2013 speed3 vs st vs wrx

[Croxley611]

I'm sure this might already have been covered but just putting it on here.

http://wot.motortrend.com/mt-poll-fo...#axzz2Mayry3iM

Tap tap taparoooo

[ahfunaki]

I haven't seen this, looks like it was just posted today.

They rate the cars:

1. Focus ST
2. Mazdaspeed3
3. WRX

Here is the actual comparison test: 2013 Mazdaspeed3 vs. 2013 Ford Focus ST vs. 2013 Subaru WRX Special Edition - Comparison - Motor Trend

[Cevaes_64]

Im just wondering how much Ford paid them guys?

[Mclovin80]

The only reasoning the WRX is in this comparison is because of the price. I'm in the same dilemma. I would love a 2013 MS3, but AWD in a WRX for a few more grand sounds like a better deal.

Sent from my Nexus 7

[Mr.Bison]

Lol I am perfectly fine losing because of "MPG, utility and style"

You could say the same thing about a base focus, it would have the same properties to win. Yet it is a "hot hatch" comparison.

That's retarded

[Croxley611]

I made a comment on the article favoring the speed and it pissed off some st fan boy and he went off on me lol

Tap tap taparoooo

[Twofer]

Holy shit, I hadn't seen the front of a ST until now.

[Twofer]

You know, the reviewer is right. The stock car understeers like hell and the tune sucks. Throw in a RSB, engine mounts, and tune that shit and you've got more rape on tap than a Japanese anime.

“The Mazdaspeed3 feels more mature and more expensive, thanks to well-damped shocks and the overall solid feel of the structure. The downside to the car is that it has a lot more understeer – like all the time. I did feel a little torque steer going straight; didn’t feel it in the corners so much. The car had an even, broad spread of torque. However, it seemed lazy coming off the corners, not as powerful as it was when you were going straight.”

[valveking35]

Originally Posted by Twofer You know, the reviewer is right. The stock car understeers like hell and the tune sucks. Throw in a RSB, engine mounts, and tune that shit and you've got more rape on tap than a Japanese anime.

Sorry, are you saying a stock Speed3 understeers a lot?

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[dbrier]

I would also say we are held back by our OEM tires.

[ahfunaki]

Originally Posted by dbrier I would also say we are held back by our OEM tires.

That and the width of the rim too. I didn't realize the ST comes with 18x8.5...


tapatalked

[Crarrs]

Originally Posted by Twofer You know, the reviewer is right. The stock car understeers like hell and the tune sucks. Throw in a RSB, engine mounts, and tune that shit and you've got more rape on tap than a Japanese anime.

However, it seemed lazy coming off the corners, not as powerful as it was when you were going straight

That's not the tune. That's the steering angle sensor cutting power. The only fix for that is unplugging it.

[Sweetsandman]

Originally Posted by Mclovin80 The only reasoning the WRX is in this comparison is because of the price. I'm in the same dilemma. I would love a 2013 MS3, but AWD in a WRX for a few more grand sounds like a better deal. Sent from my Nexus 7

Eh...I had one...they're kinda lame. AWD is cool, but the car itself is kind of a turd. Seriously...loooots of road noise and wind noise, cheap noisy rattle box interior, my cobalt was quieter inside to be honest.

I Tapped that

[Dr. Speed]

C'mon you guys. Get on there and vote for the MS3! (not that it really matters... but still)

... and somehow, they managed to get the slowest lap time in the MS3... whaaa?

[Twofer]

Originally Posted by valveking35 Sorry, are you saying a stock Speed3 understeers a lot? Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

Yes, the stock Speed3 understeers a lot. That round thing in front of the driver and the skinny pedal just determine the severity of the understeer, but in any case it's pretty bad. (Though I suppose it's not as bad as most other cars.)

Now, once you throw a rear sway bar in there, like the JBR or CS on the medium setting, it's fucking wonderful.

[Pu Manchu]

damn that WRX is ricey as fuck.

the pu is lazy coming off the corners... i wonder if the DSC hold anti-swas trick works the same on the 2013 as my 2012.

the focus st "desperately needs a limited-slip."

