With a break in California's rains and beautiful skies overhead, I couldn't resist revving up the Mazdaspeed 3 for a curvy-road drive this morning. This has always been the beauty of the "hot hatch" formula: your affordable workaday hatchback dons a heroic red cape when needed. The Speed 3's thumping power output is certainly its signature supernatural power. I never got tired of laying into the 263-horsepower turbo-four on empty straights. The engine is also surprisingly smooth-revving up to its 6,750-rpm redline.
Hearing that the new Speed 3's bumpy-road manners have been improved as compared to the last generation's, I specifically chose an older single-lane road with lots of bumps and camber changes. Here, the MS3 was, well, interesting. The somewhat soft boost response plus all that torque going through the front wheels does not make the MS3 particularly smooth to drive when exiting corners. Sometimes, the steering wheel just has a bit of life of its own. Otherwise, though, the quick steering, grippy tires and impressive damping control make the MS3 a hoot.
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor @ 4,307 miles
ocramida says:
02:56 PM, 12/16/09
The piss poor damping of my 2008 is about the only real gripe I have with my speed. COnsidering it's daily-driver aspirations I would have expected a more compliant ride. Of course the existence of compromise is always a sobering reality at the MS3's very attractive price point.
subytrojan says:
06:18 PM, 12/16/09
For those who are interested in learning more about the new MS3's road manners, you can check out this feature article about the car's development.
http://www.insideline.com/mazda/mazdaspeed3/2010/2010-mazdaspeed-3-behind-the-scenes-at-mazda-rd.html
festiboi1 says:
07:32 PM, 12/16/09
That looks like Rd. 211 near Millerton Lake.
One of my favourite roads to take when visiting my parents who live in the Sierra foothills. Too bad it's in my Subaru Justy. The Speed3 looks like a lot more fun!!
roadburner says:
09:19 PM, 12/16/09
The first generation MS3's dampers are short-lived and inadequate. If I was going to keep mine I would have to spring for a set of Bilstein HDs.
ahightower says:
05:52 AM, 12/17/09
Great photo. I've been reading a lot of complaints about MS3 torque steer, and while I don't thinkg it's a good thing, I don't mind a powerful car that needs some careful attention when driving fast. When it was rear-engine Porsches flinging you off the road, people thought they had "character". This car seems like it would be a ton of fun to me, especially considering the bargain price.
asdfkj says:
10:01 AM, 12/18/09
Which road was this? I think I've been there a few times...