Mazda 3 vs. Nissan SE-R Spec V

[ucdchan]

I've been looking for a new year for awhile now. I was leaning toward the SE-R Spec V (175HP 185torque) because they have a $2000 cash back promotion, which drop the price to $14,000 (My friend got $15,600 out the door price in US, California). Anyways, Since they lower the Cash back now ($1500 now), I've been looking around for other options. The Mazda 3 seems to be a good choice after reading through tons of reviews.

So what you guys think? How does the two compare(Pros/Cons)? If you were given a choice to own one of these car, which one would you go for?

[ucdchan]

Oops.. I think I put this in the wrong section. (hand) Please delete. Thanks.

[+ friction]

What is most important to you? Aesthetics, reliability, spaciousness, uniqueness, HP?

[ucdchan]

I'm looking for aesthetics and reliability, and a little bit of uniqueness. HP is not a huge deal for me, but I don't want something like a Corolla S. My budget is 20k.

[+ friction]

With a $20K budget, have you considered a Mazda6 (you'll pay a little more than 20K)? My vote is for the 5 door based on looks, and you are guaranteed the 2.3 on the 5 door as well.

[Topher]

i'd go with the spec-V...super nice car...a good friend of mine had a highly modded mazdaspeed and he was walked by a spec-V with an intake and full exhaust.

[katsmp3]

My boyfriend has a spec-v.. Check out what it can look like with a body kit.. go to www.topsecurIT.com (http://www.topsecurIT.com) and click on Justin's car.

I didn't like the car at first... but a couple changes make ALL the difference

[CHICO2003]

The Mazda 3 is a more upscale-economy car with a fresher look while the SE-R V has more performance. Either car is a solid choice but for different reasons. Ultimately, since the Nissan's been on the block a while, price might be what makes it a better choice.

If it were me and I wanted to stay within 20 grand, a slightly used WRX would be the way to go.

[lasermp5]

^ I totally agree... get a used WRX

[MarkSpecV/M3S]

We own Both!!!

I got my SE-R Spec V in 03' and starting in $16k range ,what new car can compare?? LSD, 6spd, tight handling, produces more tq. than hp!! 17" factory wheels.

We got the Mazda 3 S in December and have loved it !! Very modern is all I can say. Interior wise it makes my car seem boring. So if your for style and looks I like the Mazda, now if your going for performance/handling I would go w/ Nissan. We haven't autocrossed the Mazda yet, it does handle great though , just doesn' t have the lowend power like the Nissan.

They are both starting in $16k range' both great cars!!

[rookie]

It's not an easy choice as others already indicated...

I personally don't love the looks of the Spec-V, so I'd want to go aftermarket there a little.

I drive a 2.5 Altima (also well uder $20 K, just so you know - and same engine) - and can say that the engine is AWESOME. My wife drives a P5 and it is cool, but - well, it is a just different.

In my larger Altima that 2.5 gets me about 30 MPG easy on my daily commute (about 60% highway) - something my wife's P5 can only dream about, even though it is 1/2 l smaller engine and I dunno how many horses weaker. That is a 2.0 engine in that P5 though, so depends - 2.3s might be better, not sure.

Between those cars, I'd buy and Altima ;). I mean Sentra and then mod it a little to look better. But that's just me. I am not a speed and HP freak myself, but I would not part from that low end torque that I have now unless I really had to :)

[03BlkMicaSPD]

I almost bought a SE-R and drove it for 2 days. I sat in the 3 and drove it today and I have to say its no comparison, the Mazda 3 is such a nicer car. The specV handles good but thats all it has on the 3. The three is just as quick to me and it just is alot better made car. like a lexus compared to a camery...just my 2 cents

[Poseur]

A good friend of mine's got a spec-V THat I've gottne the oppertunity to drive QUITE hot, and I'm really not the biggest fan of it. The term "clunky" comes to mind all around. the steering, the supension, the shifter, the styling still reminds me of the nx2000 eggishness, and as far as handling goes, it's got a stiff suspension, yes, but I really don't think it even handles all that well. Dress it up however you want, and use however many spiffy terms fo rit as you can, but the thing's got a freaking solid beam rear suspension for chrissake! I honestly think my P5 feels better, a little softer, yes, but I can hang with him in the twisties as long as there aren't many straights where that engine comes into play... and OH that engine... Thing's got some scoot, you can't deny that. And in a torquey american kinda way that you wouldn't expect from a little 4banger with a 6 speed. I'd say the SpecV is more of the camaro kind of choice than the lotus.

I'm really suprised noone's pointed out Mazda Speeds. There's a couplefew left brand new scattered around the country, and they've got a $2500 rebate as well. puts you in the same price range. But putting it against a 3, in a styling contest I think prettymuch across the board Mazda's really got it figured out. And as far as reliability, etc. the 3's have ALOT going for them. the joint with Ford's focus platform may sound ick, but it's honestly SUPER solid, and the king of thing that billions of dollars were invested in to make work right.

