New Member: SRT4 vs MS3

[HardHitter]

Hello All,

First I wanted to introduce myself to the forum. I've been an avid Mazda fan my whole life owning the following Mazdas:

1. 2004 Mazda RX8 - Totaled
2. 1994 Mazda RX7 - Stock twins with all bolt ons - Sold
3. 1994 Mazda RX7 - Streetported with Aspec 500r single turbo - Sold
4. 2000 Miata - Daily Driver - Current

I've had no problems with the cars themselves other than the FD rotary motors, so I'm sticking to pistons

Anyway, my past cars were also two 2005 GTO's pushing 400+rwhp and a 2000 Stage 3 Audi S4 pushing 370/410 to all 4 wheels.

As you can see I was in to performance a lot having the GTO as my weekend daily driver and the Miata as my daily driver. The Miata opened my eyes to the fact that I didn't need 400+hp to have fun in a car and I actually had more fun on "cheaper" cars because I didn't care about putting miles on the car.

I just sold my second GTO and I'm now looking into a "cheaper" car with the criteria of fun, easy power and no worries car.

I think the Mazdaspeed3 and the SRT4 fit into that.

I know I'm going to get a biased option but I'm sure some of you guys may have thought about an SRT4 so I'm wondering why you ended up with the MS3 and what your decisions were for choosing. Now that you owned a MS3, has have you had any regrets?

[anavrinIV]

you won't get a fair opinion here.

That said, srts suck so get the ms3.

[Oalmon]

I raced an srt-4 the other day I'm stock and well it wasn't fair after I was out of first, just sayin (2012 ms3)

[Spectrum24x]

IMHO MS3 = Car enthusiasts that respect what they have SRT4 = Douchebags that just want to go fast without spending money.

So ask yourself which you fit into.

Don't mean to offend anyone but this is a general statement from my experiences with these communities.

[HardHitter]

Originally Posted by anavrinIV you won't get a fair opinion here. That said, srts suck so get the ms3.

Which is why in my post I said "I know I am going to get a biased opinion"

It's still good to hear though the argument from both sides.

Originally Posted by Oalmon I raced an srt-4 the other day I'm stock and well it wasn't fair after I was out of first, just sayin (2012 ms3)

Oh, that was my other question. Differences between the 1st and 2nd gen MS3's.

I'd be looking more to a 1st gen MS3.

If I look at the stock HP numbers, the SRT4 is less than the MS3, but the numbers were severely underrated. Add in the fact that the SRT4 is also lighter, you would think it would be a drivers race stock for stock.

[anavrinIV]

stock for stock they're very similar. don't be fooled, srts can make serious power. I've never really looked into them but from what I've seen they're not slouches.

Everything considered though I love my little mazda. There will always be someone faster, it's about having a car you like

[Raider]

From the driver's seat, roll a back window down in both cars. Buy the one that is easiest, and is not a girls car with a spoiler.

And oh yeah,fuck Dodge.

[ckMS3]

Mod for mod the srt4 a ms3 are pretty close as far as straight line speed, but when it comes down to everything else ms3>srt4 no question.

[ms3rick]

If you want 0-60 time, SRT4... If you want a fast car ms3

[anavrinIV]

Originally Posted by Raider Buy the one that is easiest, and is not a girls car with a spoiler.

So I should....wait, what? I thought I did buy a girl's car with a spoiler [and a turbo too I guess]

[CamSpeed360]

I bought the ms3 over the Evo, WRX, and never really considered anything that wasn't awd. But I ended up with the speed3 because its subtle and fairly rare. I wanted something that not many people have. I often get asked about my car because people haven't seen anything like it. And because the speed surprises everyone. With just a few bolt ons you can blow the doors off an evo or sti as long as you're not starting drom a dig. Having said that, I beat my coworker in his evo8 from a dig. His car was stock. Mine only had an intake and Cobb ots tune. I had a car length on him at a quarter mile.

Oh and I'm a dodge fan. But the SRT4 is just gay. I would rather drive a boosted geo metro.

[Dmurray06]

If your looking for a fat car and nothing else. SRT-4

If you want a fast car with a little extra. MS3

[06Speed6]

I think the op had a typo, he really asked about the ms6 vs srt_ because we all know ms6 > ms3 > srt_ and the op sounds like he wants a real car.

