metroplex

I'm considering buying a new Mazda3 based on the amount of options included in the Grand Touring package, S-Plan/X-Plan pricing, and the overall styling. The 4-door S GT package appears to have Homelink, HIDs, a moonroof, etc... My questions are:

1). What kind of tires does the car come with? Goodyear Eagle RS-As in 205/50R17? I know these are one of the worst tires you can put on any car, but I plan to drive the Mazda3 in the winter. Should I get high-performance winter tires or are there any good all-season tires available in this size?

2). What kind of engine does the S GT receive? The same 2.3L DOHC I4 used in the 2007 Focus ST (North American ST)? How reliable is it, and how well does it perform?

3). The Mazdaspeed3 carries a slightly higher MSRP but it isn't listed on the S-Plan sheet and I heard rumors there are only 5000 in the US and the 2008s are going to be limited as well. I smell excessive ADMs... I really want to place a factory order using my S-Plan PIN since this is such a painless way to buy a car. How much more is the Mazdaspeed3 based on real street prices?

4). What kind of gas mileage are you getting?

5). How comfortable is it to drive on long trips?

6). How is the visibility?

7). Are there any must-have options, or anything bad I should know about?

8). How expensive is it to install a limited slip differential and should I get one for driving in the snow?

The Honda Civic Si Coupe is something I am considering, but it does not have HIDs, Homelink, or even foglights.

Roddimus Prime

Buy the MS3 and if they won't honor the S-Xplan then just haggle with them. It's worth it. It's a very fast car and it'll have a LSD built in as opposed to you spending another $2500 buying one and having it installed.

You should buy spare steel rims with good snow tires on them...don't get high performance tires. They already come with them.

Welcome to the forum

p.s. I have a MS6 and my co-worker has a new civic Si and he kicks himself every day he see's my MS6 pull up next to him and he realizes how bad his decision was. 190hp+130tq vs 275hp+280tq

JoshP5

Kumho ASX and Falken 912 are both great all-season tires that come in 205/50R17, <$100 each.

metroplex

Thanks for the welcome!

The MS6 is a very nice car, but it weighs a lot more than the MS3 so the weight:hp ratio isn't as good. The cool thing is that the S-Plan can be used on the MS6. The AWD also makes it competitive with the Impreza WRX.

I doubt dealers will even let you haggle with the MS3 considering it is a rare/limited edition car. It's not on the S-Plan price sheet, so I'm expecting massive ADMs. The GT500's MSRP is about $40k, but the street price has been around $50k-$75k for awhile.

I read some of the reviews for the 912 and ASX and I'm not sure if I'd be comfortable driving them in light snow??
Thanks for the welcome!

My current winter car is a 00 Crown Vic with Dunlop Graspic DS-1s and a Traction-Lok LSD. I really wanted a winter car with a manual, so I wouldn't have withdrawal symptoms from not driving the S197 GT. I was hoping the Mazda3 would use a more moderate tire size so I could slap on GY TripleTreds or a set of good all-seasons that would run well in light to medium snow rather than get dedicated snow tires.

I don't plan to buy steel wheels for winter tires; whatever tires I get will go on the original wheels. I've done the winter wheel/tire combo thing and the logistics are horrible.

I wish Mazda used the 205/55R16s for the S GT trim, because the TripleTreds are available in this size. The 205/50R17 is a lousy size with mostly Ultra High Perf All-Seasons available or expensive snow tires. I want my HIDs, that is for sure.

I'd consider a Impreza, but the styling is pretty horrible (IMHO), with the new 08s being slightly more palatable.

JoshP5

I don't think you can do much better w/out going to dedicated winter tires.

I have Falken 512s which eat rain alive and do decently in an inch of snow, as long as you don't do anything nutty. The 912 succeeds the 512 and is supposedly even better. They'll be my next tire. Or the ASX.

metroplex

Thanks for the tip. I'll keep the ASX in my bookmark folder for future tires.

When is the next re-design/re-style of the Mazda3 due?

shep61487

supposedly its due for a major redesign in 09' or 10', but you can tell the difference between every year, because there's been small updates every year from mechanical to appearance, to interior, to wheel selection . . .

This is the regular 3 of course, the mazdaspeed3 has yet to be updated . . .

Roddimus Prime

I only mentioned the MS6 because it's what I personally own but don't think for a second the MS6 is slower than the MS3. The MS3 is a lot like the Neon SRT4. It's great from a roll but can't do **** from a dig.

