Test drove 2012 yesterday.....
 

This was the first time ever getting behind the wheel of one of these.......the thing is a beast! Mind you I've had my beloved RX8 since Oct '08. The one I test drove was a model they sold to a person at the Lexus dealership next door to Mazda but returned it a month later since his family felt he couldn't afford payments. It has 770 miles on it. I was there just getting servicing done to the 8 and not in the market, but considered it.

Current circumstances prevent me from getting one ATM.

My question is about the clutch pedal. Now that I'm used the RX8, the MS3 clutch feels very weird. Almost as if the first few inches of travel have the most resistance and the remaining travel seems really, really light. I'm guessing this hasn't changed over model years. The 8 has a very consistent feel to it throughout travel, whereas the MS3 threw me off near top of travel.

Is this just the "way it is", or is there some reason behind the mechanics of this?

There is a "compound" feel to the clutch, if you push it to the floor its easier to hold. Don't know why.


Zigatapatalka

The MS3 clutch takes some getting used to, so nothing was wrong with that car you drove. Just how it is. I can drive the heavy duty race clutch in my Camaro super smooth, while I never stall my MS3, I find it hard to drive "smooth" at times. My buddies with a RMM is easier to drive smooth though. So I think it is a combanation of a tricky clutch and soft motor mounts. This coming from a guy who has owned about ten manual cars.

i love our clutch, it feels..... right, to me at least. there is a lot of bite which is awesome, they are strong too.

i just drove an 08 sti, and holy fuck that clutch sucks, it starts engaging early, but very minimal, then when u get towards the end of the teavel WAHABAMMMM its in gear instantly. so every time u let it out you slip slip slip BAM gear

Ya when I bought my MS3 new in 2010, I traded in my RX8, and I much prefered the RX8 clutch and shifter for that matter. I really wish they would have used this in the MS3 because it is so much smoother and just feels so much better. The clutch in the MS3 is what I dislike the most in this car.

The clutch in the MS6 is the same way. It feels right to me now.

I'm still trying to figure out my clutch ( MS6 ). Way different than my previous vehicles.

The feel is due to the SAC 2 or self adjusting clutch / pressure plate. The more the clutch disc wears down the more clamping force the pressure plate will put on the disc but the feel of the pedal will remain almost the same throughout the clutch's life. It's actually a very neat design. Our clutches and dual mass flywheels are made by a German company named LUK.

Schaeffler Technologies —|—LuK Products —|—SAC 2

http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/...10724-1249.jpg

http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/...10724-1233.jpg

Rx8, miata, 2 > ms3/6

But I got used to it. Wish mazda based shift feel for all their cars like the miata.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

learn somethin new everyday lol

That about sums it up for me too, you get used to it though....except launching with it, I still have a bit of a tough time with the way the pedal feels.

I've bought nothing but manual shift cars my whole life, and I'm an old fart. The clutch FEEL of the Speed is the worst I ever felt when I first got my '11 MS3. After a year, I don't even notice it now. Meh. It WORKS.

im the opposite here i guess. i love the way the clutch feels. it grabs solid and the pedal doesnt feel mushy like in other cars, you almost can't tell where the catch point is with other vehicles, with the ms3 you can really feel it.

plus its strong as shit

Like everyone says, after a month or so you won't be able to tell a difference.

meh the clutch in the ms3 is a mans clutch, all others are inferior and less manly!! nuff said

I love the clutch feel on this car. it feels alive, ready for zoom zoom.

+1


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=44.739883,-93.107920
-Jake

Hey all, didnt want to start another thread so I chose this one for my one gripe with my new 2012 GenPu. I've had it for 3 weeks now.

So i broke my car in finally, hit a 1000 miles over the weekend, and have been on it. I do enjoy it. HOWEVER, the torque steer is a bit harsh or much for my taste. yes, I read this car had it. No, I never felt it in the test drive, obviously wasnt on it. My background unfortunately is, I come from an S2K, WRX, STi, EVO..yes, i go through cars..but my last EVO MR was in 2008 and ive been driving a lifted truck ever since. Totally forgot what driving cars was like in that time, and decided I was over the truck and wanted to get back into a car. I saw the gen 2 and loved the look, so i ended up with one for a change. So overall I love the car inside and out....i just wish there was something from the torque steer...ive read a motor mount upgrade would make a diffrence, but i cant beleive that ,much? really? What else can be done?

let me add this...it is only bad in 1st and 2nd when mashing the pedal..i dont feel it in any other gear.

Remove the sand from your vagina



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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=44.739833,-93.107940
-Jake

The torque steer is not even bad on this car, plus the boost is limited in the lower gears so it has less then a Gen1. The car has heavily weighted steering, you sure you aren't feeling that? Do you weight more then 90 pounds?

the torque steer is for people with big men's hands. you my friend must have little bitch hands. put some lotion on em and get used to it.

Now for the clutch, i love the clutch, its different from what i've owned before. Everytime i shift i imagine im kicking someone in the face, BAAMMMM

The clutch is perfect in this car i agree with you all!

I suppose I forgot what power felt like. I was spolied by AWD cars. I guess driving a slow RWD truck for 2 and half years doesnt help either. I'lll prob get use to it, today was the first day ive got on it. In a week i prob wont notice.

AWD absolutely spoils you! I had an Evo 10, but it was too much in car payments, insurance, gas, maintenance, ect. So when back to MS3...had an 07 MS3. Regret trading it in for the Evo so much that I decided to get the 2011 MS3 after the Evo was gone. However after going AWD the torque steer does seem more noticeable.

DO

http://www.about-muscle.com/images/forearms-main.gif

Or DO NOT

http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/a...at112322AM.png

There is no "try".

RE: torques steer.

Dont be picking your nose or flipping off anyone while power shifting 1-3. Both hands are needed for this beast. Warn others that drive the car this will try to rip it from your hands.

Sand out of vagina is good advice!

Clutch took getting used to for me. Now when I drive other clutch cars they feel wimpy. I think one of the issues is that it engages kind of high in the travel and is grabby as hell. I love it now, it forces me to keep on my game.

On a related note - I edyno'd the other day at 334hp/288torque - yes I know these are not real numbers - still feels awesome! Got her to 140mph back roading.

Cheers,

G

The clutch on the MS3 is like an on/off switch compared to clutches on other cars. It takes some getting used to- especially if you have more than one car with a manual and go back and forth between them. There is very little engagement "distance" between fully engaged and disengaged. You have to adapt to it and master the touchy engagement point.

:iconcur: What I find really interesting is that narrow zone of engagement can move somewhat in relation to the pedal travel, ie it's not always the same. I believe this is due to physical engine movement under the hood due to weak motor/tranny mounts.

I'm still stock so far, and from what I've read, putting in stiffer mounts will prevent this variable clutch feel, and make shifting more consistent.

I'll be starting with a JBR RMM shortly.

the narrow engagement is actually enjoyable once you get used to it. I don't feel like the clutch is slipping/breaking when I drive the car hard.

my wife has a 2010 mz3 2.5L. the clutch in that SUCKS in comparison, there is very little feel of where the engagement is lol. I always slip the shit out of the clutch in her car when I first get into it.