2 Gripes for new owner: Clutch and Engine Breaking
 

If you bought your MS3 new please give me your opinion. Maybe they are things that get better with time so used buyers may say "never experienced that", etc.

Clutch: Ok it's not hard to press down, but damn...it pushes back hard when trying to release, so much so that I can't shift smoothly in the first few gears. Can owners who bought new relate?


Engine Breaking: Ok, Shifting is not smooth, not because it wont' go into gear, but it just is jumpy. I downshifted into 3rd and saw that it went to 2200 rpms and I got engine breaking! I feel like I have to overshift all the time in order to not get a jumpy response. Note: I can't match revs very easily due to the issue above!

Am I flying solo on these 2?

Sounds like you're experiencing the shittiness of the rear motor mount. Does it feel like the engine slams forward when you push the clutch in and jerks back when you let it back out after shifting? Get the cp-e rear mount and some shifter bushings they help a lot.

Why would a motor mount affect clutch pick-up and engine breaking?

Cause there is a ton of engine movement in this car when shifting, mainly from 1>2>3...The stock MM is pathetic, the bushing is way too soft. The engine movement interferes with the clutch with it bouncing around so much when shifting.

Also the clutch grabs fairly early...With no room for play pretty much. Alot of people describe it as a on/off switch.

Upgraded rear engine mount will help and is an affordable mod, but the problem is twofold. You need to revmatch whilst downshifting, and shift quickly and smoothly

Jeff at PG

n00b

Just got to get used to the clutch a little. The rear motor mount helps A LOT. Get one.

i can agree with the op. i just had learned to drive clutch on a 96 200sx se-r i bought and the first time i went to leave the dealer i stalled 3 times pulling out the parking spot. at 12k miles i still have a hard time finding that spot when you release the clutch. in the nissan i can release and feel it get to that point no prob, in the mazda more like a switch its either down or up lol. as for shifting it just takes getting used to. i found a rear motor mount and shifter bushings help a lot but you just gotta get used to it. as for downshifting again i have the same problems i think i rev matched 3 times but as you get more used to the clutch engagement point it gets smoother. but every few times yeah i get off the clutch wrong goin in gear and its jumpy.

this car has it's own quirks to it. after you put some miles on the odometer you will be driving smooth and be used to it.

Rear Motormount should definately help.

I will not argue that a stiffer rear motor mount may make things easier, but it is definitely not necessary to drive this car smoothly. I still have the stock rear mount with 41,000 miles on my '07 MS3. I can shift smoothly all day long. However, I didn't really start to get the hang of shifting this car smoothly until after about 7,000 miles or so. Good luck to you.

Well, when I had the stock mount, every time I pushed in the clutch in 1st and 2nd it felt like the car lunged forward because of the weight of the engine shifting, and did pretty much the same thing when I let it back out. That was normal 3000-3500 rpm shifting too. I got fed up with it. Replaced with CP-E mount, problem solved.

I haven't driven an automatic in 10 years except for rental cars.

Get yourself a rear mount and solid shifter bushings.

Ultimately, you just need to get used to it. Don't feel so bad, I stalled my shit several times when I first had it. Now, 8000 miles later... My rev matching and heel-toe technique is spot on.

It's funny, normally you get bored with a car once you get used to it. Not with the MS3, it's just too much fucking fun! I love my car more now than the day I brought her home.

Give it time, practice alot.