I'm looking for a car to buy, and my research led me to a very interesting ride that's on the market.
I know it's been on the market for a year almost, but it's still pretty rare on the streets.

The quest for firepower
Employing the same 2.3-liter turbo four as the Mazdaspeed 6, but with retuned intake and exhaust systems, and a modified ECU that reduces torque levels in 1st through 3rd gears, this super-Mazda generates 264 hp (JIS) at 5,500 rpm and 280 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm. That translates into a rather quick 0-60-mph time of 6.1 seconds, according to Maeda.

That 264 hp is delivered through a clean-clicking six-speed manual gearbox with short throws and a firm touch. Power comes online from 2,500 rpm and stays hot all the way up to the 6,800-rpm redline, with its linear torque response more akin to a gutsy V6 than a four-cylinder turbo. But while the turbo's "phoooar" resonates loudly inside the cabin when pushed hard from 4,000 rpm, we feel the 3 could do with some extra exhaust note tweaking befitting the car's character.

Full article is available at: Mazdaspeed 3: The world's quickest hot hatch is here

Definitely a nice ride, I personally consider it a sleeper.......most people out there aren't aware of it's capabilities

If I were You I'd go for it, I totally love My P5 and im sure a Mazda3 would only be even more refined, not to mention the performance aspect. Worth at least test driving one, You will love the extra space aswell.

great cars as is, but the new mazda turbo's are all direct injection which makes them not so fun to modify.

Originally Posted by negativeguyonpsi

great cars as is, but the new mazda turbo's are all direct injection which makes them not so fun to modify.

anything else you think sucks?

this car is greatly underlooked by far
its a screamer with the power and torque that it has....
only thing...its priced a little bit high....after all your taxes and everything, your looking around sub 40K, which puts it in a range with a different set of vehicles, worth the money yes tho.
check out Toronto Mazda 3 there are a few speed owners on there, one of which is a board sponsor, sign up, toss questions around...or for a more worldwide experience Mazda3 / Axela Forums & Club - Index they have a fulll speed section to browse!

Originally Posted by mx6onpsi

great cars as is, but the new mazda turbo's are all direct injection which makes them not so fun to modify.

really

http://www.bellengineering.net/Image...ockandXede.jpg

thats the stock dyno and one with the xede only

66 whp from just a piggy back

the mazadspeed 3 is a great car but i wouldn't go back to a fwd car, get the mazdaspeed 6

Originally Posted by Marlonmx3

the mazadspeed 3 is a great car but i wouldn't go back to a fwd car, get the mazdaspeed 6

Partially agree here. I won't be getting anything that's FWD in the future. Anything over 250hp running through the front wheels is just plain annoying.

The MS3 is a fantastic car. Great engine, Great brakes, very good suspension. Good value for the money too. It's not hard to mod the engine for more power either. The tuners have all conquered the direction injection issues. No worries there.

Originally Posted by Marlonmx3

really

http://www.bellengineering.net/Image...ockandXede.jpg

thats the stock dyno and one with the xede only

66 whp from just a piggy back

of course modifying the stock ecu setup will work out fine to a point, but anything past that would not be all that easy. those injectors aren't exactly a cakewalk to increase in size, doable but not nearly as easy as it has been in the past.


and ya mazdaspeed, I think you suck too. I never said it sucked, I said its harder to modify. get the hell out of here.

Originally Posted by Silverstoned

Partially agree here. I won't be getting anything that's FWD in the future. Anything over 250hp running through the front wheels is just plain annoying.

The MS3 is a fantastic car. Great engine, Great brakes, very good suspension. Good value for the money too. It's not hard to mod the engine for more power either. The tuners have all conquered the direction injection issues. No worries there.

Thats my biggest beef with this car... Mazda has a perfectly good AWD system just sitting there on the MSP6, but left it off the 3.. The reason I've read is they did it to save weight, BUT they used the heavier wagon platform instead of the sedan

wagan probably plants more, and I believe this car is supposed to compete with the golf, megan, focus, astra etc which can all be bought in high hp versions in europe and are fwd.

263HP, stock turbo, 6spd manual tranny.. i took one for a test drive month or so ago they are amazingly fast, first turbo ive driven. 32 thou after taxes gets you base and 38 gets you everything leather interior (i didnt want though)

Originally Posted by Herpee

263HP, stock turbo, 6spd manual tranny.. i took one for a test drive month or so ago they are amazingly fast, first turbo ive driven. 32 thou after taxes gets you base and 38 gets you everything leather interior (i didnt want though)

Whoa whoa whoa! WHAT?

32 thousand after tax? My P5's aready at mazda lol maybe it can stay there

yeah fully loaded its like 38ish on the road

Originally Posted by Herpee

263HP, stock turbo, 6spd manual tranny.. i took one for a test drive month or so ago they are amazingly fast, first turbo ive driven. 32 thou after taxes gets you base and 38 gets you everything leather interior (i didnt want though)

where did you get to test drive it? was it somebody's or off the dealership?

Guelph City Mazda had a white one a month back or so.

Or...you could get this 2003 Z06 here for about the same price with only 9500 kms. And it's only about a half an hour from the border.

Cars For Sale: Car Details - AutoTrader.com

^ OMFG on the vette.....find me a mint camaro for $15,000

Originally Posted by Bubba21

yeah fully loaded its like 38ish on the road

WAY too much for an econobox with a bit of pep. Hell, you can get a GTI AWD R32 for that price, and still have money.

so is Axela like a JDM version of 3?