Finally drove an MS3

[JCH13]

I get 18-19 around town and 24 highway with my 08. Can probably get 25mpg with cruise control.

Have you checked your tire pressure lately?

I found my car's milage was pretty sensitive to tire pressure. I've also learned that spark plugs need changing every 30k miles or so, given how rich the tune is under boost.

 

[jonesthewine]

So you MS3 owners...what kind of real world, realistic milage do you get on the highway if you aren't driving like a madman? Say cruise set at 70 for an hour of driving? What kind of mileage would that return?

I get 29.5 to 32 MPG on the highway (60mph - 80mph) having moderate fun on the on- & off-ramps and uphill sprints...around town never less than 24.5 to 26 MPG...in a 2010 MS3. Great car...

 

[z1ggy]

OP also, you never told us what you really are after? Pure performance? MPG? etc etc.

Personally...I know around here you can grab a new MS3 for like 23.5k with the works. A WRX with the works is like 27k. Depending on where you live (do you get snow?) the AWD may or may not be worth it.

How is the audio on the MS3? I know the wrx its TERRIBLE and if/when I get one, the first thing I am doing is tossing in a mono amp and sub.

For some reason, I just can't see a FWD car throwing down 300+hp very controllably?

 

[Stryker124]

I would also recommend you at least test drive the 2013 Honda Civic SI. Easy on the flaming I am out of beer.

It's worth driving the Civic to compare. They are very different cars though, and for me the new Civic feels WAY to heavy. (I've owned 3 different older ones over the years and 1 Integra) Still its falls into about the same category, and is a good car to cross shop the MS3 with.

I'm getting 26MPG daily in the MS3, and on the highway at 70mph, it stays right around 30MPG.

 

[JCH13]

OP also, you never told us what you really are after? Pure performance? MPG? etc etc.

Personally...I know around here you can grab a new MS3 for like 23.5k with the works. A WRX with the works is like 27k. Depending on where you live (do you get snow?) the AWD may or may not be worth it.

How is the audio on the MS3? I know the wrx its TERRIBLE and if/when I get one, the first thing I am doing is tossing in a mono amp and sub.

For some reason, I just can't see a FWD car throwing down 300+hp very controllably?

I really like the Bose stereo option. I'm not a serious audiphile, but I can blast stuff as loud as I could ever want without the sound breaking up. Applause sounds like applause, not rain on a metal roof, which I guess is a good indication of clear audio.

MS3 has great traction control. Keep wide, sticky, tires on it, and it's no big deal to handle 300+whp even with T/C off. Easier for the average bear than a 300+hp RWD car at least

 

[z1ggy]

I really like the Bose stereo option. I'm not a serious audiphile, but I can blast stuff as loud as I could ever want without the sound breaking up. Applause sounds like applause, not rain on a metal roof, which I guess is a good indication of clear audio.

MS3 has great traction control. Keep wide, sticky, tires on it, and it's no big deal to handle 300+whp even with T/C off. Easier for the average bear than a 300+hp RWD car at least

Interesting. What is the widest you can go on the MS3? I know on the newer WRXs you can go up to 275 I believe, although I think you might get some tire rub in the wheel well, I'm not totally sure.

If I got an MS3, I would 100% want snow tires on in the winter. I feel like on a WRX you could prob get away with real good all seasons. So it seems like if that happened...Wouldn't your MS3 end up costing similar in price in the long run as the WRX (price of getting a good set of new tires, then having them mounted every winter)?

 

[JCH13]

Interesting. What is the widest you can go on the MS3? I know on the newer WRXs you can go up to 275 I believe, although I think you might get some tire rub in the wheel well, I'm not totally sure.

If I got an MS3, I would 100% want snow tires on in the winter. I feel like on a WRX you could prob get away with real good all seasons. So it seems like if that happened...Wouldn't your MS3 end up costing similar in price in the long run as the WRX (price of getting a good set of new tires, then having them mounted every winter)?

I'm not an expert on tire fitment widths. However, 245s are comfortably doable with a suspension drop and a light fender roll. 245 StarSpecs will about hold fully-bolted MS3 power levels, around 320-350whp depending.

