WRX Special Edition vs Focus ST vs Mazdaspeed 3
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Car Info: 2013 BRZ
WRX Special Edition vs Focus ST vs Mazdaspeed 3
The laps time says it all!
Randy’s Take:
Subaru WRX Special Edition
Lap Time: 1 min, 27.40 sec
“The Subaru handled the track’s big bumps fairly well. My favorite part was when it freed up a little bit at turn-in; it does sort of a rally drift. I got a nice rotation mid-corner when the car's pointed at the apex. I wanted to use the all-wheel-drive traction at that point, but what I got was a lot of understeer, almost like a front-drive car. Not as bad, but almost.” Ford
Focus ST
Lap Time: 1 min, 28.40 sec
“It is the most lively American market front-wheel drive street car I've ever driven. You’d better have your car control down if you want to drive this Focus fast with the traction control off – corner entry is just how I want a front-wheel drive race car to handle. For me as a racer, I absolutely love it. When I entered a corner, the tail of the car immediately came out – but it’s not in a fearful way. It’s in a helpful way. It's in an enthusiastic, enjoyable way. The ST rewards a modulated throttle with a good exit. It desperately needs a limited-slip. On a few corners, there was some inside wheel spin and torque steer.”
Mazdaspeed3
Lap Time: 1 min, 29.51 sec
“The Mazdaspeed3 feels more mature and more expensive, thanks to well-damped shocks and the overall solid feel of the structure. The downside to the car is that it has a lot more understeer – like all the time. I did feel a little torque steer going straight; didn’t feel it in the corners so much. The car had an even, broad spread of torque. However, it seemed lazy coming off the corners, not as powerful as it was when you were going straight.”
Read more: 2013 Mazdaspeed3 vs. 2013 Ford Focus ST vs. 2013 Subaru WRX Special Edition - Comparison - Motor Trend
Randy’s Take:
Subaru WRX Special Edition
Lap Time: 1 min, 27.40 sec
“The Subaru handled the track’s big bumps fairly well. My favorite part was when it freed up a little bit at turn-in; it does sort of a rally drift. I got a nice rotation mid-corner when the car's pointed at the apex. I wanted to use the all-wheel-drive traction at that point, but what I got was a lot of understeer, almost like a front-drive car. Not as bad, but almost.” Ford
Focus ST
Lap Time: 1 min, 28.40 sec
“It is the most lively American market front-wheel drive street car I've ever driven. You’d better have your car control down if you want to drive this Focus fast with the traction control off – corner entry is just how I want a front-wheel drive race car to handle. For me as a racer, I absolutely love it. When I entered a corner, the tail of the car immediately came out – but it’s not in a fearful way. It’s in a helpful way. It's in an enthusiastic, enjoyable way. The ST rewards a modulated throttle with a good exit. It desperately needs a limited-slip. On a few corners, there was some inside wheel spin and torque steer.”
Mazdaspeed3
Lap Time: 1 min, 29.51 sec
“The Mazdaspeed3 feels more mature and more expensive, thanks to well-damped shocks and the overall solid feel of the structure. The downside to the car is that it has a lot more understeer – like all the time. I did feel a little torque steer going straight; didn’t feel it in the corners so much. The car had an even, broad spread of torque. However, it seemed lazy coming off the corners, not as powerful as it was when you were going straight.”
Read more: 2013 Mazdaspeed3 vs. 2013 Ford Focus ST vs. 2013 Subaru WRX Special Edition - Comparison - Motor Trend
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steen80
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Dec 25, 2013 11:48 AM
