Sport or GT????

[lunchbox16]

i'm still trying to get a MS3 for the price i want. i was looking at the GT but think i may start looking at the Sport.
i looked at the maxda website and there seems like the very little differnce.

should i go with the Sport or keep trying for the GT?

[Zimmer]

i went through this for a month a year ago... i decided sport I liked the HID lights but could live without the bose and rain sensing wipers etc. When it came down to throwin' down they both take care of business so its up to you ... hey with the sport you may be able to afford gas this summer!

[b-ron]

i was in the same spot you are like 3 weeks ago i had my mind set on the gt an i left with the sport.

the sport does not have bose. but i will be putting my own system in anyway

it does not have HID- 40 bucks a a local auto zone

it does not have "leather"
im sure theres more stuff im for getting but i walked out with a 2008.5 for 21,000 out the door and couldnt be more happy

[Zimmer]

i was in the same spot you are like 3 weeks ago i had my mind set on the gt an i left with the sport.

the sport does not have bose. but i will be putting my own system in anyway

it does not have HID- 40 bucks a a local auto zone

it does not have "leather"
im sure theres more stuff im for getting but i walked out with a 2008.5 for 21,000 out the door and couldnt be more happy

ya i tell ya one thing i didn't mention before every day i'm behind the wheel and hit the road the last thing i'm thinking is leather ... good luck in your search!!!!

[lunchbox16]

i was in the same spot you are like 3 weeks ago i had my mind set on the gt an i left with the sport.

the sport does not have bose. but i will be putting my own system in anyway

it does not have HID- 40 bucks a a local auto zone

it does not have "leather"
im sure theres more stuff im for getting but i walked out with a 2008.5 for 21,000 out the door and couldnt be more happy

21,000. nice i can;t find them any lower than 23,000.
there does not seem to be too many in MA or RI that do not go over 25,000

[lunchbox16]

also the mazda website said the GT has a trip comp. the Sport does not.
i thought i saw on here that the trip comp. was not working properly in the 2008's. is this true?

[VermZ06]

21,000. nice i can;t find them any lower than 23,000.
there does not seem to be too many in MA or RI that do not go over 25,000

Try a search under inventory on mazdausa.com

a bunch should come up in your area and if you want to haggle a lower price the easiest way would be to avoid the 2008.5 and try for a 2007 or early production 2008...email the dealers and negotiate that way.

[VermZ06]

also the mazda website said the GT has a trip comp. the Sport does not.
i thought i saw on here that the trip comp. was not working properly in the 2008's. is this true?

I know of the 'unlockable DIS' feature in the 2007 sport, however i believe 2008 sport models it was deactivated completely or they switched up the code to get into the DIS and no one has been able to figure it out yet. As far as I know all GT's 2007-2008.5 come with this feature.

[Zimmer]

I know of the 'unlockable DIS' feature in the 2007 sport, however i believe 2008 sport models it was deactivated completely or they switched up the code to get into the DIS and no one has been able to figure it out yet. As far as I know all GT's 2007-2008.5 come with this feature.

ya my 2007 sport is unlocked came that way...(shady)

[b-ron]

the dealer ship paid off what was left on my 350z and gave me the ms3 without any dealer mark ups. i whent to four different stealerships to find the deal i wanted. good luck

[udontknowjack]

if i have to do it all over again....its gonna be sport all the way....save that $2000 for modds

[Young Roids]

Sport.

[lunchbox16]

thanks.
i'm on the mazda website several times a day looking for inventory at dealers.
i only get several MS3. non of these are late model 07's. i looked at cars.com and autotrader.com. same result. most on these sites are high priced.

i've been to one dealer already they had a GT for 24,300 or so.
but i owe $9000 on my chevy 1500. the dealer would only give me $6000-7000 for my truck. so the MS3 would be $26-27,000.
the dealer said they would not give me any more for my truck because of the engine size and because it's not 4x4.

i'm looking in RI for MS3 there seems to be a good amount there but most are priced higher.
i'm going to call a few dealers this week.

[zim]

I say get a sport. the stereo in mine is great, I can't imagine how the bose could be any better, then again I've never heard one. I didn't particularly like the leather in the GT and I don't want to have to take care of it. I can always buy HID's and I see fine at night anyway.

[Boosted333]

I like the rain-sensing wipers, the look of the leather, the HID's and the trip computer. The Bose blows, but I just think the added goodies make the MS3 that much nicer.

[Silver Ecstasy]

Get the GT.

