Speed 3 or loaded Mazda 3 Sport?

[Canadian GP]

With the steady rise in gas prices I'm considering getting a smaller car than my present Pontiac Grand Prix. If I do it will almost certainly be a Mazda 3 but I'm not sure if I need to go with a Speed 3 over a fully loaded Sport. Other than the increase in horsepower and coolness what other benafits are there in the Speed 3?

TIA

[Thrice08]

Well I ended up getting a GT and it's great, I'd love to get a Speed3 but if gas prices are a concern for you I would stay away from a Speed since you are required to fill up with premium to keep the car running properly.

[mit-gee-mui]

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=23605&highlight=ms3+mazda%2A3
This talks about gas mileage for the mazda3 vs. mazdaspeed3.

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=17902&highlight=ms3+mazda%2A3
Another comparison.

[Unoriginalusername]

With the steady rise in gas prices I'm considering getting a smaller car than my present Pontiac Grand Prix. If I do it will almost certainly be a Mazda 3 but I'm not sure if I need to go with a Speed 3 over a fully loaded Sport. Other than the increase in horsepower and coolness what other benafits are there in the Speed 3?

TIA

0.10c a liter difference is $5 per tank for the premium... your gas bill overall will be higher, and your insurance will probally be higher but the uniqueness, power, handling, and look of the ms3 make it worth it for me

[FLIPDADY]

0.10c a liter difference is $5 per tank for the premium... your gas bill overall will be higher, and your insurance will probally be higher but the uniqueness, power, handling, and look of the ms3 make it worth it for me
Well put, I think many of us GT owners wish we had a MS3. I know if I had a chance to upgrade I would do it in a heartbeat.

[monty0501]

I had an 07 GT and went to an 07 Speed 3...
Never looked back once :)

[mleblond]

speed all the way...I upgraded myself ;) but I am careless with gas and prices... ultra 94 all the time...the trick is to tank on Thursdays since Ultramar has premium 5 cents cheaper...and since my Sunoco is right next to an Ultramar I get better a price :)

[WeatherB]

Keep in mind that it's not just the difference in gas prices. In general the speed3 will cost more for maintenance and there is a lot more that can go wrong.

If you are on a budget, get the regular Sport GT. The car has plenty of power for its class, especially the manual transmission version.

[bunchi]

I have a sport GT and I find myself contemplating (sometimes) why I didn't go for the speed3... love my car nonetheless.:) If I was given the chance to upgrade, I'll do it.

[Wild Weasel]

I think that since the price of gas was mentioned as your reason for switching cars, you'll probably be better off with the GT.

I mean... given the choice between the two, I say get the MS3 but that's only if you can afford one, and paying extra for gas is part of that.

If you're not being pinched for coin though, then it doesn't sound like you'd get rid of the GP.

[m_a_t_r_i_x]

just wait for the new redesigned mazda 3 :)

[Notorious MS3]

Both are very nice cars, but if you can have the extra money for the gas and probably maintenance, go with the Speed3. You really don't want to buy a car and later on have regrets.

[alhope34]

MS3 gets my vote for sure. Power of a large V6, fuel economy of a 4 cylinder.

[b.rabbit]

If you're looking to reduce cost, then go with the GT. If not...Speed.

[RX9]

two different type of cars, you cant compare them by just gas price. the best way to do that you need to test drive both, some ppl like smooth clucth feel, quieter famliy car feel, some like harder to drive, sport car feel. both are great cars.

[zedtech]

You again!? ;) At one point I wanted the MSP3 when I was test driving cars to replace my GP GT... not anymore. Steve, I've learned a lot from my Overkilled GT. I wanted a great looking 4 banger that had adequate HP (its styling would have a style that would look modern for years to come), had a great interior finish, had good standard features, had nice 17"/18" rims from the factory, was relatively good on gas (compared to the Overkilled GT, the 3 is a dream lol), wouldn't cost much to maintain for a few years (since I'm saving for my next house w/ the gf), would be good on insurance and car payments, would fly low on the cops "profiling" radar (especially in Peel and York region where I frequent a lot) and ultimately wouldn't tempt me to race/drive aggressively. I'm more than happy w/ my 3 Sport GT as for me it's helped satisfy all that criteria.

[bunchi]

You again!? ;) At one point I wanted the MSP3 when I was test driving cars to replace my GP GT... not anymore. Steve, I've learned a lot from my Overkilled GT. I wanted a great looking 4 banger that had adequate HP (its styling would have a style that would look modern for years to come), had a great interior finish, had good standard features, had nice 17"/18" rims from the factory, was relatively good on gas (compared to the Overkilled GT, the 3 is a dream lol), wouldn't cost much to maintain for a few years (since I'm saving for my next house w/ the gf), would be good on insurance and car payments, would fly low on the cops "profiling" radar (especially in Peel and York region where I frequent a lot) and ultimately wouldn't tempt me to race/drive aggressively. I'm more than happy w/ my 3 Sport GT as for me it's helped satisfy all that criteria.

you just made me feel even better with my sport GT! :)

[BLKOUT]

I would love to trade my GT in for a Speed3! If given the opportunity, I would jump all over it, with the wife's permission of course...lol

[Canadian GP]

you just made me feel even better with my sport GT! :)

Rich does that to all the boyz.

Thanks for all of the replys (even yours Rich ;oP) but I'm wondering if there are any features/options on a loaded GT that you can't get on a Speed3 and vica versa. I understand the 2 vehicles are directed towards 2 very different markets just want to make sure I know which one suits my needs and driving style best.

