CTC Review: 2010 Mazdaspeed3

[JamesTS]

The '04 M3 I had did not show any evidence of body rusty starting, but the finish on the 17" wheels were starting to 'bubble up'.  The '08 I have now is fine so far but I have seen a lot of 3's with some mild to severe rusting areas.  The most troublesome seem to be where the paint is bubbling up on its own which could point to a less than clean factory paint shop. 

I think any stone chip or surface scratch needs prompt attention, more so than other cars; and the paint on my '08 (Sunlight Silver - whatever that is) does not seem as good as the '04.

[greengs]

The 265's suspension is quite soft... in the real world though, this proves to be a surprisingly good trait.  It soaks up the hideous pot-holes around the GTA really well, and despite rolling around a bit, the grip is still quite impressive.

I'd like to experience the new MS3 if the handling is improved over the old one.  The previous generation already handled really, really well (among the very best I've experienced in FWD) -- and I agree that on a track, it would likely stand to do pretty well against a WRX (with its lesser rubber).
 

Subaru finally decided to fix this and ditched the RE92 all seasons.  All WRX's now come equipped with summer only Dunlop rubber. 

[Giant Dwarf]

The 265's suspension is quite soft... in the real world though, this proves to be a surprisingly good trait.  It soaks up the hideous pot-holes around the GTA really well, and despite rolling around a bit, the grip is still quite impressive.

I'd like to experience the new MS3 if the handling is improved over the old one.  The previous generation already handled really, really well (among the very best I've experienced in FWD) -- and I agree that on a track, it would likely stand to do pretty well against a WRX (with its lesser rubber).
 

Subaru finally decided to fix this and ditched the RE92 all seasons.  All WRX's now come equipped with summer only Dunlop rubber. 

True.  I had thought that the Mazda still had wider rubber, but in checking, I see they're both 225 width.  Nonetheless, if the new Mazdaspeed3 is a handling improvement, it will still out-handle the Subie in actual grip. 

Car and Driver's last test with the current gen WRX and the previous gen MS3 showed .87g vs .89g on the skidpad and 62.5 mph vs 64.7 mph through their "lane change" test.  http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/original/application/fc4b1a8513c9cb1ece762af2a2026cf6.pdf  This is inline with the 'feel' of the handling in my experience with the two cars as well -- the Mazda just seems to corner more flatly and feel better planted (even though, as I mentioned before, it's very difficult to upset the Subie on uneven pavement).

[safristi]

..My mazda (2000YEAR) is rust free it's made of MILLENEUM..................harder to find than a decent Subaru dealer..............

[carcrazy]

Mine is 4 1/2 years old and I don't have rust (knock on the wood). I had some superficial rust inside the wheel wells, but the dealer cleaned it up under 5 year corrosion warranty. The body shop put some tape on the lip around the rear wheels.
I'd buy another Mazda3 without hesitation. It's just that I'm not warming up to the exterior design. The interior on the other hand is great (design, quality, features, etc.)

So if I understand correctly, your Mazda3 doesn't have rust after the dealer removed some rust and the body shop protected all the vulnerable spots with tape? Wow... that's insightful!

Maybe Mazda should put clear tape on all their cars! There, rust problem solved! 

No, you didn't quite understand. 

I was saying that on mine, I only had superficial rust, but not on the painted surface and the dealer (Mazda) fixed it under warranty. This was in response to another poster who stated that in his friend's case, the dealer refused to fix it under warranty. I had this done last year and the rust did not show up yet in the same place or elsewhere on the car.

Also, the tape I was talking about is a special kind of tape used in such applications in body shops; it's not the 3M clear film type and it's spray painted to the car colour. I had that added around the rear wheel lip, although no rust was visible.
If you look at the most new cars, they have some sort of "bump" running around the wheel opening, on the inside lip, which I'm sure it has exactly the same role - to finish the lip and protect it from rusting. The new Mazda3 has exactly the same treatment, plus if I don't mistaken, the inside of the rear wheel well is fully painted versus bare metal on the previous generation. This makes me think that the new Mazda3 will not have the same rust issues, at least in this specific area.

If Wing can take a picture of the rear wheel well and the rear wheel opening lip, you could see what I'm talking about and perhaps get over the preset idea that if it's a Mazda it will inheritable rust prematurely.

[Careener]

@Safristi. Your Mazda is from the good old days... They didn't used to rust but they sure do now.

[prizebig.ru]

really loved the article added to my favourites

[safristi]

..well according to Wing  at least the new ones....."don't beat up yer date on the way to a movie"............... .... ..it's hard being a pimp fer mazda....

[carsncars]

I'm sure Mazda has made efforts to up their manufacturing quality since the previous Mazda 3 (or I would hope so). But after a generations of rusting Proteges and Mazda 3's (even if the rust is superficial and fixed by the dealer, it shouldn't be there on a 4-year-old car), Mazda will have to prove to me that their vehicles aren't as rust-prone anymore before I'll consider purchasing one.

Of course, there are plenty of people who are willing to buy Mazda still, and I'm not critical of them... I guess impressions just last longer with me. This TTAC article sums it up (it's probably a worst-case scenario, but still, strut towers rusting on a 6-year-old vehicle?):

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/piston-slap-mazda-protege5-in-god-we-rust/

That said, the MazdaSpeed3 is a fun car and good bang for the buck. I prefer it over the Civic Si, rust or not. I just wish they'd tone down that grin!

[yourbig.ru]

What happens if you get scared half to death twice?

[Jaeger]

I'll have to drive one myself to know for sure, but I find the reported "oodles of torque steer" to be disappointing.  Of course I expect SOME - but given improvements made by other manufacturers in this area, I was hopeful that Mazda would find a way to reduce the hard-launch wrestling match with the steering wheel.

Jaeger

[tpl]

What happens if you get scared half to death twice?

Easy. Look at it like this:   Say that a score of 100 scares you to death.
You're at at 0   you get scared 1/2 to death   , you're at 50.  While you are still scared half to death you get scared 1/2 to death again,       in driving terms, the next corner,  then you are  at 75.  Achilles and the Tortoise applies.
If you are scared 1/2 to death   at some instant then over a period of time, how long depends on the individual, your scared score will drop back to zero.  A stiff drink will help by speeding the process.

You can never be scared to death in one go.  If something like this happens, for instance a bad guy shoots you, you'll be dead before you are scared to death.

I could not resist this... sorry  

[MikeK]

I don't get it, half the Speed3 reviews I read say there is no torque steer, just lots of potential wheelspin. Others complain about gobs of torque steer.  Are the former just apologetic, or are the latter exaggerative?

10.8l/100km in the city isn't really bad for this level of performance. Mazda's awd competition uses more fuel guaranteed. Heck, my wife's non-turbo 3 does worse than that (granted in pure city, stop&go driving).

[safristi]

Torque amongst yerselves..................my excuse...i woz scared silly............i had a wrenching upbringing............. .."SPEED bonny boat ...ov'r the C ta ME..."

[wing]

There is no torque steer if you don't lay on the gas hard....

[safristi]

..and my SH*P don't stink...if i don't FART...................   aka buy a REGULAR MAZDA GT...

[johngenx]

...if you don't lay on the gas hard....

 

[Zombie]

What happens if you get scared half to death twice?

1/2 * 1/2 = 1/4
So your still good, well still alive at least.

[safristi]

..HALF SHAFTED I SAY......................