[hinkema1]

OK reading all these srt4 haters on here is kinda funny. Well this is what I think and know cuz I own 2 srt4s and a MS6. Before i bought my MS6 I test drove a 2007 MS3 and i liked it a lot. I love the hatchback look and was going to buy it but the dealer wasnt going to budge on the price so i didnt. Then i found my MS6 which I love with the awd and how everything feels. But I still love my srt4s before anything else. Srt4s u can build!!!! to be 1000 HP freaks. I havent come across any 500 hp MS6s or MS3s yet so it really comes down to what your plans are for the car. If you want a nice looking car that is fast right out of the box then id go with the MS3. If you want to build a car I would go with the srt4. If you need to do anything on these mazdas you have to "tune" it. If you put a intake or downpipe, or a FMIC, fuel pump u have tune it because it will run like shit. With an srt4 you just install and the way you go. The only time you have to get an srt4 tuned for anything performance upgrades is when you throw bigger injectors on the car. srt4 are easy to work with and not so electronic oriented like the mazdaspeeds. The only problem with srt4s are there trannys suck. I have rebuilt one of my srt4s twice already but there stock internals can handle up to 500hp. I have a big turbo srt4 with 350whp and its a blast to drive at 2800lbs. and my other one is a full bolt ons thats my DD. Also just the sound of the garggleing of an srt4 is awesome...a cammed srt4 is amazing sound.

Camming SRT4 - YouTube
Darrell Cox Racing (Powered by CubeCart)

I know srt4 guys are probably the most hated car owners out there because yes we drive a NEON but im a guy that respects all cars and enjoys all platforms.

**I dont know how many of these guys giving advice on here actually drove an srt4 either lol**

[Dmurray06]

1000hp and fail wheel drive?!

That's gotta be exciting.

[hinkema1]

Darrell Cox Racing (Powered by CubeCart)

Click on my link and check out the pics and youtube links of these guys srt4s. You will be surprised.

[CamSpeed360]

Here we go...

[MS3Casey]

Gen 1 FTW

[jseams]

Originally Posted by HardHitter Which is why in my post I said "I know I am going to get a biased opinion" It's still good to hear though the argument from both sides. Oh, that was my other question. Differences between the 1st and 2nd gen MS3's. I'd be looking more to a 1st gen MS3. If I look at the stock HP numbers, the SRT4 is less than the MS3, but the numbers were severely underrated. Add in the fact that the SRT4 is also lighter, you would think it would be a drivers race stock for stock.

I hear this sooo much "..the numbers were severely underrated." .... so let me put it this way, HP numbers for cars like these are one of the primary selling points to the general public. If anything, numbers get inflated or juggled in a way to make things look in favor of the car. There is no way that a car company would use lower numbers than actual - it would be a total fubar in the marketing sense. imo

[anavrinIV]

I doubt OP is asking about a neon...

[ms3rick]

socalsrt4 has a 11sec Csrt4, things a boss.. He comes out to our meets a lot. Hella chill guy, lets see what he has to say.

[MonstaSpeed6]

The SRT4 sucks. The interior is ridiculously bad. Roll-down rear windows! They can be donkey-nuts fast, but nothing else.

The MS3 is balanced, good handling, great feel, and speed. If you want a drag car go with the SRT, if you want more of a sports car go with the MS3.

[Raider]

Originally Posted by hinkema1 OK reading all these srt4 haters on here is kinda funny. Well this is what I think and know cuz I own 2 srt4s and a MS6. Before i bought my MS6 I test drove a 2007 MS3 and i liked it a lot. I love the hatchback look and was going to buy it but the dealer wasnt going to budge on the price so i didnt. Then i found my MS6 which I love with the awd and how everything feels. But I still love my srt4s before anything else. Srt4s u can build!!!! to be 1000 HP freaks. I havent come across any 500 hp MS6s or MS3s yet so it really comes down to what your plans are for the car. If you want a nice looking car that is fast right out of the box then id go with the MS3. If you want to build a car I would go with the srt4. If you need to do anything on these mazdas you have to "tune" it. If you put a intake or downpipe, or a FMIC, fuel pump u have tune it because it will run like shit. With an srt4 you just install and the way you go. The only time you have to get an srt4 tuned for anything performance upgrades is when you throw bigger injectors on the car. srt4 are easy to work with and not so electronic oriented like the mazdaspeeds. The only problem with srt4s are there trannys suck. I have rebuilt one of my srt4s twice already but there stock internals can handle up to 500hp. I have a big turbo srt4 with 350whp and its a blast to drive at 2800lbs. and my other one is a full bolt ons thats my DD. Also just the sound of the garggleing of an srt4 is awesome...a cammed srt4 is amazing sound. Camming SRT4 - YouTube Darrell Cox Racing (Powered by CubeCart) I know srt4 guys are probably the most hated car owners out there because yes we drive a NEON but im a guy that respects all cars and enjoys all platforms. **I dont know how many of these guys giving advice on here actually drove an srt4 either lol**

