So...My lease is going to be up in around 2 months and it's time to start looking for a new cage. I've been looking around for some time, but I keep coming back to the Mazdaspeed3. It's the car I wanted when I leased my Mazda 6 three years ago, but I feel like now is the time.
The only thing I really worried about is the fact that it's a turbo charged engine. I've read horror stories about the 2.3L DISI that is in the MS3 and was in the MS6. Most being that the Rods weren't strong enough to handle the extra power the engine produced under higher boost. But most of those posts were from people that had either upgraded the turbo, unlocked the stock turbo boost limiter, or had just added intake upgrades that pushed the HP up.
More generally, I'd like to hear a general opinion about turbo charged cages, and how long I can expect them to last. I've heard that sometimes the turbo will blow-out relatively early in the cars life-span. Part of me is tempted to go with a V6 that pushes the same HP, but doesn't carry the extra worry of having one more part of the car to blow up.
Any input is appreciated. Thanks!
are you leasing again? why worry about the lifespan then?
Nope...I'm planning on buying this one. My lease experience has been good so far, but I guess getting to the end of it and not having anything to show is kind of a bummer.
my only experience with mazda was an original miata with the smaller motor. it was bullet proof.
damn. now that i think about it, i've never had a turbo motored car... hmmm project car ideas
I had a 1988 turbo Pontiac Firefly, 3 cylinder, turbo, intercooled, fuel injected. I changed the oil every 3000 km, and waited for it to be warm before I would get on it. I flogged it a bit, Nothing really really harsh, but I would get on it every once and a while. I put 160,000 klm's on it and it was still going strong after 6 years when I sold it. No issues. That was 22 years ago so the technology has improved greatly since then. I have a friend with a saab turbo, 130,000 miles and no turbo problems. No mods either.
i did have a friend with a maserati bi-turbo. and both ended up needed to be replaced around 60k.
course he was one to flog it, and not take care of it.
Quote from: Raux on March 31, 2010, 08:34:47 AM
i did have a friend with a maserati bi-turbo. and both ended up needed to be replaced around 60k.
course he was one to flog it, and not take care of it.
I've never had to replace a friend based on mileage.
I mean-how would you even record it?
Quote from: MrIncredible on March 31, 2010, 08:37:49 AM
I've never had to replace a friend based on mileage.
I mean-how would you even record it?
i had to reread that twice before i laughed...
trust me i've got plenty of mileage on me. gonna need some parts replaced soon enough. fortunately my tool kit is good to go!
Alright...Thanks for the all feedback. I'm glad to hear that people do have good experiences too. I've wanted this car since they first started making them in 2007, and can't find anything else anywhere near the same price that's as much fun to drive.
Now all I have to do is teach my wife (who has never driven a manual) how to handle a six-speed turbo, 260hp front wheel drive devil [evil]
Quote from: nkryptit on March 31, 2010, 09:12:08 AM
Now all I have to do is teach my wife (who has never driven a manual) how to handle a six-speed turbo, 260hp front wheel drive devil [evil]
The best car to teach someone how to drive a stick on is any car that's not yours ;)
for certain. try to find a rental car that's stick.. and good luck with that in the states
Quote from: nkryptit on March 31, 2010, 09:12:08 AM
Now all I have to do is teach my wife (who has never driven a manual) how to handle a six-speed turbo, 260hp front wheel drive devil [evil]
Know anybody with a cummins powered 4x4 pu. Take her out in the middle of a big field, lock the hubs and put it in 4 low, when she can take off without either digging a trench or inflecting whiplash, you're good to go. I don't think it's possible to stall a cummin in 2nd or 3rd low range.
Quote from: sno_duc on March 31, 2010, 12:51:42 PM
Know anybody with a cummins powered 4x4 pu. . I don't think it's possible to stall a cummin in 2nd or 3rd low range.
Yes. . .
It's possible. . . but not easy.
I don't know how different the turbo longevity experience would be, but my Cummins has 137k miles on the original turbo with no problems. I'm running a Banks wastegate set for 26psi, and 4" open exhaust with an FIPK.
My 93 has 187k on it, original turbo, 3rd getrag 5MT.
Yeah, as long as you don't go nutz with the boost, the Cummins 6bt seems to last a good 3-400k without too much hassle. It's the trannys that are the trucks achilles heel, they just can't take the torque.
I test drove a used 08 speed3 last fall. The previous owner had thrown in so much stuff (power upgrades.) The dealer claimed it made over 330 hp. I took it with a grain of salt. Until I drove it. The car was a blast to drive! It was like a high strung rabid dog waiting to attack at your command. It was insane! The car made only two noises; The growl of the exhaust and when you let up on the gas, the turbo blow-off would chime in. At that point stomping the throttle was my only response to make the blow-off howl go away.
When the test drive was over, I determined that car does not belong on the street. Way too much power for such a small car! I bought a regular mazda3. I need my license. Yes the stock speed3 is probably not as insane but it's still too much power for such a small car used to commute (<--- only my opinion.)
You should checkout this site.
http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php (http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php)
You should find an answer there.
Quote from: The Architect on April 01, 2010, 04:35:45 AM
I test drove a used 08 speed3 last fall. The previous owner had thrown in so much stuff (power upgrades.) The dealer claimed it made over 330 hp. I took it with a grain of salt. Until I drove it. The car was a blast to drive! It was like a high strung rabid dog waiting to attack at your command. It was insane! The car made only two noises; The growl of the exhaust and when you let up on the gas, the turbo blow-off would chime in. At that point stomping the throttle was my only response to make the blow-off howl go away.
