2008 Mazda Mazdaspeed3 Owner Ratings & Reviews

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4.5
Overall
2 Reviews

2008 Mazda Mazdaspeed3 - It was my affordable dream car

Christina
Durham, North Carolina
Overall
5.0
Value
5.0
Performance
5.0
Style
5.0
Comfort
4.0
Fuel Economy
3.0
Reliability
5.0
I have the manual transmission bug - it's basically the only car that I will buy. The speed3 has a six-speed manual, and the previous owner installed a short throw shifter. With that super tight and short throw, it's incredibly easy to row through all of the gears. The car also has a Stage 1 tune which pushes power and torque numbers both to around 290. Stabbing the gas will get you some wild wheel spin. In the power band, you can still get some wheel spin in fourth gear. The amount of torque is absurd for a front wheel drive car. It's definitely too much, but I wouldn't have it any other way. If you can avoid the wheel spin, the acceleration that this thing makes driving it a ton of fun. It stays solid and planted on the local twisty roads. The interior has pretty solid build quality.... (more)
Story
During the last hurricane, everyone was hiding inside of their house. It was the calm before the storm. So I decided to go out for a drive through the curvy roads, ended up 30 miles away in place I've never been, then got caught in the storm and almost died a few times driving back home.
Pros
The amount of torque and power that the thing has. The turbo 'whoosh' when rowing through the gears.
Cons
The rear seats don't fold down completely flat. They'll sorta hang out at a 10ish degree angle when folded down, so it's not as practical if trying to stuff really big things in there. Also, the cup holders are in a crappy spot. They are right behind the shifter, so if you have a water bottle there it makes it difficult to shift.

2008 Mazda Mazdaspeed3 - Fast car, low price.

Mazdaspeed3 Owner
Las Vegas, Nevada
Overall
4.0
Value
5.0
Performance
5.0
Style
4.0
Comfort
3.0
Fuel Economy
4.0
Reliability
5.0
The Mazda Speed 3 has a lot of power in a front wheel drive platform. Provides above average fuel efficiency for cars in the same category. It is a thrill to drive and will sometimes have you driving a bit too spirited. Although the interior is lacking, the responsiveness and feedback from the vehicle while driving is above average. This car will give others like the SRT4, GTI, GLI or Subaru's a run for their money. Stock parts have lasted me for over 95K miles and only normal wear and tear items have had to be replaced. AC is running strong in a high heat climate with a very large amount of usage. Build quality and design have both been great and have definitely lasted through harsh weather and a few children. I would recommend this car to my friends and others.
Story
There are a lot of stories that I can share. I guess one of the most memorable would be when a much more expensive car pulled up next to me and wanted to "race", they were just wanting to mess around a bit and were very surprised by the performance of this car. It beat out their car which as I said, was substantially more expensive than the Mazda.
Pros
There are several Pro's, first, the car has great performance. The Turbo charged engine allows you to pass other cars easily. The brake system allows you to remain safe in situations when you might need to stop quickly. The radio system, speakers and overall acoustics are in line with other cars, but when added to the sound dampening, the car is above the others.
Cons
Interior design materials are lacking, but are in line with other cars in the same group. Tire wear is less than average, but can be improved with a lighter foot. There are a few blind spots due to car shape and seat position. It will require you to move around a bit sometimes. Some fluids are specialty Mazda fluids which have to replaced at the dealership.

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