traded in mz3 for ms3

[chromal]

Gratuitous photos:





Here's a test of my new dashcam (1080P):
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EB1VLoc9yc&hd=1"]mazdaspeed3, blackvue DR400G-HD II dashcam - YouTube[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eYqv7hUddQ&hd=1"]Guanella Pass, Georgetown, Colorado, USA - YouTube[/ame]

[GR-8]

Wow this is old. Congrats on the trade, looks good.

[_AlexTM]

Looks really good!

[Huzer]

Nice pics! The new Speed looks really nice. How do you like going from the regular 3 to the Speed?

[chromal]

I like it just fine. As far as the chassis, coming from the '10 MZ3 sSport 2.5l 6MT, immediately apparent was a slightly firmer suspension and the bigger front brakes. Not night and day, just a little more tautly tuned? The 225/40R18s (I think) on the MS3 seem to track with a little more precision than the MZ3's 205/50R17s.

On the powertrain side, I find the MS3's clutch feel in 1st much more gradual/normal than the MZ3s, which had an abrupt that always take-up strangely elevated (in terms of pedal extension off the floor) in 1st gear. The MZ3's 2.5L actually delivered a lot of low-RPM torque, which I can't say I've fairly compared with the MS3, since I'm trying to keep the throttle relatively closed below ~2-2.5K RPM while the engine breaks in (just passed 1000 miles).

That said, MS3 has a lot of available grunt above 2000 RPM even with the intake pressure sitting at 0 PSI of boost. From there, there's just a lot of available power. It doesn't seem to surge in nearly as much as the SAAB, which can make it a little easier to control smoothly via the throttle in the MS3. I've not really been near redline, but the SAAB B204L doesn't make much power above 5000, I think the MZR 2.3 DISI is more than willing.

[chromal]

2575 on the odo, about 2000 since the previous oil change. The speed3's 2.3l DISI turbo engine has a reputation, as do other direct-injection engines, for crankcase fuel dilution. Doing a routine engine oil dipstick check, I gave it a whiff-- yeah... there's definitely a fuel/benzene smell in the oil.

What I've read is that this is why Shell Rotella T6 5w-40, a diesel full synthetic, is preferred (for its shear stability in direct-injected engines with crankcase dilution). The next-best for stability (and toeing the line on Mazda SAE oil weight spec) is Pennzoil Platinum 5w-30.

I'm probably going to do what lots of people do. PP 5w-30 under warranty, Rotella after. Either way, I'm aiming for 3000 mile changes for now. In a related note, wal-mart has PP 5w-30 5-qts for $22 and 1-qts for $6-something. oil+filter change fluid volume on mazdaspeed3 2.3l DISI turbo engine is 5.7 quarts, as per Mazda docs. Wow, I am more accustomed to the ~3.5-4 quarts that my honda, saab, and miata usually take.

[kingtut]

Indeed it does chromal. At every oil change I recall smelling fuel. I've been using PP 5w30 since day one. I recently made the switch to Rotella. I too, purchase my lubricant from Walmart.

Edit:

I've not really been near redline, but the SAAB B204L doesn't make much power above 5000, I think the MZR 2.3 DISI is more than willing.

Missed this. I assume by now, you've found the truth: It isn't...more than willing. ha ha

[A&PwitMS6]

I assume by now, you've found the truth: It isn't...more than willing. ha ha

Cobb AP=MOARRRR! willing... Just sayin

[erod550]

2575 on the odo, about 2000 since the previous oil change. The speed3's 2.3l DISI turbo engine has a reputation, as do other direct-injection engines, for crankcase fuel dilution. Doing a routine engine oil dipstick check, I gave it a whiff-- yeah... there's definitely a fuel/benzene smell in the oil.

What I've read is that this is why Shell Rotella T6 5w-40, a diesel full synthetic, is preferred (for its shear stability in direct-injected engines with crankcase dilution). The next-best for stability (and toeing the line on Mazda SAE oil weight spec) is Pennzoil Platinum 5w-30.

I'm probably going to do what lots of people do. PP 5w-30 under warranty, Rotella after. Either way, I'm aiming for 3000 mile changes for now. In a related note, wal-mart has PP 5w-30 5-qts for $22 and 1-qts for $6-something. oil+filter change fluid volume on mazdaspeed3 2.3l DISI turbo engine is 5.7 quarts, as per Mazda docs. Wow, I am more accustomed to the ~3.5-4 quarts that my honda, saab, and miata usually take.

