2008 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 User Reviews

Mazdaspeed 3, Ms3, Speedy... Whatever You Call It... You Should Get It!!! — My Mazdaspeed 3 (MS3, Speedy) makes me smile every time I drive it! <--- But that statement doesn't meet the 50 word minimum ;) The Mazdaspeed 3 is simply the best bang for your buck in the current series of turbocharged FWD sport compact cars under $25,000! "Speedy's" main competition comes from the Chevy Cobalt SS, the Chevy HHR SS, the Dodge Caliber SRT and the Volkswagen GTI. It can also hold its own with the Subaru Impreza WRX and the new Lancer Ralliart, but they exist in the AWD category. When compared to the FWD competition listed above it beats the HHR SS, the Caliber SRT and the GTI in practically every performance measurement, from 0-60 acceleration times to 60-0 braking times. That leaves the Cobalt SS with its new no-lift shifting and beefed up suspension bits. The Cobalt SS out-performs Speedy in a number of performance measurements, but not by much. What gives the Mazdaspeed 3 its edge IMO is it's a complete package. More than ample performance; a myriad of standard features; enough room to fit 5 adults comfortably; and the practicality of a five door hatchback. Hmm and lets not forget Mazda's world renowned handling characteristics. Check out Edmunds and Car and Driver for their comparo reports. Performance: Enough Torque Steer to annoy people who don't know how to drive. Enough Torque Steer to make people who know how to drive powerful FWD cars smile. 0-60 mph: ~ 6 secs. 1/4 mile: ~ 14 secs. @ 100 mph Top Speed: 155 mph One of the best braking vehicles at any price. Handles like if its on rails, ultra sharp responsive steering, better handling than a 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX (Edmunds.com) Personal 0-60MPH - 6.2 sec. Build Quality: Solid feel, excellent safety features, dashboard does tend to rattle when the temperature is below 70oF. Appearance: Slightly bulgier than a regular Mazda 3, nice rear wing and stylish 18" rims. But it still remains a nice unassuming sleeper, i.e. no big, boy racer hood scoop so It blends in well with the regular population of hatchbacks. Cost of Ownership: Unfortunately with the current gas prices, having a car that requires Premium Fuel is a real pain in the wallet. However, the MS3 is capable of getting MPG greater than EPA estimates. Observe the posted speed limits, avoid speeding off at every stoplight and drive in the most fuel efficient gear. Save the speeding for those special occasions, when the "boy racers" in their souped up Civics want to test what they think is a regular Mazda 3 with a CAI and Cat-back exhaust system. You'll have much more fun enjoying Speedy's handling abilities rather that breaking the speed limits. Fun Factor: As mentioned above, this car is fun to drive. Really really fun to drive. The gear of choice for the majority of the fun is third gear, the intake and exhaust note in third is wonderful. While Speedy is capable of 155mph, I wouldn't advise you to find your fun above 100mph... Jail or the Morgue are probably not fun places. The best places to enjoy Speedy's handling is on Highway on and off ramps. I am not condoning driving above the posted ramp speed limits, but the MS3 is more than capable of doing so with great ease. In conclusion the Mazdaspeed 3 is just FUN FUN FUN to drive... the fact that you can get it for way less than $25,000 just makes it sweeter!!!

Super Sleeper That Is Unstoppable On A Roll. — Had turbo replaced due to the K04 seals allowing oil to leak from the hot side to the downpipe, causing smoke to develop on extended idle. Turbo was replaced with a 3rd revised K04. No smoke now. Love the interior. Looks are settle. Very fun to drive!

Primary Use: Sport/fun (spirited driving, track racing, off-roading, etc.)

Ms3: Love It! — Absolutely love this car. Car and Driver Magazine named it number one best performance for the price in a comparison test. Looks great, really quick thanks to the turbo. Clutch is a little rough, but it not too soft. Since it's a front wheel drive car that has a lot of horse power (263 hp), there is torque steer in the lower gears. A real fun car to drive everyday, and can be made into a fun little pocket rocket.

Great Car — I believe that it is the best car that you can get at its price. It may not be the best car in the luxury department, but it makes up for in speed and handling. It is a very fun car to drive and hits 125 mph in 5th gear.

Hatch Makes It Sleeper, But The Power And Handling Will Grab Anyones Attention — Living and driving in Colorado with some of the country's most respected twisties, is where this car feels at home. Take a recomended 30 near twice the speed and feel the sure footed P215/45's practically rip the asphalt off. No tire scrub, just a thrill seekers dream of apex glory. This car handles at a rate far higher than most have in the way of God given skill. A closed course track is where all of the potential of this car should be unleashed. The 2.3L direct injected inline four with an astonishing 15.3 lbs. of turbo boost quickly throws the car in to the 3500 RPM powerband marker despite the tourqe management system, and keeps you grinning all the way up to six grand. The great part is... You've got five more gears, and a hell of a lot of speedo left before the electronic governor kicks in and spoils the fun. Leather bolstered seats lock you in during the spirited, potentially licence revoking blast through the twisties, but are also surprisingly comfortable over a long period of time. The interior features are both ergonomic and stylish. Road noise is apearant, but with the suspension and tires this car sports, the noise is surprisingly minimal. The Bose sound system is impressive for a stocker, and the storage space is more than adequite. I am 6' 3" tall and have two car seats in the back of mine, prooving that there is actually some decent leg room in both the front and rear seats. I could go on and on about this little "hot-hatch". Over all, I'd say the difficult line of practical daily usability mixed with performance was masterfully conquored by the folks at Mazda with their "wild child" known as the Speed3