[tkhawaii]

Although I have my MZ3-5, I say, get the Nissan. Why? Rebates, superior engine, parts galore, and it does rip when asked to. I've seen a totally stock Spec-V wax tricked civies and the likes. Lighten the Spec, throw on some superlight Volks, sticky rubber, Stage 1 the engine and enjoy a Friday night... for comfort, everyday cruising and tireless long distance trips... buy the Mazda.

[badAzLava3]

Nissan makes some interesting cars, no doubt.

The original SE-R in the early 90's was a personal fave.
An old Dats 510 was my school car in grad school.

The only knock against the Sentra's has always been suspension travel.
They don't have much, which makes them a less than awesome track car.
Road racing isn't a true judge of a car used every day, but it does tell you something about behavior at the limits.

The motor is an absolute gem. Good motors can make you overlook a multitude of sins, like harsh ride, wind noise, motor buzz and thin paint.

Since Renault bought a controlling interest in Nissan, some things have gotten a little more iffy. Fit, finish, dash materials, and to some extent reliability, as parts suppliers changed. It's also already a 5 year old design, with that body type introduced in late 99, so of course it's overdue for a restyle, and some upgrades.For only a little more, a Altima 2.5 is a lot more car for the money.

The Spec V has great numbers on paper, but also poor resale, high insurance costs, and more than a few TSB's floating around.

I think big rebates happen when sales are slow, or when models are about to get a facelift.

I think a $14,000 Spec V is always a better deal than a $20,000 Mazda 3, if you plan on keeping it for a long time.

I also think a $16,000 Spec V is not as good a deal as a $17,000 Mazda 3, all things else being equal.

[Dave2521]

Although I have my MZ3-5, I say, get the Nissan. Why? Rebates, superior engine, parts galore, and it does rip when asked to. I've seen a totally stock Spec-V wax tricked civies and the likes. Lighten the Spec, throw on some superlight Volks, sticky rubber, Stage 1 the engine and enjoy a Friday night... for comfort, everyday cruising and tireless long distance trips... buy the Mazda.
A totally stock 3 could wax tricked civics... done it already lol. Civics are SLOW!

... just my .02 ...

[BinaryRotary]

i'd go with the spec-V...super nice car...a good friend of mine had a highly modded mazdaspeed and he was walked by a spec-V with an intake and full exhaust.
Wow, he must be a really bad driver cause I smell BS.

[BinaryRotary]

Doesnt th spec v have a solid beam rear axle? If it does ....... GARBAGE. Might as well buy a turbo dodge daytona with a new motor and tranni and save 14k.

[tkhawaii]

A totally stock 3 could wax tricked civics... done it already lol. Civics are SLOW!

... just my .02 ...

You go boieee.... LOL!

[03BlkMicaSPD]

Tonight I walked away on a 2003 SpecV in my Speed at stock boost, (No controller installed due to dealer visit) I have no other mods and he was stock. But I had 4 people in my car and he was alone. Look at the Sport Compact article that compared the MSP and SpecV and all the other $20000 compacts. SpecV was best at 15.9 and in 5th place, and the MSP was in 2nd under the insanely powerful SRT-4, and ran a 15.5. At 89 miles an hour, 4 tenths is a handful of car lengths... MSP driver counldnt drive if he was highly modded and got walked by a spec-v with just a header and exhaust. Hot Shots header adds around 8-10 HP, and full exhaust might give him 5 more. Backpressure is important on an NA car.

[03.5_Mazdaspeed]

You guys are joking right? You know how much of a fuck up it would take for a mazda3 to beat me? I mean it can happen no doubt, but highly unlikely. I ran a 15.2 stock. 14.5 with intake/header/exhaust and a 13.8 with nitrous. I got slips and videos and all if you wanna talk just IM me (OneFast03Sentra). Until then stop saying the best run in a spec v will be a 15.9, because my good friend ran a 15.9 in his stock auto ser. Thanks for being ignorant - Rob.

[03_ser_specv]

Lol sorry that was me. My g/f musta been posting here and I didnt check to see if I was logged in.

You guys are joking right? You know how much of a fuck up it would take for a mazda3 to beat me? I mean it can happen no doubt, but highly unlikely. I ran a 15.2 stock. 14.5 with intake/header/exhaust and a 13.8 with nitrous. I got slips and videos and all if you wanna talk just IM me (OneFast03Sentra). Until then stop saying the best run in a spec v will be a 15.9, because my good friend ran a 15.9 in his stock auto ser. Thanks for being ignorant - Rob.

[mikeyb]

You guys are joking right? You know how much of a fuck up it would take for a mazda3 to beat me? I mean it can happen no doubt, but highly unlikely. I ran a 15.2 stock. 14.5 with intake/header/exhaust and a 13.8 with nitrous. I got slips and videos and all if you wanna talk just IM me (OneFast03Sentra). Until then stop saying the best run in a spec v will be a 15.9, because my good friend ran a 15.9 in his stock auto ser. Thanks for being ignorant - Rob.
Hey OneFast03Sentra its nhblk03ser from the vboard. I forgot you two have an MSP.

