Like the MAdzaspeed6 the Mazdaspeed3 should have had AWD. It might not have garnered the kudos that Subaru and Mitsubishi enjoy but at least you can hammer down without fear.

I respectfully disagree with him. The Mazdaspeef3 is one of the great pleasures to drive. I urge everyone to try one on for size.

anyone who complains about too much horsepower is a PANSY!

(LLN, you guys need a pic of the MS3 up there^. That’s the mazda 3 sedan you have up there now)

Funny, the Mazdaspeed 3 seems to be doing brilliantly at autocross events in my neck of the woods…

The Caddies are much wider cars, allowing for equal length (or angled) half-shafts, which reduce torque steer. Even in AWD configuration, the 3 would still have a Tq steer problem.

I can easily see this being the case as I have shades of this problem with the drivetrain in my 3s Touring now – it’s equipped with the standard MZR 2.3 liter version putting out ~160hp and it’s too easy to lose grip with the crappy stock tires installed on there. Torque steer isn’t really all that serious of an issue but of course it’s present nonetheless. Add rain or snow and you can forget about traction being reliable if you plan a hint of spirited driving. Now, I know in less than ideal conditions you need to adjust your driving style to be more on the conservative side, but the adjustment required for the 3 is notably more than I’d like, particularly since I’m convinced the stock tires are not what I would call a safe choice in traction-challenged conditions. Good news is that a replacement set of superior tires can handedly fix the problem in short order. Not so sure it’s that’s simple with the Mazdaspeed3: I can only imagine the immense disappointment the FWD setup is on that machine. There’s a difference between having lots of available power at your command and having the genuine ability to make practical, appreciable use of that power.

=/\= Kaptain75329

The bloke’s absolutely right. All sensible money goes on a Golf GTI or Focus ST.
Explanation: its not that there’s too much power, just more than FWD can handle. A RWD or AWD car would handle the power just fine. The front wheels can’t cope with transmitting all that power and steering the car. Alfa Romeo’s 147 GTA with 270 or so hp and FWD is similarly problematic, although it is a very nice car otherwise.

Correction – I can only imagine what an immense disappoint the FWD setup *can be* on that machine. Didn’t proofread a second time as per usual. drat.

Its funny cause all the magazines praise the MS3. Now of course FWD is a downside but on a hatchback they can be just right. And keeping it straight is half the fun

The Focus ST I took on a high speed S curve about lost it at 90 mph. The Mazdaspeed 3 would have eaten it for dinner. (focus ST – USA version)

anyone in the know, knows that the DFP is a biased bunch of HACKS…… that people actualy read that garbage or pay any mind to it is just plain silly….and how the hell is this news worty anyway?

This is a Times Driving review of the Mazda3 MPS (the UK version of the mazdaspeed, exactly the same as the US version.)

http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/new_car_reviews/article1264967.ece

Didn’t they get the memo that Front Wheel Drive is dead??
Test drove a Nissan Altima. Banged 2nd in a straight line and the car literally moved half a lane over to the left. Power and FWD do NOT mix.
This car can’t possibly compete with it’s intended rivals, STI and Evo.

I’m pretty sure its intended rivals are the Acura RSX, VW GTI, and Honda Civic Si… not the STI or Evo. This car doesn’t even come close to those last two, but that doesn’t mean much because for the price range its competing in, it delivers a lot.

Also, what year was the Altima you test drove? I know the latest 2007 models have essentially eliminated it, but 2002-2006 did have quite a bit of torque steer, so I agree with you there.

I’ve demoed a 2007 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE w/a manual trans and I can assure you the torque steer is not dead, not even close. That being the case, it is *very* much improved on the latest platform. The 06 version sucked completely.

If I had to go with a fun FWD car without breaking the bank, I’d pick Mazda in a heartbeat. The 3 offers exceptional quality and content for the price, and I see the 6 very much the same way. Looking forward to the new 2nd gen model for 2008. I’m damn near convinced it’s going to rox my sox off.

Even so, I have my heart set on the upcoming Pontiac G8 as my next ride.. Sedan, V8, stick, and RWD? um. yes please.