Donate brownie faggot. TL DR NCE

Oh, and DCR makes our VVT actuator, we know who he is.

[Voltwings]

if you're talking strictly straight line bolt on for bolt on, and Fast is your only concern, the neon is cheaper, and the difference in price from Srt-4 to MS3 can make the SRT-4 quite fast.

However, the car is not of nearly the same build quality of the MS3, the engine is not as stout, nor is the transmission. Much more than bolt ons in an srt-4 you'll need a new clutch, as well as fueling upgrades, the stock rims only accept up to like a 225 tire i think, so unless you enjoy spinning you'll need some new rolling stock and rubber, where as the ms3 stock has 225s and i've got 245s on mine comfortably. Also, i don't know what the SRT-4 transmission is good for, but no one who isn't an idiot or quite unlucky has broken a Mazda transmission (or at least from sheer horsepower) we have a pretty damn solid drive line.

Reliability? go to Modern Performance and look at all the OEM replacement stuff they sell for neons that isn't even performance oriented, just stuff known to go wrong on the neons, Door hinges for example. Im a musician, have 50k miles on my car and have driven it into the middle of fields in bumfuck nowhere for shows, across Texas loaded with hundreds of pounds of music gear and its still running strong with a stout interior. Now obviously all that hauling stuff around has taken its toll on my car, but its still up and running, i know neons with 70k miles of just driving that look like hell, cracked dashes, busted speaker shrouds in the doors. Yes most of the factors with reliability come down to how you treat your car, but i put mine through hell and its still going.

Also, the neon is a smaller car, its realistically a 2+2, i don't think it will seat 5 quite as easily as the MS3, plus the hatch gives you a ton of space. All in all, if cheap performance is all you want get the Neon, just know thats ALL you're getting. The neon is a cheap platform, plain and simple.

[hinkema1]

Like I said...If you want a DD that is fun right out of the box the MS3 is the car. But if you want to build a fun fast car that isnt your DD then the srt4 is the car. Guys like to talk shit about the srt4 and never drove it or they know a friend who has one that its his first turbo car because yes its cheap and fast so it attracts young guys to it. Once there in the hands of young teenagers these cars get fucked up. The MS3 wouldnt last either but young teenagers cant afford these cars so the guys who own them respect them and take car of them.

This arguement will continue but it all depends on your future goals with the car.

[Raider]

Still cannot roll the back windows down from the driver' seat. Basic needs. Cheapass domestic crap car. At least you can get the eyelashes for a regular Neon and they will fit.

[06Speed6]

If you want a 1000hp boosted cammed car that will give you goose bumps it sounds so sick then get a older v8 domestic for 5k and sink 10k into and you will have a rediculously fast shit can of a car.

If you want a car that looks and rides very nice and has been built to 700whp, welcome to the forums. If you wanna roll your rear window down and bump your Justin Bieber... lmao gtfo

[Mfinlay04]

I second the tranny sucks. My buddy blow up two trannys and destroyed the engine in two SRT-4. They were both stock and Dodge wouldn't warranty it because they said he was driving too aggressively WTF. I know mazda are bitches too but nothing like dodge. My theory in life after owning a dodge, don't buy another one ever!!

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[gearhead750]

Everything mopar ever made is a total piece of fall apart shit. /thread

[socalsrt4]

Originally Posted by Raider Still cannot roll the back windows down from the driver' seat. Basic needs. Cheapass domestic crap car. At least you can get the eyelashes for a regular Neon and they will fit.

That depends on which SRT4 you're talking about. The Caliber SRT has rear power windows.

I have plenty of friends with neon SRT4's. Stock they're fun... modded they're just flat out nasty. But yeah... you need to throw some cash at em to get the drivetrain to hold up to anything non street related.

