2010 Mazdaspeed 3: Uh, Not So Much

Mazda made the clutch able to handle 280ft/lbs of torque and thus it doesn't like anything less. My smoothest takeoffs are while feathering the clutch at 3k RPM.

I wonder if you really give up much practicality with the Cooper Clubman compared to the MS3? I suspect you don't.

@fastspeed - that doesn't make any sense.

LOADS of clutches handle far more power on a daily basis and are still pleasant to drive.

I've had my 2010 MS3 since October and I don't have a problem with the Clutch. It takes a little to get used to, but I have no problems with smooth takeoffs whether I am riding it hard or taking it slow. My last car (subaru impreza) had a clutch that was much harder to use than this car.

Learn to drive, then get back to us.

Agree w/ ptcdawg.

I don't even see how there can remotely even be a comparison between the Mini Pooper and the Speed3.

That is a really good picture of the car included. That might be the first angle of the front end that I've actually liked. Just as I'm starting to warm up to the car's looks, we have confirmation that the clutch is unbearable. Great.

That's funny, Subaru WRX/STI clutches can handle well over stock torque output and they aren't difficult to modulate (we have a modified WRX 2.5 in the family).

Um, or just get a GTI with DSG and not worry at all about a clutch pedal and still have plenty of driving fun.

"I don't even see how there can remotely even be a comparison between the Mini Pooper and the Speed3."

Why? Have you driven both? I have, and I have to agree that the clutch was pretty awful. As was the torque steer. And the boomy exhaust. And the turbo lag. And the vacuum cleaner-esque engine note. And that face.

I think cribbling has a point. an afternoon running earands will not make you a pro on that specific clutch. I still have oops moments even after 10 months with my cooper.

The clutch is definitely one of the most annoying features about my 2007 MS3. As I've noted before, you eventually get used to it, but I can't understand how Mazda screwed up such an essential part of the driving experience. I've had one or more MT cars in my garage since 1977, and none of them have suffered from the on-off abruptness of the MS3 clutch.

I agree with mini2009. You need to learn the clutch over time, not just an afternoon. I have owned 8 new cars, all with manuals, over the last 30 years. Eventually I got used to all of them.

"But then I found out that I wasn't the only one in our group who had issues with the clutch. "

do you guys (and gals) at Edmunds not read each other's posts??

While they aren't exactly the same beast, the clutch in my Mazdazpeed6 has taken similar complaints, and I can vouch like others here that while it may have taken a little longer to adjust to, I have zero issues with it now. My dad, on the other hand, got in and had the hang of it immediately and has never had an issue driving it smoothly. (And has proceeded to hold that over me since.)

I can certainly understand a preference between the cars, though. The Cooper has never done much for me since the interior makes my eyes bleed even more readily than the outside of the new 3's do. The "learn to drive" comments seem rather off-base. Even great drivers are going to have constant adjustment periods switching cars as often as the IL staff does.

The TCO comparison, though, seems disingenuous. Those numbers are for the base price of both cars, and the options on these don't really line up cleanly enough to use the base prices for both cars; not to mention that matching the features of your test car will spike the Cooper up higher. The $3,000 difference is also nearly entirely the cost of gas. While the Cooper does put up impressive fuel economy numbers, it's doing so while putting out way less power that the 3, so it's a bit of an inherent trade-off.

This points out the big difference between the Edmunds' folks and us normal grunts. They get to drive multiple cars every week, get used to none, compare them all, and come up with favorites based on that routine. We grunts buy ONE car, get used to in within a week or two (or three), and never have the chance to compare its clutch action, or ride, or whatever, to a dozen other cars.

bankerdanny,
Yeah, I'm not crazy about the Clubman but love the S.

cribbing,
One of the other editors did note that the MS3 is a car that you have to pay attention to while driving. And yes, to the WRX being a difficult car to drive. It's more so than the MS3, that's for sure.

stovt001,
Photography editor Scott Jacobs took that photo. As for the clutch issue, that's just my opinion. As I said, a few of the other editors are of the same mind but then there are some others who disagree so it's just a matter of what your priorities are, what you can live with, etc.

bkochuk,
Did you not click over to the next page where I linked to everyone else's posts about the clutch?

penboy,
Point taken about the TCO of each car. I guess when it's gets down to it, which car would I want to live?

the WRX was a pain to get used to. i've had a lot of people stall trying to test drive it and they've driven manuals all their life. its true you can get used to anything, but fact remains it is still less than ideal. i'd rather just jump into a car and have it feel perfect.

this car is more like a tuner car, than a OE car. the OE method would be to utilize a larger clutch assembly, which would take a lot of work on the engineering side. the tuner method will utilize a higher friction disc or a higher tension clutch or a combination of the two. either method holds the power and is cheap, but generally has driveability issues. the expensive option would be carbon fiber and likely not gonna happen in a cheap car like this.

caroscuro,

Definitely, and everyone is going to have different preferences. While the clutch wouldn't be an issue for me personally, there are plenty of other things that would keep me from getting the current 'speed3, as good a car as it is. Now if I could just get a raise and move into a 135i...