My 225 RE050A tires hold lightly-modded power levels just fine on reasonably pavement, even holds 2nd gear in the rain pretty damn well. Stock Gen1 is 215 wide, stock Gen2 is 225 wide.

Regarding winter tires, you're buying into the AWD myth hook, line, and sinker. AWD will only help with acceleration, it will NOT help with braking or turning, the two important aspects of winter driving. I will only advocate dedicated summer/winter sets unless you live in a place that only sees a few days below freezing every year. With real winter tires I bet I would out-brake and out-turn anything with all-season tires in the cold/ice/snow. In the summer I'll do the same thing with my real summer tires, dry pavement or rain. I like having that performance on-tap. I've never been stuck in any NH winter, nor gone off the road, even with my rwd Crown Victoria.

As for the costs, I put together a complete winter set with wheels, TPMSs, and tires for about $500 from CL and Mazda forums. I down-sized to 16in winter wheels which has many advantages: a wider selection of much cheaper tires (3 tires/$200 ea for 18in, 9 tire/$100-140 ea for 16in), softer ride over frost heaves, and no snow build-up inside the wheels because the brake calipers sweep them clean. I also don't have to risk damaging my wheels and tires swapping everything back and forth twice a year at a cost of $80*2=$160. My winter setup has about paid for itself in tire changes in 3 years, and will nearly pay for itself again when I buy new tires. I'm also not one of the eleventy-zillion people lining up outside every tire shop the first day it snows.

My $0.02, wheel/tire setups are something that I've put a lot of thought into.

 

[jlee]

Another +1 for snow tires. JCH13 is actually running my Forester XT's take-offs. Definitely worth the money for snows...you can actually stop and turn and stuff.

Lots of people will say "Oh but I get along just fine with all seasons!" - and to a point, they do. Until they need to stop NOW. Then...have fun not stopping.

 

[z1ggy]

I'm not an expert on tire fitment widths. However, 245s are comfortably doable with a suspension drop and a light fender roll. 245 StarSpecs will about hold fully-bolted MS3 power levels, around 320-350whp depending.

My 225 RE050A tires hold lightly-modded power levels just fine on reasonably pavement, even holds 2nd gear in the rain pretty damn well. Stock Gen1 is 215 wide, stock Gen2 is 225 wide.

Regarding winter tires, you're buying into the AWD myth hook, line, and sinker. AWD will only help with acceleration, it will NOT help with braking or turning, the two important aspects of winter driving. I will only advocate dedicated summer/winter sets unless you live in a place that only sees a few days below freezing every year. With real winter tires I bet I would out-brake and out-turn anything with all-season tires in the cold/ice/snow. In the summer I'll do the same thing with my real summer tires, dry pavement or rain. I like having that performance on-tap. I've never been stuck in any NH winter, nor gone off the road, even with my rwd Crown Victoria.

As for the costs, I put together a complete winter set with wheels, TPMSs, and tires for about $500 from CL and Mazda forums. I down-sized to 16in winter wheels which has many advantages: a wider selection of much cheaper tires (3 tires/$200 ea for 18in, 9 tire/$100-140 ea for 16in), softer ride over frost heaves, and no snow build-up inside the wheels because the brake calipers sweep them clean. I also don't have to risk damaging my wheels and tires swapping everything back and forth twice a year at a cost of $80*2=$160. My winter setup has about paid for itself in tire changes in 3 years, and will nearly pay for itself again when I buy new tires. I'm also not one of the eleventy-zillion people lining up outside every tire shop the first day it snows.

My $0.02, wheel/tire setups are something that I've put a lot of thought into.

Very interesting post. When I do get a new car ( probably next year, and probably an MS3, ST or WRX) I will PM you about wheel/tire selection. I live relatively close (South east CT) so there is even a chance we could wrench together.


An aside-I read an article that did an indepth about awd vs fwd. Funny how the FWD with snows on it performced better than AWD w all seasons. However, AWD still did the best with snows on it vs fwd with snows on it, although, not by a huge margine. I guess the only legit reason for AWD like you said, is accelerating.

P.S. I love boxer engines, too. And I hear the new redesign of the WRX is getting the boxer that is in the BRZ ( with a turbo obviously).

 

[JCH13]

Very interesting post. When I do get a new car ( probably next year, and probably an MS3, ST or WRX) I will PM you about wheel/tire selection. I live relatively close (South east CT) so there is even a chance we could wrench together.


An aside-I read an article that did an indepth about awd vs fwd. Funny how the FWD with snows on it performced better than AWD w all seasons. However, AWD still did the best with snows on it vs fwd with snows on it, although, not by a huge margine. I guess the only legit reason for AWD like you said, is accelerating.

P.S. I love boxer engines, too. And I hear the new redesign of the WRX is getting the boxer that is in the BRZ ( with a turbo obviously).

:thumbsup: Sounds like a plan to me.

 

[imagoon]

Another +1 for snow tires. Blizzaks on my speed6 is fun as hell in the winter. I forget the car even has ABS since I only trigger it when being stupid in a parking lot in snow. I also have dedicated winter rims.

 

[xSkyDrAx]

How is the audio on the MS3? I know the wrx its TERRIBLE and if/when I get one, the first thing I am doing is tossing in a mono amp and sub.

The 10 speaker bose audio that the MS3 comes with is pretty damn good. It's miles ahead of the WRX's that's for sure. That trunk mounted sub is just awesome though you'll still find yourself turning it off occasionally just to listen to the exhaust :wub:

 

[Atty]

OP also, you never told us what you really are after? Pure performance? MPG? etc etc.

Personally...I know around here you can grab a new MS3 for like 23.5k with the works. A WRX with the works is like 27k. Depending on where you live (do you get snow?) the AWD may or may not be worth it.

How is the audio on the MS3? I know the wrx its TERRIBLE and if/when I get one, the first thing I am doing is tossing in a mono amp and sub.

For some reason, I just can't see a FWD car throwing down 300+hp very controllably?

I want fun. When people ask me what I want in a car, I always say that I want something that will make me smile every time I walk out to it and one that when I want to press my foot down my head meets the head rest.

I think, at the end of the day, I am having such a hard time finding a car because I want too much. Reliability, speed, agility, efficiency, etc.

Also, I live in Florida. It never snows. Hell, last winter I don't remember it being below 50 more than once or twice.

 

[Zap]

How is the audio on the MS3? I know the wrx its TERRIBLE

Yes, WRX is so terrible that my wife (2011 WRX hatch) last week requested me to do something about it. It just sounds dull and lifeless, and the optional 10" subwoofer totally drowns out the rest of the system. Her 2005 Mazda 3 had a much better base sound system as far as sound quality was concerned, and my Bose setup in the Mazdaspeed 6 sounds better too.

If I got an MS3, I would 100% want snow tires on in the winter. I feel like on a WRX you could prob get away with real good all seasons.

If you get real snow and not just a dusting that melts itself off by mid-morning, get real snow tires no matter which vehicle. That way you can have your performance tires on stock wheels to get better performance than all-seasons would give, and then have narrower and higher profile snow tires to swap in. Best part is that your expensive Summer meat doesn't accrue mileage when you're on your snows.

 

[Zivic]

I want fun. When people ask me what I want in a car, I always say that I want something that will make me smile every time I walk out to it and one that when I want to press my foot down my head meets the head rest.

I think, at the end of the day, I am having such a hard time finding a car because I want too much. Reliability, speed, agility, efficiency, etc.

Also, I live in Florida. It never snows. Hell, last winter I don't remember it being below 50 more than once or twice.

you need an evo... forget these wrong wheel drive cars. if you actually want a fun car that puts a smile on your face every time; you want an evo.

That said... of the cars in question, go for a focus RS. everything I am hearing about it makes it out to be fantastic.... but again, if you want to take a big step up, get an evo

 

[Atty]

you need an evo... forget these wrong wheel drive cars. if you actually want a fun car that puts a smile on your face every time; you want an evo.

That said... of the cars in question, go for a focus RS. everything I am hearing about it makes it out to be fantastic.... but again, if you want to take a big step up, get an evo

Focus RS? I thought they were EU only. I'm not too crazy about Evo's. I know they can be fun but I don't really care for them. I prefer the WRX just because of its styling but you're still buying $25k of rally car and about $250 of daily driver.

 

[Zap]

I prefer the WRX just because of its styling but you're still buying $25k of rally car and about $250 of daily driver.

My wife daily drives one. Only problems are that the sound system sounds mediocre and it isn't that fuel efficient. Otherwise, she has no problems using it as her only vehicle.

 

[quest55720]

My wife daily drives one. Only problems are that the sound system sounds mediocre and it isn't that fuel efficient. Otherwise, she has no problems using it as her only vehicle.

I agree the sound system in the WRX is well pathetic. About the only complaint I have about the car. Once the snow flies I don't mind the fuel economy at all. Everything else I just love about the car. It is pretty much my perfect car for where I live in northern minnesota. When my wifes car is paid off in 18 months I hope to get a new STI for my self and give her my WRX. Since she likes to take it when we have bad weather since she has a much longer ride to work.

 

[nerp]

I can't believe a car this small gets only 30mpg highway or so.

 

[z1ggy]

I was just on the mazda website last night. I built a brand new MS3 online, with the tech pack. Including destination and the fact I live in the NE, the cost was ~27k. According to Subaru, I can get a fully loaded WRX for about 28K, or just go with the barebones for the same price as the MS3. Toss in $500-1000 worth of nice audio equipment, and you get just about the same thing as the MS3, but in AWD. Only slight disadvantage is the MPG rating.

 

[z1ggy]

Article about 2014 WRX. Not sure if I am too impressed really..

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/2014-subaru-wrx-spy-photos-news

Cliffs: Replacing the 2.5L with a 2.0L engine...Possibily putting a 6th gear in the WRX. Probably getting the same cheap ass interior...

 

[stag3]

MS3's are very abuse tolerant, from a conservative tune to a bullet proof drive train. Ask me how I know...

pretty much, i beat on mine when i had it nonstop and it took it all like a champ, i think even in the original reviews of the gen1 the mazdaspeed engineers said it won't break. the only reason i got rid of mine is i sat spinning in gears 1-3 after some mods, so i had to move up to awd. i do miss the ms3 tho, great package of power and convenience. not many cars can run 13's and carry a 46" tv in box in the trunk

edit: found the article http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2007-mazdaspeed-3-road-test

"The Mazdaspeed 3 is only a bit less tricky to launch than a space shuttle. Most of the runs up the drag strip vanished in excessive tire smoke. Or they deflated when the driver, trying to stanch the wheelspin, inadvertently cued the waste gate. Or grabbed the wrong gear with the spongy shifter. Calls to Mazda yielded tips: Pop the clutch at 2900 rpm, upshift at 6000 -- redline is 6700 -- and flat-shift through second and third (which means don't lift at all -- the mechanical equivalent of dropping a Steinway on the clutch and half-shafts and violating our test procedure).

"Don't worry," the engineers said, "it won't break."

It didn't -- even after painting the pavement Bridgestone black with more than 30 hole shots. Working the shifter feverishly -- the low ratios in first and second mean two shifts happen before 60 mph -- we finally scorched a 5.8-second 0-to-60 time and a 14.4-second quarter-mile at 99 mph"

 

[stag3]

So you MS3 owners...what kind of real world, realistic milage do you get on the highway if you aren't driving like a madman? Say cruise set at 70 for an hour of driving? What kind of mileage would that return?

city driving i got around 22-23 ish, on vegas trips i'd get 30+ mpg easily (from LA)

 

[stag3]

I can't believe a car this small gets only 30mpg highway or so.

the gti only gets 33mpg highway and has 63 less hp

 

[JCH13]

If you were spinning 1st-3rd you needed better tires, heh. Good tires can hold plenty of power, even in that car.