Who got that Mazdaspeed 3 thingee?

[Ford DNA]

I forgot who it was that got one.

1. There is no #1 because I took it out. :P

2. What kinda gas mileage are you getting?

3. Do you feel safe in it?

4. Have you attempted to put 87 in it? What happened?

5. Any regrets?

[Stinkin Lincoln]

I think your lookin for admin Dan.

[Stangonline]

It's me.

http://tampaftp.com/jeff/ms3gt.jpg

Damn I love this little car. No kidding.

Im averaging about 23mpg, so nothing stellar - but it's hard to stay out of the boost :) I do a lot of in-town driving.

I feel safe in it. Side curtain airbags. I had it at Sebring 2 weekends ago and was passing Mustangs :) There was an instructor there who also had one with racing slicks. He took me for a ride and I could NOT BELIEVE how he was running down porsches on that thing - it stuck like glue. It had a cold air intake, otherwise stock.

I haven't tried 87 but I don't think that I would in the summer. Maybe during the winter, I'd give it a shot.

You've hit on the only thing that I don't like - 93 octane. It's not really a deal-breaker though.

I'm down in St. Pete - you're welcome to stop by and check it out.

[MiDiablo]

/\ :naughty:

[Stangonline]

In the next picture, I'm even farther ahead :)

[Strokd85]

fun little car Amanda, it was a toss up between the 3 and what I have now.. but they're nice cars!

[Ford DNA]

Well, the husband is scared of the size of it. Now I'm thinking of hunting down a 06-07 Mazdaspeed 6. Same thing basically, but a sedan w/ trunk, and a little bit bigger.

BTW, David Reese drives a Mazda 3. I didn't notice if it was a MS3 or regular ol' 3, but it was weird seeing such a big name in heads up racing driving that little car. LOL (his wife was driving a Dodge Magnum)

[Stangonline]

Try it first. :) The weight of the 6 might take some of the pep out of it. It's AWD as well, which is neat, but heavy.

It certainly seems bigger than a Neon and an Evo. Similar to the current WRX.

[Strokd85]

I will say though Amanda, that my friend down there in FL has a MazdaSpeed3 and is a bigger guy than Donald (about the same height) and he's plenty comfortable in it.. Just depends on the person though..

[Token8703]

Not gonna lie, looks like a fun little car. 93 is the only down side of it as i really can't hate on 23 to the gallon right now.

[GNs-r-slow]

Not gonna lie, looks like a fun little car. 93 is the only down side of it as i really can't hate on 23 to the gallon right now.
From a performance standpoint they require 93 octane to keep detonation under contol with boost~ stay outta the petal and run 87 safely

[EsCoRtLvR]

Love the car, I have always liked the msp3 since it was first test drive it in georgia at the mazda proving grounds for training. Take it in for the motor mount recall if it hasn't been done, saw too many trannies dragging on the ground or needing a rebuild from that escapade lol .

The msp6 is almost the same weight beast but it's much bulkier and imo the suspension is a little lackluster comparibly. The MS3 uses a computer controlled torque system limiting power in the first two gears, the MS6 doesn't and has a better tune with more base HP. Both will wake up with a good tune as the low end boost pressure sucks because mazda wanted to save their expensive arse clutches. The differential in both is jacked from an RX8, no problems with those over the few years it's been out. The clutch on a MSP6 sucks to do though :lol: we had a salesman smoke the clutch on a new one with 75miles on it :D

If you put 87 in it the computer will put you into a fail safe so i wouldn't recommend filling the tank or that tank is going to be a looonnnggg tank :lol: . The car REQUIRES premium I wouldn't feel safe running anything less in those cars. When I was at the dealership we used to get people come in and complain that their car ran like crap on 87 and they would protest to world's end that no car needs premium. Well Mazda tuned the Mazdaspeed's for premium only, hence the Mazdaspeed name.Kinda like putting 87 octane in a Ford GT :lol: . If I didn't want performance out of a turbocharged 4banger then i would've bought a v-8 car instead.

All in All, both are fun cars, both are safe cars, I would prefer the stability of AWD myself if I had the choice but the MS3 looks better :D

[Ford DNA]

I will say though Amanda, that my friend down there in FL has a MazdaSpeed3 and is a bigger guy than Donald (about the same height) and he's plenty comfortable in it.. Just depends on the person though..

It's not about comfort. To go anywhere from Zephyrhills, you have to travel on high speed 2 lane roads that see numerous head-on collisions a year. I like to think, in my truck, I'd survive most head-on collisions. Not so sure about that in a small car. :(

[Stangonline]

From a performance standpoint they require 93 octane to keep detonation under contol with boost~ stay outta the petal and run 87 safely

The car comes into boost so easily and so fast - it would be pretty much impossible to drive it without getting into the boost/torque.

[Stangonline]

It's not about comfort. To go anywhere from Zephyrhills, you have to travel on high speed 2 lane roads that see numerous head-on collisions a year. I like to think, in my truck, I'd survive most head-on collisions. Not so sure about that in a small car. :(

There are so many variables when it comes to wrecks. Who knows, because of the momentum/weight of a truck, maybe it would slide an extra 20 feet after a collision..maybe into a guard rail or maybe into oncomming traffic? I've talked to people who would have died if they were wearing their seatbelt - so who really knows?

[cochese]

To go anywhere from Zephyrhills, you have to travel on high speed 2 lane roads that see numerous head-on collisions a year. :(

Well tell the snow birds to stay up north,I have never seen so many travel trailer parks in my life......If you see a "carefree" sign slow down:lol:

[Ford DNA]

It's not the snowbirds that are causing the big wrecks on 301. It's the crazy ass people (usually men, to be honest) passing when it's not clear. You know how many times I've had to nearly come to a complete STOP on 301 to keep some idiot from hitting me head on??? You have to be super alert on that stretch of highway. it's friggin scary.

But the snowbirds do cause a TON of accidents in town..holy shit..making left turns from right lanes and crap. :eek:

[Token8703]

From a performance standpoint they require 93 octane to keep detonation under contol with boost~ stay outta the petal and run 87 safely


While i understand that this is very much the case, i can't help but think one would have so much fun with the little thing that it would be damn near impossible to do.

[BoosTb4BroaDs]

im sure the car has a knock sensor and will retard its timing if you put 87 in it and it will run fine, maaybe a ping or 2 when going WOT though

[mx-4u2nv]

I own a 2006 Mazdaspeed 6 and do allot of intown driving also. It is a blast to drive AWD :D. I tried putting 89 in it and under boost in 5th gear it was starting to break up pretty bad.

[EsCoRtLvR]

im sure the car has a knock sensor and will retard its timing if you put 87 in it and it will run fine, maaybe a ping or 2 when going WOT though

It has a fuel quality calculator (which includes a knock input)that puts the car in failsafe if the computer determines the fuel grade to be lower than required..

[Alan]

To the guys/gals worried about running premium fuel. Think of it this way. Running 87 instead of 93 will save you what....about $3-4 per tank at the very most? Lower octanes in these types of motors dramatically reduce power, reduce MPG, and can cause some expensive repairs down the road.

So for less than the cost of an extra value meal at Wendys, you can run the correct premium fuel and have much more fun with your monthly car payment. Don't know about you, but I'd rather skip eating out once a week and enjoy my car. Just my .02