'10 MS3 on PBS' "Motorweek" this week

[BillTheCat]

My co-worker alerted me that the 2010 MS3 will be featured on Motorweek on PBS this weekend. Check your local listings, of course. For those in Tampa, where we have 2 PBS affiliates, look for this at 8 a.m. on Saturday on WUSF, channel 16. (NOT WEDU, Channel 3)

[hectik1]

Thanks for the heads up. Have to see when it comes on and DVR it!(spin)

[iguanaboy]

Thanks for the heads up. Have to see when it comes on and DVR it!(spin)

7pm on Monday here(Ch 20 WYCC)

[boosted1]

There is a short intro video of the 2010 MS3 on the Motorweek site. Just click the 'Recent Test Videos' link. For the test numbers, see below:


ENGINE: 2.3-liter turbo four
HORSEPOWER: 263
TORQUE: 280 lb feet
0-60 mph: 5.2 seconds
1/4 mile: 13.9 seconds @ 102 mph
60-0 mph: 123 feet
EPA: 18 mpg city/ 25 mpg highway
MIXED LOOP: 26.1 mpg
(drive2)

[abovie3]

Wow nice numbers from the '10. Ill have to try and catch it this weekend.

[boosted1]

Wow nice numbers from the '10. Ill have to try and catch it this weekend.The show will probably be up on the Motorweek site next week.

[oaklandopen]

Thanks for the heads up. Have to see when it comes on and DVR it!(spin)

i actually have motorweek set as a series recording on my DVR

used to do the same with topgear but the bbc and usa must have been having some linkage blindness going on cuz the guide schedule didn't always match up with the actual programming, so i would get recordings of the news or whatever

[zx2man]

Wonder if you can hit 60 in 2nd gear? 13.9 @102 sounds about right..Im really not surprised..It would appear that motorweek test drivers know how to drive. Edmunds has to be by far the most conservative test drivers..

[jnr5005]

Looking forward to the program. Motor Week is awsome.

Those numbers there are interesting. I keep hearing the Gen 2 is slower in the 1/4. Car and Driver got 14.3 @ 100, I wonder if they flat foot shifted though. It is crazy how they both got such different times. C&D usually has really fast times too. What's up w/ that.

123ft stopping distance is long too, the Gen 1 is supposed to stop in 113ft. C&D also has the Gen1 at 159ft from 70mph, and the Gen2 at 161ft, which I believe is probably a more accurate representation.

[zx2man]

Well it boils down to driver..tires...temp..and much more factors..a driver from 1 magazine can jump into the ms3 and run a 13.9 102 trap..and another driver runs a 14.2 99 trap.....all in all..this car stock is a mid 5's 0-60 and high 13's 1/4 mile..I think the track thier on comes into play...When I test drove the 2010 ms3..it didnt feel any faster than my 09 whe it was stock..it felt more solid and less torque steer..but in terms of go speed..it felt identical to me.

http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/mazdaspeed3/2010/testdrive.html

Here Edmunds test drives a 2010 ms3 and there numers are: 0-60 6.4/1/4 mile-14.4...thats huge difference than Motorweek hmmmmm

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/hatchbacks/112_0911_2010_mazda_mazdaspeed3_test/performance.html

Motortrend says 0-60 5.6 sec. 1/4 mile-14.1@99.9 mph

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/09q3/2010_mazdaspeed_3-first_drive_review

Car and Driver 0-60 5.6 sec. 1/4 mile-14.1

Theres more out there..but you get the idea..stock for stock its about the same as our beloved 1st gens in terms of straightline speed :) But improvements in suspension&handling are there, Now get rid of that smile Mazda!

[BillTheCat]

LOL, I forgot to set my TiVo for this. I even woke up randomly at 8 this morning & forgot this episode was on. Luckily, with FiOS, WUSF has 5-6 digital channels, and there's a repeat on later today.

I also added Motorweek as a Season pass. I just like the show, dangit.

On a side note, I noticed that SPEED shows Motorweek, but they are about 2 weeks behind PBS. WTF is that about? Anyhow, next weekend, PBS has episode #2912, while SPEED has Episode 2910. But that also means the MS3 episode will probably be on SPEED in 2 weeks for anyone who misses it this weekend.

[5port]

Just watched the Motorweek episode and my eyes bugged out when they got 5.2 sec. 0-60. In a previous episode they stated that 75/80 dragway was just resurfaced so the added traction had something to do with it.

[Darth Vader]

Speed has it scheduled ffor NEXT Friday, 7:30 am PT

[zoomdoom]

Just watched it for some reason was on PBS at 0430 in the morning and for some reason I was awake (eekdance). Gotta love working midnights my sleep is so random.

[Travo83]

Shout out from Frederick MD Reguarding the 2010 MS3 times at 75/80 Dragway. The Track was resurfaced. I have yet to actually run on it since, due to the fact that its always Jamed pack durning test and tunes. I hear of a nasty lil hump at the spot where they started the resurface. but nothing to bad. The 2010 Speed 3 is just a tad quicker stock for stock since the new gearing makes better use of the power band. I'm looking to set up a race between the Gen 1 and Gen 2 as soon as the track opens again in Spring. I do enjoy motor weeks reviews since they do it local :) and there dead on with there runs as well. So i beleive them more than most

[TampaBlackMSP]

Saw it already - and as much as I try to like the new one, I really just can't - I personally think Mazda tried too hard to change too much. If it ain't broke....the first gen looks SO much better. Just my opinion, nothing else. Ah well.

