I'm going to have to disagree slightly with Erin regarding the Mazdaspeed 3's manual transmission. I've been driving it a fair bit this week and its clutch is still proving difficult to consistently drive smoothly. Normally, give me a few minutes and I'll acclimate quickly. But in the 3, I find the clutch engagement point and the eager turbo-4's throttle tip-in to be tough to modulate when driving around town. I actually stalled the damn thing when I got stuck at our garage's steep exit last night.
Give it the full wood and I've got no complaints. However, this lack of smoothness in sedate driving could be irritating to live with everyday, just as my old Acura TSX was. More driving is certainly in order.
I'm also not enamored with the gearbox, which could feel more mechanical and direct. Frankly, it's hard to believe the Miata's and Speed3's shifters come from the same company -- they couldn't feel any different.
Mind you, don't take these past two posts as a sign I dislike the Mazdaspeed 3. For the money, it's still a whole lot of fun.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor @ 3,223 miles
clarkma5 says:
05:21 PM, 11/20/09
The reason that the MS3's and the Miata's gearbox couldn't feel more different is because the MS3's drivetrain is transverse mounted FWD and uses either a rod or cable mechanism, whereas the Miata's longitudinal drivetrain allows the shifter to be connected much more directly to the transmission, allowing for that exceptional feel that everyone raves about in a Miata. It's shifter tech 101, really.
asdfkj says:
08:48 PM, 11/20/09
It's okay to dislike a car. It's actually pretty weird to see people gushing all over MS3 and then others getting apologetic about not liking something in it.
ocramida says:
09:15 PM, 11/20/09
asdfkj
How is it weird? The Mazda is a likeable and well-executed car (with the exception of those red seats) Those of us who like cars DO get enamored by them. That's part of liking/loving cars. I think it's pretty weird that people DON'T gush all over something that they spend a ton of money on. It's one of the reasons I could never get a Honda or Toyota, or even a Hybrid (at this point). None of them are emotionally involving and I for one couldn't see spending thousands of dollars on something that didn't get my blood pumping. I think those who design products are looking to get such a reaction out of something they create. No different than a great piece of art stirring emotion. Give me zoom-zoom over boring any day.
ptcdawg says:
04:17 AM, 11/21/09
I have no idea why you are confused....FWD cars generally are compromises...RWD cars are not. Thus Miata gearbox is perfect, while the 3 is not.
zoomzoomn says:
05:47 AM, 11/21/09
Clutch issues seem to plague Mazda a bit. My '03 6s was downright difficult to drive smoothly. You never knew where the engagement point was going to be. It was a known issue that with a little twisting you could get Mazda to correct. My new clutch, while still not the best I have ever driven, is at least predictable. I feel for you guys and wonder why Mazda can't get something so basic right.
lowmilelude says:
08:06 AM, 11/21/09
Did you really just say "give it the full wood"??
SadButTrue says:
01:40 PM, 11/21/09
@ptcdawg,
I don't buy that logic, at least as regards shifters. One of the best manual gearboxes of all time -- '94-01 Acura Integra GSR -- was in a FWD application. And there are plenty of RWD cars with mediocre manual gearboxes.
JS
zoomzoomn says:
01:56 PM, 11/21/09
SadButTrue says:
01:40 PM, 11/21/09
Agreed. Some Bimmers and such that I have driven have vague and rubbery feeling shifters compared to my Mazda 6. The 1st gen 6's shifter is only less than perfect because the O.E. lower dog bone motor mount is so soft that the trans rocks and affects the directness of gear engagement in a negative way. Mine now has split and I am replacing it with a solid aftermarket unit that I have read will correct that problem.
breif says:
07:08 PM, 11/21/09
As a MS3 owner, I could not agree more with this post. It's getting to be aggravating, and really takes some of the fun out of the car.
corrodesdafilm says:
08:52 PM, 11/21/09
@zoomzoomn:
No kidding about Mazda and clutches. Don't forget the clutch shudder issues in the 01-03 Miatas. I love that car but the clutch shudder makes it a royal pain to get moving smoothly sometimes.
I also have never cared for the feeling of BMW shifters.
carguy622 says:
06:59 AM, 11/23/09
The 5 speed in my '08 Miata is indeed easy to drive smoothly, and agree with you on the TSX, my '06 is a pain to drive smoothly at a sedate pace, but only when the A/C is on. I do, however, wish I could take the shifter out of the Acura and put it in the Mazda. That Honda 6 speed is a snick, snick delight.
Honda 6-speed shifter + Miata clutch = perfect transmission?
jriz says:
09:38 AM, 11/23/09
"I also have never cared for the feeling of BMW shifters."
I describe BMW shifters as "Getting the job done and they won't agrivate, but if you could plug in something else, you would."