MS3 pros/cons

[zoom-zoom!!]

Hey guys about to go all in on buying a 07 MS3 just want your feedback on the pros/cons about the car itself. I work at a mazda dealership and have worked on them but just want to know the publics opinion on them! cheers!

[07Speed3]

Pro - its fast and fun
Con - you will get speeding tickets

Pro - its agile
Con - you will spend money at autocross and track days

Pro - its good in the 1/4 mile
Con - will spend money making it even faster

Pro - good gas mileage
Con - not when you go fast

Pro - its comfortable
Con - stereo lacks bass

Pro - friends like it so much they will want to borrow it
Con - " "

Pro - suprisingly good in the winter
Con - tires are a bit pricier since you cant really fit anything smaller then 17's

Pro - 6 speed tranny
Con - sloppy shifter

Pro - nice stock wheels
Con - heavy and the tires suck

Pro - aftermarket is getting really good
Con - $$$$

What to say, this car is reliable fun fast and with little to complain about. Thats the reason it won almost every single comparison test since it came out.

[Unoriginalusername]

pros:
It is very versatile/practical for a real world/everyday car that can still perform well
It draws very little un-wanted attention to itself
Probally the least expensive all around package of good handling, power and interior quality available

Cons:
limited mod potential/engine reliability at the upper limits
mpg
fwd will always be a limiting factor

[cy88]

Pro - suprisingly good in the winter
Con - tires are a bit pricier since you cant really fit anything smaller then 17's

Pro - nice stock wheels
Con - heavy and the tires suck


I have 16" snow tires on steelies, works wonder.

The stock rims are heavy, but the tires are actually very good. Even some higher end cars like the 335i and some AMGs use them. I loved how the RE050A hold my car to the road on tight corners @ high speed.

[SpeedBaby]

pros:
best power/money ratio
turbo engine = more potential for power increasing mods for bearable cost
super fun to drive without sacrificing sitting/cargo space
looks HAWT!!!

cons:
despite being fast you WILL want to make it faster = mods = money ≠ warranty
enigine reliability is VERY questionable
as fast and perky as it is on a street it's still running 14s on 1/4 mile (stock) which as some have said is corollaS territory

[07Speedfreak]

Pro - suprisingly good in the winter


Yes a little too much power (although you dont have much snow in Toronto) but if you can deal with the frozen bushings in the rear and the million rattlings and squeeks inside the car I guess you're all set.

[silvermist99]

pro:
cheap
awesome midrange
turbo
extremely agile on the road for a fwd
fits 4 comfortably
hatchback
crazy good stock brakes
very netural on circuit
tons of head room
turbo noise
good on gas for lightfoots

con:
resale value
one of the worst manual tranmission i've ever driven
narrow power band
extremely short gearing
turbo lag
narrow fenders
bad visibility
hard to park
questionable reliablity on engine
hatchback look
tires not wide enough
non folding flat backseat
horrid on gas when you drive it hard, worst then a lot of higher powered V6.
hard to perfect launch -> fwd, narrow tires, turbo, short gearing.
exhaust drone

[Mazda3X2]

It's funny how some of these subjective things can be a negative for one person and a positive for another.

I agree with most but,

- I like the hatch back look.
- I like the exhaust note.
- I don't find turbo lag unbearable, quicker spooling than most I have driven.

- With a CAI the intake noise seems a bit much under normal acceleration.
- Gearing is too short for a car with this power band. Need taller 1st and 2nd and 6th for sure.

To each their own right.