2010 Mazdaspeed 3 in Florida (pics and review)

[JCGator42]

Ok, finally got a chance to check-out, test drive and start the purchasing process on the 2010 Mazdaspeed3; I have staked my claim on a Silver one. Need to finish returning my '07 Scion Tc to factory condition(sway bars and lowering springs need to come off as well as some car audio) before I can drive off the lot.

Before I bore you with my thoughts, PICS! too many to link, sorry:
http://picasaweb.google.com/JCGator42/2010Mazdaspeed3

First thoughts:

1) WOW! looks much better in person than in pictures. My guy at the dealer had already picked out the silver one for me knowing how I am and yep, it's my favorite color.

2) All the colors look great, even the blue, but the wife just said "no", so silver it is.

3) The exterior is plain dead sexy, nice curves, makes the 09s look like minivans; wheels look and fit great on the car, the scoop is properly sized and the grille smile is not that noticeable.

4) interior materials are much improved, the plastics and leather/leatherettes are extremely nice and the seats feel like they hug better than the 2009s (although I am 260lbs, so yeah)

5) the transmission is AMAZING, super crisp short throws, very little play; I was a huge fan of the 09s transmission but this iteration is much improved. Clutch feel is also improved during take-off, no chatter or slop.

6) the driving seating position is a little better on the 09s in my opinion but I haven't yet had a chance to play around with the seat position (had it up high and too far back) but telescoping steering wheel allowed me to put the steering wheel in the right location even for the back and up position of the seat.
6a) the seating fabric is nice and stiff in the '10s and probably why the 09 is a little more comforable at the moment; I was very happy to see the leather hip bolsters areas on the 2010s, I didn't know they had that.

7) the suspension and chassis (to me) is A LOT stiffer than the 09s, very crisp and hard, feels as hard as the Tc with hotchkis sway bars on full stiff but with much better dampening. The car feels better planted than the 2009s.

8) the car feels slower than the 2009 in 1st gear (haven't hit the gas past 40% or so yet) but 2-5th gear feel stronger (could be the gearing, could be my head). Coupled with the stiffer ride the car feels amazing.

9) The new display console and redesigned dash is baddasss. Very nice colors, easy to use buttons on the steering wheel and radio. Gauges are nice and easy to read.

Overall: I am extremely happy with the changes they made and how it transfers to the driver. In the 3 miles I drove the car I fell in love with it and bought it.

I can't wait to have the keys in my hands again for good,

- JCC

[JCGator42]

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_SPf67wkUV-8/SnOLzWcvBLI/AAAAAAAABuI/o569l1eX7x0/s400/IMG_2477.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_SPf67wkUV-8/SnOL_3fZGoI/AAAAAAAABu4/mSt4_VBUwm0/s400/IMG_2488.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_SPf67wkUV-8/SnOMPdZZyNI/AAAAAAAABvo/O0NTK5dnXNU/s400/IMG_2500.JPG

[RODSCALIP5]

Wow, the blue one looks nice too (anymore pictures of it?)....But the silver is just sexy:

http://www.mspr.co.jp/accessory/axela/mzcustom/img/gallery/ph_02.jpg

[JCGator42]

there are tons of pics in the gallery, yes, silver is the way to go (for me it was :D),

but the blue is BEAUTIFUL:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_SPf67wkUV-8/SnOMNxk8v9I/AAAAAAAABvk/esw6SIwCGNg/s400/IMG_2499.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_SPf67wkUV-8/SnOMQzD71_I/AAAAAAAABvs/-XoJkAtBWxs/s400/IMG_2501.JPG

didn't get any more pics because the wife said "no, silver, sorry" :(

[watchurwrist]

there are tons of pics in the gallery, yes, silver is the way to go (for me it was :D),

but the blue is BEAUTIFUL:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_SPf67wkUV-8/SnOMNxk8v9I/AAAAAAAABvk/esw6SIwCGNg/s400/IMG_2499.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_SPf67wkUV-8/SnOMQzD71_I/AAAAAAAABvs/-XoJkAtBWxs/s400/IMG_2501.JPG

didn't get any more pics because the wife said "no, silver, sorry" :(

I think the silver looks great.

Due to the taller gearing, I hope it means less shifting vs '09.

I'm looking forward to a test drive.

[JCGator42]

^ the shifting definitely seemed improved over the '09, much less effort per shift, much shorter throws and very crisp action. go go test drive!

[ncspeed21]

nice write up!!
i agree with the exterior, curves are amazing, but every time i look at the front i cant seem to stop staring at the grill!! :( lol
but other than that i love it

[Speedkid]

That blue looks nice it would be nice if it was alittle bit darker.

[SPEED305]

we will all have to get used to it, but the smile is holding me from trading mines in.

[coolmazda5]

Cool, I serviced my 06 people mover yesterday and the dealer was eagerly awaiting to get its hands on them. They just had the brochures (boooh)

Yeah, I've been reading about the upgrades on the car dynamics, the ride and the 6MT gear/rpm ratios, it all sounds really good.

One silver to go please!, Oh no, damn rear-facing car seats (sad2)

[Vocko]

Cant wait to see it in person, pics dont do it justice.

[robin2660]

... pics dont do it justice.

That's an odd thing to say for having not seen it in person.