[03_ser_specv]

damn right man (yippy) (nana) ... lol raced many times and driver's race all the time... i love how on mazda boards the mazdas are always faster. and go to a nissan board and the nissans are always faster. people love their car so much they get their head up in the clouds and dont realize the MSP = Spec V (with the spec having a little edge IMP) as far as straight line goes. Autocross the MSP will take the spec. Both are AWESOME cars and SOOOO much fun. actually I kinda like lauren's MSP more ;)

anywho, i would obviously love the spec more. neither of them are beauty queens, but the look of the spec grew on me (how weird huh). i kinda like the 5 door 3 better, the 4 door or whatever looks crappy as hell from the rear.

[03_ser_specv]

Also the MSP pull ALOT harder on the top end than a spec v would. My g/f dont get on it much after 80...and I was driving and asked her if I could see what I can bring it up to. I was watching the needle as went back 100 and was like , "well damn i hate spec v top end". Lol it was funny.

[mikeyb]

We had an 03 Protege5 which was traded for an 04 Miata LS 6speed. What an awesome car. The SE-R will be traded in an about year or two for a Mazda3.

[mikeyb]

Don't you think the interior in the MSP is better then the Sentras?

[03_ser_specv]

they make the new miata 6 speed? what the hell shows how much I know... that's pretty sweet man ive seen some quick ass miatas. and of course, they handle awesome.

[mikeyb]

they make the new miata 6 speed? what the hell shows how much I know... that's pretty sweet man ive seen some quick ass miatas. and of course, they handle awesome.
Its an option on the LS and standard on the MSP Miata.

[frenzy2223]

I had a 1993 Ford Probe GT before I got my Mazda 3s. My buddy has a 2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V. I could hang with him and even pull on him at higher speeds. I was not impressed with the performance of his car, but I do believe that he would beat my Mazda 3s.

[BinaryRotary]

they make the new miata 6 speed? what the hell shows how much I know... that's pretty sweet man ive seen some quick ass miatas. and of course, they handle awesome.
A MSP owns the Spec-V in every category, how are you going to say it has an advantage?

Also, they've had 6-speed Miatas for about 6 years now, its an option.

[03_ser_specv]

yes yes the msp is better in every aspect of the spec v you are soooo right (blah) what car do you drive again? oh yeah that's what i thought. getting a little biased aren't we? anyways, i know from experience and do believe that the spec is better than the msp as far as straight line (not much but still)...and without a doubt the msp is better for autcross.


EDIT: about the miata comment... like i said i dont know much about the car, good to know. no need to be a hardass about it.

[Replica]

I test drove an MSP and was pretty dissapointed for all the hype...

[03_ser_specv]

eh this wasnt suppose to be an MSP bashing thread man. i gave only but praise to it and i actually like it more than my spec v. dont know why that guy got so upset over nothing.

[mikeyb]

The one thing the SPECV has over the MSP is factory performance parts. Where are the Mazdaspeed parts at? The other day when I was buying my Miata I asked the parts department about Mazdaspeed performance parts for either the MSP or Miata and I was told that there is nothing available for them as of yet. Also you can only get MSP vehicles at a Mazdaspeed authorized dealer. What's up with that? That is just stupid. I guess its a Ford thing because you can only buy SVT vehicles at SVT authorized Ford dealers right?

[badAzLava3]

I already added by 2 cents about the Spec V and the MSP, both are good, and they are more the same than they are different.

Ford owns 34% of Mazda, so I don't see the total control thing our conspiracy theorists friends do....

Mazdaspeeds are awarded to only a few Mazda dealers, the ones that do the volume, and have a customer base to support the small but crazy few that plunk down big bucks to be different.

For example, Phoenix has 2 MS dealers out of 5 dealers with a population base of 2+ million folks.

Tucson, Prescott and Sorry Vista all have a Mazda dealer but do not have the kind of numbers to support a MS franchise. I think it also has something to do with available parts inventory, # of Mazda certified mechanics and customer happiness numbers.

Somebody's got to fix those things when the high boosteleros crank 20psi into a motor designed around 8psi.

To get the Mazda go fast parts, all you have to do is join Mazda Team support program through Mazda Competition Parts.

If you do the racing thing, all you have to do is fax them 2 sets of results from the last 6 months and you are golden.

Besides access to go fast parts, you also get a good discount on OE stuff and maintenance stuff.

Makes those car related dollars go a lot farther.

Not all Mazdaspeed parts cross pollinate with the other cars, so be careful and make sure what you want to get will fit on what you are using.

Nothing really out there for the Mazda 3's yet, but it's only a matter of time.

[Kain]

The Spec V is an awesome car. My friend had a black '03 Spec V, and I loved the low-range grunt. I didn't have a problem with the 6-speed (not every transmission is going to be Honda-slick, but as long as the gates aren't overly vague, it's fine with me). Also contrary to popular opinion, I actually like the exterior and interior of the Spec V (yes, the MSP looks better inside and out, but that doesn't make the Nissan ugly by any means). I also like available moonroof option, the price (a nicely-loaded Spec V can be had for $16k) and the support from NISMO.

