Focus vs. Mazda 3

[five-speed2.3]

i'd call the 2.3s GTs :)

[selfguided]

GT=Grand Touring? MS3's are really nice, wish i would have picked one up. think they are being discontinued.

[Arkaign]

Originally Posted by five-speed2.3

i have raced a few. the 2.0s seem to not able to keep up at all. i think all of them were automatics

the 2.3s, while they look beautiful, cant take me in a straight line either. i think its because they are heavier. one time a blue one kept up with me pretty good off the line, but once i pulled second i had him.

i played with one of the new mazdaspeeds on some backroads in my dads car, not really a race. that thing is an all around great machine, i had it in the twisties, but when the road straightened out, his 100hp advantage showed itself haha.

Yes, the weight is a significant issue in 4cyl cars.

Mazdaspeed are $$$$. Focus + Turbo kit = just as fast.

[five-speed2.3]

Originally Posted by Arkaign

Yes, the weight is a significant issue in 4cyl cars.

Mazdaspeed are $$$$. Focus + Turbo kit = just as fast.

wouldnt you say that a mazda 3 with the same engine as a focus would be heavier? i have no technical data to back up this claim, other then they look bloated

i want a turbo, just seems like it costs alot :(

it would be a good race tho, between the zx3 stick and 3 auto.

[Arkaign]

Originally Posted by five-speed2.3

wouldnt you say that a mazda 3 with the same engine as a focus would be heavier? i have no technical data to back up this claim, other then they look bloated

i want a turbo, just seems like it costs alot :(

it would be a good race tho, between the zx3 stick and 3 auto.

From Edmunds :

2008 Mazda 3 2.3L Auto Sedan = 2959lbs
2008 Focus SES Sedan 2.0L Auto = 2755lbs

So, looks like ~200lbs difference between the platforms. I don't think there's much weight difference between the 2.0 and 2.3, they have almost an identical size and amount of metal. Maybe 10-15lbs at the most.

So, Focus > Mazda 3, when comparing 2.0 to 2.0, auto to auto, etc. 200lbs is a lot of extra load on either the 2.0 or 2.3.

[wakeboardjl]

Beat both a 2.0 and the 2.3 in the svt, as well as my jeep but have yet to race a MS3.

[macdaddyslomo]

'sniff....it's getting really deep in here....i know this is a focus board, but c'mon !

the mazda 3 2.0L has about a 20 hp advantage over a 2.0 Focus, and the 2.3L has a 30hp advantage

do you really think 200lbs is going to make up for 20-30hp ??? and to even suggest a 2.0L ZX3 can keep up with a 2.3L Mazda3 is absolutely rediculous

and did I really read right that someone in a ZTS thinks they were outhandling a Mazdaspeed 3 ????? and only in a straight did the speed 3 overtake him ???

only real race would be an SVT or ST Focus(2.3L) vs a Mazda 3 2.0 or 2.3L...a stock ZX3 is going to get smeared...you were either facing an absolutely horrible driver, or the person you thought was racing, didnt even see you !!!

[five-speed2.3]

nah i said in my dads car i was out handling a mazdaspeed. my ZTS would have been in the guard rail very quick.

as for some numbers, my 04 ZTS 2.3 is rated at 145hp stock, and 149 ft/lbs torque. the 04 2.3 mazda 3? rated at 160 and 150 respectivly. say my intake picked me up 5hp, that brings me to 150hp. givin that there is only a 10hp difference, and then the weight comes into play like no other haha. and if you look up some quarter mile times done by mazines and such, you will see times very close to each other. and autos lose advantage for motor v motor.

i believe the starter of this thread may not have an advantage, but it would be close. he has a manual, and less weight. the mazda has slightly more power, but more weight and an auto bringing it down.

[macdaddyslomo]

Originally Posted by five-speed2.3

nah i said in my dads car i was out handling a mazdaspeed. my ZTS would have been in the guard rail very quick.

ahhh, ok. what's your dad's car ?

[five-speed2.3]

Originally Posted by macdaddyslomo

ahhh, ok. what's your dad's car ?

06 cooper S with works package. shes a go-cart. goes like hell too, but like i said with that speed3, everytime a straight came it just shot up, thanks to an extra 80-100hp no doubt. to be honest the speed3 kinda looked sloppy in the corners, almost top heavy, alotta wobble.

mac you have a nice ST, you've never had an encounter with a 3 series? (mazda of course).

get an intake for that ZX3, i had a friend do that with his ZX4 zetec, and it was like a whole new car.