[Twofer]

Originally Posted by Crarrs That's not the tune. That's the steering angle sensor cutting power. The only fix for that is unplugging it.

Or holding the TSC button for 10+ seconds.

SWAS? Why was this news to me?

And the stock tune sucks balls.



It runs pig rich and just falls flat after 5500.

[Crarrs]

Originally Posted by Twofer Or holding the TSC button for 10+ seconds. SWAS? Why was this news to me?

Try that on a 2010.

SWAS? Why was this news to me?

[AustinK]

Motortrend is notorious for siding with Fords on a lot of side by side articles. I love their lists of dislikes vs. likes on most of their comparisons are very biased, I read a side by side of the Titan and the F150, the list of dislikes on the titan was 1 thing, and it was how the "4WD selector" looked too much like a fan switch and not a 4x4 switch. The list of dislikes on the F150 was lengthy and in depth and they still sided with it.
I am guessing Ford has a hand in their reviews for sure. I digress, their opinions don't matter.

[xI Leveler Ix]

Ford Focus St =

[Mr Wilson]

Originally Posted by ahfunaki That and the width of the rim too. I didn't realize the ST comes with 18x8.5... tapatalked

It's a typo. They're 18x8.

[SmoothVanilla]

I thought it was a half decent article. At least we ddnt place behind the GTI again lol. for some fucking reason. I thought it was interesting that he said our seats compared to the recaros lol.
on another note

Originally Posted by Twofer Holy shit, I hadn't seen the front of a ST until now.

You know when mazda released the SMILE design in 2010, everyone went irate and said it was the ugliest car ever, blah blah and chased it out with pitchforks. I am surprised that the ST isnt undergoing the same treatment. That front shot is fucking horrendous. It actually reminds me of that photoshop of the speed smile turned upside down lol. I have seen the st in person and its not a bad looking car, but the speed has way more style, whether that "style" is goofy or not is on ongoing debate that will never end. But I would rather have a car that some people hate and some people love, than a car that everyone looks at and goes "not bad".

[zedekias]

Originally Posted by SmoothVanilla I thought it was a half decent article. At least we ddnt place behind the GTI again lol. for some fucking reason. I thought it was interesting that he said our seats compared to the recaros lol. on another note You know when mazda released the SMILE design in 2010, everyone went irate and said it was the ugliest car ever, blah blah and chased it out with pitchforks. I am surprised that the ST isnt undergoing the same treatment. That front shot is fucking horrendous. It actually reminds me of that photoshop of the speed smile turned upside down lol. I have seen the st in person and its not a bad looking car, but the speed has way more style, whether that "style" is goofy or not is on ongoing debate that will never end. But I would rather have a car that some people hate and some people love, than a car that everyone looks at and goes "not bad".

I feel the same way. The ST is way too bland for my tastes.

[Redlinez]

I am beginning to wonder if my automotive enthusiast opinion of a car is accurate. I drove the ST and didn't like how it was very darty under any acceleration, followed every change in the road's surface, and the boost seemed to come on much later than the Speed3. The cheapest one I could even remotely find was over $27k. I also noticed the ST I drove already had several hundred miles on it which I thought was shocking considering all the glowing and glorifying reviews by all the magazines.
I wonder how the track ET would have differed with just an upgraded RSB? I recently noticed mine hiccuping under power in a pretty hard turn under speed and thought it was traction control kicking in.

[SmoothVanilla]

it is a way different story with a rsb. But then its not a stock car and thats the whole point lol. One things I have always wondered is if the speed3 benefits more from some of these mods, rmm,rsb,shifter bushings, than the average car? Like if the ST handles better stock for stock then would both cars sporting a rsb post the same results? Or would they be about even?

[Redlinez]

I'm just surprised each manufacturer doesn't pit it's competitors against their car and really put them through the paces. I realize driver can have something to do with it, but a second on a road course is pretty huge right? I gotta try pressing the trac control for 10 seconds myself. Just noticed while watching the video they show the Speed3 as having 255 horsepower!! Already off to a great start of automotive journalism!!