Gotta do something about that torque steer, though. The car cries for a better limited slip differential; hell, the SRT-4 torque steered like a biatch before the addition of a beefy LSD.

[jkjersey]

I drove both the Spec V and Mazda 3 s in 4 door sedan

My friend owns a Spec V 04 and I just sat in on a close for a Mazda 3 S

If price is your only factor in buying the car sure the Spec V is your choice.

The Spec V is no where near as tight as a car as a Mazda 3 in handling ..
aside from lateral G numbers that may be posted in a magazine from my driving experience the Mazda 3 just inspires more confidence in the apex of a turns and wants to tear through it and go further.

In another aspect the interior dessimates the Spec Vs ...

Everything wraps around and looks much better than the plainer spec V interior and everything conforms around the driver nicer. The seats fabric felt smoother when you are wearing shorts and are similar to spec V seats but I enjoyed them better.

In the exterior aspect well
The Spec V has that hideous barren front waffle coned grill ...
I haven't seen many bodykits to hide that aspect of it.

The Mazda 3 conforms well with Mazda's intention to develop a branding (marketing strategy) to look similar with the Mazda6 and RX-8.

The altezza like lights however on the hatchs look a tad cheesy esp on the brighter colors . The black inset of the lenses looked better blended in on a sedan with a darker color painted car.

When it comes to the engine well....

I will bring up the statement in this thread that his car was capable of getting 13.8s 1/4 w. nitrous (spec V)

Now seriously my ride (undergoing conversion impreza) can do that all day long with AWD to boot in rally winning style if that 1/4 had turns in it ALONG with me messing up on launches to be in the high 13s and not in the mid-high 12s time . Now this is only in a track setting not mentioning on the street keeping the engine spooled in a good boost range on the road which would throw those numbers out the window with even more responsiveness and an edge over 99 percent of the cars that I can encounter on a drive out. All this with a stock turbo on the engine

you can see pics here
Link to pics if anyone cares to see (http://groups.msn.com/jersecrew/imprza.msnw)

Anyways MY MAJOR POINT is (i dont want this to turn into a pissing contest)
in the class of car your looking @ 15s range in 1/4 mile for both a spec V and mazda 3 s in STOCK form the slight speed advantage of the spec V is nothing to boast about. In real life a driver can change all of it and it would be fairly close. To be honest on the highway I would pick a VW to trick out over mostly any of the lesser expensive brands if you wanted a fast car. Like a GTI VR6... with wide phat gears that if you chip you can still be in 3rd gear doing like 95 mph.


If you are looking for a car that has it all and will make you smile when you drive and look @ it and get probably the same attention from the public about
get the mazda 3 once you drive both back to back you will know what I am talking about.

(crazy)

[Old school]

As usual jay you are all talk. First of all the 3 does not out handle the spec. Second, the spec is very tight. Third, the 3 is 24k and the spec is 17k duhhhh. Of course the 3 will have nicer styling. You know nothing. if you would remove your head from your friends ass for a minute you would see performance is all around the same. Good luck with your weak subura. Ill be sure to look for you in my rear view mirror.

[mp3mike05]

As usual jay you are all talk. First of all the 3 does not out handle the spec. Second, the spec is very tight. Third, the 3 is 24k and the spec is 17k duhhhh. Of course the 3 will have nicer styling. You know nothing. if you would remove your head from your friends ass for a minute you would see performance is all around the same. Good luck with your weak subura. Ill be sure to look for you in my rear view mirror.
a 24,000 dollar 3 comes with every imaginable option, they start at like 16,000 something and you can get a nicely equipped one for 18 grand..... so its not all that different in price than the spec v

[Old school]

He is not talking about a base model. The base model mazda 3 is ugly as hell. Might as well buy a Scion. Besides for 17k you get a hell of a alot more in the spec then the base mazda 3.

[Mazda3Zoomer]

i tried the specV. even with the slip differential, i felt it slipping into torque steer when you try to accelerate into a shaper curve and after about 70mph the back end fishtails abit in a sharp curve. it seems teh LSD gets abit to eager to move when the rest of the car isnt.

in the end, the specV flashes fancy numbers and features, but in a quarter mile, .1 of a second that the SpecV has over an Mz3 is easily lossed with a crappy driver. and the handling around snaking curves in a SpecV is less than solid as compared to the Mz3.

also, the shifting patterin the SpecV is werid. i cant explane it, but when u shift into 5th, im always afraid of going into to reverse for some reason..... the shifter also feels kinda cheap and not as crisp as the Mz3.

[rodslinger]

the shifting patterin the SpecV is werid. i cant explane it, but when u shift into 5th, im always afraid of going into to reverse for some reason......
Dont' know why... 5th is over and up, reverse is way over and down.

[dulog]

the 3 is 24k and the spec is 17k duhhhh. Of course the 3 will have nicer styling. You know nothing. if you would remove your head from your friends ass for a minute you would see performance is all around the same. Good luck with your weak subura. Ill be sure to look for you in my rear view mirror.


