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By Anita And Paul LienertDetroit Newspapers
November 22, 2006
This powerful little hatchback is less of a daily commuter and more of a screaming, raw performance car. We tested a base Mazdaspeed3 GT with no options. Bottom line: $24,550, including a $595 destination charge. SHE: I was out at the General Motors Milford Proving Ground recently and parked the Mazdaspeed3 GT when two young GM engineers came running out of a building. "It is really hot," one of them said to me. They were so excited about this front-wheel-drive Mazdaspeed model that I had to let them slide behind the wheel and check it out. I guess when you get right down to it, it's probably a bargain at under $25,000. Those two engineers wanted to know specifics, such as zero-60 time, but Mazda says it doesn't do "official performance" numbers. But the buff books peg it at under six seconds. HE: Which is not bad for an entry-level pocket rocket. Mazda does own up to a top speed of 155 miles per hour, which should send some young hearts palpitating, too. But I also happen to think the Mazdaspeed3 is the total package. The heart of this little hatchback is a turbocharged, twin-cam 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that's mated to a six-speed manual transmission and goes like stink. The Mazdaspeed3 is an outstanding little car for anyone who wants something that's fun to drive, looks good and is relatively affordable -- nearly as much fun as a Subaru STI or a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, but more civilized and considerably less expensive. SHE: There's a lot to like, just at a glance, such as the big tailpipe, the roof spoiler, the 18-inch wheels and the "floating" fog lamps. The Mazdaspeed3 GT has a lot of personality inside and out. But what also impressed me was the strict attention to safety. You get a load of standard safety equipment, including side curtain air bags that protect all outboard passengers, dynamic stability control, antilock brakes and traction control. If my kid wanted to buy this car, I'd be all for it, given that level of commitment to safety. HE: The cabin is about as close to custom as you can get with a production car. It's top-heavy on the black and red, with little tuner-style touches like aluminum pedals and stainless-steel scuff plates on the door sills. I wasn't really crazy about the red-light audio display -- it looks slightly cheap and not nearly as soothing as the blue backlighting on Volkswagen gauges. And the front bucket seats have that side bolstering, which can be uncomfortable if you're on the more ample side. In addition to performance, Mazda treated the Mazdaspeed3 GT like some kind of a mini nightclub. It's got a Bose audio system with seven speakers, steering-wheel audio controls, a standard iPod jack and is Sirius satellite radio-compatible. SHE: This car is based on the Mazda3 and the suspension has been stiffened, the stance has been lowered and it's got stuff like performance shocks. It makes for a bit of a rough ride, especially on dirt roads and the like. But the Mazdaspeed3 GT is small enough and nimble enough to whip into any parking space and to zip in and out of lanes easily on the highway. And it's got a practical side, too. HE: I've always been a fan of hatchbacks because they can be so flexible. The Mazda has a fairly spacious rear cargo area and a 60/40 split folding rear seat that lets you expand the cargo space. SHE: I think fuel economy is probably going to be way down the list of concerns for people shopping for this car. This is an affordable image car for performance enthusiasts. I wasn't kidding when I told those GM engineers that "hot" doesn't even begin to describe the sensation of driving the Mazdaspeed3 GT. Anita and Paul Lienert are partners in Lienert & Lienert, an Ann Arbor-based automotive information services company.
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