Kaptain, just hope that Lutz doesn’t kill it…

Havn’t driven an 07 Altima. The Accord V6 didn’t seem to torque steer nearly as bad. Still, a certain HP level just plain overpowers FWD. FWD is an inherently weaker setup since your asking your front tires to do EVERYTHING(steer, brake, power). Add to that a huge front weight bias, and it’s hard to engineer out the weaknesses.

deantj,
Who cares about torque steer?
People who know how to power out of corners at the edge of adhesion. TqStr WILL cost you speed and control at the limit.
The WRX is as fast and AWD.
The MS3 is quite a bit better looking, I will say.AWD would make it a contender.

“Kaptain, just hope that Lutz doesn’t kill it…” – Comment by angelo, posted on April24 at 6:18 pm
.
Yea no kidding. I don’t know for an absolute certainty if we’ll see the G8, but I posted not too long ago the reasons why I was pretty much convinced it’s not on the chopping block. The gist of that post was along the lines of the car is still on Pontiac’s website, and the plans for production have been already been greenlighted. It’s possible GM might still kill it, but I don’t think that’s realistic at this point. I don’t think GM does either.

Funny thing is, no matter what any of you say whether it has too much power or not, Mazda seems to think it does!!!
In Ferrari’s et al, the first 2, maybe 3 gears have a triple layer of synchomech for the in the gearbox. the Mazdaspeed 3, the first 4 gears, and then it has a double layer for 5 and 6. Also, in the first 4 gears, torque is restricted quite considerably, i think from 380 Nm (280lb)to 250 Nm. So they seem to think it has too much power and talk for the car to handle.

There is NO REASON that this car should have been FWD, Mazda should have made it AWD from the start.. or at least optional.

That the MazdaSpeed3 is front-wheel-drive is the very reason I would never consider buying one. FWD is no fun at all in a sportscar. I’ll go as far as to say it’s a ripoff. You do focus on keeping the car straight instead of enjoying the drive and especially good s-curves.

Points well taken about the FWD platform. Indeed, it is a disadvantage. But I think Mazda worried that if the Speed3 is available as a AWD, it would caniballize the Mazdaspeed6 sales. There is some torque steer, but Mazda has done a lot to tame it. It is still a fun car to drive, and pretty good bang for the buck for the price.

FWD has its advantages if you’re trying to be frugal. It’s cheaper to design and build, weighs less, takes up less space and reduces fuel consumption. The MazdaSpeed3 looks like a decent car for the money, but I’ll stick with my RX-8 thanks.

Hey Purdue, you forgot the Cobalt SS Supercharged… It has better looks, better quality, and you don’t have to settle for a wagon to get the performance.

Think next time. You sound like a dope.

FWD powerhouse=eventual crash

Cobalt SS S/C is a nice little FWD powerhouse, but it will hit the same wall just like the MS3 and any other FWD car out there, especially the small ones.

For once I actually agree with homeboy!

As far as the speed3, I would love to have one to replace my Protege ES.. but don’t understand why Mazdaspeed didn’t offer AWD as an option at least.

I can’t believe that not a single person has brought up that fact that the Mazda3, even in it’s base form, is disgustingly unsafe. Add in tons of power, unpredictable steering due to the lack of an LSD, and a low price tag and I can guarantee you’ll be looking at a certified death trap.

For what it’s worth, I don’t see what the huge fuss is about these econo-box cars with loads of F/I power. I mean, what company can’t just dump a powerful engine in a cheap vehicle platform? There really isn’t much involved. Of course it’s going to be fast but the car simply can not handle it. There is no balance, you’ve got an engine with wheels and that’s about it. Power without control is nothing!

Being as though someone had brought them up before, kudos to Subaru for not only taking the time to engineer magnificent engines but also to develop a versatile and affordable platform that can handle the power with finesse.

Futurezero, the base Mazda3 isn’t disgustingly unsafe. And the Mazdaspeed3 does have an LSD. Your post is digustingly unfactual.

What’s the huge fuss about econo-box cars with loads of F/I? Ask Subaru. They have it down to a fine art.

Unless they have made huge improvements, I clearly remember the Mazda3 being denied a position on CR’s 10 Best because of it’s lackluster safety. But you are right about the LSD, I meant to say “even with an LSD”

1487_GM_SALES,

I have not forgotten the Cobalt. I have driven it. It’s a little too pricey for what it is. But there are GOBS of torque at launch. Pretty much too much…it overworks the front end. But, hey, my Shelby Daytona did TOO and it was great. Kudos on the Pirelli P-Zero’s though. I put $250 Pirelli P7000Zs on my Shelby and you could not break it free in fast corners.