Highs: Ready to murder WRXs by third gear, taut and toned chassis, civilized ride

Lows: Joyless shifter, inevitable torque steer, unleaded premium can vanish quickly

The Verdict: Mazda's minute wagon gets drunk on boost without losing its balance.

"Compared with the Mazdaspeed 6, the 3 feels buoyant, scrappier, like the 6 but after its stomach has been stapled. And the Mazdaspeed 3 looks every bit a swashbuckler. On our scale, this one rates maximum fun."

0-60: 5.8 secs

Quarter miles: 14.4sec at 99mph.



What a sweet car. Who needs the R32 or GTI? I'm interested in what they found wrong about the shifter. Lemme read the whole thing.

 

Got a scanned copy online or something? I've read it at a newstand in Hong Kong, but I haven't found a copy online yet.

 

Sorry, no scanner. I'm sure some scanned pages will be up soon like the Motortrend comparo. But ask me any questions on the article and I'll do my best to answer them.

 

99mph trap in the 1/4 mile is pretty damn good. People should be able to get a stock MS3 into the very high 13's.

 

It is a brilliant vehicle. Hope Mazda keeps up the homeruns.

 

Yea, me too, maybe their finally learning how to make a real Mazdaspeed performance car.... then they can perhaps one day get our car to do the same numbers, reviewers to say the same about the WRX in 3rd gear lol, get to 120mph in the same time, etc.

 

some MS6's are already running high 13's..

 

What bugs me is why it isn't faster? It only weights 3180lbs and with that kind of power it should be a bit faster. Maybe it's just as tricky to launch as they say.

 

I think they launched at 2000rpm, remember the ECU limits power(boost) in first two gears? It should be a lot faster. It is a rocket in 3rd gear. This car will definatly be faster than the MS6 in the 1/4 mile, but gotta get rid of the boost cut first! Also we should see some MS3 owners hit the dynos and 1/4 mile soon.
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That's what I've been thinking. The MS6 is already getting into high 13's and there is practically no aftermarket for the car yet. Seeing those numbers, I had thought that the MS3 would be a solid 13 runner... odd. Makes one wonder about that boost cut in 1st and 2nd...

 

Get rid of it? The car is already hard enough to launch. Mazda wouldn't go out of their way to cut boost in the 1st 2 gears for no reason at all.

 

All it needs is some of these and a boost cut kill switch

 

Hehe, I hate seeing those on the front wheels.... it's wrong, just wrong.

 

I understand the reason why Mazda would limit boost in the first 2 gears, but however, it is sorta like DSC, would you leave it on when you're at the track? dyno-ing? Its impossible to go fast with it in the way. In the end we want the drivers to have full control over the car.

edit: Also I think their problem with launching the car is the ECU is getting in the way when they launch at a higher RPM, wheelspin = boost cut = slow as hell.
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I agree with the control issue. It would be nice to turn it off like DSC.

 

That's an option Mazda should have also equipped the car with...

 

definatly...... but however, launching from 2000rpm(if this is true), and still get a 0-60 of 6.0secs, thats pretty impressive, the amazing torque of the DISI saved the day. I wouldnt be suprised if it can shave half a second off with the boost cut deactivated.
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Dealers here in Honolulu are starting to get them, shouldn't be too long before they start showing up more on the west coast.

I test drove one yesterday. Feels very torquey and makes a really nice sound. FWD is just not my cup of tea though. Sales guys thought I might trade the 8 in on it, I said thanks, but no thanks.

Nevertheless, I think the MS3 is a very cool car for its intended market.

 

Think about this. The car requires a shift to 3rd in order to get to 60. Redline in 2nd is 56mph! So this car is much much faster than the 8. That extra shift probably costs at least a couple of 10nths.

 

Yeah I heard about the nice engine/intake sound on other forums. How was the torque steer, was it noticable? or you did not get the chance to push it. Can you also comment on the boost cut in first and second gear?
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I hadn't read any of the reviews or other forums when I test drove the car, so I wasn't thinking about torque steer. I did take a few fast corners and it didn't feel as agile or as balanced as the RX-8. I just figured it was due to the sedan like Mazda3 platform coupled with the fact that it's a FWD.

And boost cut in 1st & 2nd? If true that would explain it. I did get one good run from 0-75 and the car did seem to get stronger once past 60, or when I was in 3rd. Wouldn't have thought anything until you mentioned this though, so I guess it's not that obvious. Maybe after time it would be though, my test drive was fairly limted as I needed to get back to work.

The only thing I really didn't like about the MS3, other than it being FWD, are the wheels. Far too bland for me, I think the MS6 has got nicer rims. The 5 spoke Mazdaspeed wheels, available for the RX-8, would look very hot on the MS3.

Bang for your buck, this is a very cool car. Once people start to mod the puppy, it probably has the potential to be a monster. Too bad it's FWD.