i dont lik ethe dash layout but other than that i like it

 

really,

i thought the dash rocked the 09. i drove both back to back..

the only thing i wish was they had the 09 gt seats in the 10. i would likely have one by now.. no love for the red checkered what ever the f the seats are.

but not a deal killer..

btw, are cars are twins!

beers

 

They are in desperate need of a new nose, but the rest of the '10 looks great. And it does drive much better, dealer let me take one out last week. The worst thing about the old one was how much nose dive you got on turn-in. Mid-turn and exit was good, but the initial squish and understeer was very un-Mazda like. The new one feels totally different. And with the new one it feels like it goes a bit higher in the revs before running out of steam, which is a big thing. The old one made 1st and 2nd gear almost unusable because you'd be past the powerband before you knew it.

The '10 is definitely a better car, just a hideous nose.

 

^ I've read in the reviews so far that Mazda made a point of making the power more useable throughout the power band and solidified the already good handling.

The 2010 is more really an evolution more than the revolution that the first MS3 was. This generation Mazda3 follows the evolution path. Guess they didn't want to mess with success.

 

We have a MPS6 (US mazdaspeed6) in the family. So it has AWD at the expense of approx 200kgs extra over the MPS3. Personally I think it's well worth it as it sooooo sure footed it isn't funny. It carves all type of road conditions with confidence incl gravel and snow. For all practical purposes the turbo 3 and turbo 6 are effectively as quick as one another. The 3 is probably more engaging, it just depends where you put your focus in cars.

I think the combinations of FWD, RWD, AWD (split system), light weight cars, heavy, sports, sedan, family that Mazda offers...is really excellent, you can pick what you want.

 

This is a really cool car that probably would have gone for $25K+ before the economy took a dump. I just don't know if I could pull the trigger on a another FWD sports car considering cars like WRX hatch, A4 hatch and even the Legacy GT wagon provide the same level of practicality and performance potential on an AWD platform.

They already do. It's called a Subaru STi.

 

Im not feeling the grilles style as well as the size, that rear roof wing is ricer huge now, and I like to old MS3 dash better as well.

 

I'm actually starting to like the new style, the only problem i see is if you want to debadge it, the front might be a little problematic

 

just to update a couple of things in this thread..

the wheels are 18 x 7.5 52 offset.. the 52 kinda sucks.. my rx8 track wheels and tires are going to be very close.

i picked it up for 500 bucks below invoice + ttl. nothing else added. got the tech package..

so far mpg has been about 25mpg. with moderate driving..

no issues at ~2k miles other than a little seat movement, and i think there is a tsb out for that...

the hardest thing to like about this car is trying not to mod it..

beers

 

I got to drive an 2009 (1st gen, prior to 2010 refresh) Mazdaspeed 3 today. I have driven a stock Evo 9 MR S.E. before and I guess the only valid comparison is to compare it against that.

Here are some quick Pros & Cons:

Pros:
- Great torque with minimul turbolag. Power is close to a Evo 9 MR but with less 2nd gear lag
- Seats me gusta (though suedes got the epic butt sweat syndrome)
- Interior is head and shoulders above an Evo 9
- Sounds like a boxer. Fuel cut sounds awesome
- Rides much better than an Evo 9. Though not surprising

Cons:
- Vague shifter, typical fwd linkage. The Evo 9 MR also has a vague shifter, but the MS3 is rubbery
- 1st and 2nd gear torque steer. Though not ****-BRICKS status, but its definitely there when whomping on it
- Apparently good handling for a FWD in reviews, but obviously, its still not an Evo

Thats about it. Nothing special. If money was an issue, then perhaps I would consider the MS3. Insurance is much cheaper and it is slightly better on gas, all while being more practical and comfortable. The way I look at it is, in an MS3, you get 90% of the power in an Evo without the AWD while you pay 75% of the price. I would still save up for an Evo 9 MR, because the MS3 does not give me the wow factor.

 

Sometimes it takes time for a car's styling to grow on you. Not so with the 2nd gen MS3. It still looks like it's smiling to me. If I want a fast hatch I'd probably look at a Subaru. The '11 STi also handles a lot better than earlier STi hatches.

 

My 2009 hasn't held up well at all. I haven't beat on it at all, but the shocks were toast before 40k miles and the interior literally sounds like it's coming apart at the seams. I'm disappointed, because I had planned to keep it at least 2 more years, but I don't feel like I can trust it.

 

I saw a Mazdaspeed3 a few months ago on the highway. That thing was hopping like a pogo stick.

I was looking into getting a MS3 a few years back, but decided against one. There is the issue of the shocks as you already mentioned, motor mounts failures, turbo seal failure, and apparently we are not the only ones blowing motors.

http://www.mazdaspeedforums.org/foru...e-thread-6113/