Well, you'd be wrong. The MS3 is actually faster around a track. Chalk it up to better handling, more top end pull, and better brakes. If there's anything Mazda knows, it's how to build a good handling car.

I own a 05 WRX, and it's a great machine but we do have some inherent problems. For one, the stock rubber is crap. I switched from my stockers to Kumho Ecsta Supras and the difference in handling was very noticable. One of the first mods for any WRX owner should be to get new tires. Second, our suspension has a lot of travel compared to most sport compacts. Good for off-roading, not as good for handling. This also causes a bit of roll. Some springs/sway bars improve it quite a bit. The pre-'06 brakes aren't very good either. Most recommend swapping to Outback rotors in the rear.

The WRX is an awesome car, don't get me wrong, but in the realm of budget sport compacts the MS3 is gonna be king.

 

I know the MS3 is a sweet car but it doesn't give you that WOW factor unless you get in the car, where as a RX8 for a little more, gives you that "man that's a sweet car" look.

 

From what I've heard thus far, yes. Mazdaspeed is already preparing to offer an upgrade kit through the dealership ala Mopar upgrades for the SRT-4, and GM performance upgrades for the Cobalt SS.

The only significant problem I foresee with tuning the MS3/6 is that from what I understand, the stock turbo is more or less maxed out. You can run a little more boost, but that turbo is really running out of breath in the top end even in stock form. More boost is just going to run the turbo out of it's thermal efficiency range. Which means a turbo swap will likely be necessary for big gains. Compounding that issue is the stock cooling system (which at least on the MS6, is said to be fairly poor). A bigger intercooler, some kind of aftermarket hood with a scoop, or even some kind of heat shield underneath the TMIC will probably be another hurdle to overcome.

Regardless, as with any turbo 4-cyl, a good downpipe and exhaust system should see very big gains relative to a non-turbo car.

 

I like the way the RX8 looks better but that's it.

The RX8 is expensive, slower then the MS3, and it drinks oil like crazy.

 

I also noticed that.. I think the turbo is already hitting 15-16 PSI stock. Do you know what size turbo it is?

The TMIC would definately be gone if I got one.. A FMIC would look great on the front of that car and it should cool much better.

One thing I don't like about it, is that it's using 9.5:1 compression. That seems very high for a FI car.

 

15-16 psi stock? It is to laugh. Doesn't speak well for the Mazdaspeed3.

Any car that needs 15-16 psi to be in mid/low 14s is not impressive.

Around the track. Yah mean an oval course? Road course?

Oval course doesn't really show the performance handeling of vehicles. Auto-X or a road course will.

As for the wrx... Are you speaking of a wrx, wrx impreza, or wrx impreza STI.

Wagon or sedan?

Heck, I can speak in general terms and make any car look great.

Just the other day. I smoked a ferarri! Nope wasn't any current gen ferrari. But the 0-60 in 7 second 1982 ferrari.

 

It was a road course with several turns.. Buy the new motor trend and check it out, the mazdaspeed 3 was ahead by quite a bit.

It was going against a '06 WRX TR sedan. They both weigh exactly the same, the mazda is FWD-turbo and the WRX is AWD-turbo.. You would think the WRX would win but it really wasn't even close.

The only reason it seems close in the quarter is because the WRX is getting a better launch.. After the launch & especially after 100mph the mazda will pull by the WRX like nothing. In the turns, in the straight away's, pretty much anywhere but 0-20mph.

 

What size turbo does it have on it?

 

I don't know what size turbo it has. But a 16g w/ 15 psi (As we all know the EVO turbo and the zpi kit turbo) would run a tc in the 1/4 close to the 11s

 

as for the wrx.. Pfft who cares. If it isnt' an STI its not worth mentioning.

YOu are putting up the top trim of a vehicle vs the base trim of another practically.

 

It might be a much smaller turbo on the mazda, you never know..

By the way, a 16g turbo on an EVO VIII comes stock with about 19PSI and runs mid - low 13s.

 

^^^

This i know. And the zpi tC that ran close to 11s @ 15psi ran an open header and some other mods.

And there is no replacement for displacement Turbo 2.4l > Turbo 2.0l

 

Except that how much psi a car runs has nothing to do with it's performance. A larger turbo producing the same 15-16psi would much quicker because it's flowing more cfms. Likewise, a smaller turbo running 17-18psi will probably be slower. Also, a bigger displacement engine breathing that same amount of psi will make more power, and vice versa with a smaller engine. Turbo psi is simply a measurement of intake manifold pressure. It doesn't take into account how much air the engine and the turbo are breathing,

The car is also running on a conservative factory fuel tune. There's plenty of power to be gained just in tuning. Remember that this is a FWD car as well. Any stock FWD car running low 14s *is* impressive.

 

^^^

Wich is why I used the zpi turbo as an example. A 16g is a small turbo, wich can be found on a stock evo. Its not a large turbo, but on a zpi powered tC, that 16g running @ 15 psi is much faster than 14.3.

I know how turbos work, but thanks for the explanation anyway.