New Member: SRT4 vs MS3

[HardHitter]

Alright back onto the MS3 and away from the SRT4.

Few questions to all

1. Average MPG? From the first gen, it seems as though average is 23-24mpg. How many miles per tank is that and on how large of a tank? My current Miata gets 23-24mpg no matter how hard or easy I drive it. Range on a 9.5 gallon tank is around 230-240.

2. Power Upgrades: Looking to see what the estimated cost is for power upgrades and how much of an increase that gives in power. Or if you want to go with a turbo upgrade, the usual kits out there.

Appreciate all of your help guys. I'm starting to lean towards to MS3, I just need some more driving time behind the wheel I think.

[MS3MYK]

The tank is 14.5 gallons

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[3Gee Tee]

24 mpg for me with mixed city/hwy driving, most I've gotten on a full tank was 320 miles (used 13 gallons).


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[Tabasco69]

Originally Posted by 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.

BIG deal 1400whp mzr 2.3 engine mazda3

[2k4_8]

That Vid was sick, lol they were beating evryone on the Vid by 1 second ... Bet it had people going Fuck. Back to the drawing board.

[Tabasco69]

Yeah one guy puts forth some serious effort to build a mzr drag car opposed to 100's of honda's and I have yet to see one come away with a time slip or a whp result to match his....he uses a non disi head because of fueling limitations, conventional efi injectors are easier to source and that engine runs 8 of them.....makes me laugh inside when I get around all of my old time hot rod buddies with their big block v8s talking shit about "there is no replacement for displacement" bullshit...with a big enough turbo and proper fueling and tuning you can stuff ALOT of air and fuel into 4 cylinders which can equal a massive amount of displacement and power/torque.

[3Gee Tee]

Yep, but just imagine a V8 with big turbo and proper fueling...

[HardHitter]

Back to the topic at hand guys

[3Gee Tee]

Originally Posted by HardHitter Back to the topic at hand guys

SRT4s are garbage.

/thread.

[Raider]

I get 24 or so MPG, but I am untuned. We have locals clearing 30MPG. Mods depend on new versus used.

Corksport catback cost me $100+ stock one locally, test pipe was $60. Intake was ridiculous through a member here, too. You can get a Gen1 and go intake, TIP, FMIC for $500, tops. It is all timing, etc.

[chuckms6]

my tune on a speed 3 with identical mods would probably get 35+mpg average. i do about 30-35mpg in my 6.

[HardHitter]

Wow, 30 MPG? How is that better than my Miata? haha

Anyway, I'm on an active search for a first gen MS3 now.

I've found a nice one for $17,000. All stock, 38,000 miles but looks like I may have been too late and that another person is seeing the car today.

If I were to mod, I would look into putting $2000 into the car at first. That'll be depending upon if I want to do power mods or suspension. If I were to do a power mod, would $2000 be enough other than the basic bolt ons?

[Raider]

Yup. eric@edgeautosport to get the fuel pump internals and Accessport, as well as JBR Trilogy mount kit and SSP. Then hit the used market for the intake and TIP. That is a great start there, and still have $ left for hookers and blow.

[anavrinIV]

Originally Posted by HardHitter If I were to mod, I would look into putting $2000 into the car at first. That'll be depending upon if I want to do power mods or suspension. If I were to do a power mod, would $2000 be enough other than the basic bolt ons?

sri, tip, hpfp, ap, tp, tmic/fmic would run ~2k. little more for a pre made fmic setup, cheaper for custom or tmic. those are the basic boltons. you can do a bpv/bov if you're into that kind of thing.

[Tabasco69]

I know a couple of local fellas with built srt4's, and these cars where done right, aka not all riced up and actually make some respectable power, so out of respect I keep my true opinion to myself when we talk, but at the end of the day these cars to me are still embelished neons and it is really hard to separate a srt4 from a homely neon.

[HardHitter]

Found a car I may see this weekend.

2008.5 MS3 with 37K miles. All stock and asking $17K

[HardHitter]

Any thoughts or insight on the price/condition of the car?

[CamSpeed360]

Depending on the condition I would say that's a fair price. Pics don't do justice. But it looks clean.

[Raider]

VIN of the MS3? VVT/turbo check out?

Looks very clean. Engine pics?