24k compared to 17k -- What are you talking about? Invoice for a Mazda3s with 17in wheels sport package, moon roof and 6cd changer is 17041. It's possible to beat invoice on the Mz3 too (I did). Tell us what you're putting on the Mazda3 to come up with this 24k price. I wonder if this 24k to 17k comparison you're making is because you loaded up the 3s with a bunch of pricey options that aren't available on the Spec V such as the nav system and sport-automatic transmission and then took the MSRP price. You may be able to get a Spec V for a little less than a Mz3 but it's not a 7k difference.

[Old school]

As for handling. The word floaty comes to mind with the mazda 3. Look, in the real world they both perform about the same, but the mazda 3 with at least the sport package does look better.

[Old school]

24k compared to 17k -- What are you talking about? Invoice for a Mazda3s with 17in wheels sport package, moon roof and 6cd changer is 17041. It's possible to beat invoice on the Mz3 too (I did). Tell us what you're putting on the Mazda3 to come up with this 24k price. I wonder if this 24k to 17k comparison you're making is because you loaded up the 3s with a bunch of pricey options that aren't available on the Spec V such as the nav system and sport-automatic transmission and then took the MSRP price. You may be able to get a Spec V for a little less than a Mz3 but it's not a 7k difference.
I dont know where you live , but base 3 is 17 k and more here.

[Kain]

I'm on the verge of trading in my Protege for an '04 Spec V. I loved Mazdas a lot, but there's a $2,000 rebate on the Spec, plus $500 for college grad. That's a lot of car for $15,500. If price wasn't an issue, I'd get the Mazda3s, but I'm going to have to roll the remainder of my current lien into my Nissan one, and I can't afford to do that at the Mazda3 price. If only there was a huge rebate!

Another big reason is a ton of aftermarket parts already available for the Spec V plus strong support from NISMO. Mazda and Mazdaspeed don't exactly have the strongest reputation for aftermarket tuner support.

[Replica]

I'm on the verge of trading in my Protege for an '04 Spec V. I loved Mazdas a lot, but there's a $2,000 rebate on the Spec, plus $500 for college grad. That's a lot of car for $15,500. If price wasn't an issue, I'd get the Mazda3s, but I'm going to have to roll the remainder of my current lien into my Nissan one, and I can't afford to do that at the Mazda3 price. If only there was a huge rebate!

Another big reason is a ton of aftermarket parts already available for the Spec V plus strong support from NISMO. Mazda and Mazdaspeed don't exactly have the strongest reputation for aftermarket tuner support.I think you'll change your mind after a test drive. The spec-v was very dissapointing.

[Kain]

I think you'll change your mind after a test drive. The spec-v was very dissapointing.Actually, just the opposite. I brought home today an '04 Spec V. Traded in my '03 Protege for it. The differences are incredible. I don't race, but I wanted quick transportation that would be fun to drive to work and take on road trips. Thus, I live under 3500 rpm, and that's where it counts with this car. No 1st or 2nd gear hesitation, no lackluster acceleration from 1500 rpm, like in my Pro. I love the torque in this car, and you learn how to reign in that torque steer pretty quickly.

Everything else is a step up for me, with the exception of the dash/console area in terms of looks. There are tons more usable storage compartments in the Sentra compared to the Protege, and even the rear seat cupholders are a plus for me.

Now keep in mind I'm comparing the Spec V to my old Protege LX. If there was a brand new, non-yellow Mazdaspeed Protege going for $15,500 near me, I would probably have gone with it. But there isn't. So I didn't. So for that price, I got the next best thing.

Oh, and this was a showroom car, so they took out the shift knob to prevent theft. They couldn't find the stock shift knob, so they installed a sweet carbon fiber NISMO knob instead... for FREE. It makes shifting worlds better than the stocker. Gotta love that NISMO support. :)

[Replica]

I was just not impressed with those Spev V's. The build quality was nowhere near what my P5 is. The only thing the spec did better was go slightly faster in a straight line. The dealer let me take it to a straightaway behond the dealership, I was trying so hard to like the car, but the speed was just not there for me. I was ready to throw down some cash for it too. Maybe I need to test another one, I saw a white 03 on the way to work. I dunno, for the money, Prelude > Spec V

[Kain]

Did you test drive an '02? Nissan completely changed the gear ratios for the '03 and '04.

A lot of things about the Spec V impressed me over my Protege, but I think what really clinched the deal was the 6th gear. From the moment I bought my Protege, I instantly hated the 5th-gear drone at 4000 rpm on the highway. Not only was I doing 80mph in under 3000 rpm in the Spec, but I could pass in 6th, as well. The raspy engine in the Pro just about did me in during my many 4+ hour road trips. I love the throaty sound of the Nissan.

I'll still be here on these forums, though. I really don't care for the crowd at The V Board or B15, plus I gotta keep my ear close to the ground for the Mazdaspeed 3. Might be able to afford it in 3 years or so. :)

[Replica]

The 6spd didn't really impress me. The gears felt so tall that it could have been a 5 spd. I tested an '03.

Did you do that cat recall yet? Get ready to lose some power...

The Spec's do sound REALLY cool when that second intake runner opens though. But it doesn't pull harder when it happens...

