Well I trusted the fuel gauge on the MS3 moreso then the EVO but I would say at least 150km+ over the evo in fuel. I get on average 300km (270-320) out of a tank on the evo with mixed driving (mostly highway, lots of passing semi's etc but in 5th gear) opposed to about 500+ in the MS3 with more downshifts. This made an impact for me cause I work a 6 day cycle with a 60km or so round trip/day. With the mazda I could make it the full cycle with w/o refueling, not so with the evo.

The stock powerband on the evo is much better and easier to drive then the mazda. Even more of a difference with mods as far as usable power is concerned.

The evo is way more fun to drive. I too am also a sucker for AWD since most of my driving is in the winter. You just feel more connected to the car when driving the evo, even with all its fancy electronics.

The parts are a little cheaper since there is more of them. The community is bigger and there is just more available for it as far as aftermarket/support etc go. The biggest downfall to me personally was the gas and the Mitsu service.

I went to a great mazda dealership that took care of my every need. Obviously not so at mitsu. I can deal with the extra fuel consumption, thats what I expect for 2 more driven wheels and AWD and a much wider powerband.

 

good point on the dealership experience, my mazda dealer is mod friendly and have always taken care of me. the mitsu dealership near me seems like they could care less about you even when i was/am shopping to buy an evo right now.

 

Ya, I haven't had my car back to the dealership (knock on wood), so I can't really comment on their service.

I really like the idea of getting an evo x. Though I really wish the gsr had a 6-speed.

 

I thought that was going to be a big issue too, but it is really not that big of a deal.

 

^ ya, it is just most of my commute is at 65+ mph... Guess this could force me to stay closer to the speed limit of 60mph.

 

i sold my MS3 for my new EVO, and its totally worth it for me.

 

OP, I currently have an 08.5 mazdaspeed 3...it's bone stock now but I use to be fully bolted on minus exhaust manifold and tune....it was a beast to drive...I also had some 255's stuffed on there which is very rare for mazdaspeed 3s....that thing handled like a monster in the canyons

but I am planning to move on to another car...I can't stand reading the mazdapseed 3 forums about people blowing their engines every week or so....after being in the ms3 game for 2 years...I've concluded a few things about the MS3 platform....

1. Engines blow (whether bone stock or highly modified)...There is probably over 100 reported cases of blown engines on the forums...and I bet a ton more that aren't reported on forums
2. Turbos smoke (mine never did, even with cpe catless downpipe, but I'm sure it will later...mazda turbos are shi*ty as fu*k)
3. Engine performance is stuck at 300whp...this is the safe limit...anything above this and you are playing with fire

I'm looking at the 370z and also the EVO X as my new car....I'm leaning towards the EVO X because of the AWD and turbo...I absolutely love how turbos react to modifications....but I just need to know a few things in regards to the EVO X platform

Can the EVO X handle high hp and high boost safely? I definitely don't consider the MS3 a safe platform after 300whp...and it just seems like every week I'm seeing someone blow their engine on the forums...is it the same with the EVO X? My goal is to hit 350-400whp on the EVO X....can this be achieved without engine rebuilding? Can this be achieved with the stock evo turbo?

Any input would be great...thanks again

 

Just to comment really quickly here: what's really ****ed up is that people with STOCK MOTORS are having them explode.

There was a case (last year?) around here of a guy that put a BOV + Intake on his Speed6. When he took it into the dealer to get it serviced, they marked on his paperwork that he had an aftermarket wastegate (which in and of itself is retarded, because they have internal wastegates). Long story short, he complained and they said they took it off his car's warranty record...until his motor grenaded itself. They never paid for his motor replacement, and he was out a ****ton of cash.

What kills me is you can spend ~$5k on a Speed and get maybe 100hp (and risk blowing **** up), or you can spend about half that on an Evo, get the same power and not wait for your motor to explode.

And don't get me started on the smoking turbo...I think Mazda finally admitted it was their problem, but the problem is it doesn't really present itself until you put an exhaust on (which, according to Mazda, voids the warranty). I wonder how many Speeds are driving around with ****ed up turbo seals that don't know it because the cat is eating all the oil smoke?

 

Look at it this way, can the MS3 run 11's on a stock turbo, block, stock everything with minimal bolt-ons(whatver you see minimal as) and street TIRES. GO run 11's, and then when your done go for more fun go tear up the other track(auto-x etc.). Basically EVO X > MS3.

 

this is what is interests me...i know the stock evo x is not fast...but i heard its heavily detuned from the factory and has lots of potential...what I AM concerned about is evo x engine reliability...from researching the forums for a week now, it seems like the 4b11t is reliable and only a few cases of blown engines...

hopefully someone can step in and confirm the reliability...because THAT is the main thing i'm looking for...reliability WITH MODS...

 

Obviously I'm not an Evo owner, but I know the later gen 4G63's were ****ing bullet proof. I would imagine that the 4B11's are along those same lines. At leaast, I haven't heard many stories of motors exploding. Nothing like the Mazda nightmare, anyhow.

Good to see another Mazda owner making the switch ^_^

 

Do a search there are people making 500whp on completely stock engines, and these are people using these cars as DD and as WW and belive me they go through a TON of abuse, remember 4b11 is the second 4g63, it has a LOT to live up to.

 

I have over 320 WHP and have about 8,000 track miles and the thing has been a tank (Knock on wood), many of these days in 90+ degree, muggy heat. I have been nothing short of impressed with how reliable this car is.

 

Great to see some other ms3 folks looking to make the switch and confirming what I know about the ms3.

The more I think about it, the more I think the evo x will be my next car. Probably going to wait until spring though, but who knows. I am wondering when the heck the 2010's are going to come out in Canada - curious to see what has changed from the Canadian 2009 model.

 

Another thing I thought of today while driving my car (raining so I can't ride).

The sound system in Mazdas is embarassingly awful. I remember I had an old Ford Escort when I was in college. The OEM speakers in that thing (combined with an OK head unit that I bought) were 10x better than the "Bose" piece of ****ing garbage that's in my Speed. That's probably one of my biggest gripes.

OP, did you get the VVT tick? That's another fun one that Mazda is FINALLY admitting to.