And now I'm torn, the V6 Mustang and a very nicely equipped Mazda3 s sticker at about the same price, but the Mazda3 has all those goodies I don't really need, but want anyway, like steering wheel mounted stereo controls, xenon headlights, etc. etc. So I'm stuck, I could get a 3 this summer, or I could wait until the Fall to test drive a V6 'Stang and decide then. Anyone want to persuade me one way or the other? I really like coupes, and the new Mustang body is awesome, but.. :bang: :bang:

 

You could get a pack of xenon headlight bulbs for the stang for about 15 bucks. Which I intend to do. Just wait until after driving both. You'll be upset as soon as you see some really nice stangs o the street. I would.

 

Just remember if you buy the Mazda, all you'll have is a Mazda :sleep: , but if you wait for the Mustang, you got a Mustang

 

I believe the term "FWD verses RWD' should say it all, but just in case; imagine yourself in a tight corner (read caution 35mph) but you are pushing 55 - 60 mph. you feel the g-force as the physics of 3500 pounds tries to go in a straight line. Just before the apex, you finesse the gas and I ask you ... Do you want to feel the FWD pull the front end around the corner :nono: ...or do you want that slight shift/squat/plant push that only RWD ie 05 mustang deliver?

 

Uses a lot of bits from the Foci, those are $900 hids, not bulbs B) Its a great all-around FWD car. Its a different car, but lots of personality for what it is. I have always been a Mazda fan.(Ive owned both an RX7 tt and a Miata) They beat their own drum unlike the other Japanese appliance factories(of course being Ford-owned doesnt hurt either). I picked a Foci SVT Euro package for the same reasons to hold me over for my next GT. If you were looking that route however, the SVT Euro has even more options and punch to offer under 20k with the rebates(Recaro heated seats, 6-speed, big abs brakes, Audiophile sound, moonroof, VVT, hid headlights, etc), but there are hardly any left. The SVT Foci is the best handling and most precise FWD I've ever driven. It is however a whole 'nother flavor from a Stang. I try to mix them up a bit as I go along The SIX is a fantastic sedan they offer as well, I cant wait to see how Ford uses the platform with the Futura.

 

With the next car mabye. My Steeda full G-trac competition suspension Mustang will not go around corners like the Foci(there was no "shifting" in that stang's rear end either ). My daily on-ramp nightly run yeilds almost 15mph faster speeds with the Foci, with more room to spare(but guardrail=bad). Im not sitting on the door armrest doing it either. The SVTF is extremely precise to place on the road and does so with aplomb. But on the other side, there sure as heck arent any powerslides on demand in one :notnice: You have to decide what YOU want in a car

 

They are likely to be much different driving cars -- and it's tough because you haven't driven the V6 Stang yet.

I suspect they'll both be quite fun to drive and fairly close in terms of acceleration and handling numbers. I've seen low 7s to 60 for the Mazda3 with the 2.3 l engine, which matches quite well to the estimates for the V6 Mustang.

One consideration - how much space do you need. Even with more room, the Mustang is still a 2+2 with a small trunk. Does that matter to you? If not, this may be a good time to think about a fun, less-than-practical car. If you need the room, go with the 3.

 

One interesting note Ive noticed recently about the Foci. Mazda uses Duratec based engines and is begining to turbocharge them. The Escape has a new 4WD system that works with a manual transmission Duratec(the old one did not work with the ZTEC). It is electronically controled to alow up 80%+ to drive the rear wheels if needed. The Foci has always had a full transmission and driveshaft tunnel(this is why 03 cobra complete subframe and powertrains bolt up under them so easily)and the control-blade irs has plenty of room for the hardware. There is hope yet for a road going WRC clone from Ford, the parts to make one are becoming production minded plug-and-play favorable. Ford could also make an ST version of the Futura by shoehorning a hot-rodded Duratec 35 in there too.

 

Doesn't Europe already have turbo'd AWD Foci? The Focus RS isn't it? Or are they just turbo'd?

 

With the next car mabye. My Steeda full G-trac competition suspension Mustang will not go around corners like the Foci(there was no "shifting" in that stang's rear end either ). My daily on-ramp nightly run yeilds almost 15mph faster speeds with the Foci, with more room to spare(but guardrail=bad). Im not sitting on the door armrest doing it either. The SVTF is extremely precise to place on the road and does so with aplomb. But on the other side, there sure as heck arent any powerslides on demand in one :notnice: You have to decide what YOU want in a car [/b][/quote]
Again with the focus. I know you like you focus and it is a nice car but stop comparing the hadling characteristics with that of your steeda. It its a different type of car. I could take my friends go-cart around that turn faster than you could go in you focus. ( course is does cost 12 grand). All i am saying is that a 3500 pound fwd car will handle alot differently than your focus. So lets not confuse the guy. Just drive both and decide which one you want.

