends car, she loves it............so do I, its very fun to drive

[RealDeal]

Originally Posted by nerdrum

Rubber dildo in a bowl of jello is a pretty accurate way of describing it.

I almost fell out of my chair laughing!

[rmfa]

Originally Posted by nerdrum

except looking like a lesbian moving van.

Comment of the day!

[tcd2004]

Originally Posted by nerdrum

100% agreement on the shifter. Rubber dildo in a bowl of jello is a pretty accurate way of describing it. As for power, it's linear as hell and definitely not peaky. I felt the car was pretty much perfect in every aspect except looking like a lesbian moving van.

[waldo08]

100% agreement on the shifter. Rubber dildo in a bowl of jello is a pretty accurate way of describing it.

Dang that describes it all for you lol... Yea your girlfriend really enjoys driving this car...

[I Vtec, do you?]

Originally Posted by nerdrum

100% agreement on the shifter. Rubber dildo in a bowl of jello is a pretty accurate way of describing it. As for power, it's linear as hell and definitely not peaky. I felt the car was pretty much perfect in every aspect except looking like a lesbian moving van.

No wonder that guy's gf loves driving the car so much


Seriously though, the power is not linear on that thing, it's as peaky as it can get. It peaks right away and then drops off to nothing. Hell, it's got over twice the torque the SI does, but I'm pretty sure the SI makes more torque than it does at some point in the RPM range

[trickyazn]

you have to shift the car at 6k rpm since it makes peak power there.. it drops off early but wait till that car is able to get tuned.. then itll be a monster.

[I Vtec, do you?]

At 6k the motor is already dying. Idealy I think you'd shift at around at around 4.5-5.5k, which sucks imo. I hate the power band in that car.

[SoCal07Si]

at the last dyno day a guy had a red one with MS CAI and put down 252.9. Thats the same day people were saying it was dyno'ing low.

[I Vtec, do you?]

^^ I don't beleive those dynos. They must have the hood open with a fan sitting directly on top of the IC to get that.

Every car mag gets like 215whp or so, every person who does it themself gets like 240+. I beleive the mags, personally.

[SoCal07Si]

no, the fan was on the floor. Stock Si baselined at 178 whp, so it seemed pretty on to me.

[MIKKOO]

a turbo will make any motor die out. factory or not. the sad thing is a factory car that comes with a turbo is an iffy car to mod cause what if your motor dies and you have mods the dealer can clearly void your warranty. even if you know it was your turbos fault.

[I Vtec, do you?]

^^ New cobalt SS has the full torque at 2k RPMs and apparently pulls strong all the way till redline

[cas909]

my car pulls STRONG all the way through redline!!.....
oh yeah so does my evo!!

[rmfa]

Originally Posted by cas909

my car pulls STRONG all the way through redline!!.....
oh yeah so does my evo!!

What is your point?? You want a cookie?