Latest Car and Driver Comparo

[///M Compact]

I just received my January issue, which contained a seven-car comparison test entitled, "Dirty Speed, Done Dirt Cheap". Here are the results:
1. Mazdaspeed 3 Grand Touring
2. GTI
3. Cobalt SS
4. WRX
5. Civic Si
6. Mini JCW Clubman
7. Lancer Ralliart
The fastest 1/4 mile was posted by the WRX(13.5), followed by the MS3(14.0s). The SS and Ralliart both posted a 14.2s quarter. The Mini and the SS pulled down the best handling numbers, while the MS3 and Mini had the best braking performance. Pretty impressive for a three year old sled. That said, the MS3 did drop off of CD's 10 Best list.

[Vord]

Its off the 10 best list because there is no 2009 model Mazdaspeed 3.

[ragindark]

Its off the 10 best list because there is no 2009 model Mazdaspeed 3.

You better let Yahoo know that.

http://autos.yahoo.com/newcars/model/overview.html;_ylt=ArItFCqFg28ATY1SJPYIqWgEc78F;_y lv=3?modelId=5964

[FrequentFlyer]

There are 2009's.

[bjjer]

Colbalt is faster than a 14.2 1/4

[stevessvt]

Heres the article if anyone wants to read it.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison_test/sedans/chevy_cobalt_ss_vs_honda_civic_si_and_five_other_s port_compacts_comparison_test/(page)/1

They didnt speed shift the SS, they have a no lift shift embargo. Although they could do it with all of them if the chose, it would help them all.

[tiagotiago]

...and a steering wheel that adjusts for rake and reach helped the car earn top marks for driver comfort. The GTI is even comfortable for your feet, with a giant dead pedal to rest the left hoof.

Hum.. and the other cars don't have this???

I think they could have come up with some less generic complements for the GTI :P

[Huligan]

Its off the 10 best list because there is no 2009 model Mazdaspeed 3.

hmmmmmmm.... wrong.

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=modelsMain&vehicleCode=MS3

[SHaW]

Yeah, of course there is a 2009 model. haha

[FrequentFlyer]

Colbalt is faster than a 14.2 1/4

And the MS3 can be faster than 14.0. Plenty of bone stock MS3's that have run 13.8's. All depends on the driver, weather, track conditions, the car, etc...

[Kindred]

Its off the 10 best list because there is no 2009 model Mazdaspeed 3.

Shit, you better tell the members here that have bought them, that they've been hoodwinked.

[240ka]

Its off the 10 best list because there is no 2009 model Mazdaspeed 3.

i have a 09 MS3, not sure what you are talking about

[BSTD3]

Its off the 10 best list because there is no 2009 model Mazdaspeed 3.

Might want to let all the 09 owners know they got gypt'd :P

[bjjer]

Might want to let all the 09 owners know they got gypt'd :P

You got gyptd, your all buying left over 8.5's

[BSTD3]

You got gyptd, your all buying left over 8.5's

I have an 07 Speed3. Waiting for the '10 Speed3 to come out to upgrade

[pdqgp]

nice artical. cool to see the MS3 continue to do so well. I also like when we see comparisons of the new WRX as it may be a tad quicker, but it is AWD and to get the numbers they show you gotta note it does involve some harsh behaviors. Given the other user here's findings on roll runs with an STi, I'd say the WRX is likely on par with us from a roll.

"Combine that with a clutch-abusing redline launch and the WRX will get to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, 1.1 seconds quicker than previously and three-tenths swifter than the quickest STI we tested."

[mazdaspeedster3]

LOL... People with 09's get so upset. 09's were over runs of the 08.5 refresh. Try and get one now, cant be done. There was a very small allocation to the US. Hence the reason it has fallen off the top 10, aside from the fact that nothing has changed on the car at all since 07 (as far as safety, powertrain and suspension is concerned) so they wont rate it again.

[tiagotiago]

...the fact that nothing has changed on the car at all since 07 (as far as safety, powertrain and suspension is concerned) so they wont rate it again.

