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Mazdaspeed 3 vs. WRX
"In this day and age, power comes at a premium. From pricey electric bills and rolling blackouts to rising oil prices and $3-a-gallon gasoline, power and the means by which we obtain it have become especially costly. For the typical American buyer who's out to purchase a new car, the average transaction price now hovers around $29,000. Finance that debt over five years at a reasonable 6.0-percent interest rate, and you're looking at roughly $560 per month. Ouch. So if you want some muscle under the hood but don't want to empty the bank account, what can you do?

Happy to say there are some rides out there that offer maximum muscle for minimal moola. These mini-musclecars deliver levels of power and performance that belie their pennywise price tags. In this frugal and fast field, no two vehicles deliver more bang for the buck than the veteran Subaru WRX and the newcomer Mazdaspeed3. The rally-bred all-wheel-drive WRX received significant upgrades for 2006--notably a 230-horsepower turbocharged flat-four--while the all-new front-drive Mazdaspeed3 has entered the arena with a force-fed inline-four whose direct injectors help kick out 263 horses. Best of all, they both start for under $25,000. To find out which one is best at terrorizing the tarmac, we subjected both vehicles to the hilly roads and commuter highways in and around Los Angeles as well as a full day at the test track, the latter including myriad laps on a demanding autocross. Which electrifying econobox delivers the strongest current for the least currency? " Read Article



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02WRX02WRX - 11/12/2006 11:07:59 AM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
The WRX is definitely in need of a power boost for the redesign. That said, I'm not sure I could actually bring myself to buy a FWD "performance" car, regardless of how well the magazines claim it handles.

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S4cabriofoxS4cabriofox - 11/12/2006 12:14:33 PM
+4 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
That's what the STi is for.

The STi and the Evo are easily the best bargains in the world- $30K for cars that can go from 0-60mph in under five seconds, that have kart-like handling.


audiotaudiot - 11/12/2006 1:20:42 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
A few of the less fawning reviewers of the Mazdaspeed 3 have noted the torque-steer. The reason you'd get it anyway is that price, no? I'm wondering if you can even get one for MSRP. Does anyone have a Mazdaspeed 3?


huu76huu76 - 11/12/2006 12:27:56 PM
+2 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
I'd pick the WRX for the AWD, but wish it had a leather option. Looks better than the Mazda3 also, even with the new nose.

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mstangpny07mstangpny07 - 11/12/2006 12:47:24 PMView My AgentSpace
+4 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
It does! They tested the TR, a equipment removal model. The standard WRX has a leather option, and I think there is a limited package w/ leather.
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