MS3. Who would have thought?
#1
.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Motorcity
Posts: 1,306
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
MS3. Who would have thought?
I posted a few weeks ago that I sold my 2006 Mustang GT to get something with a more practical back seat (kids). I bought a Cosmic Blue 2007 MS3 GT and after 2 weeks I can honestly say it's my favorite car of all that I have owned. I've owned 5 different Mustangs, Lincoln LS, Mazda RX8, Contour SVT and various SUV's. The MS3 is by far the most fun I've ever had behind the wheel of a car. Don't get me wrong, it's not the fastest car I've owned......but there is something about how a small car amplifies the perception of speed. I'm not saying the MS3 isn't a fast car, it is. What I'm saying is it 'feels' faster than Mustangs I've had that I knew where much faster in reality.
If you've never had the chance to drive an MS3......I highly recommend taking the time to do so. You will not be disappointed.
If you've never had the chance to drive an MS3......I highly recommend taking the time to do so. You will not be disappointed.
#2
Rotards Unite!
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Morris County, NJ
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Already going to be driving one. Mazda is giving me one when I go in for my 15k mile service next week. Can't wait to see if it really is hyped up or not.
#7
Registered
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Conroe, Texas
Posts: 397
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I posted a few weeks ago that I sold my 2006 Mustang GT to get something with a more practical back seat (kids). I bought a Cosmic Blue 2007 MS3 GT and after 2 weeks I can honestly say it's my favorite car of all that I have owned. I've owned 5 different Mustangs, Lincoln LS, Mazda RX8, Contour SVT and various SUV's. The MS3 is by far the most fun I've ever had behind the wheel of a car. Don't get me wrong, it's not the fastest car I've owned......but there is something about how a small car amplifies the perception of speed. I'm not saying the MS3 isn't a fast car, it is. What I'm saying is it 'feels' faster than Mustangs I've had that I knew where much faster in reality.
If you've never had the chance to drive an MS3......I highly recommend taking the time to do so. You will not be disappointed.
If you've never had the chance to drive an MS3......I highly recommend taking the time to do so. You will not be disappointed.
You get the same effect riding a fast motorcycle. I can remember the first time I rode a friend's Kawi ZX 11 back in like 1991. You look down at an overly optimistic speedo indicating a ridiculous amount of speed and your head is bobbing around with the wind just a howling.....same kind of sensation.
#9
.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Motorcity
Posts: 1,306
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I liked the RX8 also......and it was definitely better looking. But where I live I never got to really apreciate the RX8's strengths. With the grid-like road design I usually had to deal with the RX8's main weakness (no low-end torque) which kind of ends the honeymoon pretty quickly. In another time and place I will definitely get another RX8.
#13
The anti-ricer
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Hillsdale, NJ
Posts: 1,888
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I test drove, and plan on buying, an 08 MS3. I really liked it. I wish it were something else other than FWD, but while driving it, I didn't really notice it was FWD, there was no torque steer (as compared to my dads TL-S). For the money, I think the MS3 is the best choice.
#14
I zoom therefore I am.
really? My friend has a speed3 and I always felt the torque steer... it is a fun car though.
#15
IstanbulNotConstantinople
I posted this in another thread where we were discussing cars.
I have not driven the MS3, but Car & Driver seems to agree with you guys.
I have not driven the MS3, but Car & Driver seems to agree with you guys.
#16
Grand Chancellor
there's no perceivable torque steer is because the ms3 reign in the power delivery in the 1-2 gears. I hate anything that robs the car of power. But I can see why it has to be done due to poor FWD designs.
#17
Has the whole shit.
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 1,772
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would say it's excellent design, not poor design at all. This car will STILL freely break traction in first and second gear despite the limited power - allowing for full on boosting would just be a waste of your tires. Plus, despite the "limited" power, it's still apt to yank you into another lane if you're not paying attention. Sure it would be better if this thing were AWD or RWD, but it's pretty damn fast, stable, and neutral for a FWD car.
No need to be afraid of our faster little econocars.
No need to be afraid of our faster little econocars.
#18
DaveCm
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Central North Carolina
Posts: 670
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You get the same effect riding a fast motorcycle. I can remember the first time I rode a friend's Kawi ZX 11 back in like 1991. You look down at an overly optimistic speedo indicating a ridiculous amount of speed and your head is bobbing around with the wind just a howling.....same kind of sensation.
I love my motorcycle.
#20
Grand Chancellor
I would say it's excellent design, not poor design at all. This car will STILL freely break traction in first and second gear despite the limited power - allowing for full on boosting would just be a waste of your tires. Plus, despite the "limited" power, it's still apt to yank you into another lane if you're not paying attention. Sure it would be better if this thing were AWD or RWD, but it's pretty damn fast, stable, and neutral for a FWD car.
No need to be afraid of our faster little econocars.
No need to be afraid of our faster little econocars.
Never owned a FWD in my life. Not gonna start either. Even if it is nuclear powered.
#22
Has the whole shit.
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 1,772
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I said the same thing, but I now realize just how well balanced an FWD car can be. Basically, aside from low friction surfaces, the only time I've gotten this thing to understeer has been making a u-turn at about 30 and flooring it less than halfway through. And even then, it wasn't plowing completely off course. I have been impressed.
#23
jersey fresh
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 3,688
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
torque steer isn't because of "poor design", it's from physics, all hi-power fwd cars have it. Mazda rightly (and smartly) designed the MS3 to deal more easily with torgue-steer. Don't knock the MS3 (talking you to rx8 fanbois), it'll handle with the best of them and hang with you through the turns (and def the straights.)
I would love to test drive one, it truely deserves the mazdaspeed name from what I here.
I would love to test drive one, it truely deserves the mazdaspeed name from what I here.
#24
Has the whole shit.
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 1,772
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You know, I think I would like the MS3 more than the 8 if it just had a better driving feel. I'm convinced it can handle nearly as well, but the sharp and connected feel communicated by the 8 isn't there.
Oh and if you ever test drive one, be warned that the power surges like you wouldn't believe. It caught me off guard the first time I drove one. It's not smooth like the 8, it starts off slow, then suddenly LEAPS forward in a haze of frantic acceleration (it feels really frantic too), then dies after about 6k or 6500. You shift and it all repeats, it's great.
Oh and if you ever test drive one, be warned that the power surges like you wouldn't believe. It caught me off guard the first time I drove one. It's not smooth like the 8, it starts off slow, then suddenly LEAPS forward in a haze of frantic acceleration (it feels really frantic too), then dies after about 6k or 6500. You shift and it all repeats, it's great.
Last edited by Rhawb; 11-14-2007 at 09:19 PM.
#25
Blue By You
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Milwaukee
Posts: 8,717
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mazda robbed the RX-8 of power a few times, yet you still seem to like them...