P.S. I know you know your stuff kevin so don't take this as an insult, its not, i definatly respect your opinion, but comparing your steeda to your focus is like the focus to the go-kart.:usa:

 

Again with the focus. I know you like you focus and it is a nice car but stop comparing the hadling characteristics with that of your steeda. It its a different type of car. I could take my friends go-cart around that turn faster than you could go in you focus. ( course is does cost 12 grand). All i am saying is that a 3500 pound fwd car will handle alot differently than your focus. So lets not confuse the guy. Just drive both and decide which one you want.

P.S. I know you know your stuff kevin so don't take this as an insult, its not, i definatly respect your opinion, but comparing your steeda to your focus is like the focus to the go-kart.:usa: [/b][/quote]
The Focus is a go kart. So are Civics, Carollas, Minis, all Suzukis, and Korean Garbage. Except, Minis look cool inside and out... Focuses stil got a special touch though that make some models look good. The rest of the mini market looks like crap. Especially the Civic and Carolla.

 

The Mazda 3 is probably more like 2800-3000 lbs depending on how its trimmed out. And a quarter ton less lard can make a huge difference in handling, even if FWD. And with modern chassis like the 3, FWD doesn't necessarily translate into piggish understeer, though of course you don't have quite the potential balance of a good RWD car.

I've always had a lot of respect for Mazda, being a current owner of an older B2200 truck and a '94 Probe GT (a Mazda in just about everything but name). They seem to have a real engineering ethic as a company and often do interesting things from an engineering standpoint (Miller cycle V6, rotary). Just look at how chock full of solid engineering features the RX-8 is (rotary, 6 spd, multilink independant suspension all around (AL up front), CF drive shaft, 50/50 weight, suicide doors, etc.) all for well under $30K base MTX. Were it that even the S197 had all these features in any version.

In any case, I could readily see how the Mazda 3 2.3 could be a viable alternative to a base V6 Mustang, though of course, I'd have to wait to see just how the S197 turns out, to make a final call on that. And it wouldn't surprise me to see a Mazdaspeed version coming out before too long, probably turbo'ed well over 200hp, uprated suspension/brakes and perhaps AWD to put every erg of the power to the ground where it does some good. I'd love to see Mazda gun for the EVO/STi level cars, which are extraordinarily fast over the road.

 

I read in the current Motor Trend that a Mazdaspeed version of the RX-8 is indeed about a year off. That'll be a cool car.

 

The most fun you can ever have in a stock car is a first-gen miata on a big parking lot club auto-x Now that thing is a go cart, I drove a 5.0 one once too :shock:

 

Front wheel drive only.

The new Focus, based on the C1 platform (which also underpins the Mazda3 and Volvo S40/V50) will do AWD. But it won't be sold in the US until later this decade (at the earliest).

 

I guess I'll sit on my hands and see how things go this summer, I really do want to drive the new Mustang. Besides that, I might not make enough money this year to pay for it, and will end up waiting until next year All depends on how big of a down payment I decide on making.

Just on a fun little side note, you can make a FWD car slide, try driving mine Once you get to know the car, you can dial in all the oversteer you want, but I never figured out why (because of the Live! axle in the rear maybe?).

 

Say Buell_Enthusiast, did you drive the Mazda3 at highway speed? Where did the tach sit while cruising? How was the engine noise?

It's looking like my wife might be getting the Mazda3 5-door next summer, with me getting my 'Stang in 2007 or 2008. It's going to be a long and unhappy wait for me; we can't afford to make payments on two cars at once, and her current car's lease is up next year. My Trans Am is paid off so I'm the one that gets to wait.

At least this will give Ford time to develop some nifty new variants, upgrades and options for the 2008-09 model years. That's what I have to keep telling myself to stay sane...

 

I raced it around an industrial park, so I didn't get a chance to shift into fifth. The engine is VERY quiet, in fact at idle, you're not entirely sure it's running it's so smooth and quiet. It starts to purr around 4000 RPMS, right around when the engine gets happy, but the power pulls smooth from idle all the way to redline. Smooth ride, tight handling, a really nice car all around.

 

Front wheel drive only.

The new Focus, based on the C1 platform (which also underpins the Mazda3 and Volvo S40/V50) will do AWD. But it won't be sold in the US until later this decade (at the earliest). [/b][/quote]
Right now the European RS is turbo'ed but not awd. Motor trend said that the SVT focus will soon be on hiatus much like the Cobra is, but if and when it returns it will very likely be turbo AWD to compete with the WRX STI and EVO. Ford does not have any way of rivaling that market as of yet.

 

Yeah, it's a nice ride for sure. I'm not a big fan of 4-cylinder engines, but the Ford/Mazda 2.3 liter is sweet, especially with a manual, and the lighter weight helps reduce the handling problems that come with FWD. But I personally wouldn't buy one until you get a chance to drive the Mustang. It's a tough choice!

I was sort of disappointed that the new Focus isn't based more on the new Mazda 3, but on the other hand, the Focus is already a pretty good car. Comparing the Mazda 3 to the Focus ST, I think I would go with the 3, unless the ST has some big suprise we don't know about.

What I would really like is one of these: http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_co...t_code=08700284 . I usually don't like hatchbacks very much, but I really like what they did with this. And RWD in a car this small is going to handle like a dream.