Exactly, the car is pretty much the same since 07. What upgrades were done (save for trim or cabin electronics) where just to correct some problem area with the first ones.

The only reason Mazda would have to put something extra into the 09 cars, considering that for 2010 the car is going to be all new, is so that the remaining cars in inventory would move out; but with a successful car, it probably isn't necessary since they're probably going to hit the sales targets, or they consider it would cost more to implement those changes than to give some nice discounts to clear the lot out.

[SHaW]

Not getting upset at all here, cause we got a freaking sweet car. However, if your looking for major differences I am assuming we will have to wait for 2010 specs and the final look.

[martin_nj]

for everyone saying the 09s are the same, i'm curious about the cobb accessport issue. it works for the 07s and 08s but not the 09s....

my 09 has a build date of 08/08 ...

[fostersafb]

for everyone saying the 09s are the same, i'm curious about the cobb accessport issue. it works for the 07s and 08s but not the 09s....

my 09 has a build date of 08/08 ...

Same here and same build date on my 09.

[dan1101]

Nice article, and great to still be on top. They're right about the radio controls. I'm a gadget and electronics guy, but there are too many buttons and that left hand knob is still a bit of a mystery, can't even think of what pressing it does off the top of my head.

[martin_nj]

I'm a gadget and electronics guy and the buttons all look nice! Very symmetric =]

[F430TECH]

If you have sirius the left hand button scrolls through the Station Name, Artist name, Song Title and other I guess pertinent information. You can also search Sirius by category witht he up down track buttons...really glad I opted for it now...

[Young Roids]

The whole radio is a mystery to me.

Who did Mazda have to bribe to beat the WRX?

[dan1101]

They said the WRX has a soft ride, rubbery shifter, and bad steering feel. Those things combined holds it back a bit, but at least they fixed the horsepower problems. Bumped it right up to 265 HP, which compares suspiciously nicely with our 263.

[CBlueMS3]

Notice that so far the WRX traps a lower mph (two magazines now). It will be a tad slower, with equal drivers, from a roll. More noticeable past 60mph.
MY gripe is that the WRX continues to be as fast or faster than the STI which has a lot more power and a 6MT. I think Subaru is giving out ringers, possibly.

[Metal409]

Notice that so far the WRX traps a lower mph (two magazines now). It will be a tad slower, with equal drivers, from a roll. More noticeable past 60mph.
MY gripe is that the WRX continues to be as fast or faster than the STI which has a lot more power and a 6MT. I think Subaru is giving out ringers, possibly.

In my opinion the 6speed, axels and rear end in the sti are worth the price difference. Having come from a Subaru and stripping 2 gears in close to a year, i'm curious as to how many transmissions they are going to be servicing with the power increase. Side note, Subaru uses a Service Bulletin to deny warranty claims on stripped gears in their turboed line of cars because of how many they have gone through since the WRX was released here in 02 (straight from a Service Managers mouth). >.>

[late apex]

First post. woohoo. (mj)

Ok, Car and Driver, you have some explaining to do!

I have that issue in my hand right now and they pick the MS3 number one in the $25k compact comparo of seven cars over the number two VW GTI by a pretty hefty ten points.

In the very same issue they have the 10Best Cars article. And which car is on their 10Best list? The MS3? No. It's the GTI! WTF?!

They chose the GTI even though the MS3 is on their 2009 10Best Nominee list of 57 cars. They even have a MS3 (red) in the group photo of the nominees.

I don't get it. Maybe if we all pile on C&D with emails they'll post a reply. Here's their email address: editors (at) caranddriver.com

[Vord]

jesus christ. there is no 2009 mazdaspeed 3. every 2009 mazdaspeed 3 is a leftover 08.5. period. don't post me what yahoo says. You bring me a mazda rep. who says that there is a 2009 MS3 and then we can talk. And no the mazda site doesn't really matter either, its been sayin 09 for a while now. the MS3s have stopped production for this gen.

btw, they never choose the GTI over the MS3, its just that there is no official 09 MS3.

