Well, to answer your question. The reason the 3 is faster is because the 6 is heavier. Mostly due to its AWD system that weights a lot. This makes it faster in the 1/4mile (from a dig) but not from a roll since its heavier and it's forced to move ALL four wheels, while the 3 just takes advantage of being lighter and FWD, and takes the momemtum/inertia (from a roll) and lays down the SAME torque as the 6 but with 10 less hp that still help it alot since its lighter anyways.

The 6 was meant to be a luxurious-heavy AWD sedan. A japanese cheap version of the Audi S4. The 3 is just a fast light/little hatchback.

 

i thought the 6 was FWD until it detects slippage in the tires and that's when it transfers torque to the rear wheels? so the AWD drivetrain loss isn't significant compared to the ms3...? correct me if i'm wrong

if i'm right the only difference between the ms3 and ms6 is the weight, and maybe the gear ratio?

 

gear ratio is the same i believe. The 6 is 80% front and 20% back while cruising. When it detects slippage (launching from a dig, wet floor, etc) it goes to 50/50.

 

wow... never heard the front having more pushing than the back... its like the complete opposite for me.

5% in the front until im slipping where it then becomes 40%

 

yeah, you could tell mazda sort of mixed the awd drivetrain with some of the fwd stuff they already have set up for the fwd version. They figured all they had to do is claim they had awd, not really how it worked on the daily basis. I really could care less, it's the same if it pushed more rwd or fwd...the important thing is that it splits 50/50 when you need to.

what car do you drive? a skyline?

 

Yeah, that

 

yep. cant wait for the next NSX or the GTR for that matter.

I think mazda has his stuff spread out. They have their nice track car underpowered, the fast looking/sporty one underpowered, and they gave the ms3, a shot to srt-4 replacement, the ms6 a weird upgrade attempt.

Like, the ms3 is a nice car, but apparently people arent too much into hatchbacks and srt4 fans already have their cars modded and ready to jump into a better car if trade comes.

Ms6 is a nice car but it has an identity problem. It's a car that looks refined, but then a bit aggressive with a bit more of a bulk (including bigger hood for intercooler space), has everything you can have in a luxurious car except for bluetooth system and in a little more of a down scale (i.e. heat seats is just an on&off button, not a 1,2,3 intensity button). Car only comes in manual but it seems many true [manual/sporty] enthusiasts rather just go all out into an STi, Evo, S2k or perhaps 350z...but the ms6 feels like if they made a fast Acura TSX upgrade. I love the car, but it isnt fully giving me what I want. My biggest complaints are weight, suspension, non sporty seats. Some bost regulations are annoying too. Everything else is great.

 

Last month's Sport Compact Magazine was talking about some cool parts and one of them was an AEM CAI for the MS3 (maybe the same as your MS6). I don't remember the exact numbers but they claim like a 20+HP\20+TQ increase. Who knows if it is true but that is a big boost in power from a bolt on. I guess FI takes to the mods better then NA... Comparatively my CAI claims only a 7HP increase in HP.

I bet a 20+ boost in HP/TQ would make your car feel lighter.

 

i miss boost

 

i don't care for front-biased AWD systems.

i know its better for fuel economy, but i always wish theyd add a button to change the car to 50/50 or RWD biased.