Test drove the Mazdaspeed3

[vandy0419]

Originally Posted by KSC

HAHA!

Yeah, stock for stock our HP numbers are neck and neck, but that extra 45++ lbs of tq is real kick in the ass durring mid range.

I say race them rev limiter to rev limiter through a couple gears...even though they have the torque in midrange...the RL would catch back up and then some for the last 1500rpm in each gear.

[KSC]

True, true. I'm sure one of will get our chance soon enough. Then the MS3 owners can come on our forums and talk smack to us!

[fullthrottle]

Originally Posted by arabian goggler

I was impressed.

The accelleration was insane in 3rd and 4th gears. I mean EVO IX pull at highway speeds. Trust me, I just got to drive my cousins new EVO and that was nuts, but for 23k, the mazdaspeed3 pulls like an EVO above 40mph.

1st and 2nd gears feel limited, but pretty much take complete advantage of what the rubber on the FWD will allow.

When I was in 3rd rolling at 40-45mph and rolled into the throttle, once the boost came up the tires gave a howl/squeel from about 50-65mph. Really, you will come away smiling that a stock FWD car can pull that hard.

The handling was connected, little body roll, excellent steering feel, and well dampened. The brakes had very good bite and even though the car is a bit over 3000lbs, they made the car feel much lighter than it actually is.

The car is definately powerful once moving, perhaps it's because of the ecu restrictions on the first couple gears, and also because the IC gets better flow at highway speeds, that makes it feel stronger in 3rd and 4th.

In comparison to my RL, it pulls to 60mph with about the same feel, but I have to admit, from +60mph it will walk my RL. Not ashamed about it, it put a smile on my face...

I might look into buying one in the future, but I am too upside down right now to get out of the RL.

I was actually going to trade my RL for one but decided against it. because come 2008 I wont be driving the RL anymore. not on the street anyway.

I see Z28 bowties in my future for a street pounder/daily driver.

[RL-2005]

Question:

We have torque management, why didn't the magazines say that about the RL? I saw that they discussed this feature in 1st and 2nd gear on the MS3.

Does ours' only come into play when we start making mAd pOwAh?

[SLSduke82]

Originally Posted by RL-2005

Question:

We have torque management, why didn't the magazines say that about the RL? I saw that they discussed this feature in 1st and 2nd gear on the MS3.

Does ours' only come into play when we start making mAd pOwAh?

Lol...Dan disabled mine, except to bleed boost in 1st. The boost bypass sounds like a jackhammer in 1st gear. And damn I feel bad for my powertrain when slamming into 2nd. Whole car shudders.

TQ FTW!

[Sp00ner]

Originally Posted by RL-2005

Question:

We have torque management, why didn't the magazines say that about the RL? I saw that they discussed this feature in 1st and 2nd gear on the MS3.

Does ours' only come into play when we start making mAd pOwAh?

The MS3 is actually pulling power from the claimed levels. The Ion is making the power that's stated, but will prevent you from going much above stock... from what I understand.

[AlphaJaguar5]

Automobile Dyno'd the MS3 and it dyno'd 216/245

[RL-2005]

yeah but more than likely they dynoed in 3rd or 4th gear, so thats right on, about 17% drivetrain loss

They only pull power in the 1st two gears

[vandy0419]

Originally Posted by AlphaJaguar5

Automobile Dyno'd the MS3 and it dyno'd 216/245

Gee...I wouldn't have seen that if it weren't already in post #5...

[arabian goggler]

I read up on that dyno a bit, and it appears that because the TMIC was not having airflow directed through it, the engine reduced boost and pulled timing back a bit. That is why it power dropped like a rock after 5500rpm. Since the car has only been released for a short time, only a few dyno's are circulating. From what I gather, 216whp is the lowest. Others are around 240whp and there is one that is 252whp I believe.

Originally Posted by Jason from Automobile Magazine

Mazda contacted us said that they've managed to get repeatable 242 whp and 282lb-ft out of their cars by using a ($1000) 50-mph fan blowing on the front of their cars, and a powerful house fan bungee-tied to the top-mount. Ouch, that's a lot of power!

The product development engineer who gave me those numbers knows his stuff... enough so to admit that the GTI's intercooler also wasn't getting the air-flow that it would at high speeds.

Again, our goal wasn't to get peak numbers, just to look at how differently the cars made their power.

Of course, I'll be curious to see how much MS3 buyers can get their cars to put down when they resort to all the old tricks - icing the intake plumbing, spraying water on the intercooler, etc. But that certainly wasn't our goal here!

Jason"

That is the first time I have ever heard of a manufactuer claiming whp numbers. I tend to believe them because they are probably pretty sore about the RX-8 debacle, and have something to prove. And if it weren't true I don't think they would have responded to Autmobile's inquiry. Also, my RL put down 211whp with an intake. I can tell you that the mazdaspeed3 felt like a lot more than 211whp, and it's a heavier car.