GTI vs. Mini vs. Mazdaspeed3

[u3b3rg33k]

IMNSHO: at least get something with limited slip.

mazda spd3 - yes (ATB / conical?)
Focus ST - no?
GTI - no (XDS/e-diff)
mini / S - no (probable e-diff)
genesis coupe - yes (torsen -woot) EDIT - the R-spec / track packages have it

[ZoomZoomBoom]

But your username being zoomzoomboom doesn't hint at you being bias?

At the moment I'm parting out a Mazdaspeed6 to be sold and bought a 325iC to replace it. I would not personally buy a MS3 because of FWD, but from my experiences I would buy it over the other two the OP is looking at. A stock MS3 performs much better than what MT said in that article in both magazine testing and real life. There was a lot of untrue bullshit in that article.

Maybe it's changed, but doesn't Ford own Mazda too? And my vote, incidentally, would be with one of those two. I think the Mazda is a good lower-price-point choice, and the Ford is a good all-rounder.

Ford owned 33.3% of Mazda until 2008-2010 and now owns only 3% of stock. The Duratec 4 cylinder that Ford currently uses is a design primarily designed by Mazda. Mazda is now moving onto its new Skyactiv 4 cylinder.

[GillesBigCowboy]

E46 5sp and put $10k in the bank!
RWD FTW

[z31maniac]

I find it funny that they don't mention the SPeed 3 is boost limited in the lower gears, it makes the tq/hp numbers with 17psi, but in the lower gears they limit it to 12psi to help with traction and torque steer.

I'd like to see the Focus compared to the Speed 3 in say a 30-90 test.

I'm a Ford fanboy (Have a '13 GT Mustang in the garage), but I'm disappointed the Focus didn't get the REVO knuckle and a bit more grunt.


And what's with their stupid proportional scale?

[ZoomZoomBoom]

I find it funny that they don't mention the SPeed 3 is boost limited in the lower gears, it makes the tq/hp numbers with 17psi, but in the lower gears they limit it to 12psi to help with traction and torque steer.

I'd like to see the Focus compared to the Speed 3 in say a 30-90 test.

I'm a Ford fanboy (Have a '13 GT Mustang in the garage), but I'm disappointed the Focus didn't get the REVO knuckle and a bit more grunt.

I love the Coyote 5.0 :)

[firemanory]

How bout an e39 525it 5 speed. You can find lower mileage ones on occasion for ~8k-12k. I have the 540it and it only comes with a slush box. I love the car, but it would be even better with the stick. The old e39 is about as big as the newer 3 series, and is technically still a hatchback. With the back seats down, I can fit just about anything I could want, and when I run out of room in there, put on the car rack and then put a roof bag (www.roofbag.com) on and I can fit another 15 cu ft. plus 2 adult bikes. Really, can't say enough about the wagon. Just get the straight 6, the V8 is less efficient with gas and more prone to problems. Also the 6'r has regular springs in the rear as opposed to the air ride system (which is nice when I put a lot of extra weight in the rear, it is self leveling), but is another point of complexity.

Good luck...

[325ix]

I find it funny that they don't mention the SPeed 3 is boost limited in the lower gears, it makes the tq/hp numbers with 17psi, but in the lower gears they limit it to 12psi to help with traction and torque steer.

I'd like to see the Focus compared to the Speed 3 in say a 30-90 test.

I'm a Ford fanboy (Have a '13 GT Mustang in the garage), but I'm disappointed the Focus didn't get the REVO knuckle and a bit more grunt.


And what's with their stupid proportional scale?

Maybe we'll see another Focus RS of sorts sometime in the future.

[pogokat]

anyone have thoughts on the Genesis Coupe 2.0T?

btw, I've already had an e46 30ci and an e34 wagon---so those suggestions are my taste, but i need a no maintenance car that can go 100k miles from where it is and still be worth something in 5 years...so my focus is on things built in 2008 and up

[rich4rdee]

uhm...how has wrx (sti?) not been mentioned yet?

[z31maniac]

anyone have thoughts on the Genesis Coupe 2.0T?

It's a 4 cyl turbo car that is with in a few hundred pounds of my 420hp V8 muscle car.................and it doesn't handle better and is ugly.

[325ix]

uhm...how has wrx (sti?) not been mentioned yet?

reliability, I would assume.

[HR2L]

reliability, I would assume.

can we say ringland failures... :(

[pogokat]

Can't find a non- destroyed wrx sti in this price range...they all have 100+ miles, or are "hella flush", which would ruin their usability...in fact, can't find and turbo subaru anything for the same reason

[mach schnell]

We have a Mk5 GTI, and it has been an excellent car. No issues with it. Fast enough to put a smile on your face every time you drive it. Great handling. You won't miss the LSD, because it's very planted and you don't get a wheel loose that often (normally it's when you're pulling away from a stop light and turning at the same time). Ours is also a 4-door, and it has a baby seat in it all the time. Very usable for that purpose, because it is somewhat tall, so there is plenty of room to install/remove the baby :D ... and the hatch is handy when you go to get groceries etc. I really like the Mk5 GTI.

[u3b3rg33k]

Can't find a non- destroyed wrx sti in this price range...they all have 100+ miles, or are "hella flush", which would ruin their usability...in fact, can't find and turbo subaru anything for the same reason

Have you tried looking for a legacy GT?