Any Speed 3 drivers here?

billbillw · August 2009

I know I've posted my fondness of the Mazdaspeed3 a few times here and strongly urged at least one person to go test drive one before he ended up choosing something else that was much more of a girlie car (no names mentioned). I don't know if I've ever seen anyone actually post whether they own one of these or not.

Anyway, I'm just curious if there were any owners here because after 9 years of playing it safe and driving a 'nice' car (Passat), I'm ready to drive something with attitude again and the Speed3 is my #1 choice right now.

I found this one close to me, 13 month old 2008 model with only 12,500 miles and like showroom condition. Priced well below NADA value too. (this market is really producing some great deals)

I'm ready to take the jump this week.

FYI, this is 263 HP-280FT/lb torque in a 3100lb car. It flies. That torque peak is at 3000 rpm too, so you don't have to rev the snot out of it. I drove it last Thursday and had a ear to ear smile for the entire 7 mile test drive (which was on some fairly twisty roads too).

ohskigod · August 2009

billbillw wrote: »

I know I've posted my fondness of the Mazdaspeed3 a few times here and strongly urged at least one person to go test drive one before he ended up choosing something else that was much more of a girlie car (no names mentioned).

nah, I know your not baggin on my cube bro!!!! LOL

actually, havent sat in the recent gen car but did when it first came out, little too small for me man, it was on a list of sport/sporty cars I liked when I ultimatly got my stang in 07 (along with the mazdasped6 which sadly they do not make anymore).

it's handling is no surprise, it is built on the same frame and platform as my Volvo S40, but stiffened to a further degree for the speed3 (which is just silly....in a good way)

Never sat in the new one though, whoever buys one is getting a damn good car.

billbillw · August 2009

ohskigod wrote: »

nah, I know your not baggin on my cube bro!!!! LOL

actually, havent sat in the recent gen car but did when it first came out, little too small for me man, it was on a list of sport/sporty cars I liked when I ultimatly got my stang in 07 (along with the mazdasped6 which sadly they do not make anymore).

it's handling is no surprise, it is built on the same frame and platform as my Volvo S40, but stiffened to a further degree for the speed3 (which is just silly....in a good way)

Never sat in the new one though, whoever buys one is getting a damn good car.

Nope, you weren't who I was thinking of. I wouldn't call the cube a girlie car anyway. Its too utilitarian to be deemed girlie.

audiobliss · August 2009

Man, do I wish I were! I drive a 2005 Mazda3 and am reduced to a quivering mass with prolific droolage issues every time I see a Speed3 go by.

I can't even imagine how much fun one of those would be.

billbillw · August 2009

I've only seen a handful of them on the streets, but funny thing is, I saw one that looked identical to this red one on my way home from work the other day. Supposedly, Mazda only made 5000 of the Speed versions for 07 and 08, and I think it might have been even less for 09.

comfortablycurt · August 2009

I've got a friend that has a Speed3. It's a pretty fun car to drive...it's got a reasonable amount of pep to it.

Not really my cup of tea though. The styling of it doesn't really do it for me personally.

Congrats on the new ride though!!

concealer404 · August 2009

They're insanely popular where i am.... i see at least 2-3 on a normal day going to and from work.

They're nifty. I drove one, and it was entertaining, but i found the Speed 6 to be a better car for my tastes. The Speed 3 to me straddled the line of sporty and heavy/comfort, but couldn't find it's nice balance. The Speed 6 did that much better, to me.

Plus... the fact that both my roomate and i broke engine mounts on our test drives of the Speed 3 didn't bode well, either. SCARY noise/feeling when the manifold nails the firewall.

Granted, we were driving them pretty hard, but that's the point of a test drive. Talking to the service manager at that same dealership, (good friend of mine, gives me the hookup on the parts for the MX6) he says that it's a very common problem.

Besides that.... i liked it. It had enough power to keep me entertained, although the dramatic power curve drop off was pretty disappointing.

It'd be pretty high on my list if i were shopping for a relatively cheap, utilitarian but still fun car.

Have you driven a Speed 6? If you haven't, you need to.

billbillw · August 2009

Curt, haven't got it yet. Some things need to fall in place first.

Concealer,
Yeah, the motor mount thing was pretty common and ended up being a recall issue due to improper torque specs during assembly. That shouldn't be an issue on this one.

