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2007 Mazdaspeed3 Grand Touring w/Performance Accessories Road Test

Though not scientifically proven, speed (velocity, not only amphetamines) is anaddictive substance. Once you get a whiff of this weightless, invisible, immaterial stuff, there's a good chance that there'll be no turning back. Some are even hooked on it for life, a condition that has resulted in terms like “speed freak” or “speed demon”.

Luckily, there are some manufacturers that embrace speed, and create vehicles that are capable of delivering bigger and stronger hits of it. Nevertheless, the factory metered doses are often times insufficient to satisfy cravings, which is when addicts take things into their own hands. For those with deep pockets, tuning brand new vehicles to deliver the goods can be a thrill. I, myself, relish the idea of wedging the Mazda RX-8's RENESIS rotary engine, complete with turbochargers into the new MX-5, and who doesn't enjoy reading about the latest high-end tuner project from Europe or news of someone shoehorning a high-strung V8, V10 or even V12 into the engine bay of a compact car? But realistically speaking, not everyone is willing to turn their daily driver into a science

Comin' at ya: Mazdaspeed3 is incredibly quick.. and even feels quicker with Mazdaspeed accessories. (Photo: Steven James Day, American Auto Press)

experiment, especially since such modifications often cost more than the original price of the car and, potentially worse, void the warranty.

That's where Mazdaspeed comes into play, and not because they're the folksbehind the brand's latest project, the clinically insane Mazdaspeed3, but for the parts that they've made to further enhance the “speed” of its products, be it in a straight line or around corners. The particular car you see here comes with the new cold air intake, performance exhaust system and lowering spring kit, not to mention a rather large vinyl windshield banner to let the world know that this Mazdaspeed3 isn't stock.

Just the same, this car looks like a regular Mazdaspeed3 (which by the way looks fabulous in this shade of bloodlust red)

Same wheels, but overall this car rides slightly lower. You can tell the difference right away when you're driving around as the ride is much firmer and flatter. (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, American Auto Press)

but it sits a little lower with special springs and dampers designed to completely eradicate body roll and lean. Mazda didn't need to offer extra cladding or skirts as the 'Speed3 comes with everything you need to make a loud first impression, including a great big rear spoiler that mounts to the rear edge of the roof and a rather fake-looking rear diffuser that's got a nice, big cut out for the canon of an exhaust. For the most part, the Mazdaspeed3 does a fairly good job at replicating a tastefully tuned Mazda3, which in all intents and purposes is a good thing.

Right out of the box, no accessories attached, the Mazdaspeed3 is maniacal, a world apart in quickness from hot hatchbacks like the GTI and Cooper S, and more so will easily distance itself from a regular Impreza WRX. Unlike the WRX, all that power has to go through the frontwheels, and you can bet that Mazda's engineers weren't

Torque steer is contained very well, despite the fact that this is a very, very powerful front-wheel drive car. (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, American Auto Press)

oblivious to the symptoms of too much power through the wheels that turn. It'll automatically lighten your lead foot in the first two gears by limiting the torque and easing onto the turbocharger's boost to limit torque steer and wheel spin. It works too; its tugs are less violent and dramatic than I first imagined. Best of all, the system's natural activity doesn't annoy with flashing ESP lights.

But talk to any tuner, and there's always room for improvement in any factory-fresh car, even if it's been tinkered with by corporate engineers. The Mazdaspeed accessorized Mazdaspeed3, complete with its cold air intake, is even wilder, faster, and more unruly. Why? That's hard to say. The fact of the matter is that it might not be head and shoulders above the stock Mazdaspeed3 in terms of performance, but it feels that way. The megaphone exhaust masks everything but the whooshing sound of the intake, the hiss of the turbo and the volume of the wind tearing as the Mazda cuts through it. I imagine an F6 tornado and a hurricane mating would sound a little something like

Breathing is important! Cold air intake and exhaust make the MS3 louder, but quicker. This is a view most people should get used to seeing. (Photo: Steven James Day, American Auto Press)

this. We didn't run the car with the accessories on a dyno, but there is a noticeable difference in the amount of shove that the turbocharged four gives in the upper ranges of the power band that is otherwise absent from the regular model.

In between those very rapid bursts of acceleration, Mazda has also addressed the car's need to corner. What you'll find when you order a set of over the counter Mazdaspeed springs and dampers for this car is that body roll simply doesn't exist. It's been factored completely out of the equation and leaves you upright and in control of the car at all times. It's a bit of a shame then that the steering, while as sharp as a tack, doesn't offer much by the way of feedback. That might have something to do with it being electrically assisted and the amount of trickery that went into ensuring that the steering wheel didn't communicate torque steer. In any case, corners are fun – slightly out of control when you get on the gas a little early – but not as fun as they otherwise could've been. Hard acceleration, such as passing and showing off is much more entertaining.

Besides the addictive nature of boost, there are some side effects

The engine bay is packed. The silver tube on the right side is the cold air intake. (Photo: Steven James Day, American Auto Press)

that you should be aware of when purchasing these components. I have come to the conclusion that the Mazdaspeed accessorized Mazdaspeed3 is incompatible with slow. It doesn't understand the concept of taking it easy, and doesn't like school zones and residential areas. And you can bet it does not workat all with rush hour traffic. I had the general misfortune of driving one to and from a far-away destination on the Friday afternoon of a long weekend, which put me in a very sour mood.

Though it's better than the Mazdaspeed6, the clutch on the 3 is snatchy, and hard to modulate. The shifter balks from gear to gear, requiring a strong and decisive hand ... it makes you wonder how Mazda could get it so right with the MX-5 and RX-8 yet so wrong on this one. A short shifter kit with new bushings and linkages would mark a great improvement. Generally speaking, this car is miserable to drive under these conditions, especially if you're in a bad mood from commuting in gridlock in the first place. Several times, I just wanted to get out, leave it there and walk. Other criticisms that I feel I'm too eager to hurl at it are with regards to actual comfort levels. The ride is like a basset hound puppy, sniffing out every last rut, pothole and streetcar track in order to make the car as completely unbearable as possible. After an hour, let alone three, I'm

If you can take it, the Mazdaspeed3 with accessories is a blast to drive. (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, American Auto Press)

surprised that any appendages didn't get shaken off my torso. It'sas if the driver and four other occupations weren't even considered during the testing. Oh, and the exhaust is so loud, the dead might ask you to slow things down a little.

Then again, the second that there's any sign of free space on the road ahead, you forget it all. The entire time you're sitting around, the Mazdaspeed3 drops less than subtle hints, egging you on to mash the gas at every opportunity, even if it's the tiniest of gaps between cars or a few dozen yards to the next stop light. Yes, the Mazdaspeed3 can make junkies out of even the most sober, good-natured drivers.

It's pretty clear that Mazda didn't set out to make the Mazdaspeed3 for everyone. To live with one done up with accessories, making it harder, louder and wilder would require you to be truly dedicated to the cause of speed, or just used to being beaten up by your transportation in general. Consider this as a general guideline - if your daily commute involves anything but the open road, and if you like to hear your music and don't care what it takes to squeeze every last ounce of performance out of your car, save yourself the hassle and buy something else. Like a Buick, or a Volvo or any car that's less stimulating than chewing on a live wire. Your ears, head, back and even kidneys will be forever grateful. As for the rest of you speed demons that do not believe in compromise, your chariot awaits ...

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