It's not much more, for much more. Regardless if you actually need or use it alot.

LED Tails and OEM HID's FTW. Leather and Alcantara is luxurious. Auto Lights/Wipers and Bose arn't major selling points. Resale value will definitely be better on a GT since you ponied up now.

[Mike240SX]

For me the decision came down to the seats, ability to get NAV, and the factory alarm.

[Zimmer]

I like the rain-sensing wipers, the look of the leather, the HID's and the trip computer. The Bose blows, but I just think the added goodies make the MS3 that much nicer.

really the bose sucks??? I haven't heard one ....

[pointysticks]

sport for me. i dont need the nav, never really lost, plus i have a $500 portable unit i move from car to car. the cool headlights would have been slick, but oh well, mine illuminate just the same without the cool factor.

anyone know the weight diff between the two models?

[Jasnall]

GVW on my door say 41xx forgot the exact amount, I have GT

Dont't get GT cause of NAV, its like 1400$??? you can get any garmin or somthing for way less.
The leather and alcantra is really nice.
HID's are awsome, as well as the brake lights.
I love the rain sensing wipers
The BOSE is WAY better than stock sound, but not amazing.

does the sport play mp3's now? and have cd changer? if nont thats another plus for GT

[Boosted333]

really the bose sucks??? I haven't heard one ....

Absolutely. The Bose in my CX-9 rocks, but in my MS3 - i'm not happy with it.

[Super Unique]

The bose in the speed 3 falls short in a lot of ways. Adding an aftermarket subwoofer and amp helps a lot though. Enough to make it liveable. You can get more than adequate sound with that 1 slight upgrade. I have been considering a speaker replacement as well, although thats not quite as simple an upgrade. Certainly worth looking into. There are adaptor plates to make aftermarket equipment fit, however they don't mesh well with the overall look of the dash.

[bjjer]

I bought the Sport after going in for the GT. To me the extras were not worth it so I saved myself some money. But if the extra features are worth it to you get the GT, they just were not for me.

[MS3077]

I think you basically get what you pay for in this case.

[MS3077]

I bought the Sport after going in for the GT. To me the extras were not worth it so I saved myself some money. But if the extra features are worth it to you get the GT, they just were not for me.

*off topic*

You're going to like that Cobb intake dude!

[UHATEIT]

I too debated this for a few days.... 2007 GT or 2008 Sport. I went with the sport. I dont care for bose or wipers, you can buy an hid kit for like $60 on ebay, I dont want to have to take care of leather, and from looking at the 2 side by side the seats "look" the same. The think that kills me about not getting the GT is the LEd tails, and the trip computer.... I liked the trip computer in my 350Z, so I kind of got used to it and miss it.

Don't forget the GT also has lojack, which lets your insurance rate go down, but you can always "tell" them it has it ;)

[MS3077]

I wasn't aware that the GT model has "Lojack"

[Zimmer]

I think to sum it up .... everyone seems to love the car whether sport or GT ... and as an overall package you're getting a lot for your money !!

[goner]

i chose the gt pretty much for the seats ... the alcantera suede seats and door panels are plush !!! its worth it.

[CHICO2003]

The 07-08 models didn't have nearly as compelling a reason to go GT as the 08.5. Serioiusly... $1800 is a lot of money people! It can buy you a lot of cool aftermarket stuff... a kick ass stereo system w/in dash dvd/nav, better speakers, amp & sub... and you'd probably have enough left over for a CAI. Now tell me which car you'd rather have.. THAT one or the stock GT. LED tails are cool I guess.... for the jerkoff behind you. HIDs are cool... but hardly worth the money. Plus you can put them in afterwards. Rain sensing wipers... come on!! wtf? those might be useful for your grandma but seriously....

But as I said... the 08.5s with the alacantra are the shit. Not quite sure it's worth the extra money but... second thought... it is. the cool factor alone... plus, unlike that other BS, you actually see/feel that shit on a daily basis. All the other stuff is just a bonus

[bjjer]

*off topic*

You're going to like that Cobb intake dude!

Hopefully SU gets it in soon, they are backordered.

[zim]

haha the cobb sri is on back order again? wow those things are selling fast.

[FrequentFlyer]

The seats in the new GT's alone, if you were to buy them aftermarket or have them recovered with the embroidery would set you back well over $1,000, especially for 4 of them. HID's, the bulbs alone are $200 a piece through Mazda. So, IMO, the $1,800 difference is worth it and with dealers giving these cars away for invoice and below, how many other cars out there can you get with the features and performance of a MS3 GT for $23k? You will not find one.