I think the specs are neat, just not the car for me. It's probably a great step forward from a regular protege. The hotshot header is awesome for the spec-v's, be sure to get one. :)

[Kain]

Yeah, I understand how this car wouldn't be for everyone. It just does everything that I need and want in a car for a bargain price.

Thanks for the heads up on the CAT recall. I'll be sure to avoid that one...

I think after I put in an aftermarket HU and reinstall the amp/sub that I had in my Pro, I'm going to go with a header. The general consensus in the Spec community that I've heard so far is that a header is one of the best performance mods for the $$.

[Replica]

Yeah, I understand how this car wouldn't be for everyone. It just does everything that I need and want in a car for a bargain price.

Thanks for the heads up on the CAT recall. I'll be sure to avoid that one...

I think after I put in an aftermarket HU and reinstall the amp/sub that I had in my Pro, I'm going to go with a header. The general consensus in the Spec community that I've heard so far is that a header is one of the best performance mods for the $$.Well, the cat recall saves the motor. The precats have been coming apart and the peices have been getting in the motor and somehow breaking it. There's quite a bit about the cat recalls on the Spec boards. Some people lost power, some people didn't even notice a change. I dunno...something to read up on.

The header rocks! Alot more power in that last 1500 rpm. It also might help you avoid doing the cat recall because the precat that is messed up is in the stock exhaust manifold that you'd be replacing. Anyway, I'm not a spec-v guy, so take all of this with a grain of salt.(doh)

[Kain]

After doing some research on that CAT recall, there's are two VIN ranges for '04s that should go in for the recall. '04s outside this VIN ranges already have it done. I checked my VIN against the recall and mine is outside both ranges. I'll still call service and/or Nissan USA just in case.

[razorblade kiss]

I think Spec-V's are very very ugly.

[Kansei]

the joint with Ford's focus platform may sound ick, but it's honestly SUPER solid, and the king of thing that billions of dollars were invested in to make work right.
Call it a joint platform with volvo and it sounds much better.

From what I remember volvo wanted in on the 3 and new focus platform for the s40 but the mazda chassis wasn't safe enough for volvo's taste so a different one was made. please don't call it ford it makes me wanna die! (my last car was a "mazda" B4000 http://members.cardomain.com/clauretano).

Back on topic, i'd go for the mazdaspeed if you could find one (I heard there are only 4 left nationwide) but I'd still take the 3 over the se-R. Solid rear suspension yuck! Also I can't stand the new styling on the SE-R, it looks like a sentra with fog lights now, it was a much nicer look in the older ones. All I keep hearing is that they really can't handle that well, they are more of a straightline car (a la Altima 3.5SE where it's hella fast but can't handle all that well).

[Kain]

Ya know, I heard a lot about the Spec V sucks at this and the Spec V sucks at that, but honestly, after putting 200+ miles on it in the last day, I can tell most of what you "hear" to be rumors that snowballed out of hand, like "My cuzin Ray Ray heard from Tommy who heard from his old college roommate... no, not that one, the one who dropped out... who heard from..." (blah)

My Spec V handles likes it's on rails. There's an offramp a mile from my house that I used to take at 30 mph that'd squeal the hell out of my tires. In my Spec today, I took it at close to 60 mph, and it felt so confidence-inspiring, I probably could've hit the turn at 75.

In one thread, someone was saying the turning radius was horrid compared to the Protege, like it was an SUV. Um, I made several U-turns today around bends that I couldn't make in my Pro.

People need to actually drive these cars through city streets, over hills and on the highway for a couple hundred miles first so they can make an honest assessment.

[rodslinger]

Ya know, I heard a lot about the Spec V sucks at this and the Spec V sucks at that, but honestly, after putting 200+ miles on it in the last day, I can tell most of what you "hear" to be rumors that snowballed out of hand, like "My cuzin Ray Ray heard from Tommy who heard from his old college roommate... no, not that one, the one who dropped out... who heard from..." (blah)

My Spec V handles likes it's on rails. There's an offramp a mile from my house that I used to take at 30 mph that'd squeal the hell out of my tires. In my Spec today, I took it at close to 60 mph, and it felt so confidence-inspiring, I probably could've hit the turn at 75.

In one thread, someone was saying the turning radius was horrid compared to the Protege, like it was an SUV. Um, I made several U-turns today around bends that I couldn't make in my Pro.

People need to actually drive these cars through city streets, over hills and on the highway for a couple hundred miles first so they can make an honest assessment.
I'll agree. I have a 03 Spec-V and am pleased with it. It isn't as refined as my 3s Sedan but it is fun to drive. The torque makes it a pleasure in traffic as it minimizes shifting. I can go all day doing 1st-3rd-6th gear skip shifts and keep up with the flow. Get some killer gas mileage driving that way also.

[Topher]

sorry to threadjack, but rodslinger...you need to come to our meets...there's a link in my sig.

