They respond very well to mods. Just a simple mod as a cold air intake adds 12 HP to the car. Mazda built a solid car but they restricted it with parts that slowed cool air to the motor. Just by freeing up the car with more air flow makes great gains in HP. The car is not worth much on a drag strip because the first two gears are not very well placed. But at a 35-40 mph roll its extremely quick. I have seen several videos of MS3's competing well against WRX STi's, Evo's, SRT-4's and mustangs.