While you MS3 guys are smoking up the tires I'm already 2 car lengths ahead and you won't walk me by the end of the quarter. Now from a 60mph kick in 3rd it's a different story. The MS3 should pull slightly...but both cars are VERY capable.


p.s. Don't ever buy into that bullshit that you can't haggle on a MS vehicle. I chew dealers up on that crap and always buy mine below invoice.

metroplex

I haggle a lot and the only time I have ever been able to factory order a new car below invoice was with the X-Plan.

I'm using the weight to power ratio for comparisons and it hasn't led me astray yet unless the manufacturer was lying about the curb weight and/or engine power output.

Roddimus Prime

not everybody is cut out for car haggling. I've worked for several dealers in my area and I'm on my 6th mazda in 6 years. They know me by now when I show up at the dealership.

As for the power/weight comparison you forget several key factors. The only one (that is also the biggest one) in this comparison is TRACTION. The MS3 can't launch hard for ****. The MS6 will get a holeshot jump everytime and hold it off through the quartermile.

Stock MS6's are doing 13.7's while stock MS3's are seeing 14 flats....traction limited. You take away traction (say from a 65mph kick) and the story is different and you'd be right....but I'm already repeating what I said in my first post.

x2lacrosse

While the MS6 is a decent looking car (except for that rear bumper) and is an animal in terms of performance, comparing it to a Civic SI doesn't make sense. The better comparison would be to a TSX or an Accord V6, 6spd. In terms of speed and handling, the MS6 owns the TSX and is slightly better than the Accord in a straight line but still eats it on the twisties. But, factor EVERYTHING in and either the TSX or Accord will be the better choice for someone looking for more than just speed.

x2lacrosse

We just bought a 3s-GT and it has everything except for the NAV. It does come with some very sweet features and is pretty easy on the eyes. Even the GT version does NOT come with a moonroof though, you have to find one with the Moonroof and Bose Package. In terms of features, nothing in its class can touch it.
BUT, it is pretty damn slow. Even though it has a bigger engine and higher torque rating, it doesn't feel as strong as my RSX-S. Give those two facts, I thought that I would feel a stronger surge when driving it, but it's not there. I don't know if it has DBW and that is what is ruining it or what.

Yes, it comes with those Goodyears, so you should upgrade the tires ASAP.

As far as a Civic SI, it really depends on what is more important to you. If it's just about performance, then I'd go with the MS3 over the SI over the 3s-GT. If you're looking for other things like reliability, resale value, etc, I'd opt for the Honda. Mazda makes some cool cars, but Honda and Toyota still rule the world when it comes to overall value. Good luck with your decision, I think you'll be satisfied any way you go.

shep61487

1. Obviously the type S is going to feel quicker than a grand touring, its a much lighter car, has a a six speed tranny, and has over 40 more horses than the MAzda 3s Grand Touring, Honda made it clear long ago that displacement means nothing, so don't try to make the .3 liters more seem like that big of a deal, the higher torque rating is necessary and offset by the weight difference between the two cars but keep in mind the Type S RSX runs closer in the price range of the Mazdaspeed3, not the grand touring, so those are the two you should be comparing, and you didn't say if the GT you purchasesd was a sedan or hatch . . .

2. the mazda 3 definitely is not slow, I don't know what car you were driving, this is the first of heard of someone complaining about the 3's drivetrain . . . are you sure you're not confusing it with a Mazda 6 2.3L or was your car full of people?

3. if you want an unbiased comparison of the 3 and civic SI, Honda fanboy here isn't the one to listen to, check out some auto publications heres a short list of articles:

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparis...entra-20s.html

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...-to-25000.html


http://www.automobilemag.com/feature...yno/index.html

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do.../pageId=106092

shep61487

uh, you make the Mazda sound like a 1970's muscle Car, My father has an 06accord, its a nice conservative grown up car, but i much prefer the feel of my Mazda. the Honda's just too boring for me, the Mazda definitely handles just as good if not better than the Honda, it all comes down to personal preference and driving ability . . .

x2lacrosse

Did you read what I wrote, I clearly wrote that the MS6 would destroy the TSX in all performance aspects while it is just a hair faster in a straight line than the Accord V6, 6spd. In the twisties though, the MS6 is superior than the Accord.

I merely said that if you're worried about more than performance (reliability, resale, etc), then Hondas are the better cars. I'm not against Mazdas, I just think Honda's are better and there's enough date to back me.