The Caliber is pcm limited, since the only way to tune it is to piggyback an FIC onto it or use a map/tip clamp to hide boost. But they're still 375ish whp capable on the stock snail... 420ish whp on a modded stock turbo.... and a few guys are making 430+whp on stock internals on pump gas with big turbo setups. I think the highest dyno number I've seen on a CSRT4 was 622whp... built motor, big turbo, race gas.

It all depends on what style of car you like OP. I would think the speed3 would be a little more of a sleeper... since the only thing visually that separates a gen1 speed3 from a stock mazda3 is the wheels.

[Big_Burd]

Sit in a speed3, then sit in an srt4. The interior alone is much nicer. I also feel like hatches have better handling (I drove a regular mazda3 hatch and sedan came to that conclusion)

Also good luck finding an SRT4 forum that's as badass as ours. Nuff said

[chuckms6]

All I hear is "yea its uncomfortable, unreliable, and a girls car, but big turbo power dude! " Ms3 all day...

Tapatalking

[Mazdalover01]

My bf has one I didn't like it at first but now I do a lot, the only reason I don't like right now is because its faster than my car. Lol :P

[MS3MYK]

Originally Posted by socalsrt4 That depends on which SRT4 you're talking about. The Caliber SRT has rear power windows. I have plenty of friends with neon SRT4's. Stock they're fun... modded they're just flat out nasty. But yeah... you need to throw some cash at em to get the drivetrain to hold up to anything non street related. The Caliber is pcm limited, since the only way to tune it is to piggyback an FIC onto it or use a map/tip clamp to hide boost. But they're still 375ish whp capable on the stock snail... 420ish whp on a modded stock turbo.... and a few guys are making 430+whp on stock internals on pump gas with big turbo setups. I think the highest dyno number I've seen on a CSRT4 was 622whp... built motor, big turbo, race gas. It all depends on what style of car you like OP. I would think the speed3 would be a little more of a sleeper... since the only thing visually that separates a gen1 speed3 from a stock mazda3 is the wheels.

Truth right here.....but more things separates at 3 and speed 3(genwon) visually.

Front bumper,
Rear bumper,
Front fenders,
Wing,
Hood,

Sent from my EVO LTE

[HardHitter]

I'll have to go to a dealership to test drive one next weekend.

I think I drove a Mazdaspeed6 a long time ago and it was a fun car but obviously nothing like the GTO power. The only thing now is that my "wants" have changed to just a better overall car.

Remember, I have a Miata now and I think this is the most fun I've had in a car. Small, compact, light and can take into the corners.

[chuckms6]

Originally Posted by HardHitter I'll have to go to a dealership to test drive one next weekend. I think I drove a Mazdaspeed6 a long time ago and it was a fun car but obviously nothing like the GTO power. The only thing now is that my "wants" have changed to just a better overall car. Remember, I have a Miata now and I think this is the most fun I've had in a car. Small, compact, light and can take into the corners.

fwiw my ms6 has broken a lot of lsx hearts, from silverado ss's to gto's to g8 gxp's. ms3 with tires bolt ons and e85 is probably one of the best fwd dragsters for the money. srt4's are fast but not reliable in the least bit compared to a ms3...

[Spectrum24x]

Originally Posted by HardHitter I'll have to go to a dealership to test drive one next weekend. I think I drove a Mazdaspeed6 a long time ago and it was a fun car but obviously nothing like the GTO power. The only thing now is that my "wants" have changed to just a better overall car. Remember, I have a Miata now and I think this is the most fun I've had in a car. Small, compact, light and can take into the corners.

BRZ /Thread

[Big_Burd]

Originally Posted by Spectrum24x BRZ /Thread

Yeah but you can fit a lot more dead hookers in a speed3 than a brz..

[HardHitter]

Haha I know the BRZ is basically the new Miata, but I don't want to spend that kind of money. Budget is going to be no more than $15K

[06Speed6]

Originally Posted by chuckms6 fwiw my ms6 has broken a lot of lsx hearts, from silverado ss's to gto's to g8 gxp's. ms3 with tires bolt ons and e85 is probably one of the best fwd dragsters for the money. srt4's are fast but not reliable in the least bit compared to a ms3...

true story, silverado SS isnt worth mentioning, Raptor is. Most SRT4s are dog ass slow though, ive schooled many a charger.