Well, as an ST owner, i'd like to chime in with my brutally honest opinion..

I bought the ST not knowing much about this platform. I worked at a Ford Dealership, got a great deal on a ST2 ST (mid level options), so i bought it because i needed a new car. I had a cabrio that was very harsh on my back and very very loud.

A lot of ST owners that live in winter climates love their ST. Snow tires and a RMM are a great addition to the ST when in the Snow Climate. None of these guys in the ST community really complained about the car in the snow.

Those who are saying the MS3 is more fun compared to an ST, i have to disagree. The difference between the two cars is so little, its hard to tell them apart. I think thats more of their love for the MS3 shining through than an actual comparison of the two cars. Many magazines who are unbiased stated the ST was the more fun car. Fun is subjective though, so lets not get hung up on that.

To answer your question, "Why buy a MS3?" Well, we really need to ask you a few questions. Do you plan to modify the car? Do you have a large family? Is this going to be your daily driver? Are you worried about fuel economy?

If you plan on modifying your car, the MS3 is the better option, even when compared to the WRX. I won't compare to the EVO or STI because i don't consider those Hot Hatches, especially the EVO. Even though the aftermarket scene is rapidly growing for the ST, we just can't compete with the MS3 market yet. We do have a lot available to us to be a contender when talking HP/TQ, but the MS3 certainly wins that battle hands down. The fueling options alone for the MS3 make it a much more desirable tuner.

WRX are over-priced. Yes you get AWD, but i don't think the extra $5,000 is worth the crappy interior and issue that come along with buying a subaru. If you NEED the AWD, get a volvo or audi.

Price wise, the ST and MS3 are probably the same, depending on which dealership you shop with.

Comfort wise, i would think the ST is easier to live with, but i think the ride quality is nearly identical, at least the few times i drove the MS3 i thought it was about the same.

Power-wise, stock for stock, it really comes down to which car grabs traction first. They are nearly identical. I know the MS3 on paper is slightly faster, but in the real world, i would say its about 50/50.

Its amazing how identical the ST and the MS3 is. Its the aftermarket community that really separates these two cars.

I didn't include the GTi because i think those are retardedly over priced and just a waste of money. You spend more for less, and the aftermarket community is very expensive and service is expensive, and its a just a piece of shit. Flame me all you want, GTi owners are fucking morons. Similar to the WRX crowd or the Veloster Turbo groupies.

Honestly, if i had to do it again... I really think it would come down to whatever dealer gave me the better price. I do modify my ST, and it does suck that we have limited options, but a lot of the vendors that are amazing for speed3s are coming over to our platform and succeeding just as much with the ST.

The look of both cars are subjective. Some people hate the ST, some people hate the MS3. I like both. I like the profile of the MS3 and the rear of the car. I like the front of the ST and how it looks while rolling. The lines on the ST i think are very subtle and flow properly around the car.

If i had to give you a final answer, i would say MS3, only because of the aftermarket community. Because to me, these cars are identical.

Thanks,

Why buy a MS3?
 

Your username is LOL MS3. Your post automatically became irrelevant.

EDIT: I don't disagree with what you said, but you never stated you've driven a MS3. Have you at all?


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I have. I currently work for an Auto Group that owns a Mazda Dealer. I've driven it many times since purchasing my ST. I don't hate MS3s. I actually like the car a lot. The people that own them are always nice, even with my License plate saying "LOL MS3." Just a friendly jab at my older brother. Theres no denying the MS3 platform. I love my ST and the community (for the most part) but im not stupid either lol.

@LOL MS3, I think that's a great comparison. I drove an st3 focus last year when I started searching for a new car and I loved it. My only gripe that I have with them are the tail lights. I can't stand them. But overall I loved the seats, interior, Sony sound system, and the keyless start. But I couldn't justify paying north of 27k for that (brand new). I ended up going with a used 2013 MS3 with 5k miles. My gripe with the MS3 was the speckle interior and lucky for me the guy I bought it from upgraded the seats and trim to black leather/alcantara. I'll admit, the MS3 felt quite a bit faster to my butt dyno, even though I know both the cars are pretty much neck and neck stock. And with the tech package I got pretty much everything I liked about the st3 ST but for A LOT less money.

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I completely agree. Especially on the shitty stock tires that come with MS3s. Hell, even on my 245s, 2nd gear is still useless, and so is 3rd in winter weather.

Well its normal that the buttdyno feels faster because the MS3 has more TQ. Plus the torque steer is a lot more noticeable, so that also adds to the fun.

and ST3 for 27k is pretty high. A lot of guys over on the st forums are paying about 25k for the ST3. I have an ST2 (live in Florida so heated seats are a waste lol) and i got D Plan pricing at about 24k, but the car had just come out, so markups were still in affect and there were zero incentives. I agree the rear end of the ST is not as sexy as the MS3. The tail lights are a bit odd lol. But i spend my time in the interior, and the ST interior is really easy to live with.

Whats the stock tire for the MS3? The ST has really sticky Goodyear F1s. In the colder weather (below 60degrees) the F1s have zero traction as well. 1st 2nd and 3rd.

Dunlop Sport 2050s. In the midwest I lose traction in 4th 5 months out of the year -_-.

My Z1 Star Specs are definitely better, but they're also really fucking loud. I only have them because they came with the Konigs for cheap. My next tire will be Michelin PSS for sure.

I do love the interior of the ST's. Had my MS3 not had the speckle issues taken care of I would be extremely envious... well I still am because RECARO.

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Michelin PSS is a great tire IMO. haven't heard too much about the dunlops but I was never a fan of that brand anyway.


Sent while street racing

@LOL MS3 Please tell me that the Focus ST doesn't have a fucking plastic intake manifold like its cousin the Taurus did. LMFAO!! I was helping a buddy change his starter on his 2003 Taurus last night and noticed that the intake manifold was made of plastic. WTF?!? I guess it was a big problem (can't imagine why, LOL) for a lot of people. I assume not but just wanted to make sure.

Anyway, I've never driven one but they do look pretty nice and very similar to the MS3.

It is reinforced plastic.

I thought most cars have plastic manifolds because of the heat exchange? Maybe i'm wrong.

We have two options for IM but they honestly don't make a whole lot of power on our stock k03. I assume with a bigger turbo an upgrade manifold would produce better results.

Right now Turbo Tech Racing and Breedt are the ones who make aluminum IMs for the ST.

The power band of the MS3 is more fun IMO. They ST felt like it was almost N/A which I guess could be a plus for some. But in a FI car I felt it took away from the driver experience.

And if they dealer had offered me 24-25k for an ST3, I might not have ended up with the MS3. :sigh:

Why buy a MS3?
 

Yea that's really driver preference. It feels like a n/a car because of the k03. It's spools so quickly that you really have no lag at all. With my freektune, my boost comes on half a second later so you get that FI experience.


Sent while street racing

:lmao:
Never thought of it like that. You just made me never want to get a wrx and also lawl at the same time!

PREFERENCE!