Im bout to start saving up for a new car

[JustaSloWgn]

what are your opinions on the mazda speed3, everything ive read about it are mostly positive
2008 Mazda MAZDASPEED MAZDA3
Sport 4dr Wagon (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
MSRP Invoice
National Base Price (excludes destination charge)
$22,340 $20,898
Exterior
Length: 176.8 in. Width: 69.5 in.
Height: 57.7 in. Wheel Base: 103.9 in.
Ground Clearance: 4.8 in. Curb Weight: 3153 lbs.
Gross Weight: 3790 lbs.
Interior
Front Head Room: 39.1 in. Front Hip Room: 53.8 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 54.9 in. Rear Head Room: 38.4 in.
Rear Shoulder Room: 54 in. Rear Hip Room: 52.5 in.
Front Leg Room: 41.1 in. Rear Leg Room: 36.3 in.
Luggage Capacity: 16.5 cu. ft. Maximum Cargo Capacity: 43 cu. ft.
Maximum Seating: 5
Performance Data

Performance
Base Number of Cylinders: 4 Base Engine Size: 2.3 liters
Base Engine Type: Inline 4 Horsepower: 263 hp
Max Horsepower: 5500 rpm Torque: 280 ft-lbs.
Max Torque: 3000 rpm Drive Type: FWD
Turning Circle: 36.1 ft.
Fuel Data

Fuel
Fuel Tank Capacity: 14.5 gal.
EPA Mileage Estimates: (City/Highway)
Manual: 18 mpg / 26 mpg
Range in Miles: (City/Highway)
Manual: 261 mi. / 377 mi.


also has LSD and six speed tranny

track time for someone with just slicks, boost controller @18psi and cai
http://www.dragtimes.com/Mazda-3-Timeslip-13425.html
1/4 Mile ET: 12.793
1/4 Mile MPH: 106.900
1/8 Mile ET: 8.197
1/8 Mile MPH: 86.520
0-60 Foot ET: 1.832
when im done with it will probably end up looking like this cept..in white
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh201/StevieSpeed3/IMG_3900copy.jpg
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh201/StevieSpeed3/IMG_3864copy.jpg

im really leaning toward this instead of the si, plus 4 door functionality

[AEguy]

I like them. Are you planning on buying a new one or one used?

[garage_fresh]

IDK.....if you like the car get it. IMO they don't look like a fun car to mod.

[JustaSloWgn]

planning to get a new one, the aftermarket is growing on the mazda speed 3, already have bigger direct bolt on turbo, full turbo catback, cai, reflash, all kinds of goodies
plus good on gas one guy got 34mpg average with just a mazdaspeed cai O_O

inside is prety nice looking
http://www.westerndriver.com/images/ArticlePictures/600/2006002109MazdaSpeed3-Interior.jpg

[garage_fresh]

I'd browse the market a little bit more. What are you looking for out of your next car?

[Ryan]

Have you driven both the Si and the mazdaspeed 3? I was thinking of buying the mazdaspeed as well, and test drove it one afternoon. It was an awesome car! I loved nearly everything about it. I don't know what your income level is, or what you are confortable paying, but the ins rate was ridiculous. I am 29 years old with no accident history and only a few tickets that have long since gone off my record. They quoted me 240.00 a month! This wasn't the onlt reson I decided against this car, it was also because of resale value. Mazda typically doesn't have a great resale value if you even think in a few years you might want out of this car. As far as performance though, it was very smooth untill I hit 3k rpms, then the power really came on. The transmission was geared very nicely, so even in 6th at 35mph I still felt like I had torque. The handling was impressive, and the looked and felt well made. I chose the Si sedan not only because of affordability on all levels, but because it just feels like a tighter package. I've owned several performance Honda cars, and have never had anything more major than an O2 sensor go bad. I also usually tire of my cars after 3-4 years, and when I go to sell them, I am not anywhere near upside down. (I actually made a 8k $$ profit off my 99 si) The si sedan has given me great gas mileage, and aside from a somewhat nervous at speed electric streeting system, I'm in love with the car. Oh yeah, I'm wordy so I hope this didn't bore you haha.

:drink2:

[garage_fresh]

^^^^^^^^

Took the words out of my mouth. Mazda and resale don't fit....unless it is an FD(RX-7)

[Speedy]

I am 29 years old with no accident history and only a few tickets that have long since gone off my record. They quoted me 240.00 a month!

DAMN, I'm 27 with a ticket (120+ in a 55) with a 06 IS250 and 04 G35c on full coverage for $115 a month.

[Magnus]

DAMN, I'm 27 with a ticket (120+ in a 55) with a 06 IS250 and 04 G35c on full coverage for $115 a month.
Credit Scores can do wonders with Insurance.

[JustaSloWgn]

i dont really care about the resale, being that its 4 doors i can probably keep it if i ever come across a family and such, im dont drive much but i do enjoy having the power on tap.
has a roomy interior and a suprising like aggressive hot hatch look that i dont see in to many cars, the 10 speaker system sounds nice too

[Ryan]

Credit Scores can do wonders with Insurance.

I have good credit. The ins company (Allstate) told me that because it was turbo and ranked really high on some kind of score card they use to rank cost of vehicle repairs, that particualr car was just costly to insure. Oh, I also live in Harris County.

[JustaSloWgn]

the insurance is probably cheaper where i live o.o

[JustaSloWgn]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v198/loner4o9/MAZADASPEED3_Stock_vs_MS_CAI_Hood_C.jpg

O_O to the wheels with just factory cai

[Vanessa]

No bueno.

[JustaSloWgn]

=( why no bueno

[Native]

damn we gots to put this thing on a diet.

[JustaSloWgn]

its only about the size of a si sedan +100lbs but has more then enough torque to haul it around haha

[Ryan]

its only about the size of a si sedan +100lbs but has more then enough torque to haul it around haha

I haven't checked the actual length in #'s, but it looks longer to me in person. Anyways, go drive one and you will fiend for it. I have had such good luck with Honda performance cars, I'm actually a lil afraid to venture outside into something else.

[Vanessa]

=( why no bueno

Bad resale and I don't like the way it looks :)

[Twinky]

first off, you really cant pull the resale value on a car of this rarity. there are plenty of mazda enthusiasts that are more than willing to shell out some dough for these cars used. hell, blue book on my car is only $3k (120k miles owns), but ive gotten offers for $10k from auto-x drivers.

also, for aftermarket stuff, check out corksport (www.corksport.com). they sell most everything for the mazdaspeeds.

[JustaSloWgn]

thx for the heads up man, if it were a regular 3 i would figure the resale to be minimal but yea like u said, this one has nothing but good reviews, plenty of aftermarket. and massive power and performance for the price

[Twinky]

thats why its won best car of the year in its class in just about every catagory

[JustaSloWgn]

2 years in a row

[Twinky]

i know i can get a kit to make my car AWD, dunno if they have it for the MS3 yet though. and its not really a kit. they take a wrecked j-spec AWD MP5, cut off the bottom half, and send it over.

[JustaSloWgn]

that would be awesome....after the warranty expires rofl