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.

 

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.

 

I love mine too, but I think I loved my 8 better. The MS3 is still one seriously awesome car though.

 

I was disappointed in the MS3 - to me it felt as thought it was taking corners on it top-toes. VERY nose-heavy sensation.

Otherwise, sure was fun.

 

i dont like the 4 door hatchback, is a turbo grocery getter

 

Test-drove one before I bought my 8. It was fun, but I still bought the 8. Much, much more fun. And better looking, too.

 

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 get groceries all the time in my RX8. (shrug).

 

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.

 

dont knock the ms3, its a badass car.

 

MS3 is a fun car, not badass.

 

Nothing Mazda builds is "badass"......everything they offer is just "fun" cars.

 

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.

 

really? My friend has a speed3 and I always felt the torque steer... it is a fun car though.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

It is not an effect on a motorcycle. Motorcycles are way quicker than cars. Power to weight ratio. Most motorcycles will hit 100 mph under 6 sec.

I love my motorcycle.

 

ok,sorry its a fun car!

 

A well designed car will utilise all the power and effectively distribute them for maximum energy transfer. Instead of resorting to electronic gizmos to reign it in.
Never owned a FWD in my life. Not gonna start either. Even if it is nuclear powered.

 

i had a 93 626, and it blew, i hate FWD, if the MS3 wasnt FWD and a hatchback, then i might have bought it, but i do REALLY like the MS6 too. but i love my 8

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Mazda robbed the RX-8 of power a few times, yet you still seem to like them...