WHEELS Mazda 3 MPS/MS3 test
 

Just got the latest WHEELS Mag in the post..

The Mazda 3 MPS or Mazdaspeed 3 roadtest...

They call it a car that gets better and better the more you drive it...
it's the 'high-performance hatch that's so dam hot, its searing'!

Claiming 3.5 seconds to accelerate from 80-120k/h (48-72MPH) in third gear, saying
that it's barely one-tenth adrift of Audi's RS4.
The Renaultsport Megane 225 needs 4.0 seconds...
VW GTI takes 4.4 seconds..
Focus XR5 Turbo 4.5 seconds...

WHEELS says it can sprint faster than a Porsche 911 Carrera...3.6 sec
Holden HSV GTO (Pontiac GTO)...3.8 sec
Aston Martin V8 Vantage 4.0 sec
Falcon XR6 Turbo 4.0 sec
Subaru Impreza WRX 4.2 sec.

And the Mazda 3 MPS only needs 4.1 seconds to perform the same feat in Fourth!

Standing Start
0-60 k/m 3.4sec (36MPH)
0-80 4.6 (48MPH)
0-100 6.6sec (60MPH) (Mazda claims 6.1)
0-120 8.8 (72MPH)
0-140 11.1 (84MPH)
0-160 14.9 (96MPH)
0-400 metre (1/4 Mile) in 14.6 @158 k/m

WHEELS claim its one of the fastest FWD cars EVER!!!

WHEELS RX-8 2003
0-400 metre in 14.8 @ 155 k/m

Faster than the previous SRT-4? Either way, that's damn impressive.

However, I think those tests are merely playing to its strength: the stock torque curve looks like that of a truck engine. Because it requires short shifting, it's acceleration isn't going to match that of an RS4, GTO, etc. It'll do much better, however, once some suitable turbo modifications are available to extend the usefullness of the engine beyond 5000rpm.

That's much less impressive than I was expecting. If this car ends up being a mid to high 14 second car and traps less than 100mph it's a big failure by Mazda. Mazda SPEED you idiots!

Seems to play to this engine's strengths though... this is right in the powerband.

That's a bit disappointing. Hopfully we'll see better numbers in other magazines. Otherwise... the GTI is quicker off the line. Oddly... people have been getting better numbers with the MT than DSG in the GTI, while the magazines all get better numbers with the DSG. :confused:

Doesn't look like it yet, but I'll try to reserve final judgement until after more full magazine reviews and a test drive of both the MS3 and the GTI.

0-60 and 1/4 mi numbers are what most people care about in the US. Sadly, those numbers aren't impressive. I guess Mazda doesn't want to make the car that much faster than its more expensive flagship cars (i.e. MS6 & RX-8).

they said ONE of- it doesnt look like one OF to you?

A bit too general a statement don't you think? As an example... if the Neon SRT-4, Coblat SS and GTI all out perform it, it ties with the Civic Si and is faster than a Scion Tc and Hyundai Tiburon... then that statement doesn't really say much.

The problem is that based on those straight line numbers given they don't outperform it! It actually looks like a drivers race! I looked at Caranddriver.com and Roadandtrack.com and both show the GTI with a quicker 0-60 but when bumped up against the numbers shown here the Mazdaspeed 3 beats it in the 1/4 mile by .1 and .2 if I remember correctly! Road and Tracks numbers for the SRT-4 from the 9-04 issue show it doing the 1/4 mile in 14.5sec@98mph. If you look at the Mazdaspeed's numbers of 14.6sec@98mph then it is "one of the faster FWD cars"! BTW a conversion tool will reveal that 400meters is roughly a 1/4 mile and that 158kph is about 98mph. But I guess we will all have to wait for the U.S. mags to do a head to head comparison!

^ The cars I named were just as an example... hypothetical... I didn't know if any or all were clearly faster, just that the numbers would at least be close enough for the illustration purposes.

The trap speed shows the power. The et shows the lack of traction.

The SRT-4 can run 13.8 @ 103mph quite easily and has been replicated by many owners as well as some mags. Yeah, the Mazdaspeed numbers aren't bad but they're nothing to really make anyone take notice.

Here are some more numbers..... from "WHEELS"
I have included a quick conversion to MPH (Times first 2 digits by 6 ie. 100KMH..10x6= 60MPH)


Power to weight 134kW/tonne
Speed at Indicated 100Km/h :94

Speed in Gears..
1...55km @ 6500rpm (33MPH)
2...86km @ 6500 (53)
3..125km @ " (75)
4..164km @ " (104)
5..209km @ " (126)
6..250km @ 6100(150)

Rolling Acceleration 3rd,4th,5th,6th.
80-120KMH (48-72MPH) 3.5/4.1/5.1/7.8 Seconds.

