From SportCompactCar

Clearly the Mazdaspeed3 would need an LSD and a lot of fine tuning to utilize all that torque without smoking the front tires at every stoplight. The development team decided against mechanical clutch and Torsen types in favor of the smoother response and everyday driveability of a Tochigi Fuji conical seat-type LSD. But there were still fears that torque steer would make the car undriveable. So Mazdaspeed engineers deployed the standard set of torque steer countermeasures; they optimized steering, alignment, and suspension geometry and sourced large diameter, equal length driveshafts. Then they developed a system that uses PCM (Mazda's term for Engine And Chassis Control Unit) calibration and electronic throttle valve-opening control strategies. Steering angle and wheel slip compensation factors were programmed into the PCM to assist in transferring the power without upsetting the chassis, dynamic handling and steering performance.

This complicated electronic system addresses the two root causes of torque steer: too much power too soon, and unequal loading of the tires. To combat the former, the PCM dials back the amount of power available in first and second gear by recalibrating the engine, reducing the throttle angle, and/or adjusting boost pressure. A steering angle sensor assists with uneven tire load, by telling the PCM to reduce power in similar fashion when it senses a sharp or abrupt steering angle input. It's a complicated system that some might distrust, until the very first time they go for a drive.

 

so all your power isn't available all the time?


and for your information...I'd be willing to bet that I can outdrive MOST of the people on this board in the dirt and snow and rain. I've been driving in the dirt since before I got my lisense. I live on a dirt road. I have dirt roads everywhere around my house. I spend 30-50 days a year in the snow.

I bought an AWD specifically for the snow driving.

As for FWD hatred...I don't hate them. They are actually easy to drive hard than AWD cars in my opinion. I LOVED my civic. Shoot it would destroy my wrx on ANY kind of drive pavement driving. Destroy it.

I came from hondas. I love hondas. I've actually looked at picking up another one..a little swapped hatch to drive daily for a while so I can get my wife a new car. I'd LOVE a type R. One of the most balanced cars ever designed in that price bracket..

I'm not hating on FWD. I think for MOST people it's actually much safer to drive. More reliable, better gas mileage etc.

I was just speeking from my experience...no LSD...torque steer.

sounds to me like mazda thought of that but the magazine still thinks it needs one.

also sounds to me like your dead set on buying a mazda but want people to give you permission.

Go to a mazda board if you want that.

otherwise...do whatever the hell you want and buy what you want. I don't give a rats ***. I think the mspeed 3 looks like a fine car. The regular version is a pile of **** though.

 

I also think the FWD hate is pretty funny, and I believe that at least 90% of it comes from FWD not being "cool" these days. My R32 being my 35th or so car (need to re-count) I have owned and experienced quite a few. The only automotive mechanical device that I do truly hate is the automatic transmission, though I guess it has it's place too.

FWD can be a BLAST to drive and is basically just different. If you truly have experience with FWD and just don't like it, then great - don't get a FWD car. There are quite a few race classes based on FWD cars, and FWD cars have been raced for a very long time.

One of my fav FWD cars was a '93 Maxima SE w/ the DOHC 3.0V6, 5spd and LSD. It was mildly modded w/ a huge rear swaybar, koni's, Suspension tech springs and a few other things. It was wicked fun on HWY 9 and many other places, would rotate really nicely and put down power like a **** - could even 4 whl drift it. You could go around a corner, let the tail hang out and use the FWD to pull the car around the corner - like I said, just different and in fact - when playing with that Maxima and my then-stock WRX (on 17" P1's and better tires) they were neck and neck with my friend and I switching cars. There were times I could not catch him with him driving the Maxima and me in the WRX.

Anyway, whatever's clever. There are certain areas (usually low traction) where I personally would MUCH rather have FWD and a good handbrake than RWD. Again, AWD is hard to fault but not always necessary. I have 3 cars now, 1 FWD/4WD, 1 AWD and 1 RWD. Also, the R32's Haldex-based AWD system is a lot like the EVO (except no tranfer case) in that it is essentially a FWD car until the rear wheels are needed - you can feel it kick in on rare occasions. The car essentially feels like a FWD car tho (there are electronics that can change that, which also kills fuel economy and those expensive tires).

I personally would take a MS3 over a new WRX, but that is a knowledge-free decision since all I have done with the WRX is walk around it and look at it. I don't need AWD though I prefer it (and Subaru's version is my fav). I enjoy driving FWD cars, but would have to put a MS3 through it's paces before committing. I think the new WRX looks on the bland side of mediocre while the similarly styled MS3 looks MUCH better in every respect save the grille. The MS3 also has pretty rave reviews all over (except the UK, EVO mag) where the new WRX - not so much. I am sure it will be just fine as a car, but whatever. I have a friend with a regular Mazda3 (has HIDs too) who has had it for nearly 3 years, does no maintenance and beats the crap out of it - no probs yet.

Personally, I don't know why Mazda doesn't figure out a way to offer AWD on the MS3 except that it would add lotsa weight (like transverse AWD systems do) and complexity. But then, people would buy it because it was ok to since now, it's cool!

 

How do you like that R32, I've heard with a turbo added they're absolute animals. I currently don't care for their choice in drivetrain for that particular vehicle.

 

I like it a lot, it's a wicked fun car even in stock form. Mine is stock with only a set of engine/trans mounts and an ECU reflash. Streetwerke, where I take it for service and stuff, builds their own kits and has a 540+hp track car. NUTS. Check out their site - www.streetwerke.com.

The fact that they shipped the new one with GTi options, and only the DSG makes it totally out of the picture - I agree.

 

another +1 for A4 Avant Quattro, the s-line package looks pretty sharp. if youre going to get an A3 you might as well get a GTI or golf because they are on the same chassis. dont know if they have the same engine, but an A3 3.2 Quattro with 6-speed is pretty much a luxury version of an R32 (3.2-liter AWD 6-speed).

 

YES! i love doing hairpins with my old FWD
dirt is also a lot of fun with a good handbrake

as for the"FWD being HUGE in Europe" that statement doesnt hold much value because look what's HUGE in the USA...NASCAR!!!

its all how you plan to drive the two cars...if youre gonna be bombing the freeway...then yeah the Mazda will be faster...but until they take a quarter mile drag strip and throw some turns in there, the wrx will always look bad.

i think in the mtns, the same driver will put down a better time in the WRX than the MS5...especially if the mtn road is 30-50 mph

if you want an example, my stock miata puts down a 2:59 my RS puts down a 2:55 up one of my roads...RS is 4 seconds faster, but i love the MIATA sooo much more.

 

I had a friend who crunched the numbers cuz he was deciding between the GTI 2.0T with DSG or an Audi A3 with DSG. Invoice to invoice, you actually get a bit more car for not that much more with an Audi A3 versus getting a similarly equipped GTI. It also depends on how close to invoice a buyer can actually negotiate too. I haven't crunched the numbers myself, so don't take my word for it. I'm just too lazy to actually look it up since I'm not shopping for a car. Haha.