[Kain]

The torque makes it a pleasure in traffic as it minimizes shifting. I can go all day doing 1st-3rd-6th gear skip shifts and keep up with the flow. Get some killer gas mileage driving that way also.
I used to skip gears quite a bit in my Pro in an attempt to get better gas mileage, but I still ended up getting 21-22 mpg, with 75% city driving. It's the fact that I had to rev hard and high just to keep up. Mileage in brand-new cars is usually lower than average, but I've been getting 25+ mpg so far in the Spec, and that's with some spirited driving, mostly city.

[razorblade kiss]

The MZ3 is a much classier car. The interior is gorgeous, the body styling (imho) is very sexy looking. The manual tranny shifts like an absolute dream, and the handeling is damn good for the price. It's not a car your going to see everywhere, and neither is the Sentra but the MZ3 is more rare. I've not seen one in my town yet. I would take the MZ3 over the Sentra Spec V anyday. And I did. I took the MZ3 over the Celica, Sentra, and MSP. And trust me this isnt biased, just because I own one doesnt mean I would try to sway someone else into buying one. I made the right choice. And alot of people around here (where I live) seem to agree.

[Replica]

There's a ton of 3's in houston.

[razorblade kiss]

theres more spec-v's though.

[Replica]

theres more spec-v's though.It's soooo rare that i see a spec...(scratch)

[mikeyb]

The Sentra SE-R has a poor turning radius. I see alot of SE-Rs and Spec-Vs everywhere and its sad I know most of the owners. As for seeing Mz3s I don't see to many. It might because the closest dealers are 30 minutes away from my house. The 3 Mazda dealers in my area don't even sell Mazdaspeeds.

[stingfish]

Give it another 2-3 months and the MZ3S will be running 14 second 1/4 mile times with bolt-ons.

I recently spoke to Focus Central (they make performance parts for the 2.3L PZEV based Ford Focus)... the 2.3L focus with a base of 145hp + $1k in bolt-on parts are dishing out low/mid 14 second 1/4 mile times. Focus Central already has a 3S and they're slapping on thier parts (that fit) and they say their saying the results look promising.

I've owned a lot of cars and they've all been pretty much worked... but I've learned there will always be someone faster. I've settle for a little more refinement this time around and I really think I've found it in the 3S. It's quick - with plenty of potential and it doesn't look like a jelly bean on wheels.

Sorry man - that Spec-V is butt ugly.

[PMPJUICE25]

I Think The Spec V Is A Fast Enough Car Coming Out Of The Dealer But You Pay For What You Get Or You Can Pay For The Respect Cause You Did It Yourself With The Mazda 3. It All Depends On Time And Money. Fast Now Or Later.

[dmitrik4]

get the mazda. i prefer the 5-door. the specV is quick in a straight line, but in the end, it's a cheap car w/ a big engine. and it's not a particularly good autoX car either.

for $20k, get a used WRX or RSX-S. both quicker, better looking, better handling and higher quality than a SpecV. and the Acura, at least, will run forever. and get 30mpg.

[dulog]

and the Acura, at least, will run forever.

Not sure what to think of cars with sky high reputations for reliablity after having many problems with a 91 Toyota Camry years ago. Since then I've wondered how much brand perception affects people's input on consumer survey's (or their chance of even filling one out). This was on another thread concerning a Subura, but it lists the the Acura RSX pretty darn high.
lemonade? (http://www.lemonlaw.com/lemonlist.html)
I'm not sure what to think of this list. I take all this stuff with a grain of salt. I wouldn't count on all Acura/Honda's on being able to run forever though.

[Replica]

197,000 out of my silly honda. I'd buy another.

[Topher]

i had 250K on my accord...didn't change the oil for 90K miles (drain plug stripped)...still ran like a peach.

[dulog]

This is pretty funny. I wasn't trying to knock Honda, Acura or Toyota for that matter. I've heard my share of testimonials, but still I just don't expect everything they build to be made of gold.

[dmitrik4]

agreed. every model is going to have a few duds. that's just reality. and the problems are likely going to be more frequent w/ a new model.

OTOH, companies don't get reputations out of thin air. the reality can certainly change, and it takes time for a reputation (good or bad) to catch up. look at VW w/ reliability (compare to the opposite situation– GM). look at subaru w/ performance.

also, the list doesn't explain what sort of complaints these were. having owned an RSX-S, and w/ a few friends w/ WRX's, i can speculate (such as, "i never drove a 6-speed before. why did it downshift into 2nd instead of 4th and rev my engine to 11,000?" "what do you mean i can't clutch drop my WRX at 7000rpm?")

also, having heard many of the owners' complaints, it sounded like a lot of people thought they were buying a bentley instead of a $23,000 car...like there should be parades in honor of how much money they spent.

that said, my old protege was trouble-free at 225,000 miles. i actually have never had a problem w/ any car i've owned.

until the lumpy idle on my '02 protege. :(

and the SpecV still feels like a chea car w/ a big engine. ;)

[Bail Brother]

In the Road and Track: Speed comparo that just came out, the Spec V with Nismo springs and shocks and Nismo front sway bar smoked just about every other car, including the SRT-4. It got 2nd, Mazdaspeed got like 5th place. Celica GTS with some extra parts got 1st. Focus got 3rd and Neon got 4th.