WHEELS here have the GTI (March 2006 issue in a 21 car track comparo)
with a standing 400metre (1/4 mile) at 15.4sec
0-100 (60MPH) at 7.6

Based on 7 disciplines, Lap times,Cornering,Slalom,Braking,Acceleration,Theory (PW),Scoring.

1.Evo IX won the comparo 13.8sec 400 metres
2.BMW M3 13.7
3.Boxster 14.9
4.STI 13.8
5.Elise111R 14.5
6.RX-8 14.8
7.350Z 35th Anniversary 14.7
8. MX-5 (New) 16.1
9. Holden HSV Clubsport 13.8
10. Liberty GT 14.8
11.Commodore SS 14.1
12.Renaultsport Clio 182 Cup 15.4
13.Porsche Cayenne 15.1
14.Honda Accord Euro 15.8
15.Range Rover Sport 15.3
16.Mitsubishi 380 (Galant) VRX 16.3
17.GTI 15.4
18.Ford Focus Zetec 16.8
19.Ford Fiest Zetec 17.7
20.Astra(Opel) CDX Coupe 17.7
21. Commodore Executive 15.8.

I don't know what's up with WHEELS... these mags all got better numbers ...

Road & Track (April 2006)
0-1320ft (1/4mile) 14.8 @ 94.6mph

0-10mph 0.6
0-20mph 1.5
0-30mph 2.4
0-40mph 3.4
0-50mph 4.7
0-60mph 6.3
0-70mph 8.1
0-80mph 10.4
0-90mph 13.30
0-100mph 16.5
0-110mph 21.4

Evo Magazine
0-60mph 6.7
1/4mile 15.4 @ 92.6mph


Car and Driver (March 2006)

0-60mph 6.6
0-100mph 17.0
0-120mph 28.0
1/4-mile@mph 14.9@95
rolling 5-60mph 6.9
top gear 30-50mph 3.3
top gear 50-70mph 4.3


European Car
0-60mph 6.0
0-100mph 16.7


mph (March 2006)

0-30mph 2.6
0-40mph 3.5
0-50mph 4.8
0-60mph 6.3
0-70mph 8.2
0-80mph 10.5
0-90mph 13.6
0-100mph 17.4
5-60mph street start 6.4
Standing 1/4-mile 15.0 @ 94mph
30-50mph passing 3.1
50-70mph passing 4.1

There are more here if you want to check them out...
http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47

NOTE: these are for the GTI

14.8 is a lot slower then it should be with all that power. I'm wondering if the tires have something to do with it....

If I'm not mistaken, Wheels always has slower times. Some rags don't launch the hell out of the car for the test. Edmunds does the same thing.

I don't want to go in circles about this but the problem is that the SRT-4 is readily available on the streets as we speak! With the numbers that we have from publications at this time it's no worse than the other cars that we are comparing it to (especially with the numbers that were available for them at the time of thier release). If there were a finalized, broken in version then it would be worthy of knocking the car but we really don't know where this Mazdaspeed 3 stands! It really is a wait and see thing. Especially if that rumor about it actually having the same power as the Mazdaspeed 6 holds any water (I'm not saying it is rated the same...just if it is). Well, either way in due time we will see if it is special or another Mazda HP controversy! Even though it may be another blow to the RX-8 I am hoping it is a beast of a little car!

Who gives a crap how fast the SRT-4 is. Its an ugly piece of shit NEON, there are go-karts faster than all these cars you talk about, I would'nt want to drive one every day. The SRT-4 is good for what is was made for, autocrossing, street racing and who got the fastest car arguments at Dennys at 3.00am in the morning. ALL the cars GTI, MS3, RX-8, MS-6 etc, etc are better in every way to a DODGE NEON!!! Who cares.

The Mazda 3 Speed will be nice car, quick car, I own the 6 Speed and its not all about whos car is fastest. The MIDRANGE of this 2.3 Turbo motor is incredible, an Audi S4 new model could not shake me in my MS6. From 70 to 100 in 4th is INCREDIBLE

Actually it is already finalized and on sale in Japan... maybe Europe too.

I'll admit finalized was a wrong choice of words! What I was implying was cars in the hands of owners who actually took them to the track and proved or disproved being able to repeat the numbers given by the few publications that have tested them as well as the car being more widely tested! I really do want to see what numbers mags like Motor Trend, Car & Driver, Road & Track, etc get out of the Mazdaspeed 3 (maybe because those are more easily available to me). I really don't know what to expect of it but I am not willing to write it off as just another also ran just yet (especially when you talk about it being faster than a Porsche in certain acceleration tests)!

Edit: We also can't forget that these cars were not necessarily all tested in the same place under the same conditions. Being a car with a turbo I think that could be huge if it wasn't perfect temperature, altitude, etc.! That's why I'd prefer to see a head to head!