Nice, low miles.

[HardHitter]

I'll have to take a look at it this weekend to see how the car is in person. From the pictures it looks nice and seems to be well taken care of

[jseams]

Good luck, hope the car checks out.

[HardHitter]

$16,000 out the door for the car. It is a 3.5 hour round trip drive to go and see that car so I'm sort of wary of taking that drive and wasting my day if it comes out to not be as nice as it looks. It has everything (low miles, black, 2008.5+ interior) I want except I really wanted navigation. I'm wondering if I get it without navigation or I wait until who knows when

[Raider]

I have nav. I wish I did not order it. I would rather have gotten an aftermarket touch screen unit.

[Nitr0EngiE]

factory radio sucks balls there is no reason to get a gt over a sport when your gonna rip out the radio anyways

and if anyone should be talking shit about slow boosted cars we should be downing Cobalts because they are hands down the biggest peices of shit ever made

btw the 1400 hp MZR drag car is fucking sick, it just proves we can make real power

[Spec]

Is it private party seller or from a dealer?
If from a private party seller I'd get it checked out mechanically, compression tested and leak down. Set up a mechanic in the area and ask the seller to pay half of the bill. Someone not trying to hide anything wont hesitate to agree to this and it will save your ass a lot of money finding out you have a dead cylinder and only paying for a mechanic bill.
Also, have a body shop eye fuck it and make sure it hasn't been wrecked and he frame isn't bent.

Get a car fax!

Good luck!

[donjohnk]

Originally Posted by jseams Um, that civic lost by a car 1/2 ... or was your point that the civic got the jump?

wondering the same thing.

[jseams]

WTF? was he actually trying that while stomping on his brakes?

[HardHitter]

It's a private sale. I lowballed at $15 and he said $16 firm. The only thing is that he is almost 2 hours away from where I am and for this weekend he is only available later into the evening so I wouldn't be able to bring it to a mechanic or anything.

[Spec]

Well, there is always more than one. I wouldn't bet 16k on it being good. I'd like to know for sure. Make sure he didn't cram a shit in of stop leak, no smoke or head gasket sealer and it shit out on you the first week because you'll want to haul ass in this car, trust me there. Especially if you don't have the flow for repairs or its been wrecked and eats tires about as fast as you can supply them. It's up to you bro, I'd make arrangements to check it out in detail.

At the very least, get a car fax.

[Ihatepufferfish]

Originally Posted by 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.

Yes! Lmao

[jhennessey12]

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**

World Record 700 + WHP MazdaSpeed 3 - YouTube

World Record 700 + WHP MazdaSpeed 3 - YouTube

706 hp ms3 and could get more

[anavrinIV]

Originally Posted by jhennessey12 World Record 700 + WHP MazdaSpeed 3 - YouTube 706 hp ms3 and could get more

we're well aware of that car, and it took a whole lot of custom fab work to get there.

[HardHitter]

Going to probably go see the car next weekend and hopefully drive it back if everything checks out.

[boostdmazda3]

It pretty much comes down to would you rather drive a dodge neon or a mazda3? The only upside to the srt4 is you can buy one used for like 10k. Mazdaspeed3 is way more well rounded in terms of performance, styling, and handling.

[HardHitter]

Today's the day. I'm driving 2 hours to see the car I posted earlier above. A member of the forums is going to come with me to check out the car too to help me out. If everything checks out, I'll be driving back in my "new" car

[CamSpeed360]

Good luck. I hope it turns out well.

[Spec]

Good luck, if all works out you're going to be one happy mofo

[HardHitter]

I went ahead and saw the car. Sad to say it didn't meet my expectations as the interior headliner was really dirty and on the outside there were a bunch of scuff and scratch marks.

Thing is, one of the forum members who owns a 2010 Speed3 came with me and although I thought I didn't like the body of the second gen it started to build on me.

Now I need to decide between the first and second gen.

[boostdmazda3]

[QUOTE=Now I need to decide between the first and second gen.[/QUOTE]

well thats a no brainer.

[jm211]

genjuan right?

Needless to say an orbital buffer will remove nearly anything and the headliner can be removed and cleaned in under a few-ish hours. Hell I think there is a How-to for that!


If both engines feel great, go on the body you like best. You can always fix little skuffs!