Hello all, I am a proud current owner of a low mileage 2005 MCS with all the fixens and I am in the market to get rid of my G6 (2007 sport package v6 yada yada yada..... no body cares) and I am contemplating the Mazda3speed. I want a used one and cannot find one to save my life, but I also do not know anything about the car except it is fast as heck, reliable and 4 door. I also love the Clubman, but feel as though I need a 4 door car for when friends come to visit with their babies and we go out to eat and what not. Does anyone hav any experience with these cars? Any opinions? Any helping hand you can lend me about the Mazda3Speed?

 

Fantastic thread for you to read: http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3881054

Also, www.mazdaspeedforums.org is an honest site for the MS3.

 

There aren't many MS3's as Mazda kept the production numbers pretty low. I know they're only making about 5,000 for 2008. You'll have trouble finding them used because they were only introduced for 2007.

I've got a friend that's buying a MS3 soon. We discussed the differences between the MCS and it and he wants the MS3 because it's a little faster and has four doors. For me, I don't need the room and would prefer the extra gas mileage.

I currently have a 2004 Mazda 6s and I like it a lot. No major problems. One reason I'm staying away from the MS3 is the interior is extremely similar to my car and it'd feel like I'm putting a ton of cash into a car that's the same but a little bit faster.

There aren't many options for the MS3 either, so don't put your hopes into customizing them like a MINI.

Do you have any more specific questions?

 

thanks for the info

 

Since I have a MCS I am leaning towards the M3S. however my friend had an ECS tuned 252hp and 303 ft/lb torque VW GTi with major power for about an extra $750 chip upgrade which sounds great. But I had a VW Jetta, nothing but problems and I do not want to go that route again. The M3S just has so much to offer for such a great price and I cannot bear to have 2 pea shooters, especially since my wife wants a regular MC and not another "s" for gas purposes. That is another reason I want the M3S.

 

Even the S version blows the MS3 away in gas mileage. EPA ratings for the MS3 is 18/26, whereas the MCS is 26/34. I know EPA isn't perfect, but it's a good comparison between the two.

 

The new MKV GTI/Jetta's have ironed out a lot of problems the previous gen (MKIV's) had. I had a 2006 MKV GTI for a year and had zero quality complaints. And it was leagues better on the freeway then my current R53.

 

yeah I want something better on the highway with a bigger trunk. i love the looks of the GTi in white with 18's and I know the DSG is nice too (since I am going to be driving to downtown PGh every day soon!) The DSG shifts fast and smooth, I just worry about reliability. However, I am more likely to get a deal on a GTi than a M3S or MCS for sure. Anything bad about the DSG?

 

DSG doesn't take too kindly to chip tuning for the long haul. If you don't plan on chipping, I wouldn't worry about reliability.

I almost got a DSG equipped MKV GTI. I loved how velvety smooth the shifts were. They're a lot of fun on the highway too. You can be cruising along the freeway at 75mph, tap the paddle shifter down 2 notches and punch it. Lightning quick shifts! Far more fun for highway pulls then you'll find in the standard 6-speed manual. Sure you're left leg will be bored, but you'll get use to it everytime you click through the gears on every onramp.

 

I know the DSG is great and with family around the country, it would be nice to have an automatic car for sure. i want White, DSG, Navi and leather for sure. Anything else I should be looking for, not looking for etc?

 

Yeah, the MS3's are pretty much selling around MSRP due to their scarcity. fyi.

 

You're looking for a Package 2 then. Since you want leather (heated seats). Bi-xenon (hi and low beam) is standard on all GTIs. DSC (dynamic stability control) is standard on all GTIs as well. Automatic climate control is now standard.

Don't forget, you can also get the GTI in 4-door if that was a reason you were looking at the MS3.

You haven't looked at VW R32's yet, have you? They're a bit more money, DSG only, AWD, and have one of the sweetest sounding 6-cylinders you can get into for under $35K.

 

Yeah I am prepared to spend between 20 and 25k for a newer car. If I was going to get the R32, I would order a new JCW Cooper with every option listed in my signature. I truly think that the way to go is the GTi for the simple fact that I have seen them with low miles ('07 and 08 even) on autotrader and vehix.com for around 18-20k. In fact, on Ebay there is one that is red with DSG and leather for $17,900 for an '07 I believe. I am probably going to get the GTi just because it is ess money per month and I can chip it and get to Mazda3Speed horsepower and higher torque for very little money!

 

if you dont mind the sequential AT i recommend the R32.

i was very close to buying one last year... but the AT defeated the purpose
of getting it for me. i wanted a MT. they need to release the 6MT version
in the US.

btw that car you're looking at is called MazdaSpeed3.
not a MINI-S-Cooper.

 

My brother in law bought a '07 Speed3 and actually get the chance to drive it a lot. Here is what I think.

- It's FAST, but you will HATE the gas pumps. With a full tank(65 Liters I think), dont plan on making more then 300-320Km in city driving. And about 500Km max Highway.(sorry, dont know the conversion in miles). Even when I drive the car easy, it still hard on gas.

- Shifter kinda suck, long throws, braking power is very good. Seats are also nice and comfy.

- Overall, it's a nice car, but does not compare to a MK5 GTi in every day driving.

- Did I say it's FAST

The 2.0T FSI in the MK5 is a AWESOME engine, and very good on gas. And it's been proven that DSG can take a chip(I like APR or GIAC best) and a turboback no problem for x-tra power.

Dont compare your old MK4 the the MK5, MK5 are actually doing pretty good for reliability

 

There are great deals on the remaining R32's.

I've been so tempted to buy one. Gas mileage is not as good as the 2.0T GTI though.

 

I own a mazda3 5 door, non speed
But I can tell you this from the few people ive met and spoke with. The car is awesome! which is why you cant find one. it beats the WRX! road and track did a shoot out and even with the AWD of the WRX the mazda outperformed it.
also as a side note. the service at mazda is as good as the service you get at a BMW dealership. they give a loaner car when in for repairs, and cover everything. hell, i even got a box delivered from mazda the other day tha had a letter attached. it said we hope your out enjoying your mazda vehicle, and if you are getting a little to zoom zoom carried away heres a little gift to help you maintain you cars great looks.
in the box was a bottle of touch up paint.
i thought that was a very cool gesture.

 

The Speed3 is great fun. Excellent power, decent handling, and the ride is surprisingly nice as well. It's a hell of a car for the price that Mazda is asking. The only things I didn't like were the vague shifter and the interior. The interior design is fine, but it comes off a bit cheap. Perfectly understandable since it's shared with a much less expensive car, but still. There was some trouble with engine mounts a while back, but I think Mazda addressed this with a TSB.

The GTI is nice (especially with a true manual transmission), but a bit more grown up than the Mazda. That might not be a bad thing, but I think I'd still choose the Mazda.

 

I think you just found a great dealer. My letters just contain things like "Your brakes are dead, we will fix them for $975! Let us change your oil for only $49.95!"

F that.

 

Yeah well the local VW/Mazda dealer is all owned by one owner and the services sucks at both places so it looks like I will be changing the oil and whatnot anyways. This is not a problem because I plan on chipping the VW with an APR chip as soon as I get it. If I don't take it to the dealer, the less likely they will be to find the modification! Plus, VW has 0% financing right now too, and the Mazda does not.

 

There was a MS3 (stock) at the track pulling 13's on drag radials...