Mazdaspeed3 hauls ass around the 'Ring

[Need4Speed]

Originally posted by: randomlinh

Originally posted by: Need4Speed
the upside to buying the 3GT Hatch and adding the turbo/6speed tranny is that you can avoid the added insurance hike when buying the Speed from the dealer.

the downside being you have to deal w/ a turbo on an engine not designed for a turbo... aka, build it up, or hope you know a damn good tuner.

not that I wouldn't do it in a heartbeat, I would jump at the chance to do it if I could

I didn't say you could do it in an afternoon

though last time I checked the kit came complete

? IHI Dual Ceramic Ball Bearing Turbo
? Cast Iron Manifold Cast iron downpipe
? Bar and Plate Front Mounted Intercooler
? Haltech F10X stand alone fuel management system
? 4 bosch injectors
? 3-ply Silicone Hoses
? Braided Oil Lines
? Stainless Steel Clamps
? Air Intake System with 3 inch air filter
? all necessary hardware

I know several other manufactures are also working on turbo kits for the 3.

 

[Vic]

Marked for later.

I like the MS3 and could give a rat's ass about "prestige" when it comes to cars. If it weren't for the FWD, I might buy one. They're well-built, practical as a daily driver, and fun as hell with the performance to go with it. Sadly, it pushes a few too many ponies IMO to be just FWD, with too much wheelspin and understeer.
So while 8:39 is a nice time (and possibly the fastest time ever for a front-wheeler at the 'ring), a bone-stock WRX STI did it 8:24, and a JDM Spec C in 7:59 (same time as a C6, Viper SRT-10, and Skyline GT-R).

And I've never noticed that SVT is an import hater....

 

[Regs]

I can't see a bigger turbo on the hatch. The handling will be blown to hell and you'll have a tough time keeping it on the road.

You could likely get away with programming the ECU and MAF to deliver more boost in 1-2nd gear. 1st gear - 9 lbs and the 2nd gear - 11 lbs on the MS3 stock. You could likely have it run 15lbs.

I wouldn't dare add a bigger turbo though. The last thing you need is more hot air and a ECU not opening the wastegate in time. Like randomlinh said, you have to know a damn good tuner.

Zoom Zoom...boom.

 

[DougK62]

That's a great time for a FWD car at that price. I'd like to see times for the Civic Si and Cobalt SS. I bet they could come close to matching that, if not besting.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: DougK62
That's a great time for a FWD car at that price. I'd like to see times for the Civic Si and Cobalt SS. I bet they could come close to matching that, if not besting.

Civic Si is slower IIRC, about 8:50. Don't know the Cobalt time, but an Opel Astra pulled an ~8:30.

 

[Regs]

Originally posted by: DougK62
That's a great time for a FWD car at that price. I'd like to see times for the Civic Si and Cobalt SS. I bet they could come close to matching that, if not besting.

Yikes..no way in hell.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: Regs

Originally posted by: DougK62
That's a great time for a FWD car at that price. I'd like to see times for the Civic Si and Cobalt SS. I bet they could come close to matching that, if not besting.

Yikes..no way in hell.

Civic is a good handler but still never enough torque to get out of the turns.

 

[DougK62]

Originally posted by: Regs

Originally posted by: DougK62
That's a great time for a FWD car at that price. I'd like to see times for the Civic Si and Cobalt SS. I bet they could come close to matching that, if not besting.

Yikes..no way in hell.

A Civic Si would probably be off the pace just becaue it's low on power. The Si and SS are both better handling platforms than the MS3. I bet the Cobalt SS would run just as well as the MS3 on that track. It's arguably the best handling FWD car out there right now, is uderrated power-wise by GM, and it was tuned on Nurburgring.

 

[FleshLight]

Weak, he didnt get under 8 minutes.

 

[LeiZaK]

Originally posted by: DougK62
That's a great time for a FWD car at that price. I'd like to see times for the Civic Si and Cobalt SS. I bet they could come close to matching that, if not besting.

Looks like a Civic Type R (>Si) finished several seconds slower than the MS3. The Cobalt SS would likely come in well behind that number.

 

[Koing]

He looks fast

I still remember bits of the track from when me and 2 mates went over for New Years Eve

Too bad it was closed for 2 days (ice on the northern section!). We only got 4 laps in between us on the last day as we were heading home!