[camrycev6]

http://www.mpt.org/motorweek/reviews/rt2911b.shtml

I am not sure I trust them afterall. Did you guys / gals read this? They claim they went from a 0-60 in 6.2 seconds to 5.2 going from a 2009 to 2010 Speed3? That can't be right... I understand the 2010 is a little faster, but a full second?

[boosted1]

http://www.mpt.org/motorweek/reviews/rt2911b.shtml

I am not sure I trust them afterall. Did you guys / gals read this? They claim they went from a 0-60 in 6.2 seconds to 5.2 going from a 2009 to 2010 Speed3? That can't be right... I understand the 2010 is a little faster, but a full second?The car was tested on a recently resurfaced track, which I am sure aided in the stellar time. The 2010 MS3 may be marginally faster than 'Gen 1' MS3 on the top end, but that is all.

[camrycev6]

The car was tested on a recently resurfaced track, which I am sure aided in the stellar time. The 2010 MS3 may be marginally faster than 'Gen 1' MS3 on the top end, but that is all.

So are you saying that the track was in such bad shape before that in caused a 1 second different in 0-60 times between the two cars?

[boosted1]

So are you saying that the track was in such bad shape before that in caused a 1 second different in 0-60 times between the two cars?I say, it depends on the driver,temperature and track conditions. If you have seen the test results from car mags, the times may vary widely. To date, the results that Motorweek received, are the best for the 2010 MS3 so far. Car and Driver results were not as good and they wring out the best times on a regular basis.

[camrycev6]

I guess I figured they would have made several runs under similar conditions, then used the averages. One time runs without considering the track conditions and weather are useless comparisons. They shouldn't have made one if that was the case.

[zx2man]

full second? that would mean 6.2. I did not see the motorweek review on the first gen,if so yeah 1 second..crazy if you think about it..but not crazy if you read alot of other reviews...Ive seen many 5.4-5.8 0-60 mph times on this car...Now TRUE thats still no 5.2..and that is the fastest time I have seen on the ms3..But if the 1st gen has been fully capable of "mid 5's" 0-60 time..then you take a 2010 which has fatter 225 tires..a upgraded traction control system and a nice brand new sticky roadcourse to drive on..then to me..the 5.2 is starting to look very possible and obvoiusly so since motorweek did post the time and in all the years ive been watching them they have never striked me as liars...interesting indeed :)

[oaklandopen]

i think the real factor in the different times in different mags or shows really comes down to the track and weather. it's never just gonna be some joe schmo that hops in the car and tries to get the best time on the first try, it's gonna be a professional that tries to get a good time out of multiple attempts.

even a regular person who isnt a professional driver can improve a 0-60 time in a manual car. all they have to do is try bunch of times through trial and error (ie launching from different rpms, clutch-play, throttle-play, etc).

but factors like a 50 degree difference in blacktop temps is uncontrollable and there is really no way to improve upon it. a hot blacktop is gonna get you better 0-60 than a cold one, and colder air is gonna get you better 1/4 mile times than hot air, etc

so basically i think the important thing to question (instead of saying one mag has crappy drivers or whatever) is where they are testing and how the conditions are. normally a show like motorweek will have a little blurb about their track conditions while showing the car sprinting from a stop, but sometimes you don't get the conditions in the mags or online articles.

[zx2man]

i think the real factor in the different times in different mags or shows really comes down to the track and weather. it's never just gonna be some joe schmo that hops in the car and tries to get the best time on the first try, it's gonna be a professional that tries to get a good time out of multiple attempts.

even a regular person who isnt a professional driver can improve a 0-60 time in a manual car. all they have to do is try bunch of times through trial and error (ie launching from different rpms, clutch-play, throttle-play, etc).

but factors like a 50 degree difference in blacktop temps is uncontrollable and there is really no way to improve upon it. a hot blacktop is gonna get you better 0-60 than a cold one, and colder air is gonna get you better 1/4 mile times than hot air, etc

so basically i think the important thing to question (instead of saying one mag has crappy drivers or whatever) is where they are testing and how the conditions are. normally a show like motorweek will have a little blurb about their track conditions while showing the car sprinting from a stop, but sometimes you don't get the conditions in the mags or online articles.

Pretty much knocked it on the head right there. little changes like driver-road surface-temps can make dramatic changes. I will say being a person who has test droven a 2010 ms3..it doesnt feel like a fwd...and it sticks to the road better than my 1st gen..the traction is there from the start and the cornering is very execeptional. That being said..regardles of the times..the ms3 platform is one amazing car..and soo worth the money. I do believe though if Mazda does make a 3rd gen..they either need to go awd or at the very least utilize Ford's Revoknuckle system.

[BillTheCat]

I think one thing some folks may not be considering when they read that the newly resurfaced track had a lot to do with the improved times is that it's not about the smoothness or roughness of the surface. It's about the stickiness of it. Old asphalt dries out, making it less tacky. New asphalt is still very "moist" with oil, making it a lot stickier, which aids greatly in getting & keeping grip. You can launch a lot harder on new asphalt. Even if the old grey asphalt was flawless in its surface condition (even, uncracked, etc.) a resurface will speed up launch & acceleration by providing better grip.

So add the improved track conditions to slight performance improvements, and maybe a slightly more aggressive test driver (no way to tell) for the 2010, and I could see a full second improvement. But it would have to be a perfect storm of a situation, which is pretty much my theory on that.