Author Topic: CD Article: 2007 Mazdaspeed3 (Read 6687 times)

Autos_Editor · « **on:** September 17, 2006, 10:41:24 pm »

First Drive:

Based on the Mazda3 Sport hatchback, the 2007 Mazdaspeed3 is "one very sweet little road rocket," says Assistant Editor Jil McIntosh. It features a turbocharged engine, sport suspension and stiffer body, and will hit zero to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds, but only a fully-loaded version is available - and you'd better like red, she says. More...

initial_D · « **Reply #1 on:** September 17, 2006, 10:47:03 pm »

Geez ... Jil the ~~Mazda~~ Speed Girl now?

Wing Wing Wing ... time to trade up!

I'll start the ~~Jil Speed~~ pot ... $5 ... anyone else?

The Mighty Duck · « **Reply #2 on:** September 17, 2006, 11:14:48 pm »

This car would be scary with 300hp... for an extra $1000, it's a performance bargain. Who needs a Civic Si or GTI?

Loudpedal · « **Reply #3 on:** September 17, 2006, 11:22:06 pm »

Hmmm, too bad it only comes in red (for now I suppose). I wonder if it comes with a boost guage? No article I've read said anything about one (or not having one).

Jameel · « **Reply #4 on:** September 17, 2006, 11:34:55 pm »

I wish she had talked more about driving impressions.

ScoobyDriver · « **Reply #5 on:** September 18, 2006, 09:03:49 am »

300 hp - Wow!~ If only it was an AWD. It'd be a bargain STI! I'd like to see some match-ups with pricier cars to see how this stacks up. Seems like a bargain to me. Front wheel drive should make it a little more manageable in the winter than say a Mustang. With that much power I'm still curious what it'll be like to drive in the winter. Many will probably say - who cares! I do a lot of winter driving though so it's important to me.

wing · « **Reply #6 on:** September 18, 2006, 09:06:28 am »

Jill said white was ho hum..... White is HOT on the hatch.

wing · « **Reply #7 on:** September 18, 2006, 09:07:28 am »

Scooby, if you don't push the gas hard it will be driveable in the winter, it's not like you have to use all the power all the time

ScoobyDriver · « **Reply #8 on:** September 18, 2006, 09:10:13 am »

Not all of us have that kind of restraint!

Quote from: wing on September 18, 2006, 09:07:28 am

Scooby, if you don't push the gas hard it will be driveable in the winter, it's not like you have to use all the power all the time

ScoobyDriver · « **Reply #9 on:** September 18, 2006, 09:18:12 am »

Kidding aside - I'm sure it will be more than driveable in the winter. I was suggesting that it's going to be more capable than many high horsepower RWD's. This car would be way higher on my shopping list than a Mustang. For Sure! In fact if I was looking for a FWD car the Mazda3 would be about at the top of my list. How do you like yours Wing?

Agreed on the white. I had a white Civic Si - I loved that car and I really liked the color

Quote from: ScoobyDriver on September 18, 2006, 09:10:13 am

Not all of us have that kind of restraint!

Quote from: wing on September 18, 2006, 09:07:28 am
Scooby, if you don't push the gas hard it will be driveable in the winter, it's not like you have to use all the power all the time

Jameel · « **Reply #10 on:** September 18, 2006, 09:39:50 am »

I can't wait until the comparisons to other cars start. I can see it now "MazdaSpeed3 vs GTI vs Civic Si". Do you think magazines will compare this car to the WRX/STi or EVO (in the states)?

wing · « **Reply #11 on:** September 18, 2006, 11:06:04 am »

Love my Mazda3, not sure if I would want a stiffer suspension though it is fairly stiff as it is.

The Mighty Duck · « **Reply #12 on:** September 18, 2006, 12:34:05 pm »

Says the guy who thinks his modified S2000 is "soft"...

Arthur Dent · « **Reply #13 on:** September 18, 2006, 01:26:00 pm »

Shame it only comes fully loaded since a base model with the performance bits would be exactly what I'd want. It hardly needs junk six cd changers and rain sensing wipers. Would help with the sticker shock too as $31k isn't pocket change.

Shame there is no picture of the engine - I bet its pretty packed into that engine bay!

si · « **Reply #14 on:** September 18, 2006, 07:27:00 pm »

Jill does great articles for many family type vehicles. This is a sports hatch. We need a rereview of all driving impressions.

chrischasescars · « **Reply #15 on:** September 18, 2006, 11:34:54 pm »

^^^ Yup. I'm sure one of us (probably more than one) will get our hands on one of these for a full road test in the near future. These first drives are based on usually one or two-day events where each writer only gets a total of a few hours behind the wheel; not enough to get enough of an impression to report on all aspects of the car.

84im · « **Reply #16 on:** September 19, 2006, 12:29:47 am »

Americans have more income to spend of vehicles, but they get the choice of models, including a base model, and we only get the fully loaded model. This, I don't understand.

RunsinLight · « **Reply #17 on:** September 19, 2006, 12:33:36 am »

Maybe this type of vehicle doesn't sell as well in canada as it does in the states. And they made a business decision to only offer the one.

84im · « **Reply #18 on:** September 19, 2006, 09:25:02 am »

The Americans also get a choice of colours. How hard would it be to offer a choice of colours for the Canadian model? Having said that, I think the car looks good in red.

ScoobyDriver · « **Reply #19 on:** September 19, 2006, 10:11:24 am »

Americans get their choice of colors and we only get one? I'd like the know the reasoning behind that. I do think the red looks good but I'd like to have a choice.

Rain sensing wipers... Can't say I've ever been in a car that's had that feature. I use Rain-X windshield washer fluid and treat the windshield every now and then. The rain flies right off at highway speed so I don't have to use the wipers all the time. I recommend the washer fluid to everyone! I love the product. I'm wonding how rain-sensing wipers would work in such a case. Hopefully that's not an expensive extra. I don't think I need it. As long as a car's got intermitent wipers I'm good.

Anybody else have rain sensing wipers that uses a window treatment product like Rain-X or Aquapel?