[MSP2024]

i read this a few weeks ago, good to see mazdaspeed is the all around good car, i also found it funny that the wrx is faster then the damn sti haha

[Circle9]

Waiting in anticipation for the '10 speed3!! C&D did say the cobalt would have been faster than the MS3 had they used the "no-lift-shift feature", its just power shifting, I'm sure the MS3 would have seen better times too!

As a former Si owner, I say that the 2009's are not only slower and heavier, but uglier too! It saddens me that Honda seems to have dropped the ball, I think the Si didn't win in any category!

[Kain]

jesus christ. there is no 2009 mazdaspeed 3. every 2009 mazdaspeed 3 is a leftover 08.5. period. don't post me what yahoo says. You bring me a mazda rep. who says that there is a 2009 MS3 and then we can talk. And no the mazda site doesn't really matter either, its been sayin 09 for a while now. the MS3s have stopped production for this gen.


for everyone saying the 09s are the same, i'm curious about the cobb accessport issue. it works for the 07s and 08s but not the 09s....

my 09 has a build date of 08/08 ...

Y'know, in case you missed it. At the very least, something about the ECU has changed for the '09s.

[martin_nj]

latest cobb AP firmware update identifies my car as a 2009 CA model... a CA model in NJ? lame...

also the 07-08 maps that cobb has up don't work on my 09

@vord - my title says 09 and my invoice also... where are you getting your info about "the MS3s have stopped production for this gen."

[Mike240SX]

Typically any car produced after July of a given year is branded as the following model year. Look at the VINs on 2009s. Here's a sample:

JM1BK34M791246407.

The 10th character in a VIN designates the official, NHTSA, manufacture-specified, model year. A represented 1980, B is 1981, and so on and so forth (barring the exceptions of I, O, Q, and U which were never used) until Z = 1999. Starting in 2000, a number was used. So, 0 = 2000, 1 = 2001.

Notice the "9" in the VIN above? Copied from a MS3 that is labelled "2009" on the Window sticker. So you're telling me that in addition to going around swapping on "2009" window stickers, dealers went and changed the VINs too, in violation of federal law? Riiiiiight.

The argument that "09s are just relabelled leftover '08.5s" is no more valid than saying that '08s are just leftover '07s. If anything, is is the "08.5" that doesn't really exist.

Not to mention the afformentioned ECU issue.

[chrisp]

seems that all the times for the cars in this issue were a little on the quick side. Also maybe their previous drivers werent very good cuz motor trend tested the 06 sti and did 0-60 in 4.5 and the qm in 13 flat. On dragtimes.com their are numerous stock stis that run 12.8-13 flat in the qm

[squidmotion]

well... everything else aside, and on looks alone, that WRX and mini are two BUTT UGLY cars.... saw a mini with the 'suburban' back doors on it... gotta be one of the dumbest looking cars on the road.... and that new subi wagon? BLIIICK.. the vw looks like a melted hershey kiss with (ugly) wheels on it.... and the cobland looks like a rental car with some lame chrome wheels added on... just my opinion after looking at all of these cars...


i plan to buy a MS3 in the next week or so... and i'm glad to get an '09 or '08.5 whatever it may be.. i think the care is very nice looking... from the spy shots i'm seeing of the 2010, IMO it doesn't look as nice as the ones over the last few years...

call me old fashioned, but i really don't care for the new 'clear' tail lights they are putting on cars these days...

[FMOS Racing]

C&D did say the cobalt would have been faster than the MS3 had they used the "no-lift-shift feature", its just power shifting, I'm sure the MS3 would have seen better times too!

A bit off topic, but powershifting is absolutely critical in the MS3. The ECU is simply too slow with the throttle after a shift.

The nice thing about powershifting the MS3 is that you're shifting about 1000 rpms before redline so there's plenty of "tach room" during the shift.