Why doesn't the MazdaSpeed3 get more love?

[Tommietank]

I recently posted in another thread but its time to bring this up. I'm a believer and voted with my wallet of course but I'm wondering why doesnt the Speed 3 get more love on TCL or in general. We all value the best enthusiast focus car and the Speed 3 checks all boxes to check by TCL standards. Below is a short lists why it rocks.

• Its not a low rent car that appeals to the SRT-4 and Cobalt SS crowd.
• It has the most power out of any fwd hatch.
• The interior along with the regular 3 is of quality only second to the GTI.
• The car's transaction prices are lower than the GTI and the WRX and by far in many cases.
• Its a very reliable car if you're not an idiot.
• The car feels more lively and is quoted to be more fun than its competitors.
• The car also is the fastest car in its class for Ring times if I'm not mistaken.

Its like a little company like Mazda said, lets fight for the enthusiast and make a car that they couldnt refuse. I know I couldnt, why isnt everyone just a bit more gaga for it? Disagree with my list? Reply below

Pics for clicks

[Smigelski]

The first generation looked way cooler than the second generation. Plus the second generation is basically just a refresh of the first generation. There was a ton of love when the MS3 just came out, but- as with the world of sports cars and performance cars- time marches on and people forget about them when they aren't new anymore.

[Sagaris]

[emmettlodge]

Never heard of this car.

[someguy123]

Don't like the smile.

[IdontOwnAVW]

Felt like I was inside a spaceship with the interior when I test drove one.

[dcmix5]

Styling is the 1# problem for me. I couldn't look at it every day.

[Tommietank]

The first generation looked way cooler than the second generation. Plus the second generation is basically just a refresh of the first generation. There was a ton of love when the MS3 just came out, but- as with the world of sports cars and performance cars- time marches on and people forget about them when they aren't new anymore.

Doesn't explain why the lack of love. The current gen GTI was also just a refresh but dudes jizz their pants for them. The car when it came out was still the fastest and best deal for a FWD hatch. Still is today.

[Tiny4cyl]

+63hp doesn't fix ugly

That's like saying I married the fastest runner at my high school, she's ugly but god I got her for a STEAL

[ph03n1x]

Granted it's a regular Mazda3 but it's the same smiley face.

[Dandbest]

I like the car on paper, however, I can't see myself owning one due to-
1. its ugly...very ugly. Makes my bugeye look downright gorgeous
2. its wrong wheel drive
3. its super tinny. Mazda somehow finds the thinnest metal to make cars from

so yeah..

[breakfasteatre]

plenty of people buy them.

there is a huge speed3 community up here in Toronto.

I have had 2 now, first one died in an accident, 2nd one is growing strong. Its a ****ing beast

[Mazda 3s]

Because the previous gen looks 100x better

[.:FrankRizzo:.]

As a former first Gen owner I will give some input.

First up, the second gen is the ugliest car on the road.

What I liked about my Speed 3:
-It was fast (and with an intake, the top end really opened up)
-handling was good
-steering feel was excellent, perfect weight to the steering
-They can be had for cheap, I bought a 3 year old Speed 3 with 37,000 miles for $15.5k in great shape
-very practical and can hold lots of stuff

What I didn't like about the speed 3:
-thin paint and eventual rust
-the mazda dealers are real sticklers about ANY mods, I took my cobb intake off for this reason
-interior is very cheap, hard plastics everywhere, and that is ok if they hold up well like in a Subaru, but I had things breaking and rattling, and I babied the interior. Also, if you kept anything in the door pockets you got to hear that rattle around as they didn't like the pockets with anything
-Bose stereo sucked, CD changer broke, I couldn't charge and play an MP3 player due to interference and it would just making ticking noises in the background
-power is very inconsistent, the torque limiter cut power down drastically in first and second, and dialed it back in third. It would either go like stink or move slowly. Really off the line it is no faster than a MKV/MKVI GTI most of the time.
-215 width tires... really? with that power? Maybe if the car had more grip they wouldn't need to limit power in the first few gears.
-differential blew up with 50,000 miles
-parts are expensive, and the stock pads go out quick (and are really dusty) The dealer quoted me $450 just to buy the pads.
- Most out there seem to be the GT model with the auto wipers, that have no intermittent setting, don't work and the RF frequency interfered with the TPMS light and I had to look at that thing flashing at me.
-The GT's HIDs are a joke, the low beams point real low at highest adjustment.
-All the Mazda forums are a joke. Most the guys are real *******s.. and I thought vortex was bad. I realized what a great resource VWVortex is for parts and information.

After 10 or so months of ownership, I went back to VWs, bought a MKVI GTI and haven't looked back.

[Harv]

Needs more buttons..

[Punch Dub]

I think it looks great. Those wheels are spot on.
FWD. But once you're underway, so what?
It was the interior fabric that struck it off my list. Way too much going on for me.

[oldschool86045]

1.8T will nevar lose.