Also, my apologies if I came off strong on the TCO part, it wasn't intentional. It's a great tool for comparisons, I just thought those numbers seemed a little funny. (I did a bunch of cost comparisons between a Cooper S, MPS3 and WRX awhile back for a friend while they were car-shopping, so the numbers seemed familiar. I do so love car-shopping...)

penboy,
No worries. I like dream car shopping. :)

As far as the 2010 MS3 goes, the front fascia and the inability to get it in Grand Touring trim would the two primary deal-breakers for me. The fact that it's heavier than the 2007-2009 doesn't help either.

I think we have a winner:
texases says:
02:18 PM, 03/30/10
This points out the big difference between the Edmunds' folks and us normal grunts. They get to drive multiple cars every week, get used to none, compare them all, and come up with favorites based on that routine. We grunts buy ONE car, get used to in within a week or two (or three), and never have the chance to compare its clutch action, or ride, or whatever, to a dozen other cars.

I agree with this. It makes a lot of sense. The Edmunds staff aren't necessarily bad drivers, they just have a lot of opportunities to drive so many different cars that getting totally used to any single car may simply just be difficult due to the nature of their jobs.

As for those who have commented on the Subaru WRX's clutch, I agree, it does seem a bit difficult. I have a 2009 WRX and it was a bit tough to get used to, but I'd say that I'm comfortable with it now. However I find the gearing in the WRX to be more annoying than the clutch. The shifter doesn't help much either since it feels like I'm moving a stick through a bucket full of rocks whereas in the GTI it feels like a knife going through butter.

It's a brand thing. My RX-8's clutch is a bit on the abrupt side as well. I didn't think much of it until I got the chance to get some seat time in an 08 M3. I remember reading several articles that stated that M3 was difficult to drive smoothly at low speeds, but it was as sweet as a kitten pulling away from a stop compared to the RX-8.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't this site's review of the standard Mazda 3 also say that its clutch uptake was abrupt?

Caroline, it's cause you're on crack. :)

The MS3 modding community is well aware of the quirky shifting of this car and would be quick to suggest parts that unfortunately will likely void the warranty, but address the issues people have with their clutch. I understand this isn't on the table for Edmunds doing a factory test of the car, but the remedy is out there and it's addressed significantly with a stiffer rear motor mount.

Also, I do note that I have to pay a lot more attention to this car if I want to drive smoothly (coming up 5 months of ownership @ 3800+ mi).

I picked a Cooper S over a MS3 in 2007. In 2010 I'd take a GTI or Golf TDI over a MS3. Or a used 3 series. No thanks on the MS3.

if you love a car or don't know any better, you tend to overlook the faults and label them as normal. bias still comes into play sometimes, but by driving a lot of cars, you eliminate the latter. i know people who drove Subaru's for all their life and all those problems were normal to them. Ignorance is bliss, right?

It's so incredibly sad that Mazda can't get a clutch right! My '03 6s was the same way. I felt like a first time driver in a stick half of the time. Why only half? Because sometimes it felt ok...and that was the rub! Inconsistency. Add to that the sometimes infuriating throttle response and it could be a rough day...literally! I finally got Mazda to replace the clutch under warranty at 45000 miles with their updated unit. 50000 miles later and, while it is not perfect, it is way better than the original setup. So, why can't Mazda get it right...out of the box...even now with this new MS3?

@caroscuro

I meant it sounds like you were surprised to hear about the clutch: "But then I found out..."

Don't you read your fellow writers posts as they post them?

I thought I read at one point that Mazda designed this on purpose. Can't remember the reason though. The Speed6 and Speed3 use the same transmission/engine combo and therefore have the same shifting characteristics. I have test driven a Speed3 on a couple of occasions.
I also have a manual Mazda3 s hatch. Though a 5-speed, the clutches on those two cars couldn't be anymore different. The Speed3/6 clutch has an off/on sort of feel. The pick up range is really narrow and it is at a spot in the petal travel where you need a good need of muscle control out of your left leg. Stop and go traffic is definitely a workout. I wish the the Speed3/6 would have a little less strenuous clutch like the 5-speed in the other Mazda models.
I found too I have relearn to drive the Speed6 after spending a week in my Mazda3 hatch.

I guess this is one of the sacrifices you make when you own a high performance front wheel driver.

Mazda absolutely has the know how to do a proper clutch, trans and gear shift: the Miata is nearly perfect.