I haven't driven the Speed6. They quit making those in 07 right? Not really fond of the looks and also haven't run across any low mileage/under warranty ones anyway. I do like the AWD aspect of the Speed6 though. That is probably the only thing I don't like about the 3, especially after I've told myself for years that I was going to get a RWD or AWD car next.

concealer404 · August 2009

billbillw wrote: »

Curt, haven't got it yet. Some things need to fall in place first.

Concealer,
Yeah, the motor mount thing was pretty common and ended up being a recall issue due to improper torque specs during assembly. That shouldn't be an issue on this one.

I haven't driven the Speed6. They quit making those in 07 right? Not really fond of the looks and also haven't run across any low mileage/under warranty ones anyway. I do like the AWD aspect of the Speed6 though. That is probably the only thing I don't like about the 3, especially after I've told myself for years that I was going to get a RWD or AWD car next.

I'd say drive one.... I agree that they don't look as good as the regular 6s, at least from the front, but the interiors are great in them, they ride a lot better, feel more stable, and don't torque steer to hell and back. And the AWD, a very good thing when harnessed with an engine like that. Which, coincidentally, is stronger in the Speed 6.

If you can get around the looks difference (though personally, i don't find either of them THAT attractive), then i believe the 6 is a better car.

But like you say, if you can't find one, you can't find one.

The mount.... i'm not saying i tore it out or unfastened it or anything. I'm saying i cracked the sucker in half. As did my roomate. Not a dealbreaker, but the first things i would do to these cars would be:

1) Aftermarket solid poly mount
2) AEM intake
3) Cobb flash

Call it a day. Probably some suspension... i wasn't real impressed with how they felt. Combination of being heavy and a really front heavy car. But, the handling aspect, i'm really spoiled, so don't let my thoughts bother you too much. I'm often found driving a 2300lb Celica with a full race-prepped autocross suspension setup to work.

Willow · August 2009

My brother just bought an 08 on Saturday. I have yet to see. When I asked him when he is coming over he replied he's to excited to think about it. Guess he's loving his car.

here it is, this is the one he bought
http://buzzlot.com/root/includes/showpicture.asp?vehicle_id=JM1BK34L081799471&img=/root/data/automanager/dilawri%20auto%20group/5665A(2).jpg&showContact=N&lang=US&forceResize=False

goingganzo · August 2009

i think i will stick with my is 250 awd

bobman1235 · August 2009

I'm a Subaru guy myself.

Spec-wise the WRX is almost identical (the Speed3 is a little higher on the torque numbers, and as you mention the power-band is lower), but with teh WRX you get all wheel drive instead of (ugh) front-wheel. So same price for the same specs, but AWD? Seems like a no-brainer.

ALthough I do like the styling of the Mazda better, especially living in New ENgland I'd much rather have the All-Wheel drive.

billbillw · August 2009

bobman1235 wrote: »

I'm a Subaru guy myself.

Spec-wise the WRX is almost identical (the Speed3 is a little higher on the torque numbers, and as you mention the power-band is lower), but with teh WRX you get all wheel drive instead of (ugh) front-wheel. So same price for the same specs, but AWD? Seems like a no-brainer.

ALthough I do like the styling of the Mazda better, especially living in New ENgland I'd much rather have the All-Wheel drive.

Bob,
I'd love a WRX, but in every situation I find, the WRX is significantly more money for a comparably equipped model.

Here's the thing, I'm trying to keep the payment on this car relatively low since I still have about 2 years of payments left on my wife's Odyssey van. I can't stand the idea of two big car payments.

So, its either find something I can get by financing $10-14k, or keep driving my 130,000 mile, 9 year old Passat for another two years, which would actually be the sensible thing. Like I said in my original post, I'm tired of being sensible and want to have some fun driving again.

If you are looking at 2008 models, the WRX was pretty soft and was significantly down on HP/Torque compared to the Speed3. 2009 is a different story, but I'm not looking at new cars and there are very few 09 WRX on the used market.

Ganzo,
You can keep your Lexus AWD. That Lexus may be cushy and nice, but its not in the same performance league as the WRX and Mazdaspeed. 185 ft-lb torque vs 280 for the Mazdaspeed (or ~260 for the WRX). That AWD only comes with an auto trans too. Boring.