Not sure if a catch can would help with that. They are more for keeping oil out of the intake which definitely happens on the DISI engines. Might not be a bad idea to install one either way.

And 5.7 quarts is nothing. My beast takes 8 quarts, lol.

Also, tut is right, the DISI has no top end. Going to redline is pointless. Power starts to drop off around 5500 and by 6000 it's just blowing hot air. It gets a little better as you add more bolt-ons, but it still won't pull as hard all the way to redline.

[chromal]

Missed this. I assume by now, you've found the truth: It isn't...more than willing. ha ha

Hahaha, yeah-- I was given this impression mostly just because the MZR 2.3 DISI redlines higher. I am still not pulling above 5K on the engine tach often, sounds like I'm not missing much, stock.

[erod550]

Here's a comparison of mine, stock vs just about fully bolted (intake, turbo inlet, downpipe, upgraded top mount intercooler, AP, pro-tune).




As you can see when it was stock the power really dropped off steeply after 5500 rpm. The power held stronger for longer with full bolt-ons and you could shift around 6000-6500 and still be well within the power band. Stock you probably want to shift more like between 5500 and 6000 or you'll be losing power.

[kingtut]

Also, tut is right

Just wanted to memorialize this:)

I am still not pulling above 5K on the engine tach often, sounds like I'm not missing much, stock.

You and I both- I rarely take it close to 5k: 3k-4k is the sweet spot.
I know I'm the minority here, but the MS3 is perfectly enjoyable in stock form.

[erod550]

Yea it's enjoyable stock, it's just a LOT more enjoyable with some mods, hehe. I liked being able to keep up with V8s on the highway. F-body Camaros, GTOs, C5 Vettes, could hang with or beat them. The new Camaro, new 5.0 Stang, and C6 Vettes were a little much. But that's why I eventually upgraded. That and I just couldn't stand driving a high powered FWD anymore.

[kingtut]

That and I just couldn't stand driving a high powered FWD anymore.

Valid points. This is another thing- the more you mod (eg. more power), the more obvious/bothersome the FWD becomes.

[chromal]

Oh totally, I should have worded it more clearly, don't intend to imply I think stage2 tuned wasn't 'more than' stock. Still, I'm pretty astonished at the number differences there from a well-executed stage2 upgrade on Erod's car!

My first 'power mod' will probably be upgrading the tires, but I'll take what miles I can from the OE ones in DD duty. I agree with kingtut that the speed3 is enjoyable stock. One funny observation in all this is that my Mazda3's MZR 2.5l had more available (or at least safe to bottom end) torque from 1500 to 3000, or whatever RPM you consider the safe point to lay on boost in a MS3, as does the SAAB whose stage1 peak torque numbers are similar to the MS3's, but shifted down to lower RPMs and 'safe' to hit hard at 1800. (well, you can ask for boost. It will start to come in around 2200 really, but that OE Garrett GT-2556 probably could use a rebuild with 160K on it.) What I'll tell you is this all leads to differences in driving style that justify owning examples of each.

My first car was a FWD hatchback with 65 bhp. My second is a FWD hatchback with 106 bhp. My third was a FWD hatchback with 167bhp. My forth is a FWD hatchback with 185-200bhp. My fifth is this FWD hatchback with 263bph. I will admit to a sense of "nowhere to turn" if I'm looking down the road several years... I mean, for a "step beyond" the mazdaspeed3 in small hatchback guise, there aren't a lot of obvious places to go. Audi A1 Quattro/S3? Mercades-Benz A45 AMG? BMW M135i? This MS3 may be as good as it gets on US shores, so I'm starting to ponder RWD coupes, like the Z3 M Coupe or Z4 Coupe as 2nd-hand cars down the road. It's either that or go to wagons, maybe there will be a AWD/RWD mazdaspeed6 wagon by then? Hopefully with the MX-5 I now own, I won't be as much a RWD neophyte in terms of experienced driving when it comes time to consider options. Cart way the hell in front of the horse on the above, more open ended pondering than desire. It's hard to image really being bored with the MS3 as a DD, but I can understand how one could grow weary of the package or have their needs/goals change.