When the test drive was over, I determined that car does not belong on the street. Way too much power for such a small car! I bought a regular mazda3. I need my license. Yes the stock speed3 is probably not as insane but it's still too much power for such a small car used to commute (<--- only my opinion.)
You should checkout this site.
http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php (http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php)
You should find an answer there.
Thanks for the link. I can only imagine what a MS3 with even more power would be like. One could say that it's getting close to too much power in a little car, but I think it toes the line quite nicely. It's just so much fun, what a thrill, but I think it could be used as a daily driver.
Thanks all for the input.
Not the best comparison to give you an idea of how reliable it is but my '06 regular 3 with the 2.0 (related engine at least) is now up over 230,000 miles and still running well. More impressive and relevant for you is how well the car itself is holding up, my last car which was an '02 Corolla felt like it was falling apart by this mileage.
Damn Lethe what is that 60k a year? As for the rest of you pussies, too much power for the street? Really? On a Ducati forum? I must have made it over to the monster women board by accident.
;D
Quote from: Ducaholic on April 02, 2010, 06:13:21 AM
Damn Lethe what is that 60k a year? As for the rest of you pussies, too much power for the street? Really? On a Ducati forum? I must have made it over to the monster women board by accident.
;D
Somewhere around that, roughly 250 a day 5 days a week. Only bothered doing it on the bike once because it's really just a waste of tires. :P
Damn thing has been pretty much bulletproof so far and I still cut to the inside of traffic circles and pass everyone. I don't dare test drive the Speed 3 because with that I'd just really drive like an asshole.
Only choice in my mind:
(http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn43/Desmodiva/DMF/P1010050.jpg)
[evil] [evil] [evil]
I long for the day that a 300whp daily driver would keep me interested. I'd just want more, more, more.
My car now is so slow I can't even think about speed (318ti autotradgic). I'm going to try and keep it that way, else the bike(s) will get put on hold.
MS3 is a pretty neat DD car. More compact hatches (GTI 4 door/golf 4 door turbo, impreza wrx wagon, and I dunno?)
Anyone have any FHE with the Volvo C30? I like the looks, and it's supercharged, but it's a Volvo.
Quote from: Bun-bun on April 02, 2010, 05:00:32 PM
Anyone have any FHE with the Volvo C30? I like the looks, and it's supercharged, but it's a Volvo.
No FHE, but the C30 and the mazda 3 are built on the same platform.
the ms3 is not a bad car.. guy in my car club had one.. did a lot of work to it.. still wasn't satisfied though.. i don't know what your plans for it are but if you track it, be weary of the motor mounts... on his first time out with it to a drag strip, on the launch the motor almost fell out the car.. only thing that was holding it up was the trans.. if you just looking for something with a lil pep, you should be good.. should get better mpg then the 6.. just be carefull though, it's hard to find one that hasn't been beat on..
i love my turbo4 banger neon (srt).. 33 mpg and 370 hp on low boost.. it's all in the tune.. a big part of a cars life when turbo'd is the tune.. some guy has over 200k miles on his srt with very minimal problems.. i like the stylings of the ms3 too.. good luck on your purchase..
Quote from: DesmoDiva on April 02, 2010, 04:12:25 PM
Only choice in my mind:
(http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn43/Desmodiva/DMF/P1010050.jpg)
[evil] [evil] [evil]
This is an honest question, not trying to pick a fight. What is it that you feel makes the WRX a better choice than the MS3. I know it's got a bit more history and AWD. They are both pushing ~260 HP, but the MS3 is putting out a bit more Torque (244@4000 vs 280@3000). Just about the same standard equipment, but the WRX is at least 2k more. I still need to go out and drive one, I'll let you know how I feel it adds up.
Quote from: nkryptit on April 06, 2010, 04:11:33 AM
This is an honest question, not trying to pick a fight. What is it that you feel makes the WRX a better choice than the MS3. I know it's got a bit more history and AWD. They are both pushing ~260 HP, but the MS3 is putting out a bit more Torque (244@4000 vs 280@3000). Just about the same standard equipment, but the WRX is at least 2k more. I still need to go out and drive one, I'll let you know how I feel it adds up.
For me (and B) the STI special edition (aka spec C) is the best option. We wanted something that we could tow the SBKs with and take to SCCA events.
The Speed3 was on our short list, but frankly it would quite do everything we wanted. The Mazda is a great value.
YMMV.
I have a 2001 Audi S4, that has been boosting 23 psi on KO4 turbos for about 50k miles.
for any car IMO its really about the boost (and how much you are into it).
Its a slippery slope - more HP = better clutch = bigger brakes = more HP = less reliability = more time = more mods (while your in there might as well upgrade) = faster car = break more things = more $$$$$$$, and so it goes...
you wake up 100k miles later with $20k invested in a car thats worth $10 that goes like hell but is starting to fall apart at the seams.
Rinse, repeat.
YMMV
Quote from: Ducaholic on April 02, 2010, 06:13:21 AM
As for the rest of you pussies, too much power for the street? Really? On a Ducati forum? I must have made it over to the monster women board by accident.
;D
It's hard to keep your license in good standings as it is. I don't need another reason to lose it. ;)
Quote from: Bun-bun on April 02, 2010, 05:00:32 PM
Anyone have any FHE with the Volvo C30? I like the looks, and it's supercharged, but it's a Volvo.
I wanted the C30 at first but the cost of the cars was too much for my use, mileage was mediocre for that size car, lacking in power (for that price) and I'll have to wait till the kids are old enough to understand that muddy footprints on the ceiling aren't funny. So until they're in college or out of the house, no nice cars for us.