[Vocko]

I've driven the new 3 and liked the looks of it far better than on the pictures, both the hatch and the sedan version.
Given that expirence I cant wait to se MS3... Also here in Europe we're gonna have a diesel model 2200cc with 185HP (didnt let us drive it, only for show :(). The one I saw and sat in had the same equipement as the MS3 that JCGator42 took pictures of.
Factory performance numbers say it's gonna give the MS3 a run for its money, but with much better fuel economy.

[JCGator42]

Cant wait to see it in person, pics dont do it justice.

so true, she's a beauty in person. The smile is really toned down compared to pics; for some reason it stands out in pictures. I only noticed because I have been reading threads on here and other sites for months, lol.

:D

[TRDMS3]

Wow, the blue one looks nice too (anymore pictures of it?)....But the silver is just sexy:

http://www.mspr.co.jp/accessory/axela/mzcustom/img/gallery/ph_02.jpg

Best angle of the car, nice little black front and rear lip, having factored in all the upgrades the new ext stlyling is holding me back from being entirely convinced. It's simply far from agressive looking. The blue is nice but not on a ms3. I prefer previous colour choices.

[Speedkid]

In black the smile dosen't standout too much. So if I had to get one that would be the color.Which is not going to happen.

[BlueWagon]

The silver looks hot. Nice write up.

[JCGator42]

agreed, black is the best blended in appearance, but I like the silver body/gunmetal panels/grille combo.

By the way, I got a chance to take a look at a freshly washed red one and OMG, the red is amazing, tons of pearl and metal flake in the paint, it's baddasss. I still love my silver though :D

[blinduno]

man i love the side profile of this thing!!! but it looks like a freaking clown from the front!

[Antonio DiMarco]

Wow, the blue one looks nice too (anymore pictures of it?)....But the silver is just sexy:

http://www.mspr.co.jp/accessory/axela/mzcustom/img/gallery/ph_02.jpg

Damn, now that's a sexy sports car. Looks ton's more expensive than it is.

[Huligan]

i like it a lot.
i like black best, since it hides the awful smile... but the gray accents the sides nicely

[RODSCALIP5]

Yeah, side profile is the best :

http://www.mspr.co.jp/accessory/axela/mzcustom/img/gallery/ph_01.jpg

http://www.mspr.co.jp/accessory/axela/mzcustom/img/gallery/ph_03.jpg

http://www.mspr.co.jp/accessory/axela/mzcustom/img/gallery/ph_04.jpg

[erick pina]

those lips makes the car look so good.

[FLAMSP]

hands down best looking mazdaspeed...

my opinion

but, one thing that bugs me is the sharp lines on the headlights (top corner).

[TRDMS3]

...that aint silver is it? More like grey? I was actually appreciating the side shot and as I scrolled down the thread more as soon as I saw the fuckin smile shots I was quickly disgusted.

[Hank3]

Are the fender gaps bigger on the 2010 Speed3s? They look huge in comparison to the 08 & 09s.

[nastynogales]

dam where can i get that kit?!

[funksilver07]

Definitely looks like it sits higher. Didn't notice it much on the one I sat in on Saturday. Just came off the truck and in candy wrappers so I couldn't drive it. Going to test drive on Tuesday...the silver is really nice. (cool)

[Stoßtrupp]

The front end everybody keeps having a heart-attack about isn't omg so horrendous in real life. It resembles an RX-8 and flows pretty nicely with the rest of the car. Overall, it’s nice but there’s not enough improvements per say (performance wise) to trade in a 1st GEN for one of these. What I liked most about the 10' is the clutch and shifting feel, everything else felt just like my 08' pretty much.

[Hank3]

http://www.mspr.co.jp/accessory/axela/mzcustom/img/gallery/ph_02.jpg
http://www.mspr.co.jp/accessory/axela/mzcustom/img/gallery/ph_01.jpg

http://www.mspr.co.jp/accessory/axela/mzcustom/img/gallery/ph_03.jpg

http://www.mspr.co.jp/accessory/axela/mzcustom/img/gallery/ph_04.jpg

Silver is most tolerable color IMO for the Smiley Speed.

[zx2man]

Silver looks good on that car...awesome ! :) Maybe consider powdercoating the wheels in a gunmetal type theme,think that would really blend well for the car.

[kvndoom]

I love the wheels, and I love the blue!

But I also love my 09 I just got, so it ain't going anywhere for a while...

[merckx racer]

Just wish they could've brought in the 2010 speed3 at around 2800 lbs.!
Would have been a true sports car then!

[jdillen]

Lovin' my Liquid Silver that I picked up Thursday. I've only got about 120 miles on it but each one gets better and better. I'm very impressed with the flatness in cornering and how they've muted out some of the torque steer a little better than in my buddy's '07. I def agree that first gear feels slower but the other gears feel very strong (though I'm breaking it in so I havent fully got on it yet).

Overall, I agree with what others are saying that it looks a lot better in person than in pics...for whatever reason they just dont do it justice!

[Shadykilla717]

I read somewhere that the 10 ms3 is a bit slower in a start then the previous ms3. But in top end is where it taks the previous ms3.

[skrappyyy]

Do the windows in the back roll all the way down in a way that the window doesnt stick out? lol

[coololddude]

Nobody seems to mention how the dual exhaust sounds?