Willow · August 2009

billbillw wrote: »

Like I said in my original post, I'm tired of being sensible and want to have some fun driving again.

I know how you feel about the sensible part. Why does that always come up when we get older?!

bobman1235 · August 2009

Hey Bill, didn't realize you were looking used. Good luck!

concealer404 · August 2009

What's the specs on the Passat? What motor, transmission? Those cars have enormous performance potential depending on what exactly it is... If it's a manual, chances are you could stomp the Speed 3 for a much smaller investment.

billbillw · August 2009

concealer404 wrote: »

What's the specs on the Passat? What motor, transmission? Those cars have enormous performance potential depending on what exactly it is... If it's a manual, chances are you could stomp the Speed 3 for a much smaller investment.

Its a 9 year old Passat...I'm tired of it. I'm the original owner. Time for something different. Besides, its the V6/manual, which doesn't have the easy upgrades like the turbo 1.8.

concealer404 · August 2009

billbillw wrote: »

Its a 9 year old Passat...I'm tired of it. I'm the original owner. Time for something different. Besides, its the V6/manual, which doesn't have the easy upgrades like the turbo 1.8.

Sell it to me for cheap?

I love the VR6, you can make them SCREAM.

But yes, i understand getting tired of cars... it's rare for me to have the same car for 2 years.

billbillw · August 2009

concealer404 wrote: »

Sell it to me for cheap?

I love the VR6, you can make them SCREAM.

But yes, i understand getting tired of cars... it's rare for me to have the same car for 2 years.

Its not the VR6. Its the 2.8L 30V motor that was developed by Audi.

concealer404 · August 2009

billbillw wrote: »

Its not the VR6. Its the 2.8L 30V motor that was developed by Audi.

It's a 99? Weird. Well, i learn something new every day.

It's cool, i love Audi motors, too.

billbillw · August 2009

concealer404 wrote: »

It's a 99? Weird. Well, i learn something new every day.

It's cool, i love Audi motors, too.

Its a 2000, but all the B5/5.5 Passats (98-05) have the Audi motors. Either the Audi V6 or the Audi 1.8T

concealer404 · August 2009

Hurf.... i swear to god i know what year it is... really.

billbillw · August 2009

You're so two thousand and Late!

concealer404 · August 2009

billbillw wrote: »

You're so two thousand and Late!

:eek:

I don't think i like you anymore.......

billbillw · August 2009

Oh common, who doesn't like the BEP? That's my 2 1/2 year old son's favorite song right now.

concealer404 · August 2009

billbillw wrote: »

Oh common, who doesn't like the BEP? That's my 2 1/2 year old son's favorite song right now.

I'm not 2 and a half....

I'm so over that song. Our local radio stations have a budget to buy about... 5 songs a month, and they all get played at least twice an hour. When i heard that song 27 times in one day, i was done.

billbillw · August 2009

concealer404 wrote: »

I'm not 2 and a half....

I'm so over that song. Our local radio stations have a budget to buy about... 5 songs a month, and they all get played at least twice an hour. When i heard that song 27 times in one day, i was done.

audiobliss · August 2009

Very nice! Congrats! I know you're really going to enjoy driving that!

billbillw · August 2009

audiobliss wrote: »

Very nice! Congrats! I know you're really going to enjoy driving that!

Hopefully, I don't enjoy it too much if you know what I mean.

The last time I had a fast red car, I racked up several tickets in short period of time. Of course, that was a Mustang GT, and I was 19-21 years old, in a small town.

I like to think that almost 20 years later, I have a little more self control and common sense.

BlueFox · August 2009

audiobliss wrote: »

Man, do I wish I were! I drive a 2005 Mazda3 and am reduced to a quivering mass with prolific droolage issues every time I see a Speed3 go by.

I can't even imagine how much fun one of those would be.

Same here, a 2005 Mazda3S sedan. I call it my mini-Lexus. I would not mind getting a Mazadaspeed3, but not if it is a hatchback.

audiobliss · August 2009

BlueFox wrote: »

Same here, a 2005 Mazda3S sedan. I call it my mini-Lexus. I would not mind getting a Mazadaspeed3, but not if it is a hatchback.

The Speed3 only comes in hatch form. And for me that's fine, 'cause I prefer the hatch version. But I guess you'll just have to turbocharge your sedan yourself and come up with your own Speed3.

Any Speed 3 drivers here?

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