2008 Subaru Impreza WRX vs. 2007 Mazdaspeed 3 by Inside Line

[sosotaylors]

2008 Subaru Impreza WRX vs. 2007 Mazdaspeed 3 by Inside Line


hahaha, thats what i woulda thought if i hadnt have drove and road in both of them, same model years and all. but seriously, the speed3 is a bad mo fo for 25K. but just wait, subi has the new WRX for 09, and they will redeem themselvs, and piss me off at the same time.
All in all, theyre two great cars and pretty good prices, the wrx may take a bit more work, but if a street/strip super sleeper is what youre looking for, either one is a great option. Though most 2008 wrx owners, like myself, are pretty pissed at the 2009 wrx being so much better, at near the same price. We feel very ripped off. Subaru should have a suspension and turbo trade in option for the 2008 to bring it up to 2009 par. im mean 45hp increase in a single model year??? bull****.
I still feel that both cars will come out pretty equal if they are trying to obtain very high hp and handling ability for around the same price. The stuff on the 3 that makes it so awesome from the factory would mostly get replaced anyway, sway bars, springs, control arms, etc and the turbo, intake and exhaust would be replaced. same with the WRX, so all thats left is engine and drivetrain. The 3 has adv. in 6 speed gearbox and direct injection, wrx has adv in awd and larger displacement.
I can do this comparison myself with my 2008 WRX and my buddies 2007 Speed3, and let me tell you, stock for stock, the speed3 is where its at! But once you start dipping into the aftermarket, the WRX starts to shine a bit more. I have spent about $2500 on engine management and a turboback exhaust, boost gauge and wideband O2 and with the AWD, my car is definitely faster, but when he puts 2500 into his car, well have to redo the comparison.


link removed - if you want you can google it - ns

[Kemo]

im not super familiar with these cars. They do look like good cars for getting groceries and dropping kids off at the soccer field. Would probably look pretty cool with a bike rack on top as well. hows the gas mileage? for a daily driver and weekend track car...might do the trick.

is yours race prepped for autocross? I have heard that the subaru is a really good autocrosser, kinda like a 914.

It would be cool to see a comparison between a Mazda, Subaru and a 914 given a 25K dollar limit...

[racer]

Putting big HP thru 2 (front wheels) is the big limit with the 3. Hence, a super powerful WRX becomes superior to an equal hp fwd car.

[Grantsfo]

The Mazda motor is a torque monster. I have a Mazdaspeed 6 which is AWD and its awesome, but a little hefty. Powerband in the Mazda takes getting use to as it makes power between 3000 RPM to 5700 RPM. Always best to short shift the car. Hopefully Mazda has fixed problems with the motor tuning. My MS6 still occasionally misses and sputters with 91 octane gas, but with 100 octane gas it is a friken rocket.

I romp on Porsches at AX's due to torque advantage of the MS6.

[Grantsfo]

2009 Subi looks good!

http://windingroad.nextautos.com/windingroad/200811web/?folio=50

[sosotaylors]

I like the red color of the car, a Mazda shape too cool.

[chrisp]

this post looks like Mazda viral marketing and/or spam to me. Or it could be the CARIQ website driving this.

New user, no Porsche content? Interesting.

[serge944]

Originally Posted by Grantsfo

The Mazda motor is a torque monster. I have a Mazdaspeed 6 which is AWD and its awesome, but a little hefty. Powerband in the Mazda takes getting use to as it makes power between 3000 RPM to 5700 RPM. Always best to short shift the car. Hopefully Mazda has fixed problems with the motor tuning. My MS6 still occasionally misses and sputters with 91 octane gas, but with 100 octane gas it is a friken rocket.

I romp on Porsches at AX's due to torque advantage of the MS6.

The torque curve on the mazdaspeed 3 is pretty horrible. It makes power between 3000 and 5500 - thats it.



Inefficient turbo or just poor sizing? You decide.

[serge944]

Didn't really like the new WRX when it was first introduced, but the STI version has really grown on me!

[Porsche virgin]

Originally Posted by chrisp

this post looks like Mazda viral marketing and/or spam to me. Or it could be the CARIQ website driving this.

New user, no Porsche content? Interesting.

Agreed. I say "troll."

[jorian]

this post looks like Mazda viral marketing and/or spam to me. Or it could be the CARIQ website driving this.

New user, no Porsche content? Interesting.

Just what I was thinking.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by racer

Putting big HP thru 2 (front wheels) is the big limit with the 3. Hence, a super powerful WRX becomes superior to an equal hp fwd car.

Despite the trolling that started this, I agree. I can get my NON-turbo Mazda3 to get a bit light in the steering by hammering it, I can only imagine what it's like with an extra 100 horsies...

[onewhippedpuppy]

Voted troll, no doubt. Ban Island time?

Standard WRX, in both sedan and hatchback form, is a butt ugly car. STi looks halfway decent, but with a few options can get expensive. Mazdaspeed 3 wins the looks department, inside and out. But FWD and big power will never be friends. Both of the turbo Saabs I've had were great cars, but you simply can't ignore torque steer. Conclusion: I wouldn't buy either.

[serge944]

The MSRP on an STI with BBS wheels and Nav is 40 large. That's almost a 996TT on the used market.

[vash]

i have a mazdaspeed3. great car. i just got done with my online traffic school because of all that fun....zoomzoom my arse!

[scottmandue]

For a minute there I thought I accidentally clicked on the civic form.

[DavidB911]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

For a minute there I thought I accidentally clicked on the civic form.

The use of complete sentences and proper grammar would have clued you in that you were not no a civic forum.

I didn't know family sedan's could be race cars. I've learned my lesson about FWD and a decent amount of hp.

[dd74]

I've seen many Mazdaspeed 3s in town. It's strange (in a low profile sort of way) how difficult it is to differentiate the MS3 from the lesser M3. Only the larger wheels and tires seem to designate the car.

The WRX STi - I've seen maybe two or three. They seem very rare on L.A. streets, which is cool as seeing one is sort of special.

Personally, I think the WRX STi is a great looking car in person. It really has a purposeful stance to it. The thing is, it's a lot of car to use as a DD. That's why I think the MS3 might be a better bargain. After all, isn't the MS3 about $17K less than the WRX STi? That's a lot of coin...

[onewhippedpuppy]

MS3 vs STi isn't fair. An STi is almost double the price. A better question: would you rather have an STi than a BMW 135i? 328i coupe or sedan? Infiniti G37 coupe or sedan? 335i sedan? C-class, A4, etc (you get the idea). I'm thinking that for many people, the answer is no. $40k is a different ballgame.

[Britwrench]

The STI still looks like a Toyota Corolla. The whole point of the previous WRX STI sedan (well, up to '04 and the wagon always sucked) was it's look... much like a 911 and numerous other cars, trucks, boats and houses that have designs that stand out.