Boost! One thing I really enjoy about our Mazdaspeed 3 is the swell of mid-range torque it's got on tap when you're on the freeway. Unlike a regular economy hatchback, there's no need to shift to pass a slow-moving vehicle. Just floor the throttle, wait a half beat for the little bars on the boost gauge rise up and -- whoosh -- the MS3 squirts ahead. I checked Jay's dyno test post from a couple weeks ago; the engine is making its peak torque between 3,000 and 4,000 rpm. That's a perfect sweetspot, especially if the air is cool and turbo-friendly, as it was when I took the above picture.
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor
tmanz says:
12:20 PM, 10/22/10
and also a plus with a stick shift. You don't end up with a transmission that tries to think for you by going "Oh, he wants to go faster, so I should probably drop down 2 gears" So rather than accelerating it spends too much time downshifting shifting and overrevving and then shifting back up a gear before the power kicks in.
blueguydotcom says:
12:50 PM, 10/22/10
If you have to wait a beat, then you should have shifted. ;)
One thing I hated about my 335i - the full torque was always present and there was little need to shift. The 328i was far more fun in this regard (ditto my 330is and Cooper S) as shifting for power was needed and so much more fun.
roadburner says:
02:25 PM, 10/22/10
I added the Mazdaspeed CAI to my 2007 MS3. Mazda claims it adds 24 hp and in my own tests it clipped 0.6 seconds off the 30 mph-70 mph acceleration times in third gear.
itm1221 says:
02:35 PM, 10/22/10
@tmanz
i couldn't agree more! well put!
ms3omglol says:
03:07 PM, 10/22/10
This car will surprise even enthusiasts with it's highway pull in 6th gear. I have a 2008 MS3. After the boost spools up, this thing will flat out get from 60-100 mph. It will probably beat many sports cars in a 6th gear 60-100 sprint due to it's low end torque and shorter gearing. Things like an aftermarket tune, intake and exhaust will give this car more power than any fwd has any business having. I actually removed the boost limition in 1st and 2nd gear with my Hypertech Power Programmer but I won't be abusing it until I get a strengthened rear motor mount.
allthingshonda says:
03:32 PM, 10/22/10
Great headlights. I love HIDs, once you've had them I don't think you could own a car using ordinary halogens.
skyggge says:
04:12 PM, 10/22/10
"allthingshonda says:
03:32 PM, 10/22/10
Great headlights. I love HIDs, once you've had them I don't think you could own a car using ordinary halogens."
Those aren't HIDs.
I installed some 6k 35W HIDs on my 2010 MS3, and it made a pretty big difference. A little more blue than I thought/would have liked, but oh well. Still much better than the stock lights that seem to impress some people well enough. ;)
kevm14 says:
07:45 AM, 10/23/10
Best thing about engines like the LS6 are a strong low end, stronger mid range and if you want to downshift, even more thrust is available. But you'll almost never be left flat footed.
eldaino2 says:
10:12 AM, 10/25/10
I didn't realize this mazda had an ls6 ;)
I'm truly suprised at these claims of over 20hp just from an intake. Sounds like something someone
At pep boys would tell you. Are any of these claims dyno tested? If they are true this engine wins the
Inefficiency award
eldaino2 says:
10:31 AM, 10/25/10
I didn't realize this mazda had an ls6 ;)
I'm truly suprised at these claims of over 20hp just from an intake. Sounds like something someone
At pep boys would tell you. Are any of these claims dyno tested? If they are true this engine wins the
Inefficiency award
roadburner says:
08:16 PM, 10/25/10
"Are any of these claims dyno tested?"
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=102406&d=1173242879
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=102407&d=1173242879
"If they are true this engine wins the Inefficiency award"
Why do you say that? The issue is the restrictive OEM intake- it's
designed to attenuate intake noise as well as make air filter
replacement convenient and simple.