[hectik1]

Thought about the GT....didn't want leather. I have a 2 year old that likes to kick and stand on the seats. The only option I liked was the HIDs which you can get aftermarket.

[Galvatron]

it does not have HID- 40 bucks a a local auto zone


Some cheap colored bulbs are hardly the same thing as real HIDs.

[UHATEIT]

I wasn't aware that the GT model has "Lojack"


The guy at the stealership mentioned it for $650, but now that I think about it, he said "we put lojack on all out GTs" so maybe that too was added.

But in the bruchure it says something about a security/theft system. AT least thats what the brochure from the stealership said.

[mspeed3 617]

if your getting an 08.5 get the GT, cuz the sport seats look blah

[rice ahoy]

I chose the Sport cuz:

-Didn't need the 6 disc CD changer (I have my Ipod), and the 08.5 MS3 can play MP3 CDs
-Leather trim gets hot, had this issue with my black on black MR2
-Planning to buy a cheaper Sat-Nav
-I just couldn't find justice in paying an extra ~2k for the GT

[ComeBack]

haha I am also looking at getting a ms3 and this thread made it harder to decide LOL.

[Kain]

I negotiated on both a Sport and GT with a couple of dealerships, and in the end, the difference was $1,500. At that price gap, the leather/alcantara, HIDs, and six-disc changer were worth it to me. I could give a crap about the LED taillights, auto wipers and auto headlights, so those didn't factor in.

[jtspells]

If you want to "look cool" GT

If you want more speed/less crap Sport <-(the better one)

[squabbin]

Gt Ftw!!!

[punch]

Got the sport just based on price. I liked the "leather" seats in the GT, but I liked the price of the sport.

Can't go wrong with either really.

[Nachtsturm]

I drove the GT and the sport when I was looking.

And went with the sport. The only things I really wanted where the HID head lights and LED tails. But not worth 2 g's IMO. The leather trim was a joke, and the bose was lacking. Trip computer I could really care less.

If the GT came with Full leather, heated seats, and heated mirrors. Then I would have gladly paid for it.

[xandrake]

it does not have HID- 40 bucks a a local auto zone


I hope you were kidding.

[MS3077]

YOu guys are just haters because you didn't get the GT

[CHICO2003]

Nah... some people find value in what the GT offers and others don't. Simple as that. If you think it's worth an extra $2k for those extras than the pricetag is justified. To each their own.

[Kain]

Nah... some people find value in what the GT offers and others don't. Simple as that. If you think it's worth an extra $2k for those extras than the pricetag is justified. To each their own.

True. It was either my red GT or a metro gray Sport, and it almost came down to a coin toss. If the diff was $2k, I would've gotten the Sport. But as soon as the gap got down to $1.5k, it hit the point that the GT was worth the premium.

[CHICO2003]

but apples to apples it's $1800 (sticker price) But even at that price... the 08.5 GTs are definitely the way to go. the seats alone are worth the price!!

[lunchbox16]

well it happened i now own a MS3 GT black on black 08.
i went to the dealer today they hads the black GT on the lot for $24,600, and a blck sport off the lot for $23,100.
i hadgone in there knowing i was going to get the sport but hoping i could work out the GT.
we did the numbers and the monthly payment for the sport was $10 less then the GT. $10! no brainer there.

so after 4+ hours in the dealership, which by the way was the best experience i have ever had at a dearlership i was on my way.
i had read on here that the clutch was a bit tricky and found that out after stalling 3 times. almost got pulled over on the way home. 85 past a cop.
this thing beggs to haul ass.

thank you all for your help on here
chris

[Zimmer]

congrats

take it to the track so you don't lose your license!!!

[punch]

I drove the GT and the sport when I was looking.

And went with the sport. The only things I really wanted where the HID head lights and LED tails. But not worth 2 g's IMO. The leather trim was a joke, and the bose was lacking. Trip computer I could really care less.

If the GT came with Full leather, heated seats, and heated mirrors. Then I would have gladly paid for it.

I agree, if the GT had heated seats then I would have shelled out the money. I really wish that was an option in these cars.

But, they are priced low for a reason.

[punch]

YOu guys are just haters because you didn't get the GT

I don't see anyone saying the GT package is horrible... (jerkit)

[MS3077]

Some of you guys seem to be leaving out a lot of the other features in the GT model.

[CHICO2003]

like what?