[filthyillness]

A lot of soldiers rock em. Along with subarus

Sent from my Mytouch 4G via Tapatalk 2.0

[Eightysixturbo]

Gets as much love as it deserves, no doubt it's a competent car. Most people can't get over the looks.

[Aonarch]

The mug by far makes people hate it.

[Yak Meat]

Needs more buttons..

x2 hahaha

[krey]

wrong wheel drive

[matty_peppers]

Most who bash the car haven't driven it, its a wonderful car for what it is. I could wax poetic about it all day, but who cares if TCL doesn't love it? You love it, there you go. Hell, I'd rather drive an under appreciated MS3 then join the AWDFTW crowd that is becoming subaru ownership.

[unintended acceleration]

I have several friends/acquaintances that own competitor cars like the WRX that are confused by AWD and it's advantages over FWD.

I have had casual conversations with people that own WRX' and STi's and dismiss the handling of the Mazda just based on it's FWD layout. I have said flat out the Mazda is faster than the WRX according to many published times, and I was literally told straight up they don't believe it. Honestly, many people that I have talked to or read on car forums get this holier than thou attitude with AWD cars and think they are god's gift to cars.

Besides the look, it takes someone with a little more experience to not be ignorant towards the car and FWD.

1 - Looks, its polarizing. I think this is the biggest problem. Although the Gen 1's look pretty good actually.

2 - FWD. Many people who aren't very knowledgable about cars, or don't have a lot of experience will opt for its main competitor, the WRX because of their perceived advantages of the AWD system. They see 0 - 60 in 4.8 seconds, AWD and make the assumption it is a faster car that handles better overall, when its not and it doesn't.


3 - Strong competition

This is a very niche car with a GTI as a competitor and WRX on the other side.

So anyone that wants a more refined ride will go with the VW. On the other side, people will buy the Rex who choose an AWD car.

[Dandbest]

2 - FWD. Many people who aren't very knowledgable about cars, or don't have a lot of experience will opt for its main competitor, the WRX because of their perceived advantages of the AWD system. They see 0 - 60 in 4.8 seconds, AWD and make the assumption it is a faster car that handles better overall, when its not and it doesn't.

Please elaborate on how the WRX isn't faster

[JMotion]

[*]Its not a low rent car that appeals to the SRT-4 and Cobalt SS crowd.

It's a nice car, but is it not the same exact equation? FWD Econobox + lots of HP.




Oh, and the seats are upholstered with Zubaz

[unintended acceleration]

Please elaborate on how the WRX isn't faster

What is there to elaborate? I am not talking about drag racing.

Typical response though, bravo, you fit the description of what I am talking about.

Is the SS Cobalt slower than the Rex too? Or does 0 - 30 acceleration all that matters in what determines a fast car?

[Aonarch]

Please elaborate on how the WRX isn't faster

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...to-2012-page-8

At VIR both gens of the MazdaSpeed 3 were faster than the WRXs.

[compy222]

i can't believe i'm even uttering these words via computer...

i'd rather have a cobalt ss turbo.

and yes the mazda makes more power than a CSS by 3hp...and advantage completely negated by no-lift-shift and a much more tune-able factory set-up.

[Dandbest]

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...to-2012-page-8

At VIR both gens of the MazdaSpeed 3 were faster than the WRXs.

And yet in a straight line the WRX demolishes the speed3...your point? So you post whatever suits your point of view. Fine. I can do it all night too Oh, and while we're at it, lets talk modability-- it would take less than $1000 to run circles around the speed3 and when it comes to making more power...well thats just silly...350 all wheel hp are $2k away and thats doing it the expensive way

[BRealistic]

1.8T will nevar lose.

Some people think just being in the race makes you a winner.

[Aonarch]

And yet in a straight line the WRX demolishes the speed3...your point? So you post whatever suits your point of view. Fine. I can do it all night too Oh, and while we're at it, lets talk modability-- it would take less than $1000 to run circles around the speed3 and when it comes to making more power...well thats just silly...350 all wheel hp are $2k away and thats doing it the expensive way

I wasn't the one you were arguing with...

I'd take a WRX any day over a Speed 3.

[Dandbest]

What is there to elaborate? I am not talking about drag racing.

Typical response though, bravo, you fit the description of what I am talking about.

Is the SS Cobalt slower than the Rex too? Or does 0 - 30 acceleration all that matters in what determines a fast car?

hit a nerve I see...you said it was faster, so I asked in what way. The fact that the speed3 handles slightly better from the factory is meaningless, as anyone buying either car will probably modify it. You cant fix wrong wheel drive. There is a reason even mazda limits torque in the first 3 gears

[Maxvla]

The center console is awful, and it doesn't seem a replacement stereo system would be easy to fit.

[10minutes]

Two reasons
- it's not a pretty car.
- interior is not up to TCL standards.

oh, one more
- it's GTI competitor

I personally think it's a nice car, especially for the money. If you don't mind the looks and if you are a car enthusiast, I don't see a reason not to enjoy one.