Even with those extra parts the Spec V's price was still about the same as the SRT-4 and MSP. (about $21k).

(Only warrantied upgrades were allowed, which most car companiest don't have).

[03_ser_specv]

eh...id have to feel it to believe it...ive been on both cars numerous times and the MSP handles insanely compared to my V

[Bail Brother]

A Nismo S-Tune Spec V would crush a stock Spec V on a track. R-Tune even worse. Makes a huge difference. The Nismo stuff is definitely worth the money if you ever mod your V's suspension.

[Kain]

That same article Bail Brother mentioned also says that had their test NISMO S-tune Spec V come with the Brembo brake package, it just might have overtaken the TRD Celica GT-S and placed 1st in that comparo.

NISMO R-tune parts can make the Spec V a very scary car, but it's for track duty only and can void your warranty.

[Mazda3Zoomer]

eh...id have to feel it to believe it...ive been on both cars numerous times and the MSP handles insanely compared to my V

at least someone's being honest and not being taken by the fancy numbers

[Hoeboe2k]

[QUOTE=dmitrik4]look at VW w/ reliability (compare to the opposite situation– GM).[QUOTE]

I don't understand (dunno) . Current GM and current VW are about the same reliability wise. Although GM doesn't have stupid engineering eccentricities such as having bolts instead of studs to hold the wheel and a stupid and hard to use spark plug tool that my friend's GTI VR6 has. Not to mention now it's running only on 5 cylinders and it's not like he beats it. If anything he babies it which is why he swore of VW's forever. Maybe it's a lemon but I don't really think so because it was fine for 80 k miles.

However for the MSP vs. Spec V, the MSP is much more desirable but of course more expensive. The MSP imo looks better inside and out, handles better, shifts better, has exclusivety (sp?), and I love turbo motors. The spec v i think isn't a bad car but I much rather have other cars than it.

<edit>I also rather have the 3 over the spec V because the spec v maybe faster but not by that much. The 3 also has a slick shifter, with pretty good handling to boot, looking the business, and look at that interior. Is this really a econo car cause it doesn't look suck.

[tkhawaii]

I've been looking for a new year for awhile now. I was leaning toward the SE-R Spec V (175HP 185torque) because they have a $2000 cash back promotion, which drop the price to $14,000 (My friend got $15,600 out the door price in US, California). Anyways, Since they lower the Cash back now ($1500 now), I've been looking around for other options. The Mazda 3 seems to be a good choice after reading through tons of reviews.

So what you guys think? How does the two compare(Pros/Cons)? If you were given a choice to own one of these car, which one would you go for?

So, now that this thread is starting to take on a life of it's own with VW, GM, Nismo products, Chrysler items, TRD toyotas... and all getting into the foray... UCD - did you buy your car yet? And if you did, what did you buy?
(wiggle)

[ProtegeES03]

Anyone have opinions on the ralliart lancer vs these cars?

[shaundarbie]

I had a comment or two on the handling differences between the Spec V and the 3. I've only driven a 3, and only sat in a Spec V, but I'm having a hard time seeing how the Spec V would be a better handler. I realize it's just magazine stats, but did you guys know that the 3s 5-door pulled the same MPH through the slalom as the RX-8, effectively trouncing the Spec V? Another impressive stat (if not more so) was the 25 ft. or so braking advantage from 60 mph that the 3 has over the Spec V (in fact, the 3 stops a foot shorter than the RX-8!!! All this for a $17k economical sedan!). My next car was supposed to be a 6, but the 3 just keeps looking better... :)

BTW, the highest sticker price I've seen on a 3 was a bit over $18k, as it had leather, ATX, and just about every option you can think of. Nowhere near that $24k someone quoted...

[cortez]

I had a comment or two on the handling differences between the Spec V and the 3. I've only driven a 3, and only sat in a Spec V, but I'm having a hard time seeing how the Spec V would be a better handler. I realize it's just magazine stats, but did you guys know that the 3s 5-door pulled the same MPH through the slalom as the RX-8, effectively trouncing the Spec V? Another impressive stat (if not more so) was the 25 ft. or so braking advantage from 60 mph that the 3 has over the Spec V (in fact, the 3 stops a foot shorter than the RX-8!!! All this for a $17k economical sedan!). My next car was supposed to be a 6, but the 3 just keeps looking better... :)

BTW, the highest sticker price I've seen on a 3 was a bit over $18k, as it had leather, ATX, and just about every option you can think of. Nowhere near that $24k someone quoted...
3 words about the Spec V: Limited Slip Differential.

[Kain]

It's interesting when people talk about the Spec V's braking that they need to clarify which package it has:

1) 4-wheel disc
2) 4-wheel disc with ABS
3) 4-wheel Brembo brakes with 12" rotors

There's a lot of debate in Spec circles about the value of the Brembo brake package, but the numbers are hard to argue: the non-Brembo with ABS stops shorter than the Brembos, though auto-x'ers say the Brembos show less fade lap after lap.

And yes, LSD. :)

[speedhawaii]

spec v and throw a body kit on