[ Background music ] >> Take the lowly Mazda 3, give it the heart of a lion, the green of an idiot and a suspension that just plain sticks now you've got a Mazda Speed 3. Let's light it up and check the tech. ^M00:00:17 [ Music ] ^M00:00:21 [ background music ] >> Velocity red is what they call this color, that fits but in these circum spec times just being a little red hot rod is not enough to draw the crowd you used to get. Let's see how it all fits together. Now the first thing you notice in this guy is that we've got the tech package and that little itty bitty nav screen up there is the main stage as small as it may be. It's a limited navigation system but you know over time I've found I kind of liked it. There's something kind of Spartan about it and good enough. Now yes it is small, a little too small to be able to resolve a lot of detail but it's functional for just basic directions. You got this controller right here on the wheel and that's about all you've got to work with that makes things a little frustrating. It's not a touch screen which is a good thing cause you have to have arms 9 feet long to get to it and there's no other kind of controller, this is not part of that screen just for the audio. Now onto the audio system we have a 6 disk in dash CD and MP3 disk changer right here and of course as I mentioned we've got Sirius satellite radio. Aux refers to our aux jack here in the console. No USB port on this guy but we do have not just Bluetooth hands free but also A2DP stereo Bluetooth streaming that's nice. The output side of our audio system is Bose branded 242 watts, 10 speakers, synthetic surround ability and it makes a lot of sound that I think is generally good it doesn't do magic with crunched sources like satellite radio but they sound pretty good and also in that tech package includes a advanced keyless system, push button start, perimeter alarm around the car. All in all it's pretty good package. Now of course a big part of the story on a Mazda's speed is the part that gives you the speed of the motor. 2.3 liter inline 4 turbo charged, intercooled duh that's what this big piece of toast is up here and that inner cooler breaths through a large functional hood scoop very WARXish right there on top of the schnaz [assumed spelling]. Your output is real nice horsepower, 280 foot pounds of torque. 0-60 is like a mid 6 to a low 6 number for most reviewers and 18/25 MPG. By the way part of the technology that makes us all work so well is direct injection and direct spark technology. Now to get that power out to a front wheel drive car no all wheel drive here they've applied all of the torque management technology in the world. You've got equal length output shafts, you've got a limited slip differential and you got something called Mazda active Torque management. ^M00:02:46 [ Music ] ^M00:02:51 >> Emission scores are just mid pack: 6 on global warming and a 5 on smog. The only gear box choice is a 6-speed manual which is good but it's neither the shortest throne or the most positive engagement I've driven this year and all that anti torque steer stuff doesn't really work. Yeah it does wonders considering this is a little car with 280 foot pounds going out to the front wheels but hang on because anywhere near this cars 15 pounds of available boost can easily send the front wheels looking this way and that especially if the pavements not really smooth. Add to that a steering rack that really seeks center all the time and you've got a handful under steam. That said the rest of this cars handling is nicely sorted, almost mid engine like. This car turns in like it's mounted on some kind of invisible axis. While the Mazda Speed 3 makes a fool of cars like the GTI in terms of power cars like the GTI make fools of this Mazda in terms of looks. This is not a vehicle you'll be comfortable being seen in over the age of 30. Ok let's price this 2010 Mazda Speed 3. Stop grinning at me. $24,000 base. That includes all the sporty toys. Now the tech toys require the tech package for 1895, it's a pretty good deal. Think of what you get: Navigation and upgraded audio plus some other doodads in there. So yeah the navigation's small but it's functional. The Bose center point system. 10 speakers, 242 watts, the 6-disk in dash changer. You've got an MP3 kit ability there as well plus the perimeter alarm, the advanced keyless go system, that's quite a bit for 1900 bucks. Normally you pay that for nav alone. Now we are missing a few technology interfaces here like iPod, like HD radio but you're gonna do ok with the Bluetooth streaming to make up for it. It's a mixed bag but it's not bad for an econo hot shot. [ Music ]
