New Speed 6 model for 2011

[LaginWagon]

I won't believe an MS Turbo RX-8 until I actually see it in the flesh. There have been SOOOO many rumors of a Mazdaspeed8 I can't even begin to tell you. It's a running joke on the 8club forums.

I hear ya. That's one of the reasons I annoyed the phuck out of him by asking the same questions over & over. Only time will tell if he was right, of full of it....

[Stealth01]

The new MS6 is stated to be new from the ground up, not even related to the new Mazda 6.

That gave me a boner.

Sorry. But it did.

[LaginWagon]

That gave me a boner.

Sorry. But it did.

LOL- I still love our MS6 body style. So I hope it's not all rounded off etc. I love the sharper lines of ours...

[tbot]

The MS3 doesn't compete w/ the wrx, its two different setup's. The wrx you can get as sedan, it has awd, two key features I think that make a car what it is. The speed6 was made w/ the same "check off sheet" as the legacy hence direct competitor. The direct competition for the speed3 is the GTI, cobalt ss, srt-4. So from where I'm seeing things, the speed3 DOES NOT compete w/ the wrx.

[erod550]

Look at any comparison test in any magazine for sport compacts that includes the Mazdaspeed3 and the WRX will be in that comparison test. Drivetrain and number of doors aren't the only things used to compare cars and determine a car's class. The speed3 IS a direct competitor of the WRX and has been since it was released in 2007. A car doesn't have to be a carbon copy of another car to compete with it.

[chickenwafer]

Based out-of-the-box performance the MS3 can compete with the WRX, but they aren't really the same car. The WRX is more versatile thanks to it's all-wheel drive which really puts it in a different segment.

If you compare raw data, like 0-60mph, 1/4 mile, etc, sure, on paper, the MS3 vs WRX is a sound argument, but to the Average Joe the WRX can be more appealing just for the AWD factor.

To me, it's like when people compare the 350Z/370Z to the RX-8, both are different animals. The RX-8 is a 4 door, 4 seater while the aforementioned Z cars are 2 door, 2 seaters. Even that much of a difference, in my opinion, means you can't truly compare them, because they were designed for different things.

I've said it before and I'll say it again; if Mazda comes out with an all-wheel drive MS3, I'd seriously consider plunking down for one. I know there was a guy who Frankensteined an MS6 AWD system into an MS3, but I'm talking about a factory-made car with a warranty. That would get me on-board. And then Mazda would have a true WRX beater.

[erod550]

I still maintain that two cars don't have to be the same to compete with one another. And AWD is great off the line, but it all gets balanced out on the highway when traction isn't an issue. Plus in all comparison tests, the MS3 outhandles the WRX so really the only advantage AWD is giving you is launching from a stop. Sure you could bring up driving in the snow and all that, but in my experience a FWD car can get around in the snow just as well as an AWD car, you just have to have good snow tires whereas an AWD car can get by with all-seasons usually.

Anyway, that's a whole different argument and after driving my Miata for a few months I know that my MS3 will be the last FWD performance car I ever own, unless it's just for a daily driver while I have something else faster that's AWD/RWD. But look up any comparison test for the MS3 and the WRX will be listed as a competitor. Price is more often the reason for comparing cars than anything else, and they are in the same general price range, though the WRX does cost a little more.

[tbot]

So ur gunna use magazine reviews for comparisons? Like chicken said on paper sure they look similar, but in the real world, not so much. There's a reason I chose the 6 over the 3, the awd. While your stuck in your 3 out in the snow...or for that matter not even driving it, i'm out bombin around in my 6 just fine and ur right, I don't need snow tires.

My point was that the 6 is a larger vehicle class than both the wrx and the 3. And imo the 3 doesn't compete with the wrx in the real world. Now if you go the sti...its not even in the same class for racing in the scca, even tho the 6, 3, both speed versions, impreza, wrx, legacy, legacy GT are all in the same class for racing...so on that basis your going to tell me that the mazda 3 is a direct competitor to the legacy gt...I don't think so, so you can't take some magazine comparisons to say they're competitors in the real world. If thats the case I could also say the Ford Focus RS was a direct competitor to the EVO X...which anyone would agree thats stupid...

[erod550]

You compare cars based on price mainly. Obviously there are more factors than just price but that's the main one. Don't try to come back saying "oh well then you're saying the MS3 competes directly with the Saturn Vue cause it costs 25k too." Obviously I'm not saying that. If you're in the market for a sport compact car in the $25k range, you're likely going to look at the MS3, WRX, GTI, Cobalt SS, Lancer Ralliart, and the SRT-4 if it was still being made but it's gone. If AWD is a must for you, then obviously you'll be leaving out all but the WRX and Ralliart, but not everyone has to have AWD. Obviously for you, AWD is the #1 factor in buying a car. That wasn't the case for me. And I don't think the MS6 and MS3 competed with each other at all. The 6 is a larger car and a whole different segment, costing much more than the 3 (up into STi territory, one of the biggest reasons it only lasted 2 years), so your choosing between the MS3 and MS6 is irrelevant to this discussion. If you're talking about picking between used cars then it all goes out the window anyway.

And btw, the only time I've ever gotten stuck in the snow in a FWD car the road hadn't been plowed and the snow was deeper than the bottom of my car and I was high centered on snow and had to dig it out. Having AWD wouldn't have helped. Who leaves their FWD car at home because it's snowing? lol. I actually leave the Miata at home and TAKE the 3 if it snows.

[tbot]

And I don't think the MS6 and MS3 competed with each other at all. The 6 is a larger car and a whole different segment,

would u be happier if i said i wished mazda made something that BETTER competed w/ the wrx.

I'm not even gunna further this because i could give a **** what you think about this. Mazda imo doesn't make dick that competes w/ the wrx's or evo's, and thats what I wish they did.

[erod550]

You're right, it's a dumb argument. I just don't see why the WRX is the benchmark to be compared to here. I walk all over WRXs. STis are a different story but they should be because they cost 10k more than my car.

And honestly I wish the MS3 was AWD too. We're on the same side here hehe.

[Stealth01]

[tbot]

Hell I walk all over wrx's too, but if there's one thats modded similar to what i've done to my car, it'll probably be a different story, yet another reason the competition sucks for us haha

[Stealth01]

I've said it before and I'll say it again; if Mazda comes out with an all-wheel drive MS3, I'd seriously consider plunking down for one. I know there was a guy who Frankensteined an MS6 AWD system into an MS3, but I'm talking about a factory-made car with a warranty. That would get me on-board. And then Mazda would have a true WRX beater.

Agreed. If the MS3 was AWD, even as a hatch, I'd be all over it.

My hope for Mazda now is that they break 300HP. They haven't yet, almost like the number scares them.

Oh, and I hope they don't build another motor that blows as often as the MZR.

[Stealth01]

Hell I walk all over wrx's too, but if there's one thats modded similar to what i've done to my car, it'll probably be a different story, yet another reason the competition sucks for us haha

I can walk the old WRXs...you know, the ones with 224HP. The new ones...probably not. 4.7 second 0-60 cars.