Picture Gallery: 2010 Mazdaspeed3 | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 |Discuss
 Click Image to Enlarge |
First thing I noticed about the new 2010 Mazdaspeed3 was the updated speedometer. I remember clearly that in the 2007 Mazdaspeed3 that I drove, 200km/h was at 12 o’clock, 100km/h was at the nine o’clock position and I was constantly in the position of speeding frequently and at risk of being locked up for it. For 2010, the speedometer is updated, placing a more sane 140km/h at 12 o’clock, no longer deceiving you into thinking you are going too slowly.
 Click Image to Enlarge |
Of course, there are a bunch of other changes as well, and most of those can be found in articles describing the differences between the 2009 Mazda3 and the 2010, as most of the new Mazdaspeed3’s guts are shared with the more pedestrian 2010 Mazda3. The interior is updated on the “Speed3,” with more bolstering for the front seats and leather inserts.
The drivetrain remains unchanged from the previous generation Mazdaspeed3: a 2.3-litre engine turbocharged to 263hp and 280lb-ft of torque. This power is then sent to the front wheels through a six-speed, short-throw manual transmission where it then attempts to hook up with the road. Be gentle at first and you will succeed.
Other notables in the Mazdaspeed3 include: Xenon headlamps, power adjustable driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control and a seven-speaker Bose stereo system. The 2010 Mazdaspeed3 is approximately $1,600 more than the outgoing 2008.5 Mazdaspeed3, but it includes a navigation system and a little more sophistication and elegance — so, to me, the two cars are about equal, value-wise.
2010 Mazdaspeed3
MSRP as tested (including destination): $34,590
For more information on Mazda and the Mazdaspeed3 visit Mazda Canada
Pages: 1 2
September 24, 2009, 09:02:36 pm The rust thing totally turns me off Mazda, no matter how good their cars are (when new). My friend's five-year-old Mazda 3 looks like it's 15 years old, from all the paint bubbling and rust (especially on its rear door and fender). Mazda won't cover the rust until there's a "perforation", though.
September 24, 2009, 09:43:26 pm Huh. My wife's Mazda3 is up to 80,000 kms + and on the rare occasion it gets washed, I'm always impressed with how well the paint is holding up.
September 24, 2009, 11:13:08 pm 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.)
September 24, 2009, 11:26:32 pm I really like the MS3, but with the WRX 265 around and the ridiculous discounts they had on the last of the 09's I'd find it very difficult to shell out for the smiley faced version. They had thousands of dollars off and it's essentially the same car underneath.
September 25, 2009, 06:28:28 am You mentioned in your review that the road noise seems somewhat less than another Mazda3 you had reviewed. I'm hoping that it's a LOT less than my 2007 Mazda3 Sport GT. I love just about everything about the car but the road noise irks me. Mazda's (now former) bedfellow, Ford, has made great strides with sound deadening technology. It would be nice to see Mazda follow suit. I wonder if the Mazda6 is similarly afflicted?
September 25, 2009, 07:47:43 am
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!
September 25, 2009, 08:20:21 am 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.
September 25, 2009, 08:45:51 am
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.
September 25, 2009, 03:03:22 pm
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).
September 25, 2009, 03:17:37 pm ..My mazda (2000YEAR) is rust free it's made of MILLENEUM..................harder to find than a decent Subaru dealer..............
September 25, 2009, 07:45:06 pm
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.
September 26, 2009, 12:06:06 am @Safristi. Your Mazda is from the good old days... They didn't used to rust but they sure do now.
September 26, 2009, 11:11:25 am really loved the article added to my favourites
September 26, 2009, 12:21:09 pm ..well according to Wing at least the new ones....."don't beat up yer date on the way to a movie"...............
September 26, 2009, 02:24:51 pm 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!
September 28, 2009, 10:18:11 am What happens if you get scared half to death twice?
September 28, 2009, 10:24:31 am 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
September 28, 2009, 10:30:47 am
You're at at 0 you get scared 1/2 to death
If you are scared 1/2 to death
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
September 28, 2009, 11:09:26 am 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).
September 28, 2009, 11:28:09 am Torque amongst yerselves..................my excuse...i woz scared silly............i had a wrenching upbringing.............
September 28, 2009, 11:50:12 am There is no torque steer if you don't lay on the gas hard....
September 28, 2009, 12:09:45 pm ..and my SH*P don't stink...if i don't FART...................
September 28, 2009, 01:06:16 pm
September 30, 2009, 04:46:22 pm
1/2 * 1/2 = 1/4
So your still good, well still alive at least.
September 30, 2009, 04:48:07 pm ..HALF SHAFTED I SAY......................