I test drove a mazdaspeed 3 after being lured by the practicality of a hatchback, 4 doors, and lets face it 263 horses and 280 torque. I knew that it would come down to torque steer for me! I did like many aspects of the car, especially the 4 door and the base model speed 3 and the "grand touring" are essentially the same car minus bluetooth and the bose.

Overall reactions: Torque steer is downright scary! Rather than focusing on shifting, the road, another driver, or getting used to a new clutch...you now have to worry about the car jerking to the left. This is not a subtle jerk, the car wants to steer you into the guardrail next to you if you're not carful.
Torque steer is bad enough that I've read that Mazda engineers electronically limit the horsepower in gears 1-3 on the new 2010+ mazdaspeed 3's to help combat the aggressive torque steer.

OVerall feelings: RWD is so much easier to enjoy and drive hard. THough I'm sure i would get used to the new way of driving. For 24K, BRAND NEW, OUT THE DOORS...the car packs a great punch!

PROS: Car is a great package, speed, functionality, 4 doors, plenty of cargo room, looks good and the paint seems to be great quality and has great depth/shine. 6 speed, limited slip (front diff.) and great seats that hold better than our g35 seats are a plus.

CONS: Steering takes a bit to get used to. TO be honest, the cons are pretty slim. However, after driving an upgraded g35 coupe, it feels so good to floor it and have the car growl and react how you expect! The mazdaspeed 3 felt more like a prius to me than a nissan sports car!

 

Props for the right-up, but I can safely say there is NO way I'd ever consider a Mazda speed 3. It has nothing to do with me being an elitist or snobbish either, I just don't like the way the things look, and even more important (to me). I NEED a trunk. There are very VERY few hatchbacks I would ever consider purchasing.

It was cool to hear your thoughts though... are you looking to sell your G or were you just testing what was new out there?

 

an 03 g35 coupe with no warranty for me just feels like weekends spend fixing problems I've already had: window motor, door lock actuators, radios etc.

The mazda has a crazy amount of room inside too. RWD is so damn fun though, and predictable. To be honest, know that feeling when you go around a long sweeping 180 degree freeway on-ramp and you give the car gas until you feel you're on the edge of losing it. I dont think the mazdaspeed 3 would give me the confidence to do that...ever. Not to mention, goodbye any option of drifting

 

I test drove a MSP3 before and man they are quick as hell haha. Its a great option if you need all that space and want something thats quick also.

 

Yeah there pretty quick

 

I considered one of these and I could of got a good deal because I used to sell Mazdas. They are practical and fast but... the G35 is so sleek and elegant. Someone traded in an 04 G35 Coupe and I drove the **** out of it and loved it... and here we are.

 

the bumper alone is enough for me not to want one lol

 

lol saywat i totally agree. Looks like a power ranger mixed with a bug or something. I guess I see it from a practical standpoint, but I could never by choice step out of my G and into an MS3. And I couldn't go from a car as mean and yet elegant as ours to a little hatchback. that's just me though. I've fallen too in love with everything about the G. To me the MS3 looks like a toy version of an STI hatch.

 

I was a semi-fan of the MS3 being a former RX-8 owner, but a friend of mine just picked up an '09 4 door GTI and I would strongly suggest you look at that if you are considering the MS3. It's not quite as fast as the MS3 (stock), but it's in the same category, and it's much nicer all around IMO.

 

Yup. I totally agree. The bumper is pretty ugly . That's just the front only. From a quick look, the car has nothing to be considered as a sport car or anything close to that. I cant think of any reason why Mazda decides to put such a high hp/tq into that piece of crap body. If I ever trade or get a new car, that Speed3 will never be in my list. Huyndai Genesis is ugly enough for me not to get one, and now MazdaSpeed 3 is uglier.

 

I can understand why Mazda makes a MazdaSpeed version of the 3. The 3 is one of the most popular in their line up and they have made plenty of MazdaSpeed versions of different models. I would imagine this would be the most affordable.

 

I had some jerkoff in one of these get on my azz and then whoosh around me just to cut in front of me. All that was not really necessary.

 

im surprised mazda never mazdaspeed8 the rx 8 yet. but instead boosts the 6 and 3. wats the logic behind that ?

 

Looks like the car is smiling

 

Fwd = fail