[Gizzmo_jr]

Speed has Alcantara now (2008.5 and up), power seats get added?
GT has heated seats, moonroof option, power seats

[zedtech]

Rich does that to all the boyz.
LOL umm.... have things gone a little weird over at OQC lately? :chuckle

[brecker]

Let me take you for a spin in a COBB AP'ed MS3 next week. :bana2

[Wild Weasel]

Biggest advantage I can think of that the GT has over the MS3 is the sunroof.

[RX9]

Biggest advantage I can think of that the GT has over the MS3 is the sunroof.

no. that sunroof sucks, i have 07 GT loaded, that roof leaks everytime i wash my car. good idea but not a good quality.

[alhope34]

Biggest advantage I can think of that the GT has over the MS3 is the sunroof.


That's really something that has to be decided by the buyer whether it is an advantage or not. I like my rigid roof structure. =)

[Canadian GP]

Biggest advantage I can think of that the GT has over the MS3 is the sunroof.

What's the differance between the 2 or does the MS3 not come with a sunroof?

[kid_icarus]

What's the differance between the 2 or does the MS3 not come with a sunroof?

GT does not have the option.

There's not much the GT HAS that the Speed 3 doesn't have other than the MOONROOF! it's not a sunroof ppl =)

other then the leather option and heated seats, the GT comes with pretty much everything that the Speed 3 has standard. The speed 3 has nicer lil accents here and there like the door sills and mazdaspeed stiching... but really the main difference lies completely in the performance and subtly on the looks.

- limited slip
- turbo
- wheels/rims
- exhaust
- DSC (not sure if the GT has this as an option)
- spoiler/bumper

the driving experience is really the main kicker
the fact that you're trying to find reasons to buy a GT means you're only looking to buy for VALUE... you don't seem remotely interested in the performance differences... only the best bang for your buck... what that bang is... seems to be which car you can "fully load" at the best price.

trust me.. if you wanted a speed 3, you wouldn't think twice about it, especially at the awesome % rates available now. right now you seem to only be concerned about $$

correct me if i'm wrong though.

so you gotta ask yourself
do you want a high performance mazda at maybe a 3-4k premium
or do you want a awesome economic value mazda

[ZeroChalk]

no. that sunroof sucks, i have 07 GT loaded, that roof leaks everytime i wash my car. good idea but not a good quality.

Never had a problem with moonroof leaking and I wash my car weekly. I'd opt for the MS3 hand's down if I was at a different point in life.

Get it! The end.

[Skarbro]

no. that sunroof sucks, i have 07 GT loaded, that roof leaks everytime i wash my car. good idea but not a good quality.
I've never had a single drop of water leak through my sunroof. And the OEM sunroofs in general do not leak. Sounds like you got a defective one that should be covered by your warranty.

I would never buy a car again without a sunroof if I could help it. Love it.

[mit-gee-mui]

no. that sunroof sucks, i have 07 GT loaded, that roof leaks everytime i wash my car. good idea but not a good quality.

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=14354&highlight=sunroof+leak%2A
(Don't forget the link on post 14!)
Hmmm..... I'm not sure if the same thing applies to the speed3.

[RX9]

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=14354&highlight=sunroof+leak%2A
(Don't forget the link on post 14!)
Hmmm..... I'm not sure if the same thing applies to the speed3.

speed3 didnt come with sunroof yet.

but for the leak i had before on GT. that leak didnt drip the water, but if you touch the back of the far back of roof frame inside the car after car wash (talking about the touchless carwash), that area is wet. and 100% mazda3 does that.

[Skarbro]

speed3 didnt come with sunroof yet.

but for the leak i had before on GT. that leak didnt drip the water, but if you touch the back of the far back of roof frame inside the car after car wash (talking about the touchless carwash), that area is wet. and 100% mazda3 does that.
Are you saying that every Mazda3 with a sunroof will leak in a car wash??

[RX9]

^^^ yea, so far. the guys i knew who has or had mz3 with sunroof, they all leaks, the number is not too large, its around 20.

[Skarbro]

^^^ yea, so far. the guys i knew who has or had mz3 with sunroof, they all leaks, the number is not too large, its around 20.
Well honestly, I've never been in an automated car wash. But I kinda find that hard to believe. I almost want to go through one just to see. :chuckle

[RX9]

Well honestly, I've never been in an automated car wash. But I kinda find that hard to believe. I almost want to go through one just to see. :chuckle

lol....trust me, it does leak a little. but i dont know if thats the way Mazda wants it to be. :chuckle

[Cardinal Fang]

Mine doesn't leak. On the Mazda discussion boards that's I've been reading there are a few people that have the problem but it certainly isn't the wide spread problem you may think it is. And yes my wife has taken my car through automated car washes with no problems.

[Unoriginalusername]

speed3 didnt come with sunroof yet.

but for the leak i had before on GT. that leak didnt drip the water, but if you touch the back of the far back of roof frame inside the car after car wash (talking about the touchless carwash), that area is wet. and 100% mazda3 does that.

and all speed3 tranny mounts self destruct leaving the engine laying restless on the shoulder of the hwy. Did it happen to a few people yes, does it happen to a majority of the people... no. has it been fixed, ... yes. end of story

[x_o_k_x]

if i had all money i want and didnt care in the world about gas prices, i wouldnt even think about it, but go for Speed3..The GT is a lot of fun too

[RallyPlaya]

Speed 3 Is my pick