[Crarrs]

Originally Posted by Redlinez I'm just surprised each manufacturer doesn't pit it's competitors against their car and really put them through the paces.

They do. It's called benchmarking. But the manufacturers work on a budget, and the final product typically has to hit a certain price point. That's the reason (repeated way way way too many times) that the ST doesn't have a limited slip differential.

[Redlinez]

10-4. I'm sure they perform differently on different tracks as well. Not that I've ever raced on a road course, so I"m not experienced enough to say much there. My times have been on drag strips and growing up driving super sonic speeds down the backroads of southwest Virginia.

[Twofer]

Originally Posted by SmoothVanilla You know when mazda released the SMILE design in 2010, everyone went irate and said it was the ugliest car ever, blah blah and chased it out with pitchforks.

Before I got my 2010 MZ3, I thought the smile was stupid as hell. But you know what, it really grows on you.

Say you've had a long day at work, you walk out to your car, and there it is, smiling at you like a retard.

Also, people don't pull out in front of you when they see that happy face coming for them.

[Dr. Speed]

Originally Posted by Twofer Before I got my 2010 MZ3, I thought the smile was stupid as hell. But you know what, it really grows on you. Say you've had a long day at work, you walk out to your car, and there it is, smiling at you like a retard. Also, people don't pull out in front of you when they see that happy face coming for them.

I felt the exact same way when the '10 first came out. It grew on me pretty quick and now I think it's awesome. There's just something about the insane-looking smile that suits the MS3's maniacal personality

[Croxley611]

I agree, wasn't really fond of the smile at first, but then after a few days I never even noticed it.
I think people who point out the smile and bash it and base it as the sole reason they don't like the car are ridiculous.
Even if you don't like the smile, there is so much more to love about the car that it will more then make up for the front grill.
I'm sure most of the people who are hating on the grill are still driving their moms civic/prius so they really have no room to talk lol

Tap tap taparoooo

[moonrider_99]

The wrx is fast but definitely less refined than the st or MS3. Also the open differentials drove me crazy. The engine technology is old school and hasnt changed much in the last 10 years, still no DI! I realized how aged the platform was when i got the ms3. That being said, it is a fast car and upgrades are cheap and yield lots of power.

I did consider the st but no lsd was a deal breaker.

[buddha]

Originally Posted by Croxley611 I made a comment on the article favoring the speed and it pissed off some st fan boy and he went off on me lol Tap tap taparoooo

My ford engine is better than your ford engine!
Nuh-uh?!

[Croxley611]

Exactly

Tap tap taparoooo

[buddha]

Fastest way to piss off a Porsche owner, is to compliment his VW.
Fastest way to piss off a Ford owner, is to compliment his Mazda.

Lesson learned.
Personally, I think the MS3 (minus a few issues) takes the ST hands down in a head-to-head comparison.

[darkrune]

You know that Mazda owns their company again right? And the DSI tech was made by the Japanese side of the house when ford did have shares in Mazda. Not the same thing as VW and Porsche.

[buddha]

I think Ford still has a 3% stake, right? But, I haven't met too many Ford (or American car owners in general), that want to be associated with anything Japanese.

[darkrune]

True they have have something like 3%, but that is far less than the majority they held when they first purchased initial shares.

[yummygooey]

i drove all three and decided on the '13 MS3

i would have gone with a WRX, but the MS3 was much more affordable up front ($3k cheaper OTD) and insurance is about half of what the WRX would have been.

the Ford has a peppy engine but I just wasn't impressed with the overall feel of the drive and interior.

[RiddlerSpeed]

Originally Posted by yummygooey i drove all three and decided on the '13 MS3 i would have gone with a WRX, but the MS3 was much more affordable up front ($3k cheaper OTD) and insurance is about half of what the WRX would have been. the Ford has a peppy engine but I just wasn't impressed with the overall feel of the drive and interior.

I did the same thing when I bought my Speed3 a few months back. I was a bit disappointed when i actually drove the ST. It was quick, but it never really felt quick.. Also the interior was just horrendous (for me). I hate the feeling of an interior that wraps around you and is all up in your face, and thats kinda how it felt. Though, the Recaro seats were very nice.