Didn't see this yet, and I didn't search. Im have to run.

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPag...ter=upcomingMS3 (http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=upcomingMS3)

It will have a starting price of $22,800

The Grand Touring edition (which adds automatic wipers, automatic HID headlights, LED rear lights, leather bolsters on black cloth seatbacks, bose stereo and available satnav) is $24,515.

Ughhh. FWD FTL. Friends don't let friends drive wrong wheel drive.

good catch Tirminyl. i should have checked when i got the 2007RX-8 stuff the other day but forgot. here ya go folks

A bit more info:


http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/28/mazdaspeed3-starting-at-22-800/

That's $&%^#ed up! Why buy one over a GTI? We'll see what US mags say, but JDM and Euro mags both rate the GTI better and it costs $10k more than the Mazda in those markets (at least in Japan).

Damn, how am I to convince the wife to buy one?

Great milage and fast as H..ll

what the gas mileage on the MS6? what do we expect for the MS3?

japan8 i just priced a gti with trim as close as i could get and it was about 4k mpore than the MS3 GT 28 454

Damn, how am I to convince the wife to buy one?

Great milage and fast as H..ll
By not mentioning that last part :rofl:

That's $&%^#ed up! Why buy one over a GTI (#)?
Well, there's a pretty good chance the MS3 will be the fastest FWD production car ever.

It will probally be faster than the 8 will simple bolton swaps.....this is pathetic....its like Mazda has turned a deaf ear to the 8

It will probally be faster than the 8 will simple bolton swaps.....this is pathetic....its like Mazda has turned a deaf ear to the 8

It'll probably be faster than the 8 with 200 lbs of luggage in the back.

Well, there's a pretty good chance the MS3 will be the fastest FWD production car ever.

I'll be shocked if it's faster than the SRT-4. Keep in mind those things dyno around 240 at the wheels and are fairly light. Also, the new (heavier) SRT-4 is rated at 300hp.

It will probally be faster than the 8 will simple bolton swaps.....this is pathetic....its like Mazda has turned a deaf ear to the 8

MAZDA FING SPEED. :wallbash: :wallbash:

The speed3 is going to be incredible...more then a few aftermarket companies have already preordered cars to develop parts for.

The big rumor going around now is that the speed3 has the exact same power output as the speed6, but will be rated "less" to make it appear that the speed6 is a faster vehicle...even though the speed3 is roughly 500 lbs lighter.

I'm quite excited about the speed3...it could be one of the best mazda's evar!

Well, there's a pretty good chance the MS3 will be the fastest FWD production car ever.


Ike said it exactly.

Also from both the specs and the early comparison reviews vs the GTI that I've read... it does ok, but no victory. To sum up the article... the MS3 is a "hot hatch"... lots of power once the turbo kicks in... handling isn't bad... but this car seems to be more defined as trying to not be a GTI than doing better than the GTI did (translated from one magazine). The GTI had a better fit and finish, better interior materials, more upscale interior design, better ride, quieter cabin, better engine... the wide power band and power that comes on early and keeps on pulling to redline... this is according to the magazine. They thought the MS3 was a good deal as it is $10k cheaper than the GTI in Japan, but they preferred the GTI. My impression is that they thought it felt more refined. I am very interested to see how US magazines will compare the MS3 and the GTI.

japan8 i just priced a gti with trim as close as i could get and it was about 4k mpore than the MS3 GT 28 454

Sorry... I tend to always think in invoice pricing... and the GTI can easily be had at or even below invoice (around $24k for pkg 2... leather and sunroof).

The lack of full leather interior in the MS3 is a bit crappy in my book. The GTI leather seats look more "grippy" than the MS3 seats (which look like they compare better to the GTI cloth seats). If they offered the Recaro "racing" seats like they do in Europe... damn. I sat in a R32 at the Tokyo Motorshow and those seats fit like a glove.

I do worry about that engine though... the GTI has a good sized FRONT mounted intercooler and those guys are already feeling heat soak driving in-town in this hot weather. I can only imagine what it'll be like with the MS3. :sweatdrop

That being said... when a MS3 can be had at under MSRP or even invoice... it'll be a hell of a deal. How it'll really measure up to a GTI... only test drives will tell. The GTI already has a decent aftermarket that is still continuing to grow...I really do hope that the aftermarket is jumping on this car... if it can have a decent aftermarket, that'll really make this a car to have.

I'm actually considering a trade in for the new MS 3. When are they arriving?

around october is what I'm hearing from local dealers (trust that with a grain of salt), keep in mind they are going to be limited when first release so dealers are going to charge up the arse for these bad boys.

they must not have watched the video from jim osullivan

Does anyone else think the ms3 looks ugly? I would never want one, even if it is faster than our 8's.

Same way that some think the 8 looks ugly. I have never been a fan of the 3 hatch but the MS version has me raising an eyebrow.

Does anyone else think the ms3 looks ugly? I would never want one, even if it is faster than our 8's.

I still prefer the looks of the MP5.

^
You mean the Protege5?

^
You mean the Protege5?

Yep, MP5 = Mazda Protege 5.

MP5

http://www.navyseals.cz/webfoto/photo/foto_technika/palne_zbane/mp5/mp5-1.jpg

Yep, MP5 = Mazda Protege 5.

Actually I agree with you Ike.... considering I have one (Familia S-Wagon Sport 20 in Japan). I think that shape flows better... it all fits together better and I dunno... looks more sporty or something.

I do like dmp's mp5 too though...

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, the 3 looks like a pokemon. Not cool.

Actually I agree with you Ike.... considering I have one (Familia S-Wagon Sport 20 in Japan). I think that shape flows better... it all fits together better and I dunno... looks more sporty or something. I agree. The MP5 was much better looking IMO.

I think the 3 hatchback is much more handsome than the 3 sedan. Just my 2 cents!

they must not have watched the video from jim osullivan

What video is this? What's it about?

Yep, MP5 = Mazda Protege 5.

apparently you weren't on the Protege forums when the pet peeve of calling the Protege5 'MP5' was all the rage

it's not a gun!!!!

P5 is a nice car, but you wouldn't want one today because it just looks dated, interior-wise at least.