Koing

 

[Vic]

From wiki, it looks like the Astra (Cobalt cousin) holds the sport compact record at 8:36, while the Civic Type-R got 8:47.
Text

So 8:39 is a very commendable time for the MS3 and its FWD, but (and I haven't seen the video yet as youtube is blocked at work) I'm willing to bet that it pulled it off almost entirely on engine grunt alone.
She's a powerful but slippery beast. Kind of an new-age FWD muscle car, where you can spin the tires through 3 gears.

 

[SampSon]

I'll keep that in mind if I'm ever in a position to drive the ring.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: SampSon
I'll keep that in mind if I'm ever in a position to drive the ring.

One of my older brothers got to drive the ring in a Mercedes a few months back. I was very jealous, but hey he works for DCX, and it was part of some big middle-management get-together in Germany.

 

[ZetaEpyon]

Originally posted by: Need4Speed

Anyways it is not surprising, but finding a GT at MSRP is.

yeah...my dealer quoted me way over MSRP....

You guys need better dealers, then. I got my MS3 GT for about $2000 under MSRP.

No, the Speed3 isn't perfect, but for the cost it's a hell of a ride, in my opinion.

 

[DougK62]

Originally posted by: LeiZaK

Originally posted by: DougK62
That's a great time for a FWD car at that price. I'd like to see times for the Civic Si and Cobalt SS. I bet they could come close to matching that, if not besting.

Looks like a Civic Type R (>Si) finished several seconds slower than the MS3. The Cobalt SS would likely come in well behind that number.

Hah - it's amazing to me that a car can get rave reviews for its performance and people will just ignore it because they don't care for the make/model. From Vic's post:

From wiki, it looks like the Astra (Cobalt cousin) holds the sport compact record at 8:36, while the Civic Type-R got 8:47.
Text

The Cobalt SS is very quick on a track.

 

[SampSon]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: SampSon
I'll keep that in mind if I'm ever in a position to drive the ring.

One of my older brothers got to drive the ring in a Mercedes a few months back. I was very jealous, but hey he works for DCX, and it was part of some big middle-management get-together in Germany.

Sounds fun, I'd go if I ever had the chance. Though if I had the chance to drive it, I wouldn't take a Mazdaspeed 3.

 

[swtethan]

you could thrash that car with this


http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/...yle_flag=1&cardist=119



yeah yeah... used... who cares

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: ZetaEpyon

Originally posted by: Need4Speed

Anyways it is not surprising, but finding a GT at MSRP is.

yeah...my dealer quoted me way over MSRP....

You guys need better dealers, then. I got my MS3 GT for about $2000 under MSRP.

No, the Speed3 isn't perfect, but for the cost it's a hell of a ride, in my opinion.

The Speed3 is a great car for the price and it gets options that my car couldn't get when it was out and is made better. Glad to see Mazda finally made a good car after the RX-8 fiasco and the MS6 which was such a disappointment. Except for the whole engine falling out part, it is a great car.

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: DougK62

Originally posted by: LeiZaK

Originally posted by: DougK62
That's a great time for a FWD car at that price. I'd like to see times for the Civic Si and Cobalt SS. I bet they could come close to matching that, if not besting.

Looks like a Civic Type R (>Si) finished several seconds slower than the MS3. The Cobalt SS would likely come in well behind that number.

Hah - it's amazing to me that a car can get rave reviews for its performance and people will just ignore it because they don't care for the make/model. From Vic's post:

From wiki, it looks like the Astra (Cobalt cousin) holds the sport compact record at 8:36, while the Civic Type-R got 8:47.
Text

The Cobalt SS is very quick on a track.

:thumbsup: It beat the Mustang GT on VIR

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: Vic
From wiki, it looks like the Astra (Cobalt cousin) holds the sport compact record at 8:36, while the Civic Type-R got 8:47.
Text

So 8:39 is a very commendable time for the MS3 and its FWD, but (and I haven't seen the video yet as youtube is blocked at work) I'm willing to bet that it pulled it off almost entirely on engine grunt alone.
She's a powerful but slippery beast. Kind of an new-age FWD muscle car, where you can spin the tires through 3 gears.

keep in mind the Civic Type R they list was the previous generation. i'd still put my money on the MS3 being quicker than the current Civic Type R. "The Stig" from Top Gear is on record as saying he prefers the current Civic to any other hot hatch, but it isn't the fastest of the bunch.

 

[Apex]

Nice driving.